The Iconic Track and Surrounding Area Provide All the Right Reasons to Visit
By John Oreovicz
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Not many racetracks qualify as must-see destinations, but WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca is one. The popular Northern California circuit hosts the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship this week for the Motul Course de Monterey Powered by Hyundai N.
WeatherTech Raceway dates to 1957, when it was constructed in just 60 days around a dry lakebed on land at Fort Ord leased from the U.S. Army. The site is midway between Monterey and Salinas, about two hours south of San Francisco.
With a unique and challenging racetrack in close proximity to Monterey and the upscale community of Carmel, WeatherTech Raceway has always been a popular venue for racers and spectators. Here’s a closer look at why.
- The History
From 1950 to 1956, the Pebble Beach Road Races were at the forefront of the postwar U.S. road racing boom. Phil Hill, who went on to become America’s first Formula 1 World Champion, won twice on a short course laid out on public roads near the 17 Mile Drive, adjacent to what is now the Pebble Beach Golf Academy.
In addition, actor James Dean was on his way to compete in a Sports Car Club of America event billed as the First Annual Salinas Sports Car Races in 1955 when he met his death in a crash at the intersection of California highways 41 and 46 near Cholame. Dean was driving the same Porsche 550 Spyder he intended to race on the Salinas airport circuit.
Dean’s passing, along with a fatality in the 1956 Del Monte Trophy race at Pebble Beach, created an outcry for a safer racing venue. In the summer of 1957, a group of local businessmen raised $1.5 million for the rapid construction of Laguna Seca Raceway, with the first event staged Sept. 30. Since 1974, the track has been part of the Monterey County Parks Department, and in 1988, the track was expanded from 1.9 miles to its current length of 2.238 miles with the addition of a new segment between Turns 2-5.
- The Racetrack
WeatherTech Raceway essentially takes a driver up one side of a small mountain, and right back down the other. The only comparable track is Mount Panorama in Australia. Laguna Seca features 180 feet of elevation change, 59 of it coming in the space of a very famous 450-foot stretch of pavement known as the Corkscrew.
The lap starts with cars flying over a brow across the start-finish line over a fast left kink before downhill braking into Turn 2, the Andretti Hairpin. The track flattens out in the old lakebed before the left-hand Turn 5 steers the cars up the hill. Getting Turn 6 correct is vital, as it propels the cars up an increasingly steep incline up the Rahal Straight to the Corkscrew, the highest point on the circuit.
From there, it’s all downhill quickly. A quick left-right through the Corkscrew (with that 59-foot drop), then speed builds rapidly through the rhythm section down the incline before hard braking for the tight Turn 11 brings the lap to a close. WeatherTech Raceway’s 16-year-old track surface is known for having exceedingly low grip; a $10 million repaving project, planned for earlier this year, was postponed by weather until after the IMSA weekend.
- The Spectating
Pack sunscreen and hiking boots, because once the inevitable marine layer burns off, you’ll get your steps in. WeatherTech Raceway is an outstanding spectator venue. You can either pick a spot on the hill to throw down a blanket for a picnic with a panoramic view of the action on 75 percent of the track or adopt a mobile mindset and walk around to watch for a few minutes at every corner.
You can get near enough to the track almost everywhere to really see the drivers at work. It’s worth the physical effort to get up to the Corkscrew because it really is a one-of-a-kind piece of racetrack that needs to be seen to be believed.
- The Cuisine
Seafood is an area specialty, with many restaurants on Fisherman’s Wharf and in the Cannery Row district. It’s also easy to find simple fish and chips at one of the numerous pubs, including the Crown & Anchor, Brittania Arms and Turn 12, a racing-themed bar where you just might rub elbows with your favorite driver or crew members. Another popular spot for hobnobbing with the racers is Baja Cantina in Carmel. And since you’re in California, don’t forget to embrace your inner tourist and head to In-N-Out Burger.
- The Golf
It goes without saying that the most famous aspect of the Monterey region is the 17 Mile Drive and its legendary coastal golf courses. Yes, you can play Pebble Beach; it’s a public course with a $625 greens fee. The area also includes the almost equally revered Spyglass Hill, The Links at Spanish Bay, Poppy Hills, plus a pair of private courses – Monterey Peninsula Country Club and Cypress Point Club. The 17 Mile Drive is a toll road, but the fee is refunded if you spend more than $35 at one of the golf course lodge restaurants or gift shops.
Moving inland, the Carmel Valley Ranch and the Quail Lodge offer golf-and-stay packages just 15-20 minutes from WeatherTech Raceway. Or for a more affordable golf experience, Laguna Seca Golf Ranch is just outside the track with a modest $55 greens fee. Pacific Grove Golf Links is another excellent value at $62.
- The Monterey Coast
After you visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium, venture a bit farther from the racetrack and greater Monterey. You’ll find some of the best driving roads and scenery that California has to offer. The coastal stretch of California Highway 1 (the legendary Pacific Coast Highway) south of the Carmel Valley to Big Sur, then on past the Hearst Castle to Morro Bay, is one of the most beautiful driving roads in the world. To the north beckons the eclectic Santa Cruz, while heading a bit inland, Gilroy is famous as the Garlic Capital of the World.
It’s easy to see why WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca remains such a popular venue for racing fans and their families. If you can’t make it to the track this year, the Motul Course de Monterey Powered by Hyundai N will be broadcast live from 3-6 p.m. ET Sunday on NBC.