Tribute To The Final Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race #TPCR40 After 40 Year Run

Drivers for the final and 40th Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race held on Saturday, April 16, 2016.  Former racers: Al Unser Jr., Jimmy Vasser (not in photo), Eddie Lawson, Rod Millen, Max Papis, Mike Skinner and Ken Gushi. Actors: Stephen Baldwin, Ricky Schroder, Alfonso Ribeiro, Chris McDonald, Frankie Muniz, Brian Austin Green, William Fichtner, Adam Carolla and Brett Davern. Also: NBC Sports personality Rutledge Wood, swimmer Dara Torres, Toyota Senior Vice President Bob Carter and business executives Dave Passant and Doug Fregin Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2016)

Tribute To The Final Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race #TPCR40 After 40 Year Run

So just how does an annual charity event that lasts 40 years and raises more than $2.3 million to the “Racing for Kids” organization on behalf of this race and its participants by Toyota Motor Company get started?

According to Chris Pook, founder and organizer of the Grand Prix of Long Beach, through a simple gathering of motorsport competitors at a pre-race C-300 volunteer organization cocktail reception. A party where a prodding and joking attitude spurs the wish to see famous world champions and motor culture standouts racing side-by-side on a young, newly formed street race course.

The gathered group with Chris Pook included Theodore Racing Formula One car constructor from Hong Kong - Teddy Yip, INDY500/CART/NASCAR car builder, team owner, driver, and 11 year world Formula One competitor - Dan Gurney, former world Formula One champion - Phil Hill, and world Formula One champion - Graham Hill. The conversation that had Teddy Yip mention how great it would be to see these famous people perform in a demonstration race was shared with the Toyota Motor Company's Marketing Director for the Toyota offices in Torrance - Al Hagen ... and the rest, as they say, is history (see video above).

Another ex-F1 driver, Bob Bondurant, showed up and in 1975, four Toyota Celica cars, outfitted with Simpson 5-way driver harnesses, performed a five lap exhibition race on the track through the streets of Long Beach.

The race-ready, identically-prepared Toyota Scion FR-S cars will produce 210 horsepower, and are equipped with performance enhancements - VIDEO. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2016)

This final edition here in 2016 was raced with equally race-prepared 210-horsepower Toyota Scion FR-S 2-door sport coups.

The 40th Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race “Racing For Kids” charity all-star participants were a field of intensely competitive personalities who laid it all out for the final trophy and bragging rights. Listed in order of their first win in the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race and the years they performed in the race as follows:

Al Unser, Jr. (@AlUnserJr) 1985, 2009 and 2014
Pro/ Overall winner in 1985, 2009, Pro winner in 2014. Dubbed “King of the Beach,” as the winningest driver in Long Beach, with six Indy Car wins and three Pro/Celebrity wins. Also a 2-time Indy 500 winner, and 2-time IndyCar Champion.

Ricky Schroder 1989 and 1996
Celebrity/ Overall winner in 1989. Most recently starred in “Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors.” Golden Globe winning actor best-known for roles in “Silver Spoons,” “NYPD Blue” and “Get Him to the Greek.”

Eddie Lawson 1993
Pro/ Overall winner in 1993. Motorcycle Hall of Famer and four-time 500cc World Champion. He also earned back-to-back AMA 250 Grand Prix Series, AMA Superbike Series Championships, won the prestigious Suzuka 8 Hour race, and was a two-time winner of the Daytona 200.

Alfonso Ribeiro (@Alfonso_Ribeiro) 1994, 1995, 1996 and 2015
Celebrity/ Overall winner in 1994 & 1995, Pro/ Overall winner in 2015. Currently the host of “America’s Funniest Home Videos” on ABC and “Unwrapped 2.0” on the Cooking Channel. Known for his iconic role of Carlton on “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” and in 2014, he took home the coveted Mirror Ball trophy on “Dancing With the Stars.”

Rod Millen (@LeadFootNZ) 1992 and 1995
Pro winner in 1995. Winner of three-consecutive Grand National Sport Truck titles, 5-time Toyota Pikes Peak Unlimited class winner, and 3-time Toyota off-road stadium truck champion.

Sean Patrick Flanery (@SeanFlanery) 1997 and 1998
Celebrity/ Overall Winner in 1997, Pro/ Overall Winner in 1998. A television and film actor, best-known for his roles in “Powder,” “Boondock Saints” and Showtime’s “Dexter.” His second book, Jane Two: A Novel, drops in April.

