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30th Detroit Grand Prix Exhibit at the Detroit Historical Museum Celebrates the Heritage of the Event and Racing in the Motor City
DETROIT, Mich. (May 21, 2019) - Celebrating the 30th Detroit Grand Prix in 2019, the Detroit Historical Society and the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear have collaborated on a special exhibit that honors the heritage and the overall impact of the event in the Motor City. The exhibit, currently on display at the Detroit Historical Museum, will rev the collective engines for the return of the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear, May 31-June 2.
The 30th Detroit Grand Prix exhibition features artifacts, memorabilia, imagery and a retrospective overview on the history of the Grand Prix that began in 1982 as a race on the streets of downtown Detroit featuring the international Formula One racing series. The exhibit follows the evolution of the Grand Prix as it became a Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART Series) sanctioned event in 1989, featuring what is now the modern day NTT IndyCar Series, before the race transitioned to its current home on Belle Isle in 1992.
Some of the unique and historical items on display in the museum include the winner's trophy awarded to the first driver to triumph on Belle Isle - racing legend Bobby Rahal in 1992. The racing gloves worn by INDYCAR star Helio Castroneves when he won his first career NTT IndyCar Series race in 2000 on Belle Isle are also on display. Castroneves was wearing those gloves for the win and when he climbed the fence surrounding the track to celebrate with the fans of Detroit, the genesis of his unique victory celebration that earned him the nickname "Spider-Man" and he's continued throughout his storied career. Racing suits, helmets and shoes worn by other former Detroit race winners, car parts, trophies and the full collection of all 30 Detroit Grand Prix official posters are also featured in the exhibit, along with an actual Cadillac race car that was driven to victory on Belle Isle by Johnny O'Connell - the winningest driver in Detroit history with six wins to his credit. Autoweek contributed to the exhibit with some of the Detroit-based magazine's vintage photography along with the narrative woven throughout the display that helps illustrate the cultural, economic and social impact of the event in the Motor City.
Admission to the Detroit Historical Museum and the 30th Detroit Grand Prix exhibit is free and the display will be featured at the museum through June 30th.
"The 30th running of the Detroit Grand Prix gave us an opportunity to tell the story of a unique aspect of Detroit's automotive history," said Elana Rugh, Detroit Historical Society CEO. "It was a lot of fun to incorporate the wonderful artifacts from this race into the Detroit Historical Museum's permanent exhibit highlighting Detroit's Motor City. We are looking forward to introducing Detroit's race fans to the history of the Detroit Grand Prix when they come down for the race this year!"
The exhibit at the Detroit Historical Museum offers a preview of what is to come May 31-June 2 at the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear. The annual summertime festival on Belle Isle will honor the 30th Detroit Grand Prix with a special Heritage Exhibit featured in the Meijer Fan Zone.
Fans will be able to see some of the historic cars that have raced and won at the Grand Prix over the years, along with vehicles connected to the history of the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA), the sanctioning body that operates the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship competing at the Grand Prix and celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2019. The Heritage Exhibit on Belle Isle will also feature artifacts and memorabilia from the history of the Grand Prix and it will host special Fan Forums featuring legendary drivers and former Detroit champions throughout the course of the weekend. Fan Forums and 30th Detroit Grand Prix activities will take place all three days of the Grand Prix and the full schedule of events will be posted at www.DetroitGP.com under Event Info.
"We are so proud to celebrate the heritage of the Detroit Grand Prix with our fans this year," said Bud Denker, Chairman of the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear. "Reaching a milestone of 30 Grand Prix events in Detroit is certainly significant, especially considering some of the changes we have witnessed over the years between different racing series, different race promoters and even different venues. We encourage everyone to experience the 30th Detroit Grand Prix exhibit at the Detroit Historical Museum for free and then celebrate with us all weekend long on Belle Isle."
Tickets for the 2019 Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear are on sale now and tickets start as low as just $45. For more information on the Grand Prix and to purchase tickets, visit www.DetroitGP.com or call 866-464-7749 (PRIX).
ABOUT THE CHEVROLET DETROIT GRAND PRIX PRESENTED BY LEAR The Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear is a 501(c)3 organization and a subsidiary of the Downtown Detroit Partnership. Scheduled for May 31-June 2, 2019, the event will include the Chevrolet Dual in Detroit featuring the cars of the NTT IndyCar Series, the Chevrolet Sports Car Classic with the exotic sports cars of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli. Partners for the 2019 Grand Prix include General Motors and Lear Corporation. For more information, visit www.DetroitGP.com and follow our social media pages at www.facebook.com/detroitgp, www.twitter.com/detroitgp and www.instagram.com/detroitgp