For Second Year in a Row, West End Sees Big Changes

For the second consecutive year, the west end of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach circuit has undergone dramatic changes.

This year it is to accommodate construction of the $100-million Queensway Bay redevelopment project, which will include shopping centers, restaurants, hotels and apartment complexes. Last year it was to make way for the Aquarium of the Pacific.

Instead of working its way through a series of turns following a semicircle in front of the aquarium, the course will have a 1,275-foot chute from Turn 5 to Turn 6, followed by a hard left-turn along Pine Avenue. A slight kink facing the Hyatt Regency Hotel entrance will be called Turn 7, with Turn 8 becoming a hard right from Pine Avenue onto Seaside Way.

“It should make for more racing entertainment on the track and more exciting viewing from the grandstands,” said Dwight Tanaka, director of operations for the Grand Prix Assn. of Long Beach.

The only grandstand affected is No. 5, which now parallels the new long chute directly adjacent to Grandstand 6. Grandstand 7 will be angled toward Turn 7, rather than being parallel to the track. The sizes of Grandstands 36 and 40, on the approaches to the aquarium loop, will be slightly modified.

The changes will lengthen the circuit to 1.97 miles from last year’s 1.85 miles. It will continue to have 11 turns.

“Through the years, all the way back to our start up on Ocean Boulevard, we have worked closely with many city entities to decide what the most challenging, exciting and safe course would be for all,” said Chris Pook, founder of the LBGP and currently its president and chief executive officer.

“Recently, we’ve had input from officials from the city, aquarium, Shoreline Village, Oliver McMillan [developer of the Queensway Bay project] and SMG, operators of the Long Beach Entertainment and Convention Center.

“We owe each of them a debt of gratitude for their guidance and expertise.”

Unchanged are the four turns around the aquarium parking structure, including the chicane around the Dolphin Fountain in front of the aquarium entrance.

This will be the fifth major alteration to the Long Beach GP course in its 26-year history. The original ran down Ocean Boulevard between Pine Avenue and Linden Avenue before dipping down along Shoreline Drive and Seaside Way.

When all the decisions have been made, it is up to Tanaka to create what amounts to a small city within the confines of the circuit, which encircles not only the Hyatt Regency but also the Long Beach Arena, Convention Center and Performing Arts Theater.

More than 225,000 people--spectators, workers, officials and teams--are expected to visit the course during its three-day life.

Tanaka and a 44-man crew began putting the course infrastructure together nine weeks ago. In all, it took 29,000 working hours.

Among the materials were three miles of fencing, 10 miles of cabling, 250 tire crash barriers with 64 tires per pallet, and 9,225 tons of concrete blocks, each 12 feet long and weighing 10,250 pounds.

There are 21 grandstands totaling 63,000 seats, 12 television photo towers, nine giant vision screens, seven spectator pedestrian bridges 40 to 120 feet long, and 95 hospitality tents and VIP trackside suites.

“We not only have to accommodate our more than 225,000 visitors, but also must assure that cars can be driven safely around the course at 200 mph,” Tanaka said. “It is quite a challenge, but one we’re ready for.”

When the gates open to the public Friday at 7 a.m., the course will be ready for high-speed action. Toyota Atlantic cars will be the first on the track, at 8 a.m., followed by Indy Lights, CART, Toyota pro-celebrity and Trans-Am cars.