A wall of fog. That is what greeted me as I arrived at the Motul Course de Monterey at Laguna Seca Raceway. Being at the bottom of a dry lake bed, hence the name, the circuit is prone heavy cloud cover sticking around. As I left the parking area, I had no idea what I was looking at due to the dense fog, but I could hear the roar of engines zipping past me. Having never been to Laguna Seca, I followed the crowd assuming they knew more than I did. The anticipation built as I could tell I was getting closer and closer. I stumbled upon a Porsche Club parking corral in what I assumed was the center of the circuit. Being a true petrolhead, I immediately was distracted and forgot why I was even at the circuit. I drooled over some 6-figure dream cars before remembering I was there to see some racing.

I walked over to a nearby fence as the cars were getting louder and louder the closer I got. It was at this moment that I realized I was about 30 feet from Turn 5. It all became very real to me and all I could do was grin ear-to-ear with the cheesiest smile. I got a little emotional when I looked at the circuit for the first time. Laguna Seca has always been THE circuit for me. Growing up in the Playstation generation, I was glued to Gran Turismo. My favorite track in the game was Laguna Seca hands down. I couldn’t tell you why, but it was my go-to whenever I played. Maybe it was the infamous Corkscrew or the challenging elevation changes, but whatever it was, it played a pivotal role in shaping my love for cars. Despite living in the Bay Area for 11 years, and Reno for another 15, it never occurred to me to look up where the circuit was located. I finally found out it was in my own backyard after I had already moved away. So once I was settled back in Reno, it was the first thing on my list. Walking into the circuit grounds and seeing the Michelin walkway over the track was like seeing the Sistine Chapel. I was on hollowed ground. I was at Laguna Seca.

I shook off my emotions and made my way to the paddock. The fog had finally lifted and I could actually see where I was going. Because of the delays due to the fog, the organizers opened the paddock early. I wasn’t going to miss my chance to get up close and personal with these cars. At this point, ISMA racing is new to me. I didn’t know what to expect but I wanted to find out. I quickly realized that the main event wasn’t the only race happening at the circuit. In addition to the WeatherTech Sports Car Championship, we were greeted with Mazda MX-5 Cup and Lamborghini Super Trofeo Series. All of which had competitors and mechanic scattered across the paddock. It was race day so any last minute preparations were in full swing. Having only previous attended Formula 1 races, this was mind-blowing to me. I was mere feet from world class multi-million dollar race cars. I was genuinely surprised at the level of access I had. There was so much to see with the majority of teams having their garage areas open for viewing. I even spent some time watching the team at Michelin changing tires for all of the teams.

While the paddock facilities at Laguna Seca were not as opulent as say Circuit of the Americas, they had a charm of their own. It’s a place where the racing feels raw and authentic, not a product on display as Formula 1 does. I couldn’t get enough of it. In the same way people say “Once you fly first-class, you don’t fly coach”, I had a suspicion that I would be forking up some good money next time I attend a Formula 1 race. I am now a racing snob and nothing less than paddock access while do. At least that will be my stance until I see the prices of the 2024 season tickets.

As the racing roared to life, I began the trek to the top of the infamous Corkscrew. There’s nothing quite like watching cars plunge down that dramatic elevation change. It’s difficult to convey the immenseness of the Corkscrew and I have yet to see a photo that captures the steep grade that feels the same as being there. Watching the drivers struggle to feel out the braking zones and the elevation changes showed the true level of talent the IMSA series possessed.

Additionally, the diversity of the IMSA classes added layers to the race; sleek prototypes dodging the slower cars while the GT cars fought for position. I was absolutely insane watching the sub-battles within the overall race. This was my first taste of multi-class racing and I was immediately hooked. IMSA currently runs 5 classes during the race with varying amounts of drivers in each class. Basically there are GT cars and LMP cars with differing levels of performance making up the 5 classes. At first it was a bit overwhelming, but as the drivers settled into the race, it became easier to spot the different classes as they came by. I loved the idea of multiple races happening at once. There never seemed to be a dull moment as if one class was getting stale in the race, another was heating up. Here is a link to the full race, its worth watching even just a few minutes to get the idea of the craziness of multi-class racing:

I moved around the circuit every 10-15 minutes or so. Having been familiar with the layout before getting there, I was interested in seeing the racing from all vantage points. I found myself near the paddock again and decided to do one final walkthrough before I was going to head out. I tried to skip out early of the race since I had a 6 hour drive ahead of me. As I made my way back through the paddock, all of the Lamborghini’s were on display. Previously, they were queued up for the race so I missed them. As I was snapping a picture of one, a mechanic tapped me on the shoulder and asked if I wanted a souvenir. “Hell yeah!” was the only response I could muster. He handed me a Hankook slick from a pile of race worn tires used that day.  I couldn’t resist snagging a piece of the action – quite literally. I got to go home with a piece of the race, not just photos to remember the day. Insert cheesy smile again.

The question I had while I was leaving was, “Would I go again?”In a heartbeat. Laguna Seca isn’t just a race; it’s an experience. The blend of the historic circuit, the challenging track layout, and the rawness and passion of the racing community made it a must-visit for any car aficionado. IMSA racing aside, it’s a place every car enthusiast should go to. I had such a good time, I am already eyeing the recently announced Rennsport Reunion 7 and Gridlife events this fall. I can assure you I will be at one if not both events; Cheesy smile and all.