The Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race is an annual 10-lap auto race held each April since 1977 as part of Grand Prix weekend on the street course at Long Beach, California. Since 1991, the event has raised money for "Racing for Kids," a national fund-raising program benefiting children's hospitals in Long Beach and Orange County.
The TPCR pits celebrities against professional racers from various types of motor racing. All competitors race stock Toyota Celicas. Celebrity contestants range from Hollywood's "A" List elite, to budding young stars and starlets, to professional sports figures, to local Southern California television and radio personalities and selected Toyota dealers.
All celebrities are given thorough practice, safety, and training sessions before competing, and thus far, no serious injuries have occured, despite a large number of crashes throughout the years. Several celebrities who have taken part in the TPCR have taken up auto racing as a part-time hobby or as team owners.
Notes:
¹ Paul Moyer is a news anchor at KNBC-TV in Los Angeles [1]
² Tom Rudnai is general manager of a local Toyota dealership
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