Ep.227 - Building Long Beach: Tammy and Martin

Tammy Johnson and Martin Bannon are two key members of the Grand Prix on Long Beach. For Tammy, a three-decade run as the Director of Ticket Sales has made her a key fixture of the event, often serving as the first interaction for many event newcomers. With a profound ability to guide and customize the experience for nearly 200,000 people, Tammy’s role in making the event an experience for everyone is unmatched. When it comes to the sponsorship sales and marketing, however, Martin Bannon’s nearly 40-year role with the organization has also been a stable force in the event’s sustainability. Cultivating partnerships and maintaining relationships through the decades, Martin is uniquely qualified to discuss the trials and tribulations of fulfilling sponsor obligations on a track that is built and torn down every year. This is of course a complimentary episode to our “Dinner with Racers” video series on MotorTrend’s YouTube and MotorTrend+ streaming, where you can see the story unfold in a two-part special. Tammy’s lunch was served at Phil Trani’s in Long Beach, while Martin’s was served at King Taco, both with the song “Driving Cars onto Mars” by MILANO taking us out. Thanks again to Continental Tire and Acura for making it all happen.