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Thread: Long Beach Grand Prix. 1989.

  1. #1
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    Long Beach Grand Prix. 1989.

    I attended the Long Beach Grand Prix in April. 1989.
    Towards the end of the race there was an incident between Mario Andretti and Al Unser junior which happened at the corner I was at and I have a few out of focus photos of that day and a You Tube video that shows what happened. Mario was not pleased !







    (Ken Hyndman )

  2. #2
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    Name:  longbeach89.jpg
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    Name:  Long Beach 1989 # 2.jpg
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    Check the price of these. I wish it was like that today. You could go into the garage area in the Arena and watch the mechanics and drivers mingle throughout the day and night. It was a great experience.

    (KH )
    Last edited by khyndart in CA; 11-14-2016 at 07:16 AM.

  3. #3
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    My blurred photo of the Andretti / Unser incident as Mario came up behind Tom Sneva in the # 9 STP car he had to slow more than what "Little Al" had allowed for and got booted out of the race while leading about 3 laps from the end. Unser continued even though the left front spoiler had been broken off.

    Name:  Long Beach 1989 #3.jpg
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    (Ken Hyndman photo )
    Last edited by khyndart in CA; 11-14-2016 at 08:58 AM. Reason: .

  4. #4
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    On the next lap the crowd who had Mario Andretti as their hero let Al Unser jr. know how they felt about his driving tactics !

    Name:  Long Beach 1989 # 1.jpg
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    (Ken Hyndman photo )
    Last edited by khyndart in CA; 11-14-2016 at 08:56 AM.

  5. #5
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    Michael Andretti stopped after the race to give his father a ride back to the pits. Michael finished second in his K-Mart Lola Chevrolet # 6.
    Name:  1989 Long Beach. Father & Son.jpg
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    Before Mario Andretti's Lola was towed away.

    Name:  1989 Long Beach..jpg
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    ( Ken Hyndman photos )
    Last edited by khyndart in CA; 11-15-2016 at 07:38 AM. Reason: .

  6. #6
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    1989 Long Beach Grand Prix race leaders coming around on a Toyota pick up.
    There is some talent on the back of this Toyota.
    Michael Andretti, Al Unser. jr. and third place finisher Emerson Fittipaldi.

    Name:  1989 Long Beach winners..jpg
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    (Ken Hyndman photo )

  7. #7
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    Even after 20 years Mario Andretti was still upset with Al Unser junior as it is discussed in this 2009 article.

    http://www.espn.com/racing/racing/in...=oreovicz_john
    Last edited by khyndart in CA; 11-16-2016 at 12:23 AM.

  8. #8
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    This is for anyone who would like to see the complete race.
    Put it on full screen and enjoy. I know I did that day as we all went on a bus and did not have to worry about the hassles of driving and parking etc. Just wish I had had a better camera. Oh well..




    (ken Hyndman )

  9. #9
    Thanks Ken, CART racing was good entertainment in those days.

  10. #10
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    GD66,
    I would agree with you as there was plenty of entertainment back then.
    AJ Foyt was always one to give it everything he could in all types of racing from Indy and Le Mans to midgets at Liverpool in Sydney.
    Name:  Long Beach 1989_0001.jpg
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    AJ Foyt, 1989 Long Beach GP.
    ( Hyndman Action Photo Dept. )


    Name:  Long Beach 1989_0002.jpg
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    Bobby Rahal in his Kraco Lola Cosworth about to pass Danny Sullivan in his Penske Chevrolet.
    (Hyndman Action Photo Dept. )
    Last edited by khyndart in CA; 11-16-2016 at 09:46 AM. Reason: .

  11. #11
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    Long Beach GP. 1989.
    Al Unser in his Lola Chevrolet # 2 minus the left front wing after the Andretti incident, on his way to victory.
    Name:  Toyota-Long-Beach-1989-Unser.jpg
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    (photographer unknown )


    ( Ken H)

  12. #12
    Quote Originally Posted by khyndart in CA View Post
    Name:  longbeach89.jpg
Views: 612
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    Name:  Long Beach 1989 # 2.jpg
Views: 600
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    Check the price of these. I wish it was like that today. You could go into the garage area in the Arena and watch the mechanics and drivers mingle throughout the day and night. It was a great experience.

    (KH )
    in the program cover the bottom right photo, is that Jay Leno?
    Looks like his jaw line.

  13. #13
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    Terry,
    Yes that is Jay Leno, he is a real enthusiast and he would participate in the Long Beach Pro/Celebrity races which were a fun part of the race weekend and it is close to Hollywood ! They are all raced in Toyota Celicas or Scions over the last 40 years but Toyota is moving it's headquarters to Texas so it will not be Toyota sponsoring this race at the moment.
    Here is a brief clip about the event.


    Plus this article regarding the 1989 race.

    http://articles.latimes.com/1989-04-...ace-long-beach



    (Ken H )
    Last edited by khyndart in CA; 11-16-2016 at 07:47 PM.

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