Speaker 1: You guys, my most favorite race of the beach stadium at It makes me so happy. I love it.
Speaker 1: [00:00:30] I know a lot about desert endurance races, like the Baja 1000 or the mint 400. But what I don't know is about racing on this hard pack. ASPH old stuff. So I've come out here to the long beach grand Prix to figure out just what is so exciting about this pavement racing long beach grand Prix started in 1975, and it is the longest running major street race in the country with an average of 200,000 fans in attendance. Driver's speed along a 1.96, eight mile course with 11 turns, [00:01:00] reaching speeds approaching 200 miles per hour, normally held in the spring. This year, the race was delayed until September. Thanks. COVID leading fans and drivers alike ready to race.
Speaker 1: So the first thing I learned about the long beach grand Prix is that to get in, you need either a COVID vaccination card or proof of a negative COVID test, which I think is pretty darn cool. The second thing I learned, you need a lot of credentials. I mean, look, I got three things here. I got wristbands, I got more wristbands. I mean, like [00:01:30] I'm just flush with wristbands. I feel like I should be able to go anywhere. Let's go. So it desert races where there might just be like one race here at the long beach Grande. Apparently there are a ton of races. It's two full days of racing and there's a bunch of different in classes. So there's an IMSA race. And for that race, they'll have three different classes out on course at the same time. So that's pretty cool. There's the big indie race. There are stadium super trucks, which honestly that's really the best. Uh, what else? There was a vintage race there's drifting. So no matter what kind of car you're [00:02:00] interested, you're probably gonna be able to find something here.
Speaker 1: I decided to check out the Lexus paddock since the team races, the RCF GT three cars in the IMSO weather, tech sports car championship. And I think those cars look pretty dope. This race features two drivers for each car running for a total of 100 minutes. We're always gonna know the, uh, Lexus team cuz they're with BA Sullivan and the green is real bright. All right, I'm here with one of the drivers. This [00:02:30] is Jack, but please say your last name because I'm terrible with names and I forgot Jack Hawk with Hogworth. Uh, it sounds like you're a true blue California guy.
Speaker 2: Oh no, not quite, uh, from England. So on the side of the world. All
Speaker 1: Right. And, uh, we've got the car behind us, but that's not yours. Yours is the number 14 Lexus GT
Speaker 2: Three car that's correct. Yes. Number 14, VA Sullivan Lexus LCF GT three car. All
Speaker 1: Right. So, uh, this is a stock powertrain and everything.
Speaker 2: Yeah. So the block, which is in the car is very similar to the, uh, to the RCF that you'll find on the road. Um, [00:03:00] obviously there's some enhancements to the gearbox, uh, for reliability and for the amount of, I guess, performance that the, uh, the drivetrain has to take. But yeah, the actual, the heart of the car is the same. And what's your
Speaker 1: Top speed in this car, on
Speaker 2: This track? About 165 miles an hour on the way to turmoil.
Speaker 1: So, uh, when you're in these vehicles, like, do you, are you single focus the whole time or are there other things that kind of come into your mind? Like how do you maintain your focus?
Speaker 2: Uh, there's a lot going on, obviously. Um, you're going very quick. Uh, you're trying to make every corner. Perfect. You're concentrating on your breaking. You draw application, [00:03:30] how you take each corner, trying to maximize everything all the time. Um, obviously you're raising another cars. You're thinking about the strategy, you know, how could pass on a car, how to defend from a car. You thinking about the race strategy, you know, when to pay when not to pay all this kind of stuff. So it's, uh, there's a lot to be focused on. So it's, uh, pretty hard not to, uh, to be thinking of anything else.
Speaker 1: Thanks for your time. Um, good luck. I'm sure you guys are gonna be great. Take thoughtful risks.
Speaker 2: Well, all the risks.
Speaker 1: Well, yeah, they have to be thoughtful, thoughtful,
Speaker 2: All full but [00:04:00] aggressive. We'll go for it
Speaker 1: At the end of the weekend. Hawksworth and his teammate, Aaron Tets ended up fourth in class completing 73 laps with the best lap time of one minute, 20.39, three seconds. All right, nobody's here. I'm getting in. I gotta put my butt down first. Oh my gosh. Okay. All right. Hey, can I have this steering wheel? Oh dude. And then it just clicks in. Okay. This is incredible. So I've got button for radio starter [00:04:30] pit limit turn right hand like TCS, uh, that is passing drink. There's a button for drinking. Uh, oh, that's for their helmet. Oh, wiper turning left display alarm. So there's all kinds of things on this. Talk about a multifunctional steering wheel and then it's like, eat your heart out Tesla. This is a yolk. And of course, fancy paddle shifters [00:05:00] At the end of the weekend. I'm pretty astonished at the whole spectacle of the long beach Graham Cree. Everyone is there for just one reason great racing. But as for me, well, I mean, let's just say I'm not quite ready to go all in on pavement racing just yet. Okay. So what have I learned? Well, these race cars do the same [00:05:30] corners over and over again, and they don't race for that long, but man, they do race fast and the fans absolutely love it. I've had a super good time here at the long beach grand Prix, definitely coming back next year. And uh, who knows, maybe I can have my own ride to a super truck.
