www.montereycountynow.com january 9-15, 2025 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 17 On a dreary February afternoon in 2019, Marcus Ericsson stood under a shelter at the rear of a semi trailer. Although rain cut short the IndyCar test session scheduled for that day, the Arrow Schmidt Peterson driver beamed as he scanned the scene. The session marked the return of IndyCar to WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca after a 15-year absence. Many of the drivers had never been on the famed track before that morning, including Ericsson, a native of Sweden who had spent the last five years in the superlative world of Formula 1. The grim concrete and worn asphalt of the paddock—open to fans, who milled about peering into the garages—offered a dramatic contrast to the lights and glamor of the global series, and Ericsson basked in the simplicity. “This is a proper old-school track,” he said with a broad smile. L aguna Seca’s gritty charm is not intentional. It is rather the result of what might be called benign neglect—mismanagement, tight pursestrings, territorial battles, lawsuits, politics. As a result, necessary maintenance was deferred, sometimes for decades. Since it was carved into Fort Ord land in 1957 until 2019, the track had been operated by the Sports Car Racing Association of the Monterey Peninsula, or SCRAMP, with the county holding the pursestrings after the land was deeded to the County of Monterey by the Department of Defense in 1974. The County Board of Supervisors was reluctant to give long-term control to SCRAMP. The organization was forced to renew its agreement with the county frequently, often every one to three years. Under the circumstances, Laguna Seca languished. There was no incentive for SCRAMP to launch large-scale improvement projects with its future uncertain and little enthusiasm on the part of the county to approve expensive work. That’s the situation Friends of Laguna Seca expects to address. In August of 2024, the nonprofit signed a 55-year concession agreement with the county, giving the organization financial responsibility for the county-owned recreation area and its storied racetrack. It was a historic decision, one that has the potential to set the facility toward a new and vastly improved future. Previously, the county had contracted with organizations—SCRAMP and then A&D Narigi—to manage day-to-day activities at the recreation area. Apart from projects funded through loans or philanthropic contributions, the county budgeted for costs. Now the $535,000 paid by the county to host the IMSA sports car race each year or the monthly $25,000 bill for utilities will be paid by Friends. On Jan. 1, FLS also took over management of events at the property. The team at FLS has a vision for the track and its surrounding recreation area that is grand, but grounded. CEO Lauri Eberhart distills the speedway business into what she refers to as “the three Ts—tickets, traffic and toilets.” Simply put, fans want easy access to tickets and seating, as well as clean, modern facilities. They don’t want to be stalled on jammed roadways before and after an event. That’s the functional basis of the spectator experience, but there is more. “This is a premier brand,” Eberhart says of Laguna Seca. “Making the physical plant represent that is going to take time. Twenty years from now the concept is building out the downtown area and the neighborhoods.” Expectations have changed dramatically over the past 25 years. Race tracks are equipped with large high-definition screens, there are carnival rides, electronic games and even rock climbing walls, making the outing a family experience well beyond simply watching on-track competition. At Texas Motor Speedway, seating was removed to make room for a party deck. The menu at Charlotte Motor Speedway includes local artisanal cheese boards, pepper-crusted steak with heirloom tomatoes and grilled asparagus. Amenities require more than elevated food offerings and an interactive midway, however. Tracks now employ apps to guide spectators. Some have Friends of Laguna Seca look to the track’s future, but its present needs some work first. By Dave Faries 1956 During the Pebble Beach Road Race, Ernie McAfee’s Ferrari careens into a tree. He is killed, prompting calls for a new race venue. 1957 Laguna Seca Raceway is built in 60 days for a cost of $1.5 million on Fort Ord land. SCRAMP forms to manage races. • On Nov. 9, Pete Lovely driving a Ferrari wins the first race on the new track. 1960s The heyday of sports car racing at Laguna Seca, with Can-Am and Trans Am races, followed by IMSA. 1974 The Defense Department deeds the property to Monterey County. It becomes part of the Parks Department. • Steve Earle invites fellow enthusiasts to the Monterey Historic Automobile Races. It grows into the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion. 1983 IndyCar—then known as Champ Car—begins racing at Laguna Seca. Teo Fabi wins. 1987 Pope John Paul II celebrates mass, drawing 72,000 worshippers. 1988 The old 1.9-mile layout is changed with the addition of Turns 3, 4 and 5. The track is now 2.23 miles. • The FIM US Grand Prix, part of the World Motorcycle Championship, comes to Laguna Seca. 1991 The Laguna Seca Challenge, later to become the LifeTime Sea Otter Classic, brings bicycles to the track. It has grown to 100,000 competitors. TIMELINE: A brief history of Laguna Seca Raceway Friends of Laguna Seca CEO Lauri Eberhart is a powerful figure in motorsports. Jim Hall crosses the finish line to win the 1964 U.S. Road Racing Championship event. Daniel Dreifuss Courtesy of WeatherTech Raceway Laguna SEca
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjAzNjQ1NQ==