Los Angeles, Ca
Long Beach Grand Prix co-founder Jim Michaelian still racing at 81
At 81, Jim Michaelian’s need for speed is showing no signs of…well, slowing down.
Michaelian, a notable member of Southern California’s Armenian community, is credited with helping bring open-wheel racing to Long Beach in what is now the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach.
“I have always had a passion for speed, even as a youngster,” Michaelian, who grew up in Boyle Heights, told KTLA. “I got some hot rods and was driving around Southern California [and] got my fair share of tickets.”
The race got its start in the 1970s.
“A gentleman by the name of Chris Pook came up with the idea of running a street race in the city of Long Beach because the city was anxious to change its image because, at the time, it was a Navy city,” Michaelian recalls.
In 1975, the city gave them the green light to run their first Formula 5000 race, which turned out to be the first street course race in the U.S.
The race’s pivotal moment came in 1977 when racing legend Mario Andretti took home the checkered flag.
Michaelian is now the President and CEO of the Long Beach Grand Prix and still enjoys getting behind the wheel for a few laps.
“I’ve had a couple of accidents, one where I literally went upside down in Daytona. But I’ve managed to survive so far. Hopefully I’ll get a few more years of racing in before they say you don’t qualify for a license anymore,” he says.
Los Angeles, Ca
Boyle Heights warehouse cleanup begins as crews face 85 million pounds of spoiled food
Cleanup efforts are underway Thursday at the Boyle Heights cold-storage warehouse that burned for eight days after firefighters officially declared the massive blaze knocked down Wednesday evening. Los Angeles Fire Department crews remain at the Lineage warehouse near Union Pacific Avenue and South La Puente Street as they transition into the overhaul phase, searching for […]
A hospital needs help identifying a male patient who was found injured and unconscious in downtown Los Angeles.
The man is believed to be in his 30s, according to the Los Angeles General Medical Center.
He was found injured on the ground on Omar Street and has been hospitalized since June 22.
He stands 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs 176 pounds. He has brown eyes, dark brown hair and tattoos across his upper body.
He did not have any personal belongings to help staff identify him or contact loved ones. Workers did not disclose the nature of his injuries.
Anyone who recognizes the man is asked to call clinical social worker Cesar Robles at 323-409-6885.
The public can also call the L.A. General Medical Center’s Department of Social Work at 323-409-5253 or, after hours from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m., call 323-409-6883. On weekends, call 323-409-5254.
Police are asking the public for help Wednesday in identifying a hit-and-run driver who left a woman badly injured in Long Beach late last month. The May 24 crash occurred around 11 p.m. as the victim was crossing East 2nd Street, according to the Long Beach Police Department. Video provided by police showed a dark-colored […]
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