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Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach features six major motorsports series (includes exciting Formula Drift VIDEO)

PRESS DAY coverage includes an action-packed, original drifting video!

As long-time readers of this column know, I’ve been covering the Grand Prix of Long Beach for many years.

In addition to its scenic location right next to the beach and the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, this event includes many motorsports series. That provides fans with a rare opportunity to see a wide variety of motorsports competitions in one location, over the course of the event.

The Queen Mary in Long Beach Harbor (2013)

If PRESS DAY is any indication (and I’m sure it is!), the 2022 edition of the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach will be fantastic — made even better since the State of California’s COVID vaccination requirement for indoor “mega-events” will be lifted on April 1st. This, combined with the lifting of the mask protocols, means there will be no more COVID-19 mandates.

These are the world-class racing series that you will be able to see in action: NTT IndyCar Series, IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, Formula Drift Super Drift Challenge, high-flying (literally!) SPEED Energy Stadium SUPER Trucks, Historic IMSA GTP Challenge and, new for 2022, not one but two great races of the Porsche Carrera Cup North America Series, with 30-35 cars racing.

There will be much more to see and do, including the ever-popular Lifestyle Expo and Family Fun Zone inside the Long Beach Convention Center, a SoCal food truck experience, outdoor concerts, racing souvenirs and artwork, and much more — all within easy walking distance of the beach and waterfront shopping — adding up to a great event that you do not want to miss.

PRESS DAY’s on-track action featured rides in Acura’s NSX, special two-seater IndyCars and Formula Drift cars.

Acura NSK gave rides around the track on PRESS DAY

Alec Robbins is one of the Formula Drift competitors who paid a visit to a tire barrier — and I happened to catch that on video, which I have included in an action-packed drifting video here, on my YouTube channel. Check it out!

I visited with Alex in his pit, where I learned about the unique, wildly high-horsepower drift car that he constructed himself, tucked-away inside what started out as the scrap body shell of a 2005 Nissan 350Z, and revealed in great detail at: AlecRobbinsRacing.com.

Alec Robbins & his 2005 Nissan 350Z drift car
The body shell is from a 2005 Nissan 350Z

Everything is aftermarket, including the compact, supercharged, LS2-based GM 6-liter engine with an aluminum block and aluminum heads, for light weight.

Speaking of weight, the balance is good, at only a couple percent front-heavy, thanks also to being able to push the engine back a little more than the inline six, plus the relocation of the radiator to the back — a process which provided plenty of room for that radiator, and which protected it from inevitable on-track collisions.

The large radiator is at the rear

FYI, some of the bodywork is held on with zip ties, for quick and easy replacement.

Rear tire alignment settings — as much as a degree positive — are a little different than would be run in more traditional motorsports. That is because the rear suspension is super-soft, in order to let the weight transfer back. That provides for a little more rear grip. As the car travels through its suspension range it loses some of its positive camber, flattening out to zero. The rear suspension setup provides a lot of forward bite on-throttle, and a tendency to skate around a little bit when off-throttle.

Learn more about Formula Drift at: https://www.formulad.com.

FORMULA DRIFT drifters returning from drifting

The “Porsche Carrera Cup North America presented by the Cayman Islands” series will be racing in North America for the first time. This one-make series features purpose-built Porsche 992 GT3 Cup racecars — about 35 of which will be on the grid in Long Beach. The cars are as-delivered from Porsche, complete with a roll cage, full fire suppression systems, pneumatic air jacks, increased aerodynamics, larger rear wings, motorsport-based suspension and spec Michelin racing slick tires. All of the cars are the same, so the focus is on the drivers’ skills. They will be racing in three classes, with one race each on Saturday and Sunday.

For more information about Carrera Cup North America, visit: https://porschecarreracup.us.

This year’s Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach takes place April 8-10, 2022. For more information and to get your tickets, visit: https://gplb.com/racing/.

To explore a wide variety of content dating back to 2002, with the most photos and the latest text, visit “AutoMatters & More” at https://automatters.net. Search by title or topic in the Search Bar in the middle of the Home Page, or click on the blue ‘years’ boxes and browse.

Copyright © 2022 by Jan Wagner – AutoMatters & More #735r4

Jan Wagner

10 Comments

  1. Stephan on April 12, 2022 at 2:34 pm

    Jan,
    Very Nice…..
    Stephan

    • Jan Wagner on April 12, 2022 at 7:41 pm

      Thank you Stephan,
      I spent two days at the Grand Prix. I literally have thousands of photos to go through.
      Jan

  2. ALberto on April 2, 2022 at 8:54 pm

    Great coverage!
    Great article!
    Great photos!
    Great video!
    Great action!
    Great reporter!

    • Jan Wagner on April 4, 2022 at 1:57 pm

      Thank you Albert,
      I think you are also going to like the column that I am planning to write this week. If I do it will feature my video about a truck in the GoodGuys Del Mar Nationals autocross that failed to stop within the Wilwood braking zone.
      Jan

  3. David Sperry on April 2, 2022 at 3:06 pm

    Jan, I can’t imagine so much action in one day in so many racing categories. My favorite is Formula Drift, with the video highlight, and the interview with top Drifter Alec Robbins, highlighting his car and all the aftermarket parts required to keep it competitive. Covering this Press Day event with your hard earned press credentials really paid off. Great article. I’m going to promote this column on Race Director, as I know we have some drifting fans there.

    • Jan Wagner on April 2, 2022 at 6:56 pm

      Thanks Davis. I am very pleased with the result.
      Jan

    • Madj Minj on April 4, 2022 at 7:01 am

      your photography is incredible!
      Also the use of zip ties is genius,i would’ve never guessed that.

      • Jan Wagner on April 4, 2022 at 2:04 pm

        Thanks Madj,
        It’s great to hear from you again, post DriveTribe.
        As I just mentioned to another commenter, I think you are also going to like the column that I am planning to write this week. If I do it will feature my new video about a very race-prepared pickup truck in the GoodGuys Del Mar Nationals autocross last Saturday that failed to stop within the Wilwood braking zone. Neither the driver or passenger appeared to be hurt, but the paramedics checked them out.
        Jan

      • David Sperry on April 5, 2022 at 7:35 pm

        Hey Madj Minj. I remember you from DriveTribe. I was under my real name David Sperry. Now I’m BigHemi on RaceDirector, developed by Axel Padilla. We are still on the beta version but getting good quality posts. What platform are you on now?

        • Madj Minj on April 12, 2022 at 10:45 pm

          i remember you as well David,glad to see your comment,i am not really much active on any forums/websites these days due to studies. I will check out the RaceDirector website.

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