The Long Beach Grand Prix dates all the way back to 1975.  In fact, it's the longest running major street race in North America.

And with 2019's event came a new top-billing sponsor.  Namely, Acura took center stage.  Subsequently, it's NSX supercar was the hot-lap provider for media types.

As always, iDriveSoCal's Clinton "Professor" Quan, made his way to the Grand Prix and came back with this behind-the-scenes report to share.

So, click play and find out how you might be able to get similar access or continue reading and check out the hot cars in pictures below!

Clinton "The Professor" Quan: I got to go out with a professional Indy car driver. On the front straightaway, we hit over 130 miles an hour and then on the back straightaway, over 120 miles an hour.
An Introduction to Long Beach Grand Prix 
Acura Motorsports on display at the Long Beach Grand Prix.

Tom Smith:  Welcome to iDriveSoCal, the podcast. All about mobility from the automotive capital of the United States, Southern California. Tom Smith here with the Good Professor, Clinton Quan. Say hello, Clinton.

Professor:  Hi, Tom!

Tom: This little report that we’re putting together is on the Long Beach Grand Prix of Acura.

Professor:  Acura is the title sponsor now.

Tom:  Right. It was a joke. The Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, but because it used to be called something else, a play on words. I thought I was being funny.

Professor:  [Laughs]

Tom   So, Acura is the new big sponsor.

Professor:  Yes.

Tom:  And the reason being—and in this podcast, we’re going to cover the report. I, of course, didn’t get to go again this year. Of course, Professor Quan did get to go. He has all the fun; I do all the work. That’s how it works out around here. It works out good for him. He went to Media Days last year, as well as this year. And in both instances, got to drive some pretty bad-to-the-bone vehicles. Drive in some pretty bad-to-the-bone vehicles. 

Professor:  Yes, ride shotgun.

Tom:  Yeah, ride in them, shotgun or…

Professor:  Yeah. 
"And the cool thing was, this year was in the NSX."
Tom:  And the cool thing was, this year was in the NSX.

Professor:  Yes!
Behind the Scenes
Tom:  So, I’m going to give it to you in just a second. I just wanted to pre-frame the fact that this is going to be a combination. It’s the Professor’s experience at Media Day.  So, we’re taking you behind the scenes there. But also, the experience at the actual race itself, which is a little bit behind the scenes, because you had some pit access, right? 

Professor:  Well, not the race. Practice Day. I went on Friday.

Tom:  You were at Practice Day.

Professor:  Yes. I went on Friday, April 12th.

Tom:  But you had special access of some sort, no?

Professor:  I didn’t pick up the media pass for that, for the day I went on Friday.

Tom:  Okay, whatever. Let’s start from the beginning. Media Day, you got there, or if there’s anything significant about before you got there, take it away, Professor.
"I saw the line of brand new Acura NSX vehicles." 
Professor:  Well, I got there, and I saw the line of brand new Acura NSX vehicles. 

Line-up of NSXs.

Tom:  There were four of them.

Professor:  There were four of them, yes. And I wanted to make sure I was the first one to get a ride in it, so I stood at spot number one and I was the very first one to go in a— 

Tom:  How long did you stand in line? Like Steve Wozniak waiting for the latest iPhone to come out?

Professor:  Not that long. Maybe 15 minutes.