LA CAR SPONSORS TEAM LARRY MASON

April 16-18, 2004 - Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach

LARRY MASON AIMS FOR AN ENCORE IN LONG BEACH In 1990, a suspension failure caused Larry Mason to break both of his legs and ankles at the Dallas Grand Prix. One and one-half years later, he returned to racing and won his first post-accident amateur race. In 1992, he won his first professional race entered after the accident at the Del Mar Grand Prix. In 2001, Mason made his CART Dayton Indy Lights debut and scored a top-ten finish in the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.

Team Mason's CART Dayton Indy Lights top-10 finish. Randy Rike photo

Mason now has his sights set on this year's Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, which is scheduled for April 16-18th. , he appeared on KPFK's The Car Show to solicit listener sponsorship in a fashion similar to what the station does to garner listener support for its Pacifica operations. Everyone from Dr. Jamie McDougall to the Law Offices of James Stearman chipped in. It was enough to get him into the CART Dayton Indy Lights division. This year, Mason makes his appeal to LA CAR readers as well. For the minimum sponsorship amount, "you'll get your company name on the car and an official Larry Mason Racing T-Shirt," says Mason. Higher sponsorships promise a personal appearance to your school or business, and still higher sponsorships garner hospitality privileges and grandstand seating. Sponsorship forms are available at Be An Insider.

Brad Bernstein photograph

Mason is a four-time race car champion in two different series, and he has set a number of track records along the way. However, some of Mason's most remarkable races didn't occur in race cars. Notwithstanding his 1990 accident, he now competes in sprint triathlons, having placed first in the Torrance Beach Team Triathlon. Mason also runs a marketing and communications business, LMR Marketing-Communications. LMR's clients have included Valvoline, Dayton Tires, Polar Heart Rate Monitors, and Good Neighbor Pharmacy. LMR also assists pageant delegates with competition interview skills and personal fitness training. Last, but not least, Mason is a part-time driving instructor and facilitator at Precision Dynamics, Inc., Fast Lane Racing School, and Advanced Driving Dynamics, Inc. Mason dreams of someday racing in the Indianapolis 500. For now, however, he has his sights set on Long Beach. - Roy Nakano

Randy Rike photograph