{"version":"1.0.0","episode":{"title":"Ep.324 – RE-HEATED: Jim Michaelian","url":"http://getcarcurious.com/episodes/ep-324-re-heated-jim-michaelian","audioUrl":"https://media.blubrry.com/dinnerwithracers/s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/listen.dinnerwithracers.com/Ep324JimMichaelianREHEATED.mp3","description":"The latest of our RE-HEATED series, where we re-issue episodes that might share something with racing stories in the news… Episode 223 featuring Jim Michaelian. One of the pioneers behind the Grand Prix of Long Beach, Jim unfortunately passed on Saturday, March 21, but we were fortunate to spend an extended amount of time with him in 2021 in our “Building Long Beach” video and podcast series. One of the key members since Year One, Jim Michaelian went from a kid with an MBA helping out in finance, to the current President and CEO of the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach. From boots on the ground at the beginning, to steering the ship today, Jim is uniquely qualified to know both the history of the event and the challenges that face the Grand Prix today. This is of course a complimentary episode to our “Dinner with Racers” video series on MotorTrend’s YouTube, where you can see the story unfold in a two-part special. Dinner was served via pizza we ordered into the Grand Prix offices in Long Beach, CA, with the song “Something New” by Castle Heist taking us out. Thanks again to Continental Tire and Acura for making it all happen."},"annotations":[{"startTime":9.0,"endTime":16.0,"type":"concept","title":"IndyCar","url":"/glossary/indycar","quote":"The first IndyCar race at Long Beach was also the first race of the year, and veteran Mario Andretti dominated in his ninth appearance at Long Beach, leading the entire race and securing his second Long Beach victory.","canonicalId":"concept:indycar","priority":0.9,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"IndyCar is the top open-wheel racing series in the United States, featuring purpose-built race cars and oval/road-course events. When the hosts mention the first IndyCar race at Long Beach, they’re talking about a major milestone in the series’ schedule and history.","simplifiedExplanation":"IndyCar is the big open-wheel racing league in the U.S. It’s where drivers race specialized cars on tracks like ovals and road courses."}},{"startTime":38.6,"endTime":44.0,"type":"term","title":"Engine on!","url":"/glossary/engine-on","quote":"I was in the sound of a driver on the radio during a race. What do you think I should do? Engine on! And welcome again to another edition of our reheated episodes of Dinner with Racers.","canonicalId":"term:engine-on","priority":0.9,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"“Engine on!” is a common race-operations call used to indicate the engine should be started or is ready to be started. In a racing context, it’s part of the controlled communication between the driver, pit crew, and race control to coordinate safe, timed actions.","simplifiedExplanation":"“Engine on!” is a command used in racing to tell someone the engine should be running. It’s part of the radio communication that keeps everything coordinated during the race."}},{"startTime":85.9,"endTime":90.3,"type":"concept","title":"Grand Prix of Long Beach","url":"/glossary/grand-prix-of-long-beach","quote":"Jim is basically one of the founding fathers of the Grand Prix of Long Beach and to the present day was sort of the guy running the day-to-day of it.","canonicalId":"concept:grand-prix-of-long-beach","priority":0.9,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"The Grand Prix of Long Beach is a major motorsport event held on a temporary street circuit in Long Beach, California. It’s known for how the track is built from city streets and for the logistical challenge of preparing and dismantling it quickly.","simplifiedExplanation":"This is a big racing event in Long Beach, California. The race track isn’t a permanent track—it’s built temporarily on city streets and then removed after the event."}},{"startTime":100.5,"endTime":103.2,"type":"concept","title":"street circuit","url":"/glossary/street-circuit","quote":"I think on Motor Trend it's called How to Build a Street Circuit or something stupid like that.","canonicalId":"concept:street-circuit","priority":0.9,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"A street circuit is a race track laid out on public roads, using barriers, signage, and temporary surfaces. Unlike permanent tracks, street circuits require significant setup and teardown work, often on tight timelines.","simplifiedExplanation":"A street circuit is a race course made from regular city streets. Because it’s temporary, organizers have to set it up before the race and remove it afterward."