DRIFTING + "TOYOTA GRAND PRIX" of LONG BEACH (April 8-10th)

[INFO]

“DRIFTING” TO MAKE ITS STREET-LEGAL DEBUT
AT APRIL 8-10 TOYOTA GRAND PRIX OF LONG BEACH
__________________________________________________ ___________________________________________
LONG BEACH, Calif. (Jan. 18, 2005) – “Drifting,” the hottest new addition to the world motorsports scene since stadium racing, will be scorching the streets of Long Beach April 8-10 during the 31st Annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.

The Inaugural Long Beach Drifting Challenge, conducted in conjunction with Champ Car and Formula Drift, will be the first time Drifting has ever appeared (legally!) on city streets and the first Drifting demonstration to take place around the entire length of a race circuit.

The sport, which originated in the mountains of Japan, is the art of controlling a car sliding sideways and as close to out-of-control as possible, with drivers judged on style and showmanship, rather than speed.
During a drift, the goal is not to maximize traction, but instead have the car behave as though racing on ice or snow. It’s a total snub to the logic that says cars are designed, engineered and intended NOT to go sideways.
And, the resultant orgy of billowing smoke and screaming tires is attracting millions of racing fans worldwide.

“It’s a huge, historic step for Drifting to be part of such a major motorsports event, and we’re looking forward to putting on a great show,” said internationally known Drifter Alex Pfeiffer. “Those who don’t know about
Drifting are in for a wild new experience!”

Experienced Drifters prefer rear-wheel-drive cars that are lightweight, balanced and handle well, such as the AE86 Toyota Corolla and Toyota Supra Twin Turbo.

The current race weekend schedule (subject to change) includes half-hour sessions of the Inaugural Long Beach Drifting Challenge over the entire 1.97-mile, 11-turn race circuit on Friday and Saturday. On Sunday, they will hit the track prior to the 1 p.m. start of the 31st Annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach Champ Car race.

“I believe this will be an exciting new addition to our race weekend that will not only be the first-ever full-course Drifting competition, but will also attract a whole new audience to our event,” said Jim Michaelian, President/CEO of the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach. “And, it will also legitimize what some of us have been secretly doing on these downtown Long Beach streets for many years!”

Tickets for the 31st Annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, which will run April 8-10, 2005, are on sale now. The Champ Car World Series will again be the headline racing event. Tickets can be ordered via credit card by using the toll-free ticket hotline, (888) 82-SPEED. Tickets can also be purchased on-line at longbeachgp.com, in person at the Grand Prix ticket office (3000 Pacific Ave., Long Beach, Calif. 90806).

Ticket prices range from $32 for a Friday/Saturday-only general admission ticket to $114 for a three-day ticket, which includes Saturday and Sunday reserved seating on upper levels of the grandstands. Limited pre-paid parking packages are available and can be purchased when ordering tickets. Handicapped seating, Bosch Champ Car Garage passes, hospitality club packages and super photo tickets are also available for purchase.

For up-to-date ticket information, descriptions of the various club ticket packages, or for announcements of special Grand Prix event activities, visit the official Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach Web site at longbeachgp.com.
* * *
The Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach is owned and operated by Grand Prix Association of Long Beach, Inc., a subsidiary of Dover Motorsports, Inc. (NYSE: DVD). Dover Motorsports, Inc. is a leading promoter of motorsports events in the United States. Its subsidiaries operate five tracks (four permanent facilities and one temporary circuit) in four states and promote events under the auspices of the sport’s four premier sanctioning bodies - NASCAR, Champ Car, IRL and NHRA. The company owns and operates Dover International Speedway in Dover, Del.; Nashville Superspeedway in Nashville, Tenn.; Gateway International Raceway near St. Louis, Mo.; and Memphis Motorsports Park in Memphis, Tenn.

-TGPLB-

Schedule

THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 2005

5:30 p.m. Tecate “Thunder on Pine” Car Show & pit stop competition (Pine Ave. between Broadway & Fourth)
6 p.m. Freestyle MX motocross demonstration
7 p.m. Live entertainment from "Delta Nove"
9 p.m. Tecate “Thunder on Pine” Concert (at Vault 350; admission charge)

FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 2005

7 a.m. Gates open
8 a.m. Auto Club Lifestyle Expo opens
9:30 a.m. Toyota Atlantic practice
10:15 a.m. Champ Car practice
11:45 a.m. Toyota Pro/Celebrity practice
12:30 p.m. Trans-Am practice
1:15 p.m. Toyota Atlantic qualifying
2 p.m. Champ Car qualifying
3:15 p.m. Toyota Pro/Celebrity practice
4 p.m. Champ Car Driver Autograph session, Champ Car paddock
4:15 p.m. Trans-Am practice
4:55 p.m. Long Beach Drifting Challenge Demonstrations
5:30 p.m. Tecate Fiesta Friday Concert (concert stage)
6 p.m. Auto Club Lifestyle Expo closes
9 p.m. Concert (admission charge), Vault 350

SATURDAY, APRIL 9, 2005

7 a.m. Gates open
8 a.m. Auto Club Lifestyle Expo opens
9 a.m. Toyota Atlantic practice
9:45 a.m. Trans-Am qualifying
10:30 a.m. Champ Car practice
12:15 p.m. TOYOTA PRO/CELEBRITY RACE
1:15 p.m. Toyota Atlantic qualifying
2 p.m. Champ Car qualifying
3:15 p.m. Long Beach Drifting Challenge Demonstrations
4 p.m. Trans-Am final practice
5 p.m. “Rock-N-Roar” Concert (concert stage)
Following concert Miss Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach Pageant
6 p.m. Auto Club Lifestyle Expo closes
9 p.m. Concert (admission charge), Vault 350

SUNDAY, APRIL 10, 2005

7 a.m. Gates open
8 a.m. Auto Club Lifestyle Expo opens
8 a.m. Toyota Atlantic warm-up
9 a.m. Champ Car warm-up
10:30 a.m. IMPERIAL CAPITAL BANK CHALLENGE FOR THE TOYOTA ATLANTIC CHAMPIONSHIP RACE (32 LAPS)
11:35 a.m. INAUGURAL LONG BEACH DRIFTING CHALLENGE
12:15 p.m. Champ Car Pre-Race Ceremonies Begin
1 p.m. 31st ANNUAL TOYOTA GRAND PRIX OF LONG BEACH CHAMP CAR WORLD SERIES RACE (81 LAPS)
3:15 p.m. TRANS-AM RACE
5 p.m. Auto Club Lifestyle Expo closes

(All listed weekend in-circuit events are FREE, unless otherwise noted, to race ticketholders)

Schedule subject to change

[dreamdrivedrift]

Originally Posted by INFO

Experienced Drifters prefer rear-wheel-drive cars that are lightweight, balanced and handle well, such as the AE86 Toyota Corolla and Toyota Supra Twin Turbo.

lightweight....supra?

[swifty949]

FULL COURSE DRIFT EVENT!!!????????

This will be like Irwindale except all the turns you'll drift there will be walls!

I hope not.

-Al

[my 1 88 u]

Originally Posted by dreamdrivedrift

lightweight....supra?

Toyota Grand Prix! there not going to mension nissan.

[Topics II]

Originally Posted by .Al

This will be like Irwindale except all the turns you'll drift there will be walls!

I hope not.

-Al

Well they probably wont want champ cars flying through starbucks and whatnot, so yeah, there will be walls on either side the whole course im guessing.

[j.r.]

What a fun weekend that is going to be.....YES TANDEM BUDDY!!!

[_PG_]

I've drifted parts of that course before. Only... not a whole lot of people were around and it wasn't exactly race-weekend. Haha Topics, ohh... the LBC days. Remember? remember?

Anywyas, what's the deal with this competition? Who can enter? Or is it a demo for Formula D?

[kineticdb8r]

I'll be there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



JR, CHris.... that is like 5 mins from my folks place... So even if I am not working with you guys that weekend, I 'll be there

[Formula D]

This is a demo that will be performed by top 2005 Formula Drift drivers. There will be drifting around the entire track

[_PG_]

Originally Posted by Formula D

This is a demo that will be performed by top 2005 Formula Drift drivers. There will be drifting around the entire track

That's what i figured.

I have a question for you... how come Formula D doesn't go to Buttonwillow?

[Formula D]

We are not sure if that track can provide what we need to run an appropriate event.

[bluegas]

Originally Posted by Formula D

We are not sure if that track can provide what we need to run an appropriate event.

whos doing the TV coverage? last year it was on HDNET and i think SpikeTV.

Also FormulaD will this be the frist event on G4tv?

[DizyDrifter]

why!! why do i have to live in illinois! you cali people have all the fun. right now, we're lookin to get about a foot of snow.....and its probably warm there..