Dara Torres (@DaraTorres) 2002, 2004 and 2015
Celebrity/ Overall winner in 2002. 12-time Olympic medalist swimmer, who was named as one of the “Top Female Athletes of the Decade” by Sports Illustrated. In 2002, she was the first woman to win the Toyota Pro/Celebrity race.

Max Papis (@MaxPapis) 2004
Pro/ Overall winner in 2004. “Mad Max,” a stock car race driver has competed in many top-level motorsports events including the Le Mans 24 Hours, Formula One and Champ Car. He has three Champ Car victories.

Chris McDonald (@YesItsChrisMcD) 2001, 2004 and 2005
Celebrity winner in 2004. Currently co-starring in HBO’s “Ballers,” after a stint on CBS’s “The Good Wife.” He has starred in over 100 movies, but is best-known for playing ‘Shooter McGavin’ in “Happy Gilmore.”

Frankie Muniz (@FrankieMuniz) 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2011
Celebrity winner in 2005. Starred in “Sharknado: Heart of Sharkness,” and best-known for his role in “Malcolm in the Middle.” His diverse resume also includes race car driver, drummer of pop-rock group’s Kingsfoil, and Ambassador for the Armed Forces Foundation.

Mike Skinner (@SkinnerRoundUp) 2007 and 2008
Pro winner in 2007 & 2008. 1995 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Champion, and the 1997 Sprint Cup Series Rookie of the Year. He has competed in over 550 races in NASCAR’s top three divisions.

Doug Fregin 2009, 2012 and 2014
Charity auction winner in 2009, 2012 & 2014. He has donated over $320,000 to “Racing For Kids.” Co-Founder of Research in Motion (now Blackberry) and Quantum Valley Investments Fund.

Brian Austin Green 1997, 2010 and 2011
Celebrity winner in 2010. An actor, director, and producer, who came to fame on “Beverly Hills, 90210,” recently starred on “Anger Management” on FX. He’s also known for roles in “Desperate Housewives,” “Smallville” and “Las Vegas.”

Jimmy Vasser (@JimmyVasser) 2010
Pro/ Overall winner in 2010. Former Toyota Atlantic Series and IndyCar driver. 1996 IndyCar World Series Champion. He is an IndyCar team owner, and owns three Toyota dealerships.

Ken Gushi (@KenGushi) 2011
Pro winner in 2011. He was once the youngest, most successful drift competitor in Japan, and in the U.S. With numerous Top 3 finishes in national and international drifting competitions, his racing career has just begun.

William Fichtner 2006, 2008, 2011 and 2012
Celebrity/ Overall winner in 2011. A television, theater and film star, he will be seen in the June releases of “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows” and “Independence Day: Resurgence.”

Adam Carolla (@AdamCarolla) 2003, 2010, 2012 and 2013
Celebrity/ Overall winner in 2012, Pro winner in 2013.  He is best known as a comedian, actor, radio personality, television host and New York Times bestselling author.  He can be heard daily on his podcast “The Adam Carolla Show.”

Rutledge Wood (@RutledgeWood) 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015
Celebrity/ Overall winner in 2013. A NASCAR analyst for NBC Sports, he can also be seen in History Channel’s “Lost In Transmission,” and as co-host of “Top Gear USA” which just finished filming its sixth season.

Brett Davern (@BDavv) 2013, 2014 and 2015
Celebrity/ Overall winner in 2014. Actor who stars as ‘Jake Rosati’ in MTV's hit series “Awkward.” He recently appeared in the Beach Boys bio-pic “Love & Mercy” and “The Stanford Prison Experiment.”

Dave Pasant 2001, 2002, 2003, 2010, 2013 and 2015
Celebrity winner in 2015, and 7-time charity auction winner. A retired insurance executive, he has participated in this race six times, donating a total of $417,000 to “Racing For Kids.” He is also an executive producer of “Road Hard,” starring Adam Carolla.

Bob Carter
Carter is the Senior Vice President of Automotive Operations for Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A.

The race, itself, was as raucous a contest as was predicted ... damaged cars, YELLOW Flags, and a FULL Course Red Flag stopping the field during the race due to the potential injuring of a course worker that could have ended up a lot worse than it looked on the broadcast ... which was bad.

Alfonso Ribeiro (L), already having obtained the lead was pursued heavily by Max Papis (M), currently a Race Steward for the Verizon IndyCar Series, with Rod Millen (R), 5-time Toyota Pikes Peak Unlimited winner, riding his tail. This trio rounded out the top three finishers. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2016)

In the end, Alfonso Ribeiro won the 40th and final Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race, truly a fan favorite event at the Grand Prix of Long Beach that will be missed more than Toyota or the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach, at this moment, knows.

