The temperatures cooled on Saturday, April 9 — but the energy did not.
Enthusiasm remained high during the second day of the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach as fans relished the combined smells of greasy stunt food and burnt rubber, eager to continue the city’s biggest party on the penultimate day of three-day event.
The gates opened Saturday morning to a salty ocean breeze, a respite from the nearly triple-digit temperatures the day before.
Yet, while it was cooler, the thirst for thrills and partying wasn’t quenched. That was evidenced by a seemingly larger crowd, not particularly surprising since Friday is part of the work week and Saturday featured more marquee events, including the Porsche Carrera Cup race, the Super Trucks race, the Historic IMSA GTP race, the Super Drift challenge — and, later this evening, a live concert by the all star rock band the Royal Machines.
“There’s a lot going on,” said Cara Mahoney, 20, from Huntington Beach. “There’s so much to look at.”
Mahoney was at the Grand Prix with her boyfriend, Gage Correa, 22. Correa, also from Huntington Beach, is a racing fan, so the Grand Prix is a chance for him to see cars go “really fast all the time.”
Mahoney, however, admitted she’s not a race fan and only goes to support him. But still, there are things to do and eat for everyone.
“He’s the car guy and I go because it’s fun,” she said. “Even if you’re not into cars, it’s fun.”
Indeed, the Grand Prix boasts events and amenities for all ages and for those with varying interests.
Among those are the party zones, a relatively new addition to the Grand Prix, which were implemented recently as an effort to cater to a younger crowd. They seem to be working.
“There are little parties all over the place and it’s a matter of finding the right one,” said Max Powers, 37, from Long Beach. “It’s getting better and more fun every year.”
On Saturday afternoon, Powers was at a Don Julio-branded outdoor bar with his friend Rod Navarro, 37, from Los Angeles. The two were sipping on margaritas.
They’ve been to multiple Grand Prix events and, they both said, this one feels like a step up from previous versions.
In some ways, Powers said, this event seems higher class than previous editions. But, longtime racegoers agreed, the event could take more steps up.
While they both said the party zones and outdoor bars are great additions, the event could be better if event organizers splurged more to bring in celebrities and to host higher-end parties. As a fan of both Formula One and IndyCar racing, Powers said, the latter has the better racing, but the former has the higher prestige.
“They need the money to be moving,” he said, “the champagne to be flowing.”
Even the true motorsports fans seemed to agree.
Miles Jones, 60, was with a group of four other friends at the lifestyle expo on Saturday afternoon. A car and racing fan, he’s been to 14 Grand Prix events and he agreed with Powers and Navarro, saying additions such as more food and drink options are welcome.
“This is an improvement,” the Gardena resident said.
But newlyweds Matt and Megan Spelman slightly disagreed. They too were at the Don Julio bar and said they appreciated small changes, including having more food options and places to drink.
Overall, however, they enjoy that the race and format has’t changed fundamentally, the couple said.
“A lot of it hasn’t changed,” said Matt Spelman, 49, from Long Beach. “It’s been consistent and I like that.”
Consistency with the race schedule has kept the Spelmans coming back to the Grand Prix for nine years, Matt Spelman said.
Megan Spelman, 36, said she doesn’t miss old attractions like the celebrity race, especially since she didn’t know many of the people racing in that event anyway.
Ultimately, Megan Spelman said, she likes staple events such as the truck racing.
“I’m not going to spend $150,” she said, “if I’m not going to have fun.”
Changes and innovations to the event are crucial to attracting new fans and keeping current fans coming, Grand Prix Association of Long Beach President and CEO Jim Michaelian said in a previous interview.
That’s especially true since the race will be in Long Beach through 2028.
And the economic health of the city and its businesses are banking on the Grand Prix’s success too, as the event is an financial boon every year.
The event draws around 180,000 people every year, many from outside Long Beach. So in some ways, the Grand Prix is a marketing opportunity for folks to see the new developments in downtown, city officials have said.
Nick, 37, and Stephanie Cooper, 35, on Saturday, were two such out-of-town guests — and it was their first Grand Prix. Hailing from Colorado, the two saw the event in an advertisement and wanted to try something new.
So far, they’ve enjoyed the cool weather and beach access, Nick Cooper said.
“It’s been really fun,” he said. “It’s something new.”
Another newcomer, Rob Wuerfel, 50, drove to Long Beach from Idaho with his son Tyler, 13, just for the race weekend. Rob Wuerfel said he’s been to other races, but this is the largest one he’s ever been to.
“It’s always been a dream of my son’s,” he said. “It’s super well done.”
And of course, the best is yet to come. Friday is often the warm-up act and Saturday is the prelude.
Sunday — when the IndyCars start their engines for the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach — is the main event.