The plans for the Long Beach Motorsports Walk of Fame were met enthusiastically by government and elected officials, as well as local businesses and motorsports enthusiasts. The goal of the project was to create a new downtown attraction, and also to educate the public about Long Beach's role as a historic center of motorsports in Redevelopment Agency of Long Beach became a partner in the project by providing funding for the development of the Walk of Fame.
Following initial city approval and the support of the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach, the planning team chose Phil Hill and Dan Gurney as the first inductees. Staff then located a company that specializes in custom bronze plaques and developed an initial design based on a racing tire and a summary of the career of the inductees. Staff then worked with each driver and finalized the designs, deciding on three types of plaques - the 22-inch bronze originals in the concrete, 6-inch replicas to present to the drivers and their families, and 3-inch replicas as souvenirs of the event. A final design was created for a thrid plaque in the Walk of Fame, indentifying it as a City of Long Beach project. City staff then selected a location in front of the Long Beach Convention Center on Pine Avenue, along the route of the Toyota Grand Prix.
On April 6, 2006 the Mayor of Long Beach, Beverly O'Neill, led a dedication ceremony for the new Long Beach Motorsports Walk of Fame, honoring inductees Phil Hill and Dan Gurney, who were present with their families. The event brought together motorsports enthusiasts from throughout the state, members of the racing press and longtime fans of legends Hill and Gurney.
Together, the City of Long Beach, the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach and two of the most revered motorsports figures in the world, inaugurated the Long Beach Motorsports Walk of Fame, making it a permanent, must-see site on any visit to the City of Long Beach and a regional point of interest for motorsports fans visiting Southern California throughout the year. |
