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Re: [ST] Move MotoGP East (long)
- Subject: Re: [ST] Move MotoGP East (long)
- From: "Eric Gustafson" <ericsg23232@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 27 Jul 2006 21:42:28 +0000
First, let me say this was my first time to Laguna Seca for the MotoGP race.
I went with some friends who attended last year and they said (along with
about everyone else we talked to) that it was 100% better this year than
last.
We camped at Toro Park (great place, btw) and only had to walk about 30
yards to the air conditioned motor coach for a 10 minute ride to where we
were dropped off at turn 5. IMO, this was the only way to go, even beating
on-site vip parking due to the dust there and people wiggling their way
through the vehicles. We had grandstand seats in 4A which allowed us to see
the stretch from turn 1, turn 2, out of turn 3, straight at us to turn 4
then around turn 5. The jumbotron across the track gave us coverage of
everything else. Oh, not to mention the stunt guy performed right in front
of us several times and it was also where the riders stopped to practice
their starts. Yes, we walked around and even pilgrimmaged to the the
corkscrew.
As for the heat, all I can say is "waaaaaaaah". Weather forecast up to
Friday was for mid 70's(F) and had it stayed, then no problems. Someone on
this list even said it was going to be too cool for racing. Is 4$ for a
bottle of water too much? Of course. So is $9 for a Corona. Hell, I don't
even buy water at all at home...that's what my tap is for. But there was
nothing stopping anyone from bringing in their own water (or Gatorade, which
we did on Saturday and Sunday). There was free water from Yamaha and over
at turn 5 from the medical people. One paramedic I talked to on Sunday said
25 people went to the hospital Saturday and about another 75 were treated at
the track. I don't know where the person went who said the water was half
sized bottles....every bottle I bought and saw was the 17oz size. They
announced the free water several times Saturday and Sunday and repeatedly
told people to hydrate and slather on the sunscreen.
Two older (I'm 38) gentlemen behind me in line Sunday for some food over by
the paddock and they were just constantly complaining about
everything....the line for food, the heat, the price of everything. I
finally had to turn around and tell them if they hated it so much, then
please leave. Sheesh. I don't know what folks expect from an event of this
magnitude. There are bound to be issues.
We had the fortune of having the SCRAMP director on our bus one afternoon (a
funny story behind that one!) and he was mentioning everything that was
being done to accomodate the MotoGP folks and the fans too. They really want
the event to be successful and enjoyable. They are working hard to make the
track better. Again, no one had forecasted the heat and how that would
affect the pavement. However, these riders are the best of the best
(allegedly) and some track chatter should be considered part of racing. Deal
with it. With all the improvements over last year, I can only say that the
SCRAMP director said they will be doing as much as they can to keep
improving.
I think this is a great venue and I had a great time. Hell, just meeting the
Yamaha legends like Wayne Rainey, Don Emde, Kel Carruthers, and Randy Mamola
was a thrill for me. I think moving the race east would not generate the
attendence numbers that they get on the west coast. Blame it on NASCAR or
whatever, I don't know.
I will definitely be going again next year. I think we'll at least upgrade
to the Flagroom, but I don't foresee changing where we camped or our
grandstand seats (unless we can somehow get turn 4 chalets!).
Cheers,
Eric
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