Moto GP

[longnokr]

My wife and I were kicking around the idea of driving out to Laguna Seca for the Moto GP race this year, Have any of you guys been? Any tips on tickets or seating? I'd bet hotel rooms are tough also.

 

[Bike Effects]

My wife and I were kicking around the idea of driving out to Laguna Seca for the Moto GP race this year, Have any of you guys been? Any tips on tickets or seating? I'd bet hotel rooms are tough also.

All of the box seating has been gone for some time now. Hotel availability is also a huge issue. I suggest you not wait a day longer to begin your plans. Call SCRAMP for ticket information at (800) 327-7322. Then you can start a hotel search. Moto GP is awesome and you owe it to yourself to check it out. I'll be there again this year.

 

[Jabba]

I went last year- had a BLAST!!! I camped about 30 miles south at Arroyo Seco state park. General Admission tickets are all you need- the paddock is not even as good as a typical AMA event unless you have special access passes for the GP pits. The seating is fairly limited- and you probably don't want to be married to one viewpoint anyway- so bring some chairs or a blanket and walk around. Crowds were pretty overwhelming- but manageable. Ducati Island for lunch is a pretty good deal- cheap and accessible compared to the limited offerings in other parts of the infield. Riding into the venue is the ONLY way to go- otherwise you're going to be in traffic for HOURS. Local PD couldn't get their act together so some were waving the bikes into the (barren) oncoming lane to pass the autos while others were ticketing for doing so. If you lane split in there, watch for signals from ahead of you- the others on bikes were doing a fair job of looking out for those behind and warning of upcoming PD traps. Hopefully this year they will "fix" the traffic situation- but I doubt it. Only downside of the entire weekend was the mess getting in and coming out of the track- otherwise a perfect event! Remember, this could be the last chance to see Rossi on a bike- he appears to be heading to F1 in 2007.

 

[650cent]

Hey,

Last year racing was great, they sell out paddock passes and grandstand seats early though, but may be some left. I rode my bike last year thinking that since its a motorcycle event that the accomodations for camping would be good. Was I ever sadly mistaken. There is no level spots to pitch a tent much less organized camping spots. The showers were filthy when they worked and there was only one bathroom with running water. Lots of potapottys though. Seemed like once they have your money Laguna Seca doesn't give a **** about you. The first day I got there I was directed to a hillside a told to set up there, the second day the fire marshal came up with the sheriff and kicked everyone out of the area, fire hazard they said. Of course SCAMP had nowhere for us to go, and said to find a spot already crowded with late comers. So I ended up with a spot to set my tent that was on more of a slope and dryer grass. All this for $50 a night plus the racing tickets.

If you have a motorhome your golden, they will crowd you into a flat spot somewhere. I was told the area motels want you to bend over to make sure they have every nickel and dime you have. Did I mention great racing though? I might go back if I see that some improvements were made to camping, after all its a motorcycle event and lots of people ride from out of state with camping gear.

Bill

 

[Rentaroo]

I attended the WSB event in '04 and MotoGP last year. The racing at both events was excellent. In '04 my wife and I stayed at Hofsas House in Carmel. Nice place, with not too outrageous prices.....I'm sure they're booked solid for '06 already. Last year I had the incredibly good fortune to stay at a friend's house in Marina.

Agree with the others.....traffic was hell. I won't go into detail about the ass-hat on a CBR 900 that rear-ended me, busted my left side-case and nearly caused me to dump my three-week old FJR on the ground.......I will only add....watch out for ass-hats......

Other than that......I had a great time. Big crowd, I think the largest in Laguna Seca history. Food/drinks are expensive.....I recommend taking a Camel-Back or similar type item. Bring a sweat-shirt or fleece pull-over for the afternoon, the wind does get a bit chilly and don't forget your sunscreen. :agent:

Cannery Row in Monterey is packed on Friday and Saturday night.....fun stuff you don't want to miss.