}},{"startTime":176.6,"endTime":186.3,"type":"concept","title":"Long Beach Grand Prix","url":"/glossary/long-beach-grand-prix","quote":"Yeah, I just saw that. Yeah. You know, Jim McAlion who was one of the staples of the Long Beach Grand Prix and somebody we spent a fair amount of time with when we did that documentary a couple of years ago.","canonicalId":"concept:long-beach-grand-prix","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"The Long Beach Grand Prix is a major IndyCar-style street race held in Long Beach, California. It’s known for its tight, urban layout and for being a long-running event with strong media coverage and team involvement.","simplifiedExplanation":"The Long Beach Grand Prix is a big professional race in Long Beach, California. It’s run on city streets, so the track is tight and the drivers have to be precise."}},{"startTime":595.5,"endTime":603.8,"type":"concept","title":"Watkins Glen's road race","url":"/glossary/watkins-glen-s-road-race","quote":"Right. Okay. None. No Detroit, no Vegas, no anything. The reason was, if you remember historically, way back when they had some fatalities associated with Watkins Glen's road race.","canonicalId":"concept:watkins-glen-s-road-race","priority":0.9,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"Watkins Glen is a famous road course in New York, and it has a long history in American motorsport. When the speaker references fatalities associated with Watkins Glen’s road race, they’re pointing to how serious incidents can affect whether similar events are considered safe and legally insurable.","simplifiedExplanation":"Watkins Glen is a well-known race track. The point here is that serious crashes can make it harder to run other races because insurers and lawyers get nervous about safety and liability."}},{"startTime":742.5,"endTime":751.7,"type":"term","title":"K-Rail","url":"/glossary/k-rail","quote":"You couldn't just take, for example, K-Rail. Or just take, you know, they've got K-Rail all over, just put it on the circuit. Well, K-Rail doesn't work because it doesn't have a flat edge.","canonicalId":"term:k-rail","priority":0.9,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"K-Rail is a type of track safety barrier used to protect drivers and spectators. It’s designed to redirect an impacting vehicle, but its geometry matters—if it doesn’t have the right shape for a given track layout, it may not contain the car effectively.","simplifiedExplanation":"K-Rail is a safety barrier you see on race tracks. It’s meant to slow down and redirect a crash, but the barrier has to be installed in a way that matches the track so it can actually keep the car under control."}},{"startTime":796.4,"endTime":800.9,"type":"concept","title":"sanctioning bodies","url":"/glossary/sanctioning-bodies","quote":"All critical factors in terms of providing the level of security and safety that insurance\nguys were looking for, the city was looking for, the sanctioning bodies were looking for\neverybody.","canonicalId":"concept:sanctioning-bodies","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"Sanctioning bodies are the organizations that officially approve races and set the rules for how events must be run. They typically require specific safety measures, track standards, and event procedures before they’ll sanction a race."}},{"startTime":843.8,"endTime":848.1,"type":"concept","title":"Formula one","url":"/glossary/formula-one","quote":"Four or five thousand was required because the formula one wouldn't come to a circuit\nin those days until there had been some kind of a test race run.\nLike a proof of concept.","canonicalId":"concept:formula-one","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"Formula One (F1) is the top tier of open-wheel racing, with strict requirements for circuits, safety systems, and event operations. The speaker notes that F1 wouldn’t come to the circuit until the track had proven itself via a test race."}},{"startTime":869.0,"endTime":871.3,"type":"concept","title":"Mario Andretti","url":"/glossary/mario-andretti","quote":"I mean, Mario Andretti was there.","canonicalId":"concept:mario-andretti","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"Mario Andretti is a legendary American racing driver known for success across multiple disciplines, including IndyCar and Formula One. His mention here is about the star power and prestige of the Long Beach event in 1975.","simplifiedExplanation":"Mario Andretti is one of the most famous race drivers in American history. Mentioning him is a way of saying the event had major top-tier talent."