VRRROOM with a View: The Acura Grand Prix Returns to Long Beach

As it has for nearly half a century, the 49th Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach returns to rock the International City as the world’s fastest cars power down Shoreline Drive at speeds approaching 200 mph. As always, the weekend is also packed with lots of drifting, stunts, food, music and plenty of other fun. Here’s a look at some of the action and attractions of the city’s biggest weekend event, Thursday-Sunday, April 18-21.

THURSDAY

  • At 11:00 a.m., the Long Beach Motorsports Walk of Fame Ceremony will take place at S. Pine Ave in front of the convention center. This annual free event honors the outstanding achievements of those who have made significant contributions to the sport of auto racing.
  • At 6:00 p.m., head to The Pike Outlets for Thunder Thursday, featuring a race car display, driver autographs, a motorcycle show, a concert with live bands and DJs, food tents, contests, and giveaways.

Friday

  • The Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach officially gets under way as gates open at 7:30 a.m. While opening day will feature various race practices and qualifying events, it will also kick off the three-day LifeStyle Expo featuring more than 100 displays in the latest in automotive, home, recreation, travel and entertainment products and services.
  • The Family Fun Zone, located in the Long Beach Arena area of the Lifestyle Expo, will have games, racing simulators and rock climbing walls. Also, kids ages 3-6 years old can race in their very own race cars!
  • Once again, the Grand Prix will feature a wide selection of exceptional food and drink. Not only will great local restaurants and pubs located around the 1.97-mile circuit be open and serving, but the very popular Food Truck Experience will once again be parked behind Grandstand 31, featuring a bevy of Southern California’s best gourmet food trucks.
  • At 6:00 p.m. Grand Prix ticket holders can enjoy a free concert on the Terrace Plaza featuring internationally known musical acts. Past performers include Goo Goo Dolls, Ozomatli, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, and Gin Blossoms.
  • On the track, there will be numerous practice runs as well as qualifying laps for a variety of racing categories, everything from trucks to Porsches. At 6:30 p.m. the enormously popular Super Drift Challenge gets under way for the first of two events.

Saturday

  • With spectator gates opening at 7:30 a.m. an IndyCar practice session gets underway at 8:25 a.m. and racing begins with the Historic Indy Car Challenge Race at 10:40 a.m., where classic machines race around the track just as they did in the early days of the Grand Prix.
  • At 1:30 p.m., the IMSA SportsCar Grand Prix hits the tracks with two classes of the most advanced, exotic cars on the planet engaging in a 100-minute competition.
  • At 4:00 p.m., Robby Gordon’s Stadium SUPER Trucks Race #1 series, showcasing powerful, high-flying trucks performing wild ramp jumps, gets underway.
  • The GT America Race #1 goes off at 4:45 p.m., featuring 40 minutes of a single-driver sprint format race.
  • At 6:00 p.m. Grand Prix ticket holders can enjoy a free concert on the Terrace Plaza featuring internationally known musical acts. Past performers include Goo Goo Dolls, Ozomatli, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, and Gin Blossoms.
  • Drift fans will get another day of the popular motorsport with a 6:30 p.m. start to Formula D Super Drift Challenge Competition #2.

Sunday

  • Gates open at 7:30 a.m. with racing beginning at 10:45 a.m. with the second Historic F1 Challenge Race.
  • Enjoy the Mothers Exotic Car Paddock outside Turn 9 with over 100 exotic sports cars on display, including Ferraris, Porsches, Lotus and more.
  • The Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach gets under way at 12:45 p.m. The 85 laps around the 1.97-mile, 11-turn track is the second race of the 2024 NTT IndyCar Series and features an international and world-class field of drivers including six-time series champion Scott Dixon, Long Beach winners Alexander Rossi, Josef Newgarden and Colton Herta, Pato O’Ward and defending series champ Will Power.
  • The end of the grand prix actually isn’t the end of the day’s racing. A second Stadium SUPER Trucks Race gets underway, as drivers engage in thrilling side-by-side action, beginning at 3:30 p.m.
  • The weekend comes to an action packed conclusion as GT America Race #2 gets underway at 4:20 p.m. with cars of various makes competing for final glory.

Tickets are available now at GPLB.com, at the Grand Prix Office at 3000 Pacific Ave. or by calling 888-827-7333.

For information on Parking, click here.

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About the Author
Steve Lowery
Steve Lowery is a longtime local. Over the years he has written for the Los Angeles Times, ESPN, and others. If you're looking for the hidden gems of Long Beach, Steve is your go-to.
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