[image: View Post]racerman, on 16 February 2010 - 10:42 AM, said:
A buddy and I will be riding to Laguna Seca this summer for the Moto GP race weekend. Not going to camp at the track, because we are both on sportbikes, and don't want to carry all the gear. (Tankbag and backpacks only) I have heard it's a very hot and dusty place to watch a race. I've heard the food at the track is bad, and very expensive... I've heard it can take hours to get out of there at the end of each day. I've read a bunch of "welp" reviews, and other info on the web, and it seems almost everyone is negative about the venue in general.
If there are some of you out there who have been to the track for a Moto GP or other large event, I'd like your opinions and advice on where to watch from, should we buy reserved grandstand seats, and if so, which one, what to consider as "must bring" gear, and whether going to see the GP round at this track is worth it. We expect the weekend to cost us about $600 each, with tix, paddock passes, seats, food and a cheap motel 50 miles away.
Any advice, comments or opinions about the track and area are appreciated.
Thanks, Garry
I've gone to the track for years (I'm from the area) and I've camped in the premium spots.
Camping: Camping is ok but Laguna Seca can be a bit dusty, particularly when the winds pick up. The showers are usually over crowded and not too clean. They are working on this and it has gotten better. Still, this is not a lush track with lawns and shade trees, so the dirt seems to accumulate. The mornings are typically socked in with fog and can be coldish (50 degrees); by 11:00 a.m it is typically sunny and it can get quite hot (usually 80s but often around 90 F). The facility does not have a lot of shade
so bring a hat and a lot of sunscreen.
If you can spend the money on a flagroom, I'd do it. its a bit pricey but you get fed, you get shade, you get a nice spot to watch the race, and you get as much water, beer, soda and snacks as you can drink. Nice bathrooms as well, as opposed to the porta johns sitting in the sun. It is just a comfortable "base" to return to after you've wandered about.
Don't expect a good cup of coffee. Their are some coffee carts but they are slow and they don't know how to make coffee.
If you bike in, arrive at a little before 8:00 a.m. You will find good parking, but it will be on a grassy hill. It is fairly safe. (it is highly regulated with a bunch of parking attendants). You can check your luggage and bags for free, courtesy of the Christian Bikers Association. I would start the day with shorts and a sweater; it will be cold when you arrive at that hour but it will warm up. Be careful about when they shut down. They may not be open on Saturday after the concert. Check.
Get a paddock pass. It is one of the few tracks on the entire circuit that permit up close viewing of the racers. You may even see some movie stars too. Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, Jason Statham, Pamela Anderson, and Fabio have all attended.
Bring a little am/fm radio with headphones. The track has a terrible PA system but you can usually listen in on a local broadcast.
Spend some time at the corkscrew but be forewarned: the crowds stake out their spots early. You may have to stand or sit a bit back.
Bring a camelback. Put ice and water in it. You'll be walking up and down hills. Bring tennis shoes. If you bring sandals you will be picking up dirt, rocks, sand, and grit. A few parts of the track have poison oak, which you don't want on your feet or arms.
The seats are numbered and most are sold out for the race, so you'll have to sit in your assigned seat. The main grandstand doesn't have much in the way of a view to any good turns. Turn 4-5 have the best seating. None of the stands are covered, so you will bake.
If you buy your lunch, don't be surprised at the long lines for the vendors. The food is mediocre and expensive. Expect to pay ten bucks for lunch, which gets you a burrito, or a burger, or a plate of greasy chinese food, and a drink.
Water is typically $3.00 a bottle. Don't bother shopping for a better price at the track.
Cannery Row is approximately five to six miles away. Give yourself an hour to get there in the evening/late afternoon. You will be in stop and go traffic on the way over. Cannery Row is a quaint road alongside the ocean with tourist shops made famous for its canneries many years back. Several thousand bikes park on the road, which is shut down to vehicular traffic. It used to be a great place to view vintage motorcycles and hard to find exotic bikes. It is becoming a Busa festival now, with an emphasis on stretched swingarms, chrome, and the like. A lot of guys park their bikes during the day and don't even go to the races. It may have lost much of its charm but it is still interesting to see. It is extremely crowded. You need to get there fairly early to find a parking spot. Several streets up from Cannery Row are public lots; you'll have to pay, but several bikes can fit in one spot. you will wait for dinner for over an hour if you don't get their early.
Bring a clear visor. You will leave Cannery Row at night and there are a lot of cops around. Also, you will be very cold leaving Cannery Row at night. If you stay in Salinas you may be on the bike thirty minutes; Gilroy forty-five; Watsonville forty-five; Santa Cruz one hour.
The track has a UPS service. Collect as many posters as you'd like, get them signed, and you can mail them to yourself. Over the years I've had Rossi sign a poster, Edwards, and others. I've mailed the posters back. Didn't have to carry them around.
Saturday night is usually the big concert night about a thousand people stay and watch. It's not a big event, but its nice. They have some decent acts, and Edwards usually shows up with his t-shirt cannon. Do you watch the concert or go to Cannery Row? I'd do both.
If you can afford the space, bring something to sit on, even if it is an inflatable pillow. You'll be sitting on a lot of dirt over the weekend as you try out different viewing angles, and after a while you will want some cushion.