"I owe an awful lot to the city of Long Beach, they've been so supportive, and to Toyota, 40 years putting on this fantastic Pro/Celebrity Race and promoting Long Beach the way they have," Ribeiro said.

Max Papis won the Pro category by finishing 4.872 seconds behind Ribeiro.

"It is just an amazing event and who won was the kids this event supports," said Papis. "This is the best street course in America, maybe the world."

Rod Millen, the Pro winner in 1995, was third and followed by Adam Carolla and Mike Skinner, the Pro winner in 2007 and 2008.
(ht: abcnews.go.com)

Race Overview Here >>>
(contains photos of the drivers at race's end performing donuts for the crowd)

Finishing Order Here >>>

From Left to Right: Max Papis P2 celebrates with the last and 40th winner of the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race, Alfonso Ribeiro and P3 Rod Millen during their victory lap around the track at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2016).

“The pace of this race was extremely fast and the drivers were very competitive at the start,” said President and CEO of the Grand Prix Association Jim Michaelian. “There was some exciting action in the field that had the fans on their feet, and we are glad everyone will walk away unscathed.

Congratulations to Alfonso Ribeiro on his victory. A special thanks to all this year’s participants who helped make the final race exciting. All their enthusiasm is, ultimately, for a great cause, and the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race was proud to be able to make it happen one last time.”

Trophy celebration for one last time for this enjoyable TGPLB event fan favorite. Standing on the Victory Circle Podium is (L to R) Max Papis P2, Alfonso Ribeiro P1, and P3 Rod Millen. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2016)

Toyota will donate $5,000 to Racing for Kids in the name of each participant, for a total of $100,000, and an additional $5,000 to Fresh Start Surgical Gifts on behalf of Ribeiro. Fresh Start Surgical Gifts is a national nonprofit program benefiting infants, children and teens with physical deformities caused by birth defects, accidents, abuse or disease through the gift of reconstructive surgery.

The Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race is scheduled to be broadcast on CBS Sportsnet on May 8 at 6 PM ET, and will re-air numerous times. (Check your local listings for details)

Fans can follow the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach on Facebook at GrandPrixLB, Twitter @ToyotaGPLB (#TPCR40) and Instagram at ToyotaGPLB.

... notes from The EDJE


TAGS: Al Unser Jr., Jimmy Vasser, Eddie Lawson, Rod Millen, Max Papis, Mike Skinner and Ken Gushi, Stephen Baldwin, Ricky Schroder, Alfonso Ribeiro, Chris McDonald, Frankie Muniz, Brian Austin Green, William Fichtner, Adam Carolla and Brett Davern, Rutledge Wood, Dara Torres, Bob Carter, Dave Passant, Doug Fregin, Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race, #TPCR40, Toyota Grand Prix Of Long Beach, #TGPLB42, Chris Pook, Teddy Yip, Dan Gurney, Phil Hill, Graham Hill, Bob Bondurant, Al Hagen, Toyota

Drivers Announced For 'Revved Up To Race' 37th Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race

Kate del Castillo at the post race press conference for the 2012 Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race for charity. Returning again this year with Ms. del Castillo will be SPEED Channel's Rutledge Wood, and 2012 Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race winner and comedian/car collector Adam Carolla. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2012)

Drivers Announced For 'Revved Up To Race' 37th Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race

The red carpet and race cars are ready as Toyota announced today the participants from film, television, music, sports and the military who will compete for checkered flag glory in the 2013 Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race. The 37th annual charity race will take place April 20 on the 1.97-mile street course in downtown Long Beach, Calif., as part of the 39th Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.

View slideshow: Drivers announced for 'Revved Up to Race' 37th Toyota Pro/Celebrity race

The field of racers will navigate the new 210-horsepower Scion FR-S race vehicles through high speed turns to benefit “Racing for Kids,” a national fundraising program supporting children’s hospitals throughout the United States. This year’s field of popular celebrity racers includes:

 

· Cristian Castro (@CristianCastro): Grammy Award-nominated and best-selling Mexican pop singer. Famous from a young age, one of his best known albums is “Mi Vida Sin Tu Amor,” with four singles in the top ten of Billboard's Hot Latin tracks. In April, he will release a new album “Primera Fila,” celebrating 20 years as a singer.