}},{"startTime":893.7,"endTime":898.2,"type":"company","title":"CBS","url":"/glossary/cbs","quote":"We went out and got television with CBS. So CBS came in.","canonicalId":"company:cbs","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"CBS is a major U.S. broadcast network. In this segment, the speaker notes CBS involvement as critical for visibility because the race would be televised."}},{"startTime":986.5,"endTime":1004.1,"type":"concept","title":"marquee","url":"/glossary/marquee","quote":"...we went and covered up the marquee on the movie theater, the XXX rated movie theater that was right at the start finish line on Ocean Boulevard so that it wouldn't appear on television. True story.","canonicalId":"concept:marquee","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"A marquee is the sign structure above a theater entrance, often with illuminated text or a movie title. In this story, the marquee was covered to prevent it from showing up on TV during the race."}},{"startTime":1071.2,"endTime":1075.8,"type":"concept","title":"pits","url":"/glossary/pits","quote":"So we took that, moved it down, moved the pits over on Shoreline Drive. But that happened in 81, 82-ish, okay.","canonicalId":"concept:pits","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"“Pits” are the pit lane and pit area where teams service the cars during a race weekend. Moving the pits changes how cars enter/exit the service area and can affect traffic flow and race logistics."}},{"startTime":1293.4,"endTime":1299.1,"type":"company","title":"Citibank","url":"/glossary/citibank","quote":"...we started to track more sponsors, which is key. You know, Citibank came on board in 78 and 79.","canonicalId":"company:citibank","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"Citibank is mentioned as a sponsor that joined the event in 1978 and 1979. Sponsorship from major financial brands is often crucial for funding large racing events and covering operational costs.","simplifiedExplanation":"Citibank is a big company that helped pay for the racing event. Big sponsors like that can make it possible to put on a major race."}},{"startTime":1301.9,"endTime":1306.1,"type":"company","title":"Toyota","url":"/glossary/toyota","quote":"...and then in 80, Toyota came on board as a title sponsor. And that also was one of those tent poles...","canonicalId":"company:toyota","priority":0.9,"confidence":0.92,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"Toyota is described as coming on board in 1980 as a title sponsor. A title sponsor typically provides significant funding and marketing support, which can be a major milestone for a racing series or event’s growth.","simplifiedExplanation":"Toyota is mentioned as the main sponsor starting in 1980. When a company like Toyota becomes the title sponsor, it usually means the event is getting bigger and more credible."}},{"startTime":1327.7,"endTime":1332.1,"type":"company","title":"Valvoline","url":"/glossary/valvoline","quote":"You landed a big title sponsor and then you got a valveline. Yeah. Yep.","canonicalId":"company:valvoline","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"Valvoline is a well-known automotive fluids brand, best known for engine oil and lubricants. In motorsports, it often appears as a sponsor because teams and events rely heavily on oil and maintenance-related products.","simplifiedExplanation":"Valvoline makes car fluids, especially engine oil. When you see it at a race, it’s usually because they sponsor the event or team."}},{"startTime":1334.1,"endTime":1339.1,"type":"company","title":"Bridgestone","url":"/glossary/bridgestone","quote":"at that time we had Bridgestone. It's a tire company.","canonicalId":"company:bridgestone","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"Bridgestone is a major tire manufacturer and a common motorsports sponsor. Tire branding matters because tire performance and availability can influence how teams prepare for events.","simplifiedExplanation":"Bridgestone is a tire company. In racing, tires are a huge deal, so tire brands often sponsor events."}},{"startTime":1343.2,"endTime":1346.5,"type":"brand","title":"Acura","url":"/glossary/acura","quote":"I mean, it's enough that you got Acura. We'll take Acura, right?","canonicalId":"brand:acura","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"Acura is Honda’s luxury performance brand, and it has a long history of motorsports involvement and sponsorship. When a speaker says “you got Acura,” they’re referring to brand backing that can support an event’s growth and longevity."