The Track
Laguna Seca (see their official site) is a world-famous track, and NCRC is proud to host events there. It's a 2.1 mile track located just north of the Monterey Peninsula. This is an 11-turn track (including the famous corkscrew turn), with plenty of elevation change, and you'll be thinking of all the famous races and drivers that have seen this track.
Laguna Seca gates will open at 7:00am. As usual, please come prepared with your tech sheet completed. There will be a mandatory briefing before entering the track, with the first runs starting at around 9am until about 4:30pm. Check the NCRC page for the specific event you're attending for specific routes and schedule.
There will be an ambulance and a tow truck on site. Let's make sure we don't use them. Gas (including high octane unleaded) and air will be available at the track.
There's a good track primer (as well as ones for Sears Point and Thunderhill) on the NorCal Shelby Club's web site at http://www.norcal-saac.org/ot/otbook.htm. There's a general performance-driving primer on that page as well. The Open Tracking site has a good selection of in-car videos you might peruse, in you're new to the track.
Enter the Laguna Seca site at the main entrance of highway 68 (by "Can-Am C" label on the map above). Climb the hill, pass the guard station and turn right. Pass over the track between turns 5-6, and go down the hill turning gradual left (following road) and enter the paddock near turn 10. Stay to the right passing the main building to their left and use that paddock space between turns 11 and 1. Please do not park in the first row nearest to the fence, we'll reserve that for instructors.
Specific Track Rules
LSIR maintains track volume regulations, and our events are typically 92dB range. The rule will be that you can be black-flagged twice for exceeding the volume restriction, and on the third time, you're finished for the day. Sound level is checked by turn 5, so folks typically let off the gas at that point, to try to minimize the noise.
Track entry is made via the "motorcycle entry", which stays all the way to the left of the track, and turns short to bypass turn 2, and enter between turns 2 and 3.
Passing Rules
For the passing rules below, D and C are "Restricted", B and A are "Open".
Limited groups will allow passing only in designated areas. These are the straights between 11-1, 3-4, 4-5, 5-6 and 6-7. Passes as made "off the line", typically with the passing car heads toward the inside of the next turn.
Accommodations
Lower cost
Cypress Tree Inn in Monterey
Laurel Inn in Salinas right off of 101.
Stay in Marina (Comfort Inn, Best Western, Super 8) to save some money
Holiday Inn Express in Seaside
Nicer
Los Laureles Lodge, Carmel Valley
- http://www.loslaureles.com/
Portola Plaza Hotel -
http://www.portolaplazahotel.com/ in Monterey
Embassy Suites in Seaside
More hotel recommendations are at http://www.sfrscca.org/RoadRacing/accmtrack.htm
We don't typically rent the paddock area for camping at Laguna Seca. We encourage you to call Monterey County Parks Dept. at 831-758-3604 for reservations and pricing at their campground, just outside the track.
We often do pre-registration at the Blue Fin Pub, the night before events. See our pre-event emails to make sure though.