There are two events in Southern California that bring together more celebrities than any other. One is the Academy Awards, the other is the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, the premiere stop on the 2002 CART Fed Ex Championship.
The Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach brings out the best in the world of motorsports, but cars are not the only attraction.
Part of the race weekend, is the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race. As the world's longest-running and most prestigious celebrity racing event, the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race has introduced more than 300 of your favorite stars - from Clint Eastwood to Cameron Diaz - to the high-speed challenge and thrill of life in auto racing's fast lane. Professional drivers and celebrities bang fenders in a 10-lap sprint around the nearly 2 mile Long Beach Champ Car Circuit, giving them the chance to put the pedal to metal from behind the wheel of modified, race-ready Toyota Celica GT-S cars. The celebrity race will raise $100,000 for “Racing for Kids,” a non-profit organization benefiting the children’s hospitals in Orange County and Long Beach.
We had an exclusive look behind the scenes to experience what it takes to turn a Hollywood celebrity, into a race ready road warrior.
It all started in the California desert at Willow Springs and Danny Mckeever’s Fast Lane, the official driving school for Toyota and the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race, to take part in the 2002 Toyota Pro/Celebrity training. We entered the classroom to find some of this years entrants: Patrick Stewart (X-Men, Star Trek), Goran Visnjic (ER), Dara Torres (Olympic Gold Medalist Swimmer), Jacob Young (General Hospital) and other celebrities from television, movies and sport.
Danny McKeever wasted no time in getting to the heart of the matter.
Day 1: The first part of the day was spent getting acquainted with the car, the track and the basic physics behind driving a car to its limits; that’s right physics; racing is a science. Danny introduced the class to the terms apex, and heel/toe, oversteer and understeer. But it was out on the track were everything clicked, bells rang and light bulbs went off.
Out on the skid pad, the celebrity students learned what these cars can and can’t do. They ran them through barrage of braking maneuvers, slides, 180s, and 360s. To drive 45 mph in someone else’s car and do a 360 is way cool.
The rest of the day was open lapping, where the students learned to find the right line and improve consistency. Dara Torres and Tom Rundai of Longo Toyota, last years winner, seemed to feel right at home in the driver’s seat and ran laps at a blistering pace.
Day 2: started with a brief discussion about the track, the line and was followed by a Q/A session. Then it was back in the cars. Seat time, seat time and more seat time is the only thing that can improve driving skill and consistency.
Everyone at this point seemed comfortable in the cars, running them at speed and running them in a pack. Tom Rundai and I spent half the afternoon playing Cat and Mouse, which is most beneficial, especially if you can find someone good to run with. I’d pass him, he pass me and so on and so on…until I spun, only to see a wave goodbye from Tom. Thanks Tom. After spending 4 ½ hours in the car, we were all spent.
Day 3: put the participants in real race situations: a full field of cars, open passing, pace car, flags and everything they would see on race day. It is one thing to run your car a speed on an open track, it is something totally different to run in traffic. Jacob young from General Hospital was setting the pace for his group, while Tommy Kendall, big surprise, was leading group B. Then Danny put all cars on the track at the same time and drivers learned quickly what its like to run in traffic. 17 cars on the track and they are all out to beat you; some running fast, some running faster. Learning to deal with the stress of finding the right line, carry speed through the corners and dealing with other cars in essence teach them to be a racecar driver.
Stay tuned for an update of the practice sessions at the Long Beach Circuit and the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race happening Saturday, April13, 2:00 PST.
Danny McKeever introduces the class to the Toyota Celica GT-S. |  | 
Dule Hill of the West Wing checks his rearview mirror. |
Primedia's Troy Hanson takes a break. | 
Troy Hanson gets ready to head out. | 
IRL driver Sarah Fisher locks one up in corner 1. |
Another lecture from Danny. | 
General Hospital's Jacob Young leads the pack. | 
Sarah Fisher in action. |
The #1 car screams down the straight. | 
(left to right) Jacob Young, Patrick Stewart and Dule Hill. | 
Patrick Stewart prepares for the task at hand. |
Tom Rudnai of Longo Toyota, last year's winner, gives the thumbs up. | 
Students learned that hitting the apex is the fast way around the track. | 
Gorin Visnjic, from ER, lead group B. |
Sarah Fisher negotiates turn 3. | 
Keith Crain gets in car instruction. | 
Hanson in the #1 car goes through the chicane. |
Cindy Lux gives some advice on the racing line. | 
Troy Hanson listens as Danny McKeever breaks down his performance. | |