When I moved to Detroit, I was looking forward to one thing in particular. The month of June. Not only is it the start of summer and my birth month but it is host to Detroit’s very own Grand Prix. The Grand Prix is 3 days of races, car shows, and summer fun. What more could you want? Food, how could I forget to mention the abundance of fair food and food trucks. But I’m here to tell you about the Grand Prix and show you photos of race cars.

Detroit’s first Grand Prix race, held in 1982, was a 2.5 mile street circuit. The course ran through Detroit’s downtown, along the riverfront, and pass the Renaissance Center the headquarters to General Motors. The track became for it’s harsh conditions, including a train track crossing, bumpy track, and 17 hairpin turns.

In 1992 a temporary track was assembled on Belle Isle and the island became the new home to the Grand Prix. Today the Grand Prix is a 2.3 mile track which hosts Indycar, IMSA, Super Truck, and Trans Am races. It is a unique experience for fans as grandstands are set up along the course turns enjoy a glimpse of a speeding car silhouetted against the city skyline or the water’s edge. Fans are also offer a chance to get up close and personal in a pit walk on the race track. You can also watch mechanics work on cars off track in the Paddock, where temporary garages are constructed. There are also activities for families and children from out door games to concerts.

My personal favorite event at the Grand Prix was the Super Truck race; I was surprised how fun it was to watch. Along the track ramps are assembled and the trucks preform jumps as a part of the race. These trucks have amazing suspension and the drivers are a little more risky in their driving, which creates a different crowd experience. I also enjoyed watching drivers zip around the isle from the Paddock to the food vendors on tiny motorcycles. It is comical to watch a driver get out of a formula one car and hop on to a little bike which may go no more than 25 miles an hour, to zip off for a bit. Here is to hoping they do a race on those next year.

(Thank you to Joshua Fowler for providing photos from our experience. They are making this post awesome!)