Latest news with #RacersEagle755
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Petersen Museum Celebrates 50 Years of Long Beach Grand Prix with Historic Race Car Exhibit
⚡️ Read the full article on Motorious In honor of the 50th anniversary of the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, the Petersen Automotive Museum has unveiled a free-to-see exhibit featuring five legendary open-wheel race cars that have defined the Southern California street race through its many competitive eras. Running from March 20 to April 8 in the museum's lobby, the temporary display brings together a trio of motorsports milestones—Formula 5000, Formula 1, and IndyCar—with each era represented by a historically significant machine that once tore through the coastal streets of Long Beach. Among the standout entries is the 1974 Dan Gurney All-American Racers Eagle 755, the very first race car to ever compete on the Long Beach circuit. Piloted by Vern Schuppan to pole position in the inaugural 1975 Formula 5000 race, the car is now owned by Southern California collector Tom Malloy. Formula 1's golden years at Long Beach are represented by two machines: the 1976 March 761, once driven by Italy's Vittorio Brambilla and now owned by Richard Griot, and the 1980 McLaren M30 driven by a young Alain Prost, currently in the hands of Sean Allen. The IndyCar era comes alive through the 1981 AAR Eagle 8100, owned and driven in-period by Dennis Firestone, and a 1999 Reynard raced by Bryan Herta, now part of Erich Joiner's collection. What makes the exhibit even more unique is that all five cars are set to return to the track during the Long Beach race weekend's Historic Formula Exhibition. It will mark the first time machines from all three major racing eras will compete together on the storied circuit. 'This is a rare opportunity for fans to see and hear the very cars that made Long Beach a staple of American motorsport,' said Jim Michaelian, president and CEO of the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach. Located along Los Angeles' Miracle Mile, the Petersen Automotive Museum continues to be a driving force in automotive preservation and education, offering car enthusiasts an immersive look at the vehicles and stories that shaped history.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
These 5 Cars from Long Beach Grand Prix History Coming to the Petersen
This year marks the 5oth running of the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, and the Petersen Automotive Museum is celebrating with five race cars from the event's storied history. The exhibit will be open to the public from March 20 through April 8 in the museum's lobby, giving visitors an up-close look at machines that once roared through the streets of Long Beach. And the best part? You can go into the lobby for free! As you may know, the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach saw three distinct kinds of racing over its half a century. It started in 1975 with a Formula 5000 race, won by Brian Redman in a Carl Haas Lola Chevrolet. Then it was Formula 1 for eight glorious years. You could actually go to Long Beach—Long Beach!—and see the greatest drivers in the fastest cars in the world. Niki Lauda won it, Mario Andretti won it, it was darn near magical (for a kid from San Pedro who snuck in). The CART/Champ Car era started in 1984 and lasted until 1987, an era that saw Andrettis and Unsers trading wins seemingly the whole time. Then IndyCar took over in 2008 and has been running at Long Beach since. 'The exclusive display at the Petersen will feature five historic race cars spanning the three iconic racing eras—Formula 5000, Formula 1, and IndyCar—representing the evolution of open-wheel racing at North America's premier street race,' the Petersen said in a release. 'The cars will later take to the track during the Historic Formula Exhibition on race weekend, providing fans with a thrilling glimpse into motorsports history with the three types of cars racing together for the first time.' The five cars on display at the Petersen will include: The 1974 Formula 5000 Dan Gurney All-American Racers Eagle 755, winner of the 1975 Long Beach pole position with Vern Schuppan at the wheel, which was also the first car ever to turn a wheel on the streets of Long Beach. The car is currently owned by local businessman and sprint car sponsor Tom Malloy. Representing Long Beach's Formula 1 era, 1976-83, will be the 1976 March 761 currently owned by Richard Griot and driven by Italy's Vittorio Brambilla in 1976 at Long Beach, along with the 1980 McLaren M30, most notably driven by Alain Prost during the 1980 F1 season and currently owned by Sean Allen. The Indy Car era will be represented by the 1981 All-American Racers Eagle 8100, owned by Dennis Firestone and driven by Firestone himself in-period. In addition, the 1999 Reynard driven that season by Bryan Herta and currently owned by Erich Joiner, will be on display. 'Racing in Long Beach has been an important part of American motorsports for five decades, and this exhibit at the Petersen Automotive Museum offers a rare opportunity to celebrate its legacy,' said Grand Prix Association of Long Beach President and CEO Jim Michaelian. 'Fans will not only be able to witness these legendary machines up close but also experience them in action during race weekend.' The Petersen Automotive Museum is located in the mid-city area of Los Angeles at the intersection of Wilshire and Fairfax. If you go past the lobby exhibit of Long Beach Grand Prix cars, which you really should, entry is $21 for adults, $12 for kids 4-11. See The Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach is April 11-13. You can buy tickets for the race at