}},{"startTime":1935.64,"endTime":1941.5,"type":"concept","title":"Indy 500","url":"/glossary/indy-500","quote":"You know, there's two groups and they're fighting and and somehow the Indy 500, you know, it goes nowhere.","canonicalId":"concept:indy-500","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"The Indy 500 is the Indianapolis 500, one of the biggest American open-wheel racing events. It’s often used as a reference point in motorsports discussions because it involves major teams, sponsors, and long-term planning.","simplifiedExplanation":"The Indy 500 is a famous race in Indianapolis. It’s a big deal in racing, so people mention it when talking about teams and sponsorships."}},{"startTime":2099.2,"endTime":2104.0,"type":"concept","title":"race weekend","url":"/glossary/race-weekend","quote":"[2099.2s]  And then, and then you get to race weekend and you got all the hospitality and you got\n[2104.0s]  to get all the, and you got, everybody's got agents and people.","canonicalId":"concept:race-weekend","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"A “race weekend” is the full multi-day event window around a race, including practice, qualifying, and the race itself. In motorsports, it also typically involves hospitality, logistics, and coordination between teams, drivers, agents, and sponsors.","simplifiedExplanation":"A “race weekend” is the whole event period around a race—everything leading up to the actual race day. It’s not just driving; it’s also planning, meetings, and support."}},{"startTime":2150.6,"endTime":2154.3,"type":"concept","title":"turn one","url":"/glossary/turn-one","quote":"Donnie Osmond going upside down in turn one, that famous picture, you know.","canonicalId":"concept:turn-one","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"“Turn one” is the first corner of a racetrack, and it’s often the most chaotic spot because cars are accelerating, braking, and bunching up. Incidents there tend to be highly visible in photos and highlight reels.","simplifiedExplanation":"Turn one is the first corner on a race track. Because everyone is still getting up to speed and braking hard, it’s a common place for big moments or crashes."}},{"startTime":2316.7,"endTime":2323.6,"type":"brand","title":"Honda","url":"/glossary/honda","quote":"And that's when I went down to Honda and talked to John and actually talked to Honda originally...","canonicalId":"brand:honda","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"Honda is referenced as the company the speaker went to after deciding to make a distinction from the Toyota branding. In automotive/motorsports contexts, Honda involvement often implies partnerships, sponsorships, or technical support tied to racing programs.","simplifiedExplanation":"They mention Honda as the other automaker they talked to. That usually means a business or racing relationship—like support or sponsorship—rather than something about a specific car part."}},{"startTime":2453.8,"endTime":2457.0,"type":"concept","title":"sports car racing","url":"/glossary/sports-car-racing","quote":"I went out the Riverside, watched sports car racing out there. I'm sort of a sports car guy.","canonicalId":"concept:sports-car-racing","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"The speaker is talking about sports car racing, a category of motorsport focused on production-based or purpose-built sports cars. It’s a different world than open-wheel racing, with emphasis on endurance, driver stints, and car setup for long stints.","simplifiedExplanation":"Sports car racing is a type of racing where cars are built for performance and often based on real models. Races can be short or long, and teams usually focus a lot on keeping the car fast for the whole event."}},{"startTime":2651.1,"endTime":2661.0,"type":"concept","title":"gamesmanship","url":"/glossary/gamesmanship","quote":"Was there any gamesmanship for, let's say, the other half of the investment group? There was a... Look at that pause.","canonicalId":"concept:gamesmanship","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"Gamesmanship refers to using strategy, timing, and psychological tactics to gain an advantage—often without breaking rules. In racing and team ownership contexts, it can describe how different groups try to influence outcomes or negotiations.","simplifiedExplanation":"Gamesmanship means playing smart and using tactics to get an edge. It’s less about cheating and more about out-thinking the other side."