Jim Michaelian, a race car driver who helped launch the annual Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, has died. He was 83 years old.
Grand Prix Asson. Long Beach confirmed his death Saturday, just weeks before this year’s race, which is scheduled for April 17-19.
Michaelian joins the Grand Prix Association. Long Beach in 1975, a competitive race at the time, made it one of the most popular street racing events in the world. The annual three-day event attracts thousands of race car enthusiasts and brings millions of dollars to the city of Long Beach.
“Jim was the leader of a small, passionate group who believed in the concept of bringing elite open-wheel competition to Long Beach in the 1970s,” Roger Penske, president of Penske Corporation, said in a statement. “His vision and energy for this great event remained boundless for 50 years.”
Penske Entertainment acquires Grand Prix Association. Of Long Beach in 2024.
Michaelian was a competitive sports car racer for over 25 years, competing in endurance events at tracks including Le Mans, Daytona Beach, Nürburgring, Dubai and Sebring in Florida. He told The Times in 2019 that he was still racing sports cars at the age of 76.
He then said, “As long as I can achieve some degree of success, I will continue to do so until they tell me I can’t do it anymore.”
A native of Monterey Park, Michaelian (pronounced meh-KAY-lee-un) received a bachelor’s degree in physics from UCLA. But he turned his attention towards business and earned an MBA degree there. Driven by a love of motor racing, Michaelian eventually worked his way onto the staff of the Long Beach Grand Prix.
He served as controller and chief operating officer of the association before being appointed president and chief executive in 2001. During his 51-year tenure, Michaelian transformed Long Beach into an iconic stop in the world of motor racing.
A variety of races are held over the course of three days on the city’s seaside streets, culminating with a big league IndyCar Series race on Sunday. The races include a variety of cars, and one for trucks, to attract a wider audience.
But the Long Beach Grand Prix is like a festival built around racing. There are concerts, a lifestyle expo, a children’s area with go-karts and other activities, as well as an array of food and beverage venues, all centered on the Long Beach Convention Center and Shoreline Drive.
Michaelian said he constantly kept an eye on the pulse of the crowd by walking to the track to keep track of how Grand Prix fans were enjoying the activities. He will survey any problems that may need to be fixed or whether changes need to be made for the next year.
“Many young people don’t want to sit in seats anymore,” he told The Times in 2019.
“So, if they’re hanging out, I’m hanging out too” by creating more spaces where they can gather, listen to music and have dining options nearby, he said then.
Last year Michaelian was added to Long Beach Motorsports walk of Fame.
“Jim was a racer’s racer and a dear friend of IMSA and the motorsports community at large,” John Doonan, president of the International Motor Sports Association, said in a statement. “We will greatly miss his presence in Long Beach and on racetracks everywhere.”
Grand Prix Assoc. Long Beach did not release his cause of death.
Michaelian is survived by his wife, Mary, and his sons, Bob and Mike.
Former Times staff writer James F. Peltz contributed to this report.