 

· Kate del Castillo (@katedelcastillo): Mexico’s most acclaimed actress, best known for her starring role in long-running mini-series “La Reina del Sur.” Other credits include “Under the Same Moon,” “Trade” and a guest appearance on the Showtime series “Weeds.” 

· Brett Davern (@BDavv): Actor who stars as Jake Rosati in MTV's hit series “Awkward.” Other credits include the film, “Beautiful Ohio” and appearances in “Cold Case,” “CSI: Miami,” “In Plain Sight,” and “Medium.”

· Jenna Elfman (@JennaElfman): Actress known for her quirky role on the TV series “Dharma & Greg,” which earned her a Golden Globe Award. She now stars as the first lady in the family comedy “1600 Penn.” Film credits include “Friends with Benefits” and “Keeping the Faith.”

· Jessica Hardy (@swimhardy): A multiple world record-holder in swimming and a 2012 Olympic medalist. A Long Beach, Calif. native, she also does motivational speaking and served as an ambassador for the United States Olympic Committee Team For Tomorrow.

· Jesse Metcalfe (@JesseMetcalfe): Actor best known for his role as a teen gardener on “Desperate Housewives” and who currently stars in the TNT continuation of “Dallas,” based on the 1978 series of the same name. Film credits include “John Tucker Must Die” and “Beyond a Reasonable Doubt.”

· Dakota Meyer (@Dakota_Meyer): Former U.S. Marine who received the Medal of Honor for his 2009 actions in Afghanistan. He wrote, Into the Fire: A Firsthand Account of the Most Extraordinary Battle in the Afghan War, fundraises with the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, and has partnered with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for the Hiring Our Heroes program.

· Jackson Rathbone (@JacksonRathbone): Actor best known for playing Jasper Hale in the hit “Twilight” movie series. Other film credits include “The Last Airbender.”

· Michelle Rodriguez (@MRodOfficial): Film actress best known for her tough girl physical roles, including starring in the record-breaking sci-fi film “Avatar,” the successful “Fast & Furious” franchise, the 2012 hit “Resident Evil: Retribution” and as a tough LAPD cop in TV’s “Lost.”

· Jeremy Sisto (@JeremySisto): Actor best known for playing Billy Chenowith on the series “Six Feet Under.” He also played Detective Cyrus Lupo on “Law & Order” and currently stars in the series “Suburgatory.”

· Mark Steines (@MarkSteines): Emmy award-winning journalist and host of the Hallmark Channel’s new how-to show, “Home & Family.” He spent more than 17 years on “Entertainment Tonight,” establishing himself as a trusted and charismatic figure in entertainment news. 

· Wanda Sykes (@iamwandasykes): Emmy award-winning comedian, writer and actress who ranks among Entertainment Weekly's 25 Funniest People in America. She has hosted her own late night talk show, “The Wanda Sykes Show” and has appeared on TV shows including, “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and films such as “Evan Almighty.” 

· Michael Trucco (@MichaelTrucco): Actor best known for playing Samuel Anders on SyFy's acclaimed series "Battlestar Galactica" and Justin Patrick on the USA Network series “Fairly Legal.” Other credits include appearances on “Revenge,” “How I Met Your Mother” and “One Tree Hill.”

· Rutledge Wood (@RutledgeWood): Auto racing analyst on Fox Sports/SPEED and co-host of “Top Gear USA.”

Pro drivers competing against the stars for the title include motocross champion and MTV’s “Nitro Circus” star Andy Bell (@AndyBell), 2012 Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race winner and comedian Adam Carolla (@AdamCarolla), Olympic gold medalist swimmer Tyler Clary (@TylerClary) and National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) driver Melanie Troxel (@MelanieTroxel).

“This talented and inspiring celebrity group will not only help Toyota share the story of this long-running charity event, but they also will feel the rush behind the wheel on the famous Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach track,” said Les Unger, Toyota national motorsports manager. “The Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race thrills both the participants and the crowds while giving back to kids in our communities through donations to Children's Hospital of Orange County and Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach.”

Rounding out the field is Glenn Faber, partner and general manager of Los Angeles area Keyes Toyota, as well as two charity auction winners: Dave Pasant, a retired insurance executive, and Carter Lay (@CarterLay), philanthropist and LAY'S® chips heir.

The Toyota Pro/Celebrity race is one of the longest-running, corporate sponsored events of its kind. Since 1991, Toyota has donated more than $2 million to the Racing for Kids organization, on behalf of this race and its participants. In addition to Toyota’s contributions, a $15,000 donation will be made in conjunction with the 16th annual “People Pole Award.” Sponsored by People magazine, the award honors the pole-position winner of the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race qualifying session on April 19. 

