My Trip to the Long Beach Grand Prix
So, I finally decided to check out the Long Beach Grand Prix this year. Heard folks talk about it for ages, figured it was time I saw it for myself. Wasn’t really planning way in advance, just sort of decided a couple of weeks before that I’d make the effort.
Getting tickets was pretty simple. Just went on the official site, looked at the options. Didn’t go for anything fancy like reserved grandstand seats or hospitality stuff. Just grabbed a general admission ticket for Saturday. Seemed like the best way to just wander around and see what it was all about without being tied to one spot.
Drove down there on Saturday morning. Tried to get there reasonably early, aiming for mid-morning, hoping to beat the worst of the crowds trying to park. Parking, well, it was what you’d expect for a big event downtown. Found a lot a decent walk away, paid the price, and started hoofing it towards the entrance. You could start to hear the buzz, not just the cars yet, but the general noise of a big crowd gathering.
Once inside the gates, it really opens up. It’s not just a track, it’s like a whole festival built around racing. First thing I did was just walk around the perimeter, trying to get my bearings. Lots of people, everywhere. Families, groups of friends, serious gearheads.
What I Did There
Spent a good chunk of time in the expo area. They had a bunch of stuff set up:
- Car manufacturer displays showing off new models.
- Vendor booths selling all sorts of racing gear and souvenirs.
- Food stalls everywhere – grabbed a burger and soda, standard event prices of course.
- Some interactive things, simulators and whatnot, but the lines were long.
The main thing, obviously, is the cars. Wandered over closer to the track when I heard engines firing up. Found a spot along the fence where you could see them coming down a straight and braking hard for a corner. Man, it’s loud. Not just loud, you feel it in your chest when they roar past. Saw some of the support races first, different classes of cars. It was cool seeing the variety.
Didn’t stay glued to one spot for too long. Kept moving, trying different vantage points. Watched from near the hairpin turn for a while, saw a couple of close calls. It’s definitely different seeing it live compared to on TV. You get a much better sense of the speed and the skill involved.
The paddock area was open for general admission at certain times, so I peeked in there too. Saw the teams working on the cars, stacks of tires, tool chests. Pretty interesting to see behind the scenes a little bit, even from a distance.
Stayed through most of the afternoon. Saw the main IndyCar practice or qualifying, can’t remember which it was exactly. The noise level went up another notch for those. Decided to head out before the absolute peak of everyone leaving to try and avoid the worst traffic getting out of the parking lot.
Overall, glad I went. It’s a whole spectacle, a lot going on. More than just watching cars go in circles. It’s noisy, crowded, and expensive, but it’s got a real energy to it. Definitely an experience. Probably something I’d do again sometime, maybe try a different day or different kind of ticket next time.