By Bill Pearl*
LBReport.com
Gary Gabelich was among the three racing legends honored by the City of Long Beach and the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach at the third annual Long Beach Motorsports Walk of Fame induction ceremony Thursday, April 17, during the annual Toyota Grand Prix.
“This is an incredible group of racing legends,” said Mayor Bob Foster, who presented the awards to honor Gabelich, Mario Andretti and Parnelli Jones. “Andretti and Jones defined Motorsports racing, and Gabelich had set records since he was a teenager that the rest of us could only dream about.”
“This year’s inductees are the crème de la crème,” said Jim Michaelian, CEO of the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach. “Versatility is the operative word for these performers, because Andretti and Jones both raced and won on every conceivable type of track and in a variety of cars. Gabelich not only set speed records in automobiles, he also did the same in power boats.”
Gabelich, a San Pedro native, began racing as a teenager, winning first place in the stock eliminator drag racing class at Santa Ana at the age of 16. At 19, he won the world’s first jet dragster race topping 250 mph. He was the first man to break into drag racing’s seven-second bracket, driving a Double A fuel dragster at 7.05 seconds.
On October 23, 1970 he drove the Blue Flame, a vehicle powered by a liquid gas-hydrogen peroxide powered rocket engine at the Bonneville Salt Flats, achieving a land speed record of 622.407 mph, which stood for 13 years.
Gabelich, who died in 1984, was represented at the ceremony by his widow, Long Beach City Councilwoman Rae Gabelich, who represents the 8th District.
“Recognizing these celebrated individuals and their families each year is adding a new highlight to our Grand Prix week,” added Foster. “It is especially meaningful this year with Councilwoman Gabelich and her family able to participate.”
Councilwoman Gabelich said she and Gary’s family are proud to have him formally recognized in his own home town.
“To be in the company of Mario and Parnelli, who we had some great race experiences with in the late ’70s early ’80, made it even more special,” said Gabelich. “These two men, being at the top of the legends in auto racing, you can’t be in better company.”
The Walk of Fame medallions include renditions of the racers’ cars and their major achievements in motorsports. Additional information about the inductees’ illustrious careers is available at www.lbmotorsportswalkoffame.com.
