The world knows about Laguna Seca, even if some locals don’t know its significance.

Even though there are plenty of Monterey County residents who don’t realize the significance of WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, the world knows. All over the globe there are fans who don’t know what and where Monterey County is, but recognize the words “Laguna Seca” as the ultimate symbol of world-class road racing.

Agata Popęda here, a Laguna Seca ignorant, who nonetheless found the recent article by my colleague and car aficionado, Dave Faries, fascinating. Some of my male friends in Poland can hardly locate my current home in Central California, but when I mentioned nearby Laguna Seca, they found it more jaw-dropping than if I told them I live under the Hollywood Sign.

In the editorial, Faries tells about the history of this and other road racing tracks and about the next 55 years for Laguna Seca under the future management of the Friends of Laguna Seca nonprofit.

Faries told me that the need for a new track in the 1950s was obvious after many years of racing through the forests of Pebble Beach. By the 1950s, racing there simply became too dangerous, and the Army land—later deeded to the County of Monterey—seemed like a perfect place.

“It quickly got a reputation,” Faries says. “Now it’s the favorite racing track kids choose when playing racing video games.” 

Its biggest attraction is the Corkscrew that Faries mentioned in the story but I needed more visual information. 

“It’s a violent rollercoaster,” he says. “There’s a blind turn that you can’t see. It forces you to take a sharp left and then you plunge down six stories.” 

The legend says that during the construction, a bulldozer drove up, encountered a cliff and was forced to turn sharply, giving the track its unique shape. 

Seeing female names in the context of Laguna Seca—Friends of Laguna Seca’s CEO, Lauri Eberhart, is a woman—I asked Faries about women’s interest in road racing. To my surprise, he says that women have been involved in the sport from the beginning and that among the audience there are not only men—as I imagined—but also women and children. Even dogs are welcomed at Laguna Seca. 

“It’s like in the ’50s,” Faries says. “The fans can peek into the garage and mix with the racing crews. I’ll have to take you there next time so you can see for yourself.”

Hard to say no. Read Faries’ story online and in the current print issue of the Weekly.

Have a great weekend.

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