 

[painman]

Our Christian MotorCycle Association chapter will be helping with the helmet and leather check once again at Laguna. Stop by and let us stowe away your gear so you have less to worry about and enjoy the day. And did I mention it is free? We get to meet some great folks and last year was awesome weather and racing! It was the first time I attended this event and will make every attempt to go again. And WFO is soon after, what a life! This will be a great month and will Nicky do it again? I hope so. Ride safe, Painman. <><

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

It is quite an event and certainly worth the effort if you can swing it. My friends and I rode to the first GP in '87 and they allowed camping in the infield then -- that was really wild. They've gotten more civilized since. My S.O. and I rode to the GP in the early '90s from the mid-west and bought the tickets in-advance. When we got there the m/c campgrounds were full. We rode around 'till I spotted Canadian plates at a camp-site and I asked. "You guys mind if we set-up our tent here?" Answer, "Not at all -- you want a beer?"

Anyway, it's an awesome event. I'll never forget sitting by the corkscrew and watching the action!

 

[TheAxeman]

Went to WSB in '02 at Laguna Seca and at the time Cruise America was running a deal where we had a motorhome waiting for us on the infield fence of turn 5 so we were able to stay right at the track and avoid the in/out traffic jams. We flew in from NY and picked up some brand new Honda VFR's that we rented from Cruise America in Oakland and rode them down to Monterey. What was amazing was that the bikes had less than 100 miles on them and the motorhome was brand new also. We tried to do it the following year and they didn't offer it anymore. The way to go is definitely camping on site for sure.

 

[tcfjr]

The track is about half-way between Monterey and Salinas (okay - it's a little closer to Monterey, but not by much). Salinas has none of the charm of Monterey, Seaside, or Carmel, but it does have one thing the others don't: lots of relatively cheap motel rooms. Camping out is best, but if you need a room, Salinas may be worth checking out.

If you're on your bike, you should also check out Carmel Valley Rd., listed on the maps as CR-G16. A really fun loop is G-16 from the penninsula to King City, then G-14 south to Mission Rd. and west onto Nacimiento-Fergusson Rd (after passing through a check-point for Fort Hunter Liggett). The corners are too tight for much speed, but the scenery on N-F is awesome, especially when you crest the last ridge and look out high over the blue Pacific. Go north when you hit PCH to get back to Monterey.

 

[650cent]

Hey TC

What you said about that road Was on that last year, a couple of the corners over the mountian were washed out but overal it was a great ride. Fantastic views of the ocean.

Bill

 

[longnokr]

Thanks fellas, sounds awesome! We are going to try to get our shat together quickly but if we can't swing it this year, we'll do it in 07 for sure. I wonder when the 07 tickets go on sale?

 

[FlyingLow]

Myself, been there, done that many times.

I went to some of those Grand Prix events in the eighties; that was good fun camping in the infield.

The later WSB races were some pretty good action, too. The crowds were smaller and Laguna Seca Raceway was easy to manage.

Now as for last year's MotoGP event, I went to that, and as some have suggested, it was a great time and a gargantuan cluster-eff at the same time.

I recommend NOT camping on-site unless you can tolerate primitive dirt camping.

Maybe being mid-forties that sort of thing ain't as much fun as it used to be. Not to mention that all of the premium and reserved camping sites are long gone.

[Assuming you're not interested in any of the Friday or Saturday events] My recommendation: Book a hotel room for Saturday night, NOW, as close to the track as you can get. I ended up in a place called Santa Nella an hour and a half away but that was my fault for procrastinating. But it didn't matter because I was mobile, wasn't going back there at the end of the day.

On Sunday morning get to the track as early as possible to avoid car traffic. Some hell on wheels action may be necessary to get through.

YMMV.

Then, as you're going up the hill from the highway to get to the gate, get on the shoulder on the right and pass the cars. All the bikes do this.

Once you're in, park wherever and you're all set! Pack in your own water, food and beverage if possible. Sunscreen, portable chair too.

After the races are over, plan on leaving the area and getting a hotel a few hours away unless you can get home that day. One last thing, buy tickets now, last year even GA tickets sold out.