MAZDA RACEWAY LAGUNA SECA
The Twists… The Turns… A Legend Turns 50

The Monterey Peninsula's love affair with world-class racing traces back to the inaugural running of the Pebble Beach Road Races in 1950. Those sports car events quickly out-grew the public roads of the Del Monte Forest and a beautiful new road racing facility was born on November 9, 1957 – the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

Most impressively, the facility has celebrated its first 50 years entirely under the operation of the Sports Car Racing Association of the Monterey Peninsula (SCRAMP), a not-for-profit corporation that donates net proceeds from each race season to the volunteer organizations that help put on the events at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Last season alone, SCRAMP donated over $400,000 to local charities and civic organizations.

Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca celebrates its 50th Anniversary in 2007 with a world-class racing schedule including the U.S. Sports Car Invitational delivered by Luggage Express featuring the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series

May 18-20, the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix July 20-22, the 34th Rolex Monterey Historic Automobile Races presented by Toyota August 17-19, the AMA Superbike Championship September 15-16 and the Monterey Sports Car Championships featuring the American Le Mans Series October 19-21.

Since the beginning, Monterey has hosted racing great from Andretti to Zanardi, along with Gurney, Rainey, Roberts, Rahal and hundreds of others. Pete Lovely's Ferrari may have been the first to cross the finish line at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, but it certainly wasn't the last. In 1989, American Eddie Lawson won the first World Championship motorcycle race in Monterey and captured that season's World Championship title.

My, how times have changed. Sure, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca is still known as one of the world's premier racing facilities. And yes, a Ferrari did win its class in the fall sports car race just last year and manufacturers still use the series that race here to prove their engineering supremacy. Oh, and did you know that American Nicky Hayden, boosted by a victory in front of 50,000 screaming home fans, charged on to a motorcycling World Championship?

Despite 50 years of improvements, maybe things aren't so different today than they were when the gates opened for the first time in 1957. Spectators still find spectacular access to the best racing has to offer, competitors still find a safe yet challenging circuit to display their skills and the Monterey Peninsula still has a world-renowned sports facility with a family atmosphere.

After 50 years, would you expect any less?

Tickets are on sale now for all events on the 2007 Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca schedule. Race and ticket information is available at www.laguna-seca.com or by calling (800) 327-SECA.