To learn more about the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race, visit www.toyotaracing.com/series/toyota-pro-celebrity.html. 

... notes from The EDJE

K-Rail Blocks And The Toyota Grand Prix Of Long Beach Are A Match Made In Motor Culture Heaven

Green flags were set flying along Shoreline Drive signaling the start of construction for the 39th Annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, which will run April 19-21, 2013 (L to R - Jim Michaelian, Bob Foster, Jim Liaw, Stephan Papadakis). Image Credit: TGPLB

K-Rail Blocks And The Toyota Grand Prix Of Long Beach Are A Match Made In Motor Culture Heaven

Yesterday, February 19, 2013, the 39th Toyota Grand Prix got underway in earnest. The process is the same every year and it would never happen without K-Rails. The temporary track through the streets of Long Beach, California got started with a ceremony before noon near Turn 10. It's the time of year where the demand for 'K-Rails' begins to increase as the temporary street circuit for the first race of the 2013 IZOD IndyCar Series season in St. Petersburg, Florida began just last week.

Sebastien Bourdais (third from left) has a tangible countdown to the IZOD IndyCar Series season-opening Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg every time he rides his bike on portions of the 1.8-mile, 14-turn circuit. Construction of the temporary street circuit for the ninth annual event March 22-24 began Feb. 15, 2013. Image Credit: IndyCar.com

The honorary construction foremen for the ceremony were Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster, Papadakis Racing owner Stephan Papadakis, Formula DRIFT President & Co-Founder Jim Liaw and Grand Prix Association of Long Beach President & CEO Jim Michaelian. Also on-hand were the Papadakis Racing Scion tC, which will be driven in 2013 by top Drifting driver Frederic Aasbo, and, courtesy of Toyota Motorsports, an all-new, race-prepared Scion FR-S that will be driven in the 2013 Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race.

“Our race circuit will feature something extra this year as we will be hosting the first-ever night racing in the Motegi Racing Super Drift Challenge on Friday and Saturday,” said Michaelian. “Along with the six other racing events here in April, this should make for one of the most entertaining weekends in our history.”

The setting of the first of more than 14 million pounds of concrete K-Rail blocks that line the 1.97 mile, 11-turn temporary street circuit track marks the beginning of two months of work preparing for the 175,000 fans expected during race weekend. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2012)

“It’s three days of great parties and great racing,” said Foster. “The Grand Prix brings a lot of people to Long Beach. Our hotels get filled up, our restaurants get filled up and people understand that Long Beach is a really a great city, a great place to have a good time.”

More than 30,000 working hours will be spent installing the  K-Rail blocks, three miles of fencing and 16,000 bolted-together tires, along with 16 huge spectator grandstands, seven pedestrian bridges and giant-vision boards for full-circuit TV coverage.

The heavy-duty concrete blocks and fencing, however, are merely a start.

“Leading up to race weekend, our staff will also install hospitality suites, tents, electrical equipment, phones, porta-johns, trash containers and a hundred other little things up until race weekend,” said Dwight Tanaka, director of operations for the Grand Prix Association.  “Then, when the last checkered flag falls on Sunday night, we start to take everything down, inspect it and get ready for next year.”

All businesses along the race circuit, which includes Shoreline Drive, Aquarium Way and Pine Ave., will remain open during construction of the racetrack.

Race fans will certainly get an eyeful as the Stadium SUPER Trucks go to battle, powered by 600-horsepower engines, going door-to-door on the 11-turn, 1.97-mile street course circuit for this special one-of-a-kind event. The Grand Prix exhibition will serve as the build-up to the Robby Gordon OFF-ROAD Stadium SUPER Trucks event scheduled the following weekend (April 26-27) at the famed L.A. Memorial Coliseum. The series then moves to San Diego’s Qualcomm Stadium on May 4 and May 18 for two thrilling venues to round out the commemorative California portion of the inaugural 2013 season. Image Credit: TGPLB

The 2013 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach will feature racing from the IZOD IndyCar Series, Tequila Patrón American Le Mans Series, Firestone Indy Lights, Pirelli World Challenge, Formula DRIFT, Robby Gordon OFF-ROAD Stadium SUPER Trucks and the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race.

