Celebrities Tear Up The Track For Kids Charity. 30th Anniversary Toyota Pro/celebrity Race

During the past 29 years, celebrities from film, television, music and sport have taken their place on the grid at the wheel of a renewed until Toyota sports coupe in the race through the streets of Long Beach, Calif., as part of the Toyota Pro / Celebrity Race. More than 370 fan favorites like Cameron Diaz, George Lucas, Ashley Judd, Lil 'Kim, Sean Astin, Edwin Buzz Aldrin, Gene Hackman, Clint Eastwood, Woody Harrelson, Karl Malone, Kelsey Grammar, Jay Leno, Matt LeBlanc, Queen Latifah, Joe Montana, Patrick Dempsey, John Elway and dozens of others, have tested their driving skills with 10 rounds of pounding and action-packed time in more than 100 mph, all for children's hospitals . A highlight of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach Toyota Pro / Celebrity Race is the longest of the event sponsored enterprises of its kind. Stars vie for the checkered flag to show up the weekend with more than one camera with an easy smile. The participants commit to an eight-day charity participation, preparation and real racing cars, including a four intensive-day training session teaches how to properly manage the stars cars and how to manage the complexity of the track. After the training, they hit the street circuit in Long Beach for a practice session, followed by the actual race (April 8), which rips and roars of a crowd of tens of thousands of people and on national television . "The excitement and competition is fierce," said Les Unger, national motorsports manager for Toyota Motor Sales, USA "Celebrities Sign think this race will be a combination of user-friendly for a good cause. Come days the competition, rivalries and friendships have developed, setting the stage for a fun and exciting dramatic display of adrenaline. E 'to see the transformation the pilot famous car racing. "After competing in the 2005 race, Patrick Dempsey, who plays Dr. Derek Shepherd on the ABC series" Gray's Anatomy, "now takes pleasure in business management as a hobby and classified in the "Pro" for the race in 2006. "Toyota puts on a great event that is fun, very competitive and most importantly for a great cause of charity. I had a great experience last year I jumped at the opportunity to participate again," said Dempsey. Besides learning the tricks and trades of sportsmanship, the star group is raising funds for the "Racing for Kids, a national organization for children's hospitals. Each year the celebrities visit Miller Children's Hospital in Long Beach to spend time with the sick and recovering children, evoking smiles, laughter and inspiration. Since 1991, the race has raised over U.S. $ 1.3 million for charity. The donations are divided equally between boys and Miller Children's Hospital of Orange County. 2006 Toyota Pro / Celebrity Race will be held Saturday, April 8th through the streets of downtown Long Beach, California, and will be televised nationally on speed. A highlight of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach Toyota Pro / Celebrity Race is the biggest charity event of the company of its kind.