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Re: [ST] Move MotoGP East (long)



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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