Celebrity racers who will be competing in the 2011 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach Pro/Celebrity Race take some time out on Practice and Press Day Tuesday, April 5, to chit chat near the racetrack.
10:45am | Famous names from Hollywood and beyond flocked to downtown Long Beach Tuesday for the 2011 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach Pro/Celebrity Race Practice and Press Day.
The Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race began 34 years ago and is the longest-running corporate-sponsored celebrity racing event in the world. This year, the race will feature celebrities competing against professional race car drivers in identical Scion tC sports coupes.
The 10-lap race serves as a fundraiser each year. Toyota donates $5,000 per celebrity and professional participants to Racing for Kids, as well as an additional $5,000 to the race winer’s charity of choice.
This year, the event is expected to again raise more than $100,000 for Racing for Kids, a national organization that benefits children’s hospitals. Money raised by the race will specifically be directed toward Southern California children’s hospitals.
Not all celebrities know how to drive race cars. To that end, FAST LANE Racing School has for more than 20 years developed and provided exclusive classroom and on-track training for all participants in the Pro/Celebrity Race.
Celebrities on this year’s star-studded list of racers include “Sons of Anarchy” star Kim Coates, UFC champion Tito Ortiz, Stephen Moyer of “True Blood,” Kevin Jonas of the Jonas Brothers, Megyn Price of “Rules of Engagement”, 2005 Pro/Celebrity Race winner Frankie Muniz, Michael Trucco of USA Network’s “Fairly Legal,” two-time Academy Award nominee Djimon Hounsou, actor William Fichtner and the 2010 Pro/Celebrity Race winner, Brian Austin Green.
The Pro/Celebrity Race qualifier is set for Friday, April 15, with the big race set for Saturday, April 16.
All photos by Jen Davis.
“True Blood” star Stephen Moyer is interviewed by LBTV Tuesday, April 5, during the 2011 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach Pro/Celebrity Race Practice and Press Day.
From left, UFC Champion Tito Ortiz, Michael Trucco of USA Network’s “Fairly Legal” and eldest Jonas brother, Kevin Jonas, of the Jonas Brothers share race training stories Tuesday, April 5, during the 2011 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach Pro/Celebrity Race Practice and Press Day.
“Rules of Engagement” star Megyn Price discusses racing strategies with “Sons of Anarchy” star Kim Coates Tuesday, April 5, during the 2011 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach Pro/Celebrity Race Practice and Press Day.
UFC champion Tito Ortiz points to the list of sponsors on his racing jumpsuit’s sleeve Tuesday, April 5, during the 2011 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach Pro/Celebrity Race Practice and Press Day.
Kevin Jonas of the Jonas Brothers speaks to a member of the press Tuesday, April 5, during the 2011 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach Pro/Celebrity Race Practice and Press Day.
Actor Djimon Hounsou uses his Flip Camera to snap a photo of himself, UFC champion Tito Ortiz and “Fairly Legal” star Michael Trucco Tuesday, April 5, during the 2011 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach Pro/Celebrity Race Practice and Press Day.
“Sons of Anarchy” star Kim Coates, “Rules Of Engagement” star Megyn Price and UFC champion Tito Ortiz clowning around Tuesday, April 5, during the 2011 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach Pro/Celebrity Race Practice and Press Day.
Actor Frankie Munoz, who won the Pro/Celebrity Race in 2005, is all smiles as he shows off his racing helmet Tuesday, April 5, during the 2011 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach Pro/Celebrity Race Practice and Press Day.
Actor Brian Austin Green, the 2010 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach Pro/Celebrity Race winner, poses with the 2010 Miss Grand Prix of Long Beach, right, along with the second runner up Tuesday, April 5, during the 2011 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach Pro/Celebrity Race Practice and Press Day.