SLIDESHOW

Fans can select and pay for their seats, parking and paddock passes online at gplb.com.  Tickets can also be ordered by calling the toll-free ticket hotline, (888) 82-SPEED, and callers can request a printed ticket brochure that includes a circuit map, ticket prices, order form and other information.  Also featured on gplb.com is the latest Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach news, downloadable ticket brochure and racetrack information, photos and ongoing announcements of special race week activities.

Ticket prices range from $28 for a Friday General Admission ticket to $130 for a three-day ticket that includes Sat./Sun. reserved seating in grandstand upper levels.  Pre-paid parking packages are also available, along with handicapped seating, IndyCar Paddock passes, Super Photo tickets and a wide variety of Hospitality Club packages.

Fans can also follow the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach on Facebook at GrandPrixLB and on Twitter @ToyotaGPLB.

The track takes shape on the streets of downtown Long Beach surrounding the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center and encompassing the Aquarium of the Pacific and a portion of the Pike at Rainbow Harbor complex. The start/finish line is on Shoreline Drive.

For the Southern California automobile race enthusiast, motor culture heaven begins Friday through Sunday, April 19-21, 2013 with the 39th Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach on 1.97 miles of pavement defined between the lines of K-Rail blocks of concrete.

... notes from The EDJE

2011 Long Beach Toyota Pro-Celebrity Race Media Day - Car Drawing & Charity RajArt Signing

A star-studded cast of some of America’s favorite celebrities from film, television, sports and music will take to the streets of Long Beach, Calif. April 15-16, 2011, to challenge a group of talented professional race-car drivers in the 35th annual Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race. The Hollywood stars are prepared to meet the high-speed challenge to support Racing for Kids, a national nonprofit program benefiting children’s hospitals in Long Beach and Orange County, Calif.. Pictured with Artist Raj Champaneri are Celebrities: AJ Buckley, Kim Coates, William Fichtner, Daniel Goddard, Djimon Honsou, Kevin Jonas, Stephen Moyer, Tito Ortiz, Megyn Price, Jillian Barberie Reynolds, Michael Trucco, charity auction winner Jerry Westlund, Toyota dealer Mike Sullivan. In the “Pro” category: 2010 winner Brian Austin Green, TV star and Pro driver Frankie Muniz, Ken Gushi, Kody Swanson, Christian Rado. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2011)

2011 Long Beach Toyota Pro-Celebrity Race Media Day - Car Drawing & Charity RajArt Signing

At the Media Day Luncheon, Pros and Celebrities mix with the Press as they draw for the specially prepared, Toyota Corporation, Scion tCs car they will drive in the charity race that is in its 35th year. After drawing their car, they then signed a special piece of art created by Raj Champaneri for an auction to be held at a charity event held during the 37th Annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach event.

Artist Raj Champaneri doesn't say much especially about his art and design work ... here are a few impressions he delivered at an interview while on location, recently. Raj says that he is blessed with a talent, that he has been touched to be able to provide such entertainment to all kinds of people, from children to adults, 'everyone has something to say'... "I am even more blessed that I can use my gifts for so much good; in preparing art and design work for charities creating an even greater good for all people, especially for children" (hence his connection with the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race). His art work has generated a good sum of money for many various charities around the world, benefiting those in need.

This excerpted and edited from the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach media guide -

“FUELED BY FAME”: Celebs Gear Up For the Annual Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race

As the world’s longest-running and most prestigious celebrity racing event, the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race has introduced more than 540 celebrities to the sport of race-car competition. Pitting popular personalities against professional racers, the 10-lap sprint around the 1.97-mile downtown Long Beach street circuit begins as an even field, as drivers get behind the wheel of identical race-ready Scion tCs.

Raj Champaneri, of East Indian descent, was born and raised in England and has been residing with his family in Los Angeles for over 25 years. His fascination with Art and Design, especially with cars dates back to his childhood days, when he dismantled his fathers estate car (station wagon) to conceptualize if stream-lined headlamps and a slant front-end would make the car go faster!!! Raj now prepares each masterpiece from his studios in Los Angeles, for clients and customers from all over the world. His renditions cover a wide subject matter, however the art work is immediately recognizable, and unmistakably unique. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2011)

The lineup of 18 drivers includes celebrities, proven professionals and a charity auction winner:

She normally reports on the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race from her anchor’s seat in the “Good Day LA” studio, but this year JILLIAN BARBERIE REYNOLDS is switching gears and getting behind the wheel to take a shot at winning the grand prize. As co-host of the Emmy Award–winning, top-rated Fox morning show for the past 15 years, Reynolds created the much loved segments “Style File” and “Adopt a Pet.” In 2000, she added another show to her hosting résumé by joining “Fox NFL Sunday,” which she co-hosts each week during the NFL season alongside Terry Bradshaw, Howie Long and Jimmy Johnson.