}},{"startTime":3167.1,"endTime":3179.1,"type":"concept","title":"grandstand seats","url":"/glossary/grandstand-seats","quote":"We set the parameters for where we were going to be for that first race with a guess of how many people would come. We put 40,000 grandstand seats in, 40,000 pretty good size.","canonicalId":"concept:grandstand-seats","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"Grandstand seats are fixed spectator seating along a track or event venue. The number of seats helps estimate attendance and indicates how large the event is expected to be.","simplifiedExplanation":"Grandstand seats are the rows of seats where spectators watch from. Counting them gives you a sense of how many people the event can hold."}},{"startTime":3373.5,"endTime":3377.8,"type":"concept","title":"permitting standpoint","url":"/glossary/permitting-standpoint","quote":"What were some of the obstacles you guys really faced from just a permitting standpoint?","canonicalId":"concept:permitting-standpoint","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"“Permitting” refers to the approvals and paperwork required to hold an event or run activities in a specific location. In motorsports, this can include safety requirements, traffic control, noise rules, and land-use approvals.","simplifiedExplanation":"Permitting is the official permission you need from the city to do something. For a racing event, it usually means meeting safety and rules set by the local government."}},{"startTime":3494.6,"endTime":3505.5,"type":"concept","title":"military closures","url":"/glossary/military-closures","quote":"In the 1990s, not just Long Beach, but across America, there was a string of military closures, bases, shipyards everywhere, and Long Beach was one of them.","canonicalId":"concept:military-closures","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"The transcript is referring to the wave of base and shipyard shutdowns that happened after the Cold War. When major military installations close, local jobs and government spending can drop quickly, forcing cities to find new economic drivers.","simplifiedExplanation":"Sometimes governments shut down military bases and shipyards. When that happens, the local economy can take a big hit because many jobs disappear, so the city has to reinvent itself."}},{"startTime":3523.5,"endTime":3533.1,"type":"company","title":"McDonnell Douglas","url":"/glossary/mcdonnell-douglas","quote":"although keep in mind, at the same time, you had McDonnell Douglas, major aircraft manufacturer up in the middle of town, not insignificant in terms of employment","canonicalId":"company:mcdonnell-douglas","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"McDonnell Douglas was a major U.S. aerospace manufacturer, employing large numbers of people and supporting the local economy. In the transcript, it’s used to show Long Beach wasn’t exclusively dependent on the Navy.","simplifiedExplanation":"McDonnell Douglas was a big airplane and defense company. The speaker mentions it to explain that Long Beach had other major employers besides the Navy."}},{"startTime":4562.1,"endTime":4578.2,"type":"concept","title":"entertainment weekend","url":"/glossary/entertainment-weekend","quote":"The thing I'm taking away from this entire adventure on our side is that it's not as much of a race as it is an event and a party. It's an entertainment weekend.","canonicalId":"concept:entertainment-weekend","priority":0.9,"confidence":0.92,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"An “entertainment weekend” frames the event as more than pure competition—fans come for the overall experience, not just race results. The speaker argues that the business goal is to keep people engaged and returning, even if they don’t remember who won.","simplifiedExplanation":"An entertainment weekend means the event is designed to be fun and engaging for fans, not only about who wins. The speaker is saying the races are part of a bigger experience that brings people back."}},{"startTime":5344.8,"endTime":5364.5,"type":"concept","title":"refund or a credit","url":"/glossary/refund-or-a-credit","quote":"So we crafted up, communicated and got to all of them and gave them the option. We offered them a refund or a credit to the 21 race.","canonicalId":"concept:refund-or-a-credit","priority":0.9,"confidence":0.92,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"Instead of only refunding, the organizers offered customers a choice: a refund or a credit toward a future race. This kind of policy is common when events are postponed or canceled because it helps preserve cash flow while retaining customer loyalty."}}],"speakers":[{"id":"s1","name":"Dinner with Racers","role":"host"}],"transcripts":[{"url":"http://getcarcurious.com/episodes/ep-324-re-heated-jim-michaelian/transcript.vtt","type":"text/vtt"}]}