Motocross, autograph sessions, a classic car show — and a family friendly party atmosphere on the eve of Long Beach’s biggest sporting shindig.
Thunder Thursday, a free motorsports event at The Pike Outlets, will once again help whet racing fans’ appetites ahead of the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. The Thursday evening, April 13, will feature freestyle motocross demonstrations, driver autographs and a newly formatted pit stop competition, among other entertainment.
While Thunder Thursday is not organized by the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach — the Long Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau puts it on instead — the event is intended to kickoff the fun. The Grand Prix is set for Friday to Sunday, April 14-16.
Thunder Thursday will run from 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
“We’re proud to be sponsoring Thunder Thursday,” Steve Goodling, president and CEO of the Long Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau, said in a statement. “We hope that everyone comes out to enjoy great family-friendly entertainment, racing and more to get ready for a terrific weekend.”
For fans who want some speed, Thunder Thursday will include the NTT IndyCar Series pit stop competition, which will take place at 6:45 p.m. on Shoreline Drive, west of Pine Avenue — and will include a new format.
This year will be a head-to-head competition featuring four cars representing different IndyCar teams: the #15 Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda, with driver Graham Rahal; the #06 Meyer Shank Racing Honda, with driver Helio Castroneves; the #2 Penske Racing Chevrolet, with driver and defending Grand Prix winner Josef Newgarden; and the #78 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet with driver Agustin Canapino.
The Freestyle Kings freestyle motocross demonstrations, meanwhile, will take over Shoreline Drive briefly at 6:30 p.m. before the full show begins 7:47 p.m. Spectator viewing for these events will be in and around the three grandstands north of Shoreline Drive adjacent to The Pike…
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