[bluegas]

Originally Posted by DizyDrifter

why!! why do i have to live in illinois! you cali people have all the fun. right now, we're lookin to get about a foot of snow.....and its probably warm there..

warm no it was only 78 today was 85 this past weekend.

btw where do i sign up i live a few blocks from turn 8

[DizyDrifter]

Originally Posted by bluegas

warm no it was only 78 today was 85 this past weekend.

btw where do i sign up i live a few blocks from turn 8

only 78? hmmm, it might be uhhh....20 here now. maybe. if i'm lucky.
and a few blocks from a track (when it is there, that is)? you're so lucky

[OverCorrect]

Originally Posted by bluegas

whos doing the TV coverage? last year it was on HDNET and i think SpikeTV.

Also FormulaD will this be the frist event on G4tv?

Champ Car will have 4 races (including Long Beach) airing live on NBC, 6 live on CBS and the remainder live on SPEED. All races are again available on HDNet.

The Formula D Drifting at Long Beach WILL be covered by NBC.

[OverCorrect]

Originally Posted by DizyDrifter

why!! why do i have to live in illinois! you cali people have all the fun. right now, we're lookin to get about a foot of snow.....and its probably warm there..

Patience my man, more Champ Car + Formula D announcements are on the way and there will be one in your neighborhood (kind of)...think Cleveland, last week of June.

[bluegas]

Originally Posted by DizyDrifter

only 78? hmmm, it might be uhhh....20 here now. maybe. if i'm lucky.
and a few blocks from a track (when it is there, that is)? you're so lucky

i just moved to lbc last year whats really cool you can drive down the street/track up too Tuesday before the race. Walls go up about 2months before hand and most of the turns are painted year around. Monday only before the race they close the street down for media day. Mario Andretti drives open wheel 2 seater around for the press too ride in. Man you hear the cars 10 blocks away. Only thing too drift the whole course? at best you can only see 1 or 2 turns and they are not many 3rd gear turns but TV coverage with the number of cameras will be cool. Will be hard too enjoy in person unless you pick the right spot i think the last 3 or 4 turns coming too the hiar pin is where the action will be. That and maybe the water fountian turn will be a cool place too take pictures. either way it will be fun.

[OverCorrect]

Originally Posted by bluegas

i just moved to lbc last year whats really cool you can drive down the street/track up too Tuesday before the race. Walls go up about 2months before hand and most of the turns are painted year around. Monday only before the race they close the street down for media day. Mario Andretti drives open wheel 2 seater around for the press too ride in. Man you hear the cars 10 blocks away. Only thing too drift the whole course? at best you can only see 1 or 2 turns and they are not many 3rd gear turns but TV coverage with the number of cameras will be cool. Will be hard too enjoy in person unless you pick the right spot i think the last 3 or 4 turns coming too the hiar pin is where the action will be. That and maybe the water fountian turn will be a cool place too take pictures. either way it will be fun.

Plus there will be 8 or so JumboTrons broadcasting the entire thing to all attendant fans, so hopefully everybody will not only get a couple turns of live action, but also the big screens to see the rest of the track...

[kineticdb8r]

Originally Posted by bluegas

i just moved to lbc last year whats really cool you can drive down the street/track up too Tuesday before the race. Walls go up about 2months before hand and most of the turns are painted year around. Monday only before the race they close the street down for media day. Mario Andretti drives open wheel 2 seater around for the press too ride in. Man you hear the cars 10 blocks away. Only thing too drift the whole course? at best you can only see 1 or 2 turns and they are not many 3rd gear turns but TV coverage with the number of cameras will be cool. Will be hard too enjoy in person unless you pick the right spot i think the last 3 or 4 turns coming too the hiar pin is where the action will be. That and maybe the water fountian turn will be a cool place too take pictures. either way it will be fun.

i drive part of the course when I come home to visit my folks
its a blast!

cant wait for this!!!!

[Slapshotnerd]

OH SNAP!!

I better put my request for credentials in soon... this is gonna be dope as hell!!

[insane]

Does any one have a course layout of this thing?

[Formula D]

Go to www.champcarworldseries.com

We will be drifting the entire course.

FD

[s0nny80y]

Originally Posted by OverCorrect

Champ Car will have 4 races (including Long Beach) airing live on NBC, 6 live on CBS and the remainder live on SPEED. All races are again available on HDNet.

The Formula D Drifting at Long Beach WILL be covered by NBC.

NBC? as in national? When will the Long Beach FD event be held? because I don't have cable and FD doesn't come here

*oh, the drift portion of the Toyota event is a Formula Drift event, got it.