FORMULA 1 HIT THE STREETS OF LONG BEACH AFTER 40 YEARS

Vintage F1 cars on the track at Longs Beach.  Image Credit: 2023 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

FORMULA 1 HIT THE STREETS OF LONG BEACH AFTER 40 YEARS
Words and Images by: Brandon O'Brien

After an absence of 40 years, Formula 1 cars took to the streets of Long Beach. Not to be confused with the current generation of F1 cars (you need to go to Las Vegas for those) these were some of the very same cars that competed in Long Beach from 1978 - 1983. Twenty-one entries were signed up to participate in the Historic Motor Sports Association (HMSA) F1 Challenge.

I was there for the very first two "US Grand Prix (West)" races and my memory of those F1 cars was their noise and quickness. This weekend I can add I am surprised at how small they are and how much the driver was / is exposed.

On Thursday Patrick Long, the long-term factory Porsche driver, drove the 1983 Williams FW08C, once driven by Keke Rosberg, around the track for a media event. Not wanting to stress an extremely expensive and exotic race car he kept the pace down to what he though was a respectable level. Later that day he was approached by the owner who told him that the car did not like to be idled around the track. The car was in it's realm when the tach read 11.3.

Patrick Long driving the 1983 Williams FW08C through the Fountain Curve at Long Beach.  Image Credit: 2023 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

Unfortunately during the first day of practice the 1982 Lotus 91/8 was unable to make the turn around the fountain and planted its nose into the tire barrier.  The damage was severe enough to eliminate the car from the rest of the weekend activities.  Hopefully it will be repaired in time to be raced at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in May.

1982 Lotus 91/8 comes to grief in the tire barrier at the Fountain Curve during practice on Friday at Long Beach.  Image Credit: 2023 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

After winning the first challenge race on Saturday, Patrick came down to the Motor Press Guild table in the Media Center to say "hi" to Edmund Jenks.  While there we asked what it was like to drive an F1 car. He stated that it was thrilling and required a lot of work and concentration.

During the Q and A session after winning Sunday's race he mentioned that his lap times in Porsche GTLM / GTD cars that he drove here were quicker than in the F1 car and the effort to do those lap times was much easier.  As expected, those 40 years in race car development have resulted in safer, better handling cars.  

If you missed these iconic cars at Long Beach you will have another opportunity to see and hear them on May 12-14 at the IMSA / Motul Course de Monterey powered by Hyundai N at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

1971 Tyrrell 004 going through the hairpin during the HMSA F1 Challenge at Long Beach.  Image Credit: 2023 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

1976 Lotus 77 exiting the hairpin during the HMSA  F1 Challenge at Long Beach.  Image Credit: 2023 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

1979 Shadow DN9 in the hairpin during the HMSA F1 Challenge at Long Beach.  Image Credit:  2023 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

1976 March 761 exiting the hairpin during the HMSA F1 Challenge at Long Beach.  Image Credit 2023 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

ENDS

Tags: Brandon O'Brien, F1, Formula 1, HMSA, Historic Motor Sports Association,  Lotus,  March,  Motor Driven Images,  Shadow, Tyrrell, Vintage, Williams.