Fast, Faster & Fastest

So the TOYOTA GRAND PRIX OF LONG BEACH has come and gone and at least for this Lil' Fella, a good time was had by all. Friday we went for an early morning Drifting session, Indy Car practice and "Cigar Day." No, the cigar part is not my thing, but it is among a good many of Sam's friends, and the cohorts of JC's brother Chris. Oh well. We spent a lot of time cruising the Pits and taking in all the action, the Drivers & Owners, and a long list of visiting Racing Celebs. In addition to Owner's Chip Ganassi & Roger Penske who've already been mentioned, there were close encounters with Bobby Rahal, Michael Andretti and several other less well known names. Then there were a few Actor's who's names I'm still trying to figure out, former Drivers Ari Lyendyke, Roger Mears and the Legend, Parnelli Jones. Good stuff if you're a Motorhead.



No real point in name dropping but I had a ball. Saturday was pretty much the same without as many cigars, and topped off by qualifying. After the on track activities CHEAP TRICK was playing in concert over on the Main Stage while Sam served up a traditional Armenian dinner to a crowd of around 150 Family, Friends and Business associates. Following dinner (we'd set-up at 4:00pm) GLASS went on for their first set at around 7:30pm. 2 hours later the evening began coming to a close with the "Kaskanian Singers" joining the Band for a very different rendition of Misserlou sung to Arabic lyrics... The evening ended with Glass's traditional last song of GLORIA, with Chris Agajanian (part of the original Glass band from High School days), joining in for the final number.



Well, it wasn't quite the end, as after JC and the guys went to get their vehicles to come back and pick up their instruments and sound equipment, they couldn't get back in, as the Track Security was bound and determined not to let them back in without the proper parking credentials, which hadn't been a problem in past years. Eventually that got worked out, and a half hour later than anyone intended we were finally packed up and headed home.



Sunday was race day, we had seats in Grand Stand #25 right past the Start Finish Line. All in all it wasn't a terribly exciting or eventful race, but it was still good to be there. If you didn't see it on TV, you probably won't care about hearing much more, and if you did see it, well, there's not much I can say here that you don't already know. So, DASSIT.


"IF EVERYONE IS THINKING ALIKE, THEN SOMEBODY ISN'T THINKING." - General George S. Patton