Car racing and fannish intersections

[lizardbeth]

Each year, as part of the Long Beach Grand Prix (one of the few car races in the US done on the city streets), Toyota runs the Pro/Celebrity race for charity. Last year, Brian Austin Green won, which was cool. And I certainly paid more attention to his race than I have before, with other celebs I'm not as much a fan of. (like, I vaguely knew when Keanu Reeves won a few years back but it wasn't as interesting)

However. This year? I'm scheming to actually attend, even though I know NOTHING about car racing. Because Michael Trucco's in the race. :D :D



I have to confess I was a bit surprised that he was doing it at all, since he mentioned something at a recent con about not driving fast anymore after the accident. But I guess the invite was too much to resist...

The celebs have four days of training out in the desert racing school. These pics are from a video made of the training.



The guy in the hoodie in the last pic is one of the Jonas Brothers. Gods,I hope Trucco kicks HIS ass at the very least.

And here he is, in official Toyota race gear. With the Jonas brother again.


And here's Brian at training.


He's now the mentor. Jillian Barbarrie (one of the 'hosts' of one of our breezy morning shows and also racing) got racing advice from him.

Since he won last year he's been bumped up to pro level which means he starts 30 seconds behind this year. Good luck, Brian. Just not quite so much this year.

Also racing are Stephen Moyer (while I'm not a big fan of Bill or True Blood much anymore, he seems completely delightful in interviews), William Fichtner, and Kim Coates of "Sons of Anarchy", among many others.



Next thing you know I'll be getting a motorcycle thanks to all my celeb crushes... :)

Comments

[mrsdrjackson.livejournal.com]

Oh please Trucco, beat the Jonas boy. Pleeeeease?

If he and BAG tied, they could settle it in a mud wrestling contest.

:P

Just sayin...

[lizardbeth-j.livejournal.com]

THAT IS THE BEST IDEA.

[kag523.livejournal.com]

Yeesh! Is it wrong of me to be a little FREAKED OUT that someone who had a potentially-fatal neck injury not five years ago would even CONSIDER this...? *shakes head* I don't approve of Trucco risking himself. :>P

[lizardbeth-j.livejournal.com]

true. TBH, I'm kind of surprised Sandra is letting him. Him, I can see -- one of the articles he mentions that he's attended the race for the last four years and he probably couldn't say no to the offer, being such a speed fan.. But I know I'd have put my foot down if my husband had that accident --but then, I'd probably have gotten rid of the bikes too, so clearly she's way more of a risk taker than I am...

But the cars they race in, are much safer than the Ferrari he was in the crash so hopefully everyone will be fine. but yeah, I definitely know what you mean.

[kag523.livejournal.com]

Yeah - I'd have an issue with it, but then again, I don't have those blue eyes staring into my soul... In Sandra's situation I'd probably give in eventually too. No one can say no to him! LOL

[on-the-ground.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the pics and info.. I'm not surprised that this makes us all worry.. if I was his wife (LOL) I'm not sure I could deal with it but if she's okay with it I guess we must be as well :)

[lizardbeth-j.livejournal.com]

True, :) it's a good thing that they both seem very confident about both his safety and his skills on the track, rather than still bothered by the potential for something else to go very wrong. So there's that.

But heck, I'm the one who still hates how they made Trucco basically re-enact his own real-life surgery for No Exit. So, I know I"m slightly irrationally overprotective. *g*