Photo: Jacqueline García/Real America News / Impremedia
Since Wednesday afternoon the streets in Long Beach began to be closed to make way for the highly anticipated annual event, the Grand Prix Acura 2022 which is expected to welcome thousands of car racing lovers from Southern California and from various states of the nation.
The popular event began in 1977 and after having been canceled for the first time in the year 2020 due to the Covid pandemic-19 returned in the 2021 five months late and this year returns to its usual spring date.
Some residents of the city look forward to enjoying the event, others because of the great business they hope to do in the face of the economic spill throughout the weekend. mana, while others don’t take much importance in the event.
Pablo Lomelí, a resident of Long Beach, said he has never attended the event and is not affected by all the closures or changes in traffic in the area since they do not live as near the place where the event will take place. However, in some years in the past he has been faced with the closure of the streets due to the fact that he was unaware that the car racing event was happening in the city and that frustrated him for a few days.
Meanwhile, Saúl Zamora, who lives on Ocean Boulevard —the Grand Prix route—, explained that he appreciates car racing since it brings more money to the city, but for people who have to go to work or live near the area, if it affects them even for parking.
“We have a parking in the building and the second is behind the building, but that is not available during the days that the event lasts; so we have to find a place to park our cars on the street and that becomes tedious, and it is for three days”, Zamora emphasized.
On the other hand, Alfredo González explained that it is a fun, interesting and emotional event to which he recommends that people go at least once in their life.
“I went in September And there were many people. The necessary precautions were taken with the Covid tests in place for those who were not vaccinated, “said González.
This year the Grand Prix de Long Beach offers a great opportunity for the city’s economy and business. Statistics for the 2017 showed that the Grand Prix generated $32.4 million in economic production, provided 351 jobs and created $1200,000 in tax revenue in the city of Long Beach alone, a city located about 27 miles south of Los Angeles.
One of the sponsors of the event is the company King Taco la which has been associated with the Grand Prix since 1994 when owner Raúl Martínez—now deceased—first decided to park his truck of food at the event and it was a great success, so he decided to continue participating in the annual event.
Martínez had an admiration for sports and the family often went on weekend excursions to race tracks in Northern California. Martinez passed away at 2017, but the legacy of his love of racing continues through sponsorship.
Events start Thursday
The weekend will kick off this Thursday with Thunder Thursday at The Pike Outlets, a free family event that will include two NTT INDYCAR SERIES races on Shoreline Drive at 6: 45 and 7: 45 pm. Additionally there will be stunt bikes with presentations at 7: and 8 : 05 of the night and the exciting demonstrations of freestyle motocross will take Shoreline Drive at 7: 30 and 8: 30 of the night. Spectators for these events will be located in and around the three grandstands adjacent to The Pike Outlets.
This year The Pike Outlets will have music live, a DJ on the stage of the Main Square, food sales and the biggest of 21 years will have access to a Beer Garden hosted by Auld Dubliner.
Car enthusiasts and fanatics of the races will find a classic vehicle exhibit located on The Paseo, featuring vintage cars. Racing cars will be on display on Bay Street with professional drivers and teams from the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, Porsche Carrera Cup and Drifting. Some pilots will be signing autographs.
Closure of streets
Streets to be closed are Westbound Shoreline Drive, Northbound Queensbay Bridge Exit Ramp, Southbound Queensway Bridge Entrance Ramp from Shoreline Drive, Aquarium Way south of Shoreline Drive, and several side streets.
Visitors who want to get to Shoreline Village and Shoreline Marine , the Hyatt hotel and waterfront restaurants can be reached via Pine Avenue.
Because on April 1 California eliminated the vaccination requirement for indoor “mega events” and the mask mandate is no longer in place, the Grand Prix de Long Beach will not be verifying vaccinations or requiring negative tests for Covid-05 during your three-day event yes However, people who feel comfortable wearing their face masks can do so.
For more information visit: https://gplb. com/