The Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach | iDSC060

The Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach - Professor Quan’s Analysis The 44th Annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach did not disappoint.  While our Professor’s Media Day Extravaganza may have been a bit more extraordinary – Long Beach’s biggest event of the year was another great success by all measures.  From the Lifestyle Expo to celebrity drivers and even new racing events – all the boxes were checked and record attendance achieved.  Hear the complete report in this iDriveSoCal Podcast with Clinton “The Professor” Quan. ***Transcript*** Recording date – April 17, 2018 in Los Angeles, CA Clinton Quan: There was record attendance this year at over 185,000 people attended this event. It's pretty much like going to a car show where they have vehicles on display for you to check out. Almost every manufacturer brought up almost their entire line of vehicles. For the first time ever, the historic TransAm Challenge, that's where they have the muscle cars from the late 60's and early 70's. This year Scott Pruitt was the Grand Marshall for the 44th Toyota Grand Prix. Tom Smith: Welcome to iDriveSoCal, the podcast all about mobility from the automotive capital of the United States, southern California. I'm Tom Smith, and joining me for yet another analysis of an automotive event is our good friend, the Professor, Clinton Quan. Say hello, Clinton. Clinton Quan: Hi, Tom. Tom Smith: Thanks for joining us yet again my friend. Today we are talking about the Long Beach Grand Prix, which has now made its way into the history books. Last week, I think it was, we released our podcast that we did that was your media day extravaganza leading up to the Long Beach Grand Prix, but now today we're talking about your experience actually at the event itself. From what you just shared with me, they had record attendance? Clinton Quan: Yes, I just read there was record attendance this year at over 185,000 people attended this event. Tom Smith: That must have been because of the extra exposure we provided to Long Beach Grand Prix with our podcast we did on media day. Clinton Quan: Yes, I hope so. Tom Smith: All right, so I've been to Long Beach Grand Prix once, and when I went, I was actually in the radio business, and by way of that I had VIP access so I got into the pits. I got into the VIP hospitality area, and holy socks, what an experience that was. I mean a display of wealth first off, because many of these cars have extraordinarily rich individuals and corporations behind them, and it's like no expense spared, or at least it seems that way to my inexperienced eye. I don't know if that's what you saw, but tell us about your experience, what day did you go, and what did you see, what did you do? Clinton Quan: Well, I attended the event on Saturday, and I was there pretty much all day from 8: 00 in the morning until about 5: 00. I experienced the Lifestyle Expo, where I got to see a number of different vehicles from some of the major manufacturers. Tom Smith: Hold on real quick. The big race was on Sunday, right? Clinton Quan: The big race was on Sunday, the Indie. Tom Smith: You were there on Saturday? Clinton Quan: On Saturday, but there were a number of other important races on Saturday as well. Tom Smith: Right, right, so you got there and hit the Lifestyle Expo. Now, what goes on at the Lifestyle Expo? What's on display there? Clinton Quan: A lot of different vehicles. Some of the major manufacturers. It's pretty much like going to a car show where they have vehicles on display for you to check out. This includes Chevrolet, Cadillac, Mazda, Honda, Toyota, Lexus. Tom Smith: All right, and did they have their sporty vehicles there, or was it everything?