Multi-talented actor/writer/director/producer AJ BUCKLEY currently stars as Adam Ross on the CBS hit series “CSI: NY.” But he has a range of experience on other well-known and critically acclaimed series and films, including “The In Crowd” and “Blue Car” on the big screen and “Entourage,” “Without a Trace,” “NYPD Blue,” “Bones” and “The X-Files” on the small screen. A guest-starring role on the popular CW series “Supernatural” as Ed Zeddmore, the leader of a group of wannabe ghost hunters, led to the opportunity for Buckley to write, direct and star in the original Web-based series “The Ghostfacers.” He also stars in the Syfy film “The Doomsday Scrolls.”

KIM COATES currently appears as mercurial motorcycle club sergeant-at-arms Tig Trager on the FX hit series “Sons of Anarchy.” His film career kicked off with a bang in 1991 with “The Last Boy Scout,” and he’s since starred in more than 40 films, including the Academy Award–winning “Black Hawk Down,” “Pearl Harbor,” “The Client” and “Open Range.” He has six films opening in 2011: “Goon,” “Sacrifice,” “A Little Help,” “Sinners and Saints,” “Robosapien” and “Blood the Butchers Tale.” Coates starred on Broadway as Stanley Kowalski in “A Streetcar Named Desire” and held the title role in “Macbeth” at the legendary Stratford Theatre.

Versatile character actor WILLIAM FICHTNER has appeared in such big-screen blockbusters as “Armageddon,” “Black Hawk Down,” “The Perfect Storm,” “Date Night,” “Blades of Glory” and Michael Mann’s “Heat.” He was one of the winners of the Screen Actors Guild award for Best Ensemble Cast in a Feature Film for his performance in Paul Haggis’ Academy Award–winning “Crash.” He starred for three seasons in Fox’s hit drama “Prison Break” and can next be seen in theaters in the Nicolas Cage action movie “Drive Hard 3D.”

DANIEL GODDARD is best known as Cain on the soap opera “The Young and the Restless.” The Australian native also starred as television’s “Beastmaster” and appeared in the long-running Aussie soap opera “Home and Away.” Other small screen work includes parts in such series as “Lightspeed” and “Monk.” On the big screen, he’s appeared in such films as “The Perfect Sleep,” “These Boots Are Made for Walking,” “Dream Warrior” and “Immortally Yours.”

Returning from the 2010 Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race is popular actor BRIAN AUSTIN GREEN, who will vie this year in the pro category. Green most recently appeared as a recurring character on the ABC hit series “Desperate Housewives.” He gained overnight success for his role as David Silver on the teen phenomenon television series “Beverly Hills, 90210,” which ran for 10 years. Green also produced 40 episodes of the show. He was a series regular on Fox’s critically acclaimed “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles.” His additional TV credits include “Smallville,” “Las Vegas,” “Hope & Faith” and a lead role on “Freddie.” He directed his first feature film, “Fish Without a Bicycle,” in 2003.

Two-time Academy Award–nominated actor DJIMON HOUNSOU was first noticed by audiences in Steven Spielberg’s 1997 historical drama “Amistad.” Following that film, he appeared in roles in films including the Oscar-winning “Gladiator,” Michael Bay’s “The Island,” the thriller “Constantine,” the comedy “Beauty Shop” and Shekhar Kapur’s “The Four Feathers,” with Heath Ledger and Kate Hudson. He received Oscar nominations for his accomplished performances in the critically acclaimed “In America” and “Blood Diamond.”

Pop musical group, Jonas Brothes, Kevin Jonas, is a 35-1 shot (odds set in Las Vegas) at winning the Toyota Pro/celerity Race. The musician is tied for last spot primarily because of his inexperience with a stick shift, and because he missed the last training — which was a rainy one. But to Jonas’s credit, he learned quickly; he’ll just need to hope for a sunny race. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2011)

With his world-famous brothers, KEVIN JONAS has an impressive list of accomplishments, including 12 Teen Choice awards, numerous Grammy and Emmy award nominations, a No. 1 New York Times bestselling children’s book, the third-highest-grossing 3-D concert movie of all time and 2008’s No. 1 cable telecast, the Disney Channel original movie “Camp Rock.” The Jonas Brothers made SoundScan history as the only artist to hold three titles in the Top 10, with their third album, “A Little Bit Longer,” at No. 1; the “Camp Rock” soundtrack at No. 8; and their sophomore album, “Jonas Brothers,” at No. 10 on the Billboard Top 200. Their fourth album, “Lines, Vines and Trying Times,” debuted at No. 1 and was one of 2009’s top album debuts.

