๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ ๐ธ ๐ฅ๐ โค… โ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐น๐๐๐๐ โ๐ ๐๐ โ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ค ๐๐๐ฅ๐
๐ป ๐ธ๐ ๐ต๐พ๐ ๐ป๐ฐ๐ถ๐ ๐ฝ๐ฐ ๐ ๐ด๐ฒ๐ฐ
๐๐ฎ๐ด๐๐ป๐ฎ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ฎ (branded as WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca) is a paved road racing track on the Central Coast of California used for both auto racing and motorcycle racing, near both Salinas and Monterey, California. The racetrack is 2.238 mi (3.602 km) long, with a 180 ft (55 m) elevation change. Its eleven turns are highlighted by the circuit’s signature turn, the downhill-plunging “Corkscrew” at Turns 8 and 8A. A variety of racing, exhibition, and entertainment events are held at the raceway, ranging from superkarts to sports car racing to music festivals and our Rolex Monterey Motorsport Reunion.
The name Laguna Seca is Spanish for dry lake: the area where the track now lies was once a lake, and the course was built around the dry lake bed. The track was built in 1957 at a cost of $1.5 million raised from local businesses and individuals on part of the US Army’s Fort Ord (a maneuver area and field artillery target range) after the nearby Pebble Beach Road Races were abandoned for being too dangerous. The first race, held on November 9, 1957, was won by Pete Lovely driving a Ferrari.
In 2015 Cameron Healy in his 1953 Porsche Cooper Pooper won our feature race with a best lap time of 1โ51.374, a lap record for our class of car (eligible that year even though disk brakes and mid-engined). Second that day was a bushy-tailed Marcus Bicknell on his first visit to Laguna Seca and his first event in the 1952 Streets Manning with a best lap of 1โ52.887. He has never bettered that lap time. In this race Marcus was in the lead half way through when a safety car was called. Cameron, alongside, got a better restart and Marcusโs best ever lap was set trying to keep up with Cameron.
Camern Healeyโs lap record held until Skip Streets, in the same 1952 Streets Manning Special from Rob Mansonโs bevy of Californian Road Racers, popped in a 1’50.542 winning in 2021. OUtright offical lap record at Laguna Seca is รlex Palou in a Dallara DW12 IndyCar, 1:08.4168 in the 2023 Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey. Marc Genรฉ did 1:05.786 unofficially in a Ferrari F2003-GA on 7 March 2012.
With thanks to Tam MacPartland for the race photos of the yellow Manning and the silver Pooper.