Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway, or simply “Laguna Seca” as it’s more commonly known, is one of America's most distinguished and unique tracks. Like several other motorsports icons—most notably, Daytona International Speedway—Laguna Seca came into being when local racing after World War II could no longer be contained on nearby streets and beaches. Specifically, the popularity of the Pebble Beach Road Races on the Monterey peninsula required a facility that was safer than the tree-and-spectator-lined route used by the event at the time.
By 1957, Laguna Seca was ready for action. Unlike Daytona however, which was the product of owner Bill France’s singular business talent, California’s track was shepherded from concept to reality by a group of local business leaders called SCRAMP. The Sports Car Racing Association of the Monterey Peninsula worked with the US Army to carve off a piece of Ford Ord, a former Army post, to be used for the sprawling track. It took 60 days to build the course. Laguna Seca officially opened with a sports car event in November of that year.
Mario Andretti and Indy Car played a huge role in bringing the track to prominence throughout the 1980s. Photo: By Stuart Seeger from College Station, Texas, USA (Mario At Speed) [CC BY 2.0] It didn't take long for the facility’s unusual layout to attract a long list of racing events. With 11 turns in total, Laguna Seca challenges even the most professional pilots. Most notably, the famed “Corkscrew” drops drivers five stories down a blind and twisting right-hand shoot.
The Corkscrew, shown at the top of this page, is unlike any other road course corner in America. (Photo: CC BY-SA 3.0) And there's the extremely technical “Andretti hairpin” at the end of the front straight. Of course, the track as it stands today represents an evolution over time, with a number of renovations, safety measures, and lengthening strategies design to attract specific racing organizations and satisfy various rulebooks. These changes includes stretching the circuit from 1.9 miles to 2.238 miles, completed in 1988.
One of Laguna Seca’s strengths has been its versatility. The shape of the facility and its favorable climate made it a favorite stop for Can-Am, IMSA, Trans-Am, Indy Car, and even AMA and MotoGP. The latter makes it one of the few American tracks to be celebrated around the world for both automobile and motorcycle racing. Formula 1 has also tested at Laguna Seca, but an actual series date has not yet come to fruition. Of course, the track is also a beacon for local motorsports clubs eager to let members sample its exceptional twists and turns. Every year it also serves as the site of Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, which brings together vintage racers from around the world.
![Caption: Vintage racing remains a big draw each year at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, hosted by Laguna Seca. Citation: By Hughman (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0]](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/KTUAAeSwq7VoqBFM/s-l1200.webp)
Vintage racing remains a big draw each year at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, hosted by Laguna Seca. (Photo:By Hughman (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0])Managed as a non-profit by SCRAMP, the raceway has become a potential target for acquisition by corporate interests in the racing world. SCRAMP has worked tirelessly to raise funds to keep Laguna Seca moving into the future of motorsports without the need for private ownership, and by engaging the local community by pointing out the significant—approximately $200 million a year—economic benefits it brings to the area.
Laguna Seca is a living piece of American racing history, and it’s a definite “must drive” for any passionate gearhead. Even if you can’t get behind the wheel at the track, it’s worth making the pilgrimage to Monterey to check out any one of the spectacular racing events that take place there throughout the year.
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