Grand Prix 2006: A Startruck Saturday Top

Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race 30th Anniversary runs in Long Beach with the FastLane instructor team in support

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Black and white checkered flags will dominate the 32nd Annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach today, helping crown champions in three scheduled races, including this afternoon's signature 81-lap Grand Prix that kicks off the 2006 Champ Car World Series season. But on Saturday, yellow and red flags played key roles for the big names competing in the crowd-pleasing 30th Annual Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race, and for Champ Car stars in their final day of qualifying for the 32nd annual Grand Prix.

First, in a Pro/Celebrity race that had almost wall-to-wall, NASCAR-like bumper car racing, especially at the tight hairpin Turn 11, extreme sports star Bucky Lasek captured the event when organizers cut short the scheduled 10-lap race because of a crash on Turn 1.

Lasek, who dominated the race running from the pole position, was the leader for all six laps run under the green flag, and the final three done under yellow before organizers called the race.

Lasek, a skateboarding champion, celebrated by taking his Toyota Scion spinning down the main straightaway. Former National Football League quarterback John Elway and pro tennis superstar Martina Navratilova finished second and third, respectively.

Full story courtesy of the Long Beach Press Telegram newspaper

2006 Toyota Pro/Celebrity racers train at Fast Lane

Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race 30th Anniversary Pits Celebrity Alumni Against Hot New Talent for 2006; Scion tC Debuts as the Official Car of the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race

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WILLOW SPRINGS RACEWAY-ROSAMOND, Calif. (Saturday March 11, 2006) - As part of the Toyota/Pro Celebrity Race's 30th Anniversary, trainging continued on the "Streets of Willows" training track for the FastLane Racing School. Celebrity drivers from film, television, and sports drove the 1.97-mile street circuit in 2005 race-ready Scion tC's, the new official car of the event. The Pro/Celebrity race. The expected field of 20 includes a fiercely competitive collection of entertainment personalities, internationally known celebrities, sports stars and media.

2005 TOYOTA PRO/CELEBRITY RACE RESULTS Top

Frankie Muniz First Among Celebrities in the 2005 Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race
Rhys Millen Takes First Overall and Wins in Professional Category

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LONG BEACH, Calif. (April 9, 2005) – In a hotly contested race that wasn’t decided until the last turn of the last lap, Malcolm in the Middle star Frankie Muniz proved victorious at the 29th annual Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race. Champion Rally and Formula Drift Team Racer Rhys Millen finished first among all drivers and won in the Pro category.

“This year’s race was exciting for the full 10 laps,” said Les Unger, national motorsports manager with Toyota Motor Sales. “There were several lead changes and a finish that was a surprise to everyone. The celebrities put on quite a show and demonstrated a fantastic competitive spirit. That’s what the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race is all about.”

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2005 Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race training at FastLane school

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MARCH 14, 2005, Willow Springs International Raceway -- This year's field for the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race, April 9th in conjunction with the TGPLB, trained at Willow Springs International Raceway these past two weeks. Spirits were high and the competitive juices were flowing as this year's participants went through the intense four-day training process to prepare for the big race. Danny McKeever and his FAST LANE team led the instruction and covered everything from proper seating position to cornering techniques to flags and passing.

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2005 Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race Field Announced: Celebrities...Start Your Engines!

LONG BEACH, Calif., Feb. 23, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Stars from film, television, music and sports will attempt to outpace and out-maneuver each other April 9 in the 29th annual Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race.

Celebrities in this world-renowned, 10-lap race for charity will tear through a 1.97-mile street circuit in downtown Long Beach, Calif. Part of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, the Pro/Celebrity race provides fans with a little star-gazing to go along with the excitement that takes over the waterfront for an entire weekend

Full story courtesy of the Long Beach Press Telegram newspaper

True story on location. . . . January 2005

Dear Danny,

There I was in a true driving test, on the set of “North Shore” in Hawaii. Playing a super rich Real Estate mogul and asked if I could drive a 2004 Testarosa . . . “No problem” says I-“I’m trained.” So the scene entails a quick getaway after an emotional blow up with my daughter-I’m to exit our driveway, swerve left and shoot down the road. The road is wet down-I’m off real fast and heading for an 18 wheel transportation truck dead ahead. No traction, in an uncontrolled skid-producers nightmare right? Hell no! Off the gas, off the brakes. . . no more skid-quick flick of steering wheel full hand brake=180 degree turn to the cheers of the cast and crew. “Where’d you learn to do that?!?” “Danny McKeever’s FAST LANE, Baby!” So I thank you, Hollywood thanks you, and especially the owner of the Testarosa thanks you. See you soon pal.

Best,
Chris McDonald
“The Raining Champ”

Danny and his team of professional instructors are responsible for teaching stars like Cameron Diaz, John Elway, Jay Leno and George Lucas how to go racing. In only four days, FAST LANE provides comprehensive training to prepare "Hollywood" stars to go racing. Starting with basic car control, moving to high performance driving techniques and finishing with the fundamentals of race competition, including starts, passing, flags and race procedures. As a FAST LANE student, you will receive much of the same training and work with some of the same instructors who have trained the likes of Ashley Judd, Cameron Diaz, Jay Leno, John Elway, Clint Black, Woody Harrelson, William Shatner Adam Carolla, and Picabo Street.