STEPHEN MOYER plays vampire Bill Compton on HBO’s Golden Globe–nominated series “True Blood,” which will soon return for its fourth season. He’s recently completed filming “Ice,” “Tribes of October” and “The Caller,” and will soon begin work on “Big Valley.” He can be seen next on the big screen in “Priest,” alongside Paul Bettany and Cam Gigandet.

Actor-turned-pro racer FRANKIE MUNIZ is returning for his fourth Toyota Pro/Celebrity race. Best known to fans as the eponymous star of the popular Fox series “Malcolm in the Middle,” Muniz put his acting career on hold after his win in the 2005 Toyota Pro/Celebrity race to pursue professional racing. He has also appeared in such films as “My Dog Skip,” “Agent Cody Banks,” “Big Fat Liar” and “Stay Alive.” He will next be seen on screen in the superhero comedy “Pizza Man,” not yet released.

Legendary ultimate fighter TITO ORTIZ won his first-ever fight—as an amateur in the Ultimate Fighting championships while he was a college student—in 31 seconds. He went on to win the Light Heavyweight Championship by defeating Wanderlei Silva at UFC 25 in Japan. He defended his championship six times, until surrendering it to fellow ultimate-fighting legend Randy Couture at UFC 44. Ortiz coached the third and 11th seasons of “The Ultimate Fighter” and wrote a bestselling autobiography, “This Is Gonna Hurt.”

Returning for her second consecutive year, television actress MEGYN PRICE is best known for her current role on the hit CBS comedy “Rules of Engagement” with David Spade and co-star Patrick Warburton. Price also starred as Claudia Finnerty in the sitcom “Grounded for Life.” Other television credits include “LateLine” and the animated series “American Dad!”

MICHAEL TRUCCO currently stars in the new USA Network series “Fairly Legal,” opposite Sarah Shahi. The actor, probably best known for his portrayal of Samuel Anders in three seasons of the critically acclaimed series “Battlestar Galactica,” recently guested in a multi-episode arc as Det. Tom Demming on the hit show “Castle,” starring Nathan Fillion. Prior to that, he appeared in a recurring role on “Beverly Hills, 90210” and then starred for two seasons on “Pensacola: Wings of Gold,” with James Brolin. His breakout role was in the big-screen blockbuster “A Few Good Men.”

Compact Drag-Racer, Chris Rado as he signs art for charity. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2011)

Vying for a win in the pro category alongside last year’s celebrity winner Green and star-turned-pro driver Muniz are KEN GUSHI, CHRIS RADO and KODY SWANSON.

GUSHI, a drift car champion and member of the Scion Racing team, is the youngest drifting competitor in both the D1 Grand Prix of Japan and the Formula Drift Championships of the U.S.

RADO is the owner of WORLD Racing and one of the leaders of the professional compact drag racing circuit and, in 2009, was the first front-wheel-drive vehicle driver in history to run a six-second quarter mile.

SWANSON is a midget-car series champion who began racing—and winning titles—before graduating from the eighth grade.

MIKE SULLIVAN, owner of Toyota of Hollywood and Toyota of Santa Monica, is filling the Southern California Toyota dealer seat.

Rounding out the field is the charity auction winner: JERRY WESTLUND, who is returning for the second consecutive year. He won the opportunity to race due to his generous donation in a charity auction.
[Reference Here]

Toyota will donate $5,000 to Racing for Kids in the name of each celebrity racer and another $5,000 to the winning racer’s charity of choice. Additionally, a $15,000 donation will be made in conjunction with the 14th annual People Pole Award. Sponsored by People magazine, the award honors the pole-position winner of the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race qualifying session on Friday, April 15.

The Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race takes place the following day, Saturday, April 16. In addition to participating in a practice session and a qualifying race on April 15, the drivers’ schedules include a visit to Long Beach’s Memorial Miller Children’s Hospital, which receives a charitable donation in their names from Toyota.

On behalf of the race and its participants, Toyota has donated more than $1.9 million to various children’s hospitals since 1991. Learn more about the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race, one of six main-event attractions taking place during the 37th annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach - HERE.

... notes from The EDJE