Laguna Seca track improvements

[SoCal250]

Laguna is getting repaved! 

From the latest track news:
"The Monterey County Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution that green lights funding for significant renovations to take place in the next 18 months as part of the five-year Capital Improvement Program. The track surface will be repaved for the first time since 2007, a new Start/Finish bridge will be constructed that will provide greater pedestrian flow and allow golf cart crossings, and the Turn 3 Paddock Pavilion will see considerable enhancements.

The timeline for the projects will be confirmed in the coming weeks, but the goal remains November 2022 through April 2023."

https://www.co.monterey.ca.us/Home/Components/News/News/8704/9711

[SoCal250]

The Laguna track repaving project is finally going to happen! 4th quarter of 2022
https://www.roadracingworld.com/news/additional-funding-approved-for-laguna-seca-repaving-project/

[RdsOnly]

That is great news, rode the old track and new track..  I preferred the dangerous old track [Woo corner] but. learned to go fast there in the day.
Rode RD350 /TZ250 & supper bikes there.

TZ owned that track.

  JT

   

[Seizer]

Love that place.

[SoCal250]

Press release today from the track

WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca Announces Action-Filled 2023 Major Events Season
Complete Repaving and New Bridge will Welcome Guests in 2023

MONTEREY, Calif., September 27, 2022—WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca enters its 66th year of hosting major sporting events in beautiful Monterey County with an impressive lineup for 2023. And when guests arrive, they will be greeted by a new bridge that will efficiently accommodate pedestrians and carts between parking/hospitality and the race paddock, and a new track surface. In all, '23 is going to be a monumental year of providing memorable family experiences.

"We ended 2022 in a positive and energetic way with the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion and Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey, which was the NTT INDYCAR SERIES season finale," said John Narigi, president and general manager of WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. "Attendance far surpassed 2021 and was even higher over pre-pandemic years. This success further energizes our team and Laguna Seca Volunteer Association as we plan for an even bigger 2023 season."

[SoCal250]

From the track press releases:
"Just days after the track closed, demolition of the Start/Finish bridge began. And within two days, the bridge came tumbling down. It signaled the start of the exciting projects that includes extensive site work, a new bridge that will increase capacity and allow for cart crossings, and then track repaving. "

A notable comment about the expense outlay for the improvements in 2022-23 from the track operations management team: 
"...nearly $15 million for a new Start/Finish bridge, site work, and repaving of our world-renowned track..."

YouTube live stream of the track improvements:

[sav0r]

Hopefully they get Moto GP back. Seca isn't my favorite track in North American, but it is better than COTA.

[SoCal250]

Hopefully they get Moto GP back. Seca isn't my favorite track in North American, but it is better than COTA.

I doubt that ever happens, unfortunately the USGP is a thing of the past. Dorna is too greedy and the FIM wants too many track changes made at facility expense.
And in fact, there have been rumblings that the US may lose it's only GP.

[SoCal250]

This winter's rains have impeded construction progress a little but it sounds like they're working to keep in schedule. The new bridge is still planned to be done before the first event in May and the track will be repaved before the Superbike weekend.

From the track news: "Immediately after the IMSA event full resurfacing of the track will begin, which will wrap up in late June just in time for the MotoAmerica Superbike Speedfest July 7-9."

[SoCal250]

WeatherTech has signed on for another 5-year sponsorship of the track at $1M/year
https://www.roadracingworld.com/news/weathertech-extends-naming-rights-deal-with-laguna-seca/

[SoCal250]

The brand new track surface filmed today by Joe16. You also get a quick glimpse of the new finish line bridge.

[SoCal250]

I had a chance to do a few laps on the new track last Friday.   What a blast! So smooth and grippy! First lap I had Bubba Shobert on a VFR750 in my mirrors almost the whole way around.

[sav0r]

An f1000 car burnt a hole in the new surface when it caught fire due to an engine fire. It happened right at the cork screw, all sessions were cancelled after. Yikes!

I hear great things about the track though. Friends of mine have been there testing prototypes and they say the track is really fast. I had dinner with these friends in Sonoma on Saturday, they said the track is the best it has ever been. Cool!

[Seizer]

I had a chance to do a few laps on the new track last Friday.   What a blast! So smooth and grippy! First lap I had Bubba Shobert on a VFR750 in my mirrors almost the whole way around.

Dang Russ that sounds like a quote from 1985 or so! Hope ya had fun up there.