Rich Archbold: This year’s Grand Prix of Long Beach spirit award is a real surprise

Every year for the past 24 years, I passed out the Allen Wolfe Spirit Award to a person who has made a significant contribution to the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach.

And on Saturday, April 20, I got the surprise of my life.

But first, a little more about the honor. The coveted award — which is handed out annually during the Grand Prix’s second day — is named after the Press-Telegram’s late, legendary auto racing writer. Jim Michaelian, president and CEO of the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach, called Wolfe “a giant in the field of auto racing reporting.”

Unfortunately, one week before the 1999 race, Wolfe’s heart gave out and he died at 51. In his honor, the Press-Telegram and Michaelian created the Allen Wolfe Spirit of the Grand Prix Award. Michaelian and his staffers select the recipient each year — but keep it a surprise until the award presentation.

Michaelian, though, would give me advance notice so I could prepare a column about the recipient.

But there was something different about this year.

When I called Michaelian to find out who this year’s winner was, he always said he was too busy with other race activities and would call me later. But he never called me later.

I finally found out why on Saturday morning outside the Dan Gurney Media Center at the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center.

At the press conference, Michaelian gave the history of the award and described the incredible job Wolfe did covering the race. I patiently stood next to Michaelian, eagerly waiting to hear who this year’s recipient was.

“And this year’s recipient, whose ongoing efforts reflect Allen’s enthusiasm and professionalism for the Grand Prix,” Michaelian said, “is the man standing next to me — Rich Archbold.”

“What did you say?” I blurted out to Michaelian, a wide grin on his face. “I can’t believe it. Did you say me?”

I threw my arms up in the air in astonishment.

“No wonder you weren’t letting me know,” I said.

Michaelian just kept grinning.

“Hey, you deserve it,” Michaelian said. “Allen would approve.”

What an honor.

Wolfe was one of the best sports writers we had at the Press-Telegram during the 1970s, ’80s and ’90s, a time we now call the “Golden Years.”

Whenever April rolled around, Wolfe got so excited about reporting on the race, the staff called it “Allen Wolfe time.”

In a previous interview, Jim McCormack, former P-T sports editor, described Wolfe as a quiet professional during most of the year but at Grand Prix time, it was like he had received a fresh set of batteries.

“His story output was legendary and his energy endless,” McCormack said. “He would virtually single-handedly put out our Grand Prix special section and, at the same time, would be all over the day-to-day coverage. He knew everyone of significance in the Grand Prix racing community, and he was respected by everyone. He was remarkable.”

When I came to the Press-Telegram as managing editor in 1978, Wolfe was one of the premier reporters I heard about first.

One of the stories I heard about Wolfe was his initial reaction when Chris Pook, a young English travel agent, first proposed in 1973 the bold idea of a grand prix race on Ocean Boulevard in Long Beach.

Wolfe, who had a wry sense of humor, wrote in the Press-Telegram back then: “Can a city whose athletic tradition is steeped in lawn bowling, checkers and day boats out of Belmont Pier find true happiness as a mecca for international grand prix racing?”

He got his answer in 1975. More than 60,000 people attended the inaugural Grand Prix of Long Beach race on the city’s downtown streets.

The excitement of fans at the race and the race itself hooked Wolfe.

For the next 23 years, he covered the race and became known as the “Grand Master of the Grand Prix.” He developed an encyclopedic knowledge of auto racing, which he shared with readers and anyone else who wanted to know about motorsports in Long Beach.

Visiting veteran journalists on the auto racing beat acknowledged Wolfe’s expertise, Michaelian said. The American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association even recognized Wolfe with a plaque in the Deadline Media Center at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for his dedication to increasing the coverage of motorsports.

Wolfe had a rocky start in life when he and his twin brother were born June 17, 1947, in Honolulu. His brother died two days after his birth.

Wolfe weighed 4.5 pounds and spent his first month in an incubator. Later, it was discovered he had a congenital heart defect. But he never complained and he never let it slow him down. He was an avid golfer and skier. He was raised in Long Beach and attended Burcham Elementary, Hill Middle and Millikan High schools.

He started his career as a journalist when he joined the student newspaper at Millikan. When he was 17, he was hired by the Press-Telegram part time to answer phones in the sports department. And his 33-year career at the newspaper began.

Wolfe was also the sports editor of The Viking, the student newspaper at Long Beach City College. He received a journalism degree at Cal State Long Beach in 1970.

Wolfe’s love of sports led him into motorsports reporting. He was the Press-Telegram’s lead Grand Prix writer until he died. When I arrived in Long Beach, his passion for auto racing was infectious.

It is a real honor to receive an award with his name on it.

I could not have been more startled when Michaelian announced my name as the award recipient. Among those congratulating me were two past honorees: Fred Larimer, a freelance automotive writer/photographer, and Ed Klotz, former director of the media center.

For the past 24 years, all of the previous recipients had Wolfe’s enthusiasm for the Grand Prix and the Long Beach community.

With his modest demeanor, I think Wolfe would have been embarrassed by an award in his name. But I also think he would have been proud of the recipients and their spirit.

I know I’m proud to have received the award this year. It will have a proper place on the wall in my home office.

Source: Orange County Register