The fight to keep Laguna Seca operations local

A petition is now circulating to save the non-profit that’s been running the track out at Laguna Seca since 1957.

Tuesday Monterey County supervisors told News Channel 5 those managing the track are in serious debt.

“A good group of people working very hard, but by their own admission they are over 3 million dollars upside down,” said supervisor Dave Potter.

Potter is talking about the Sports Car Racing Association of the Monterey Peninsula, known as SCRAMP.

The non-profit disagrees, saying it is currently debt free.

“If Mr. Potter will check his mail box probably by Friday…we just sent a check to pay off the agreement. When the economic downturn happened, and we did fall behind but we’re even this week,” said President Gregg Curry.

Curry says the non-profit grew the track to international fame.

“Over those years instead of the physical condition improving, it’s actually deteriorated,” said Potter.

Monterey County owns the property and says the track bridges and sewer system needs structural repair and bringing in the ISC, or International Speedway Corporation, will help get that done.

“ISC does bring marketing expertise, corporate relationships, opportunities that we haven’t had a chance to enjoy previously,” said Potter.

Monterey County officials say if another organization manages Laguna Seca, the layout of this track and the five events that take place there will stay the same.

But a new petition to stop the new management deal from going through is circulating, “I’ve had people stop me every day, you know, wishing us luck, we want you to stay, they don’t want a for profit corporation coming in,” said Curry.

“We had a timeline of about 90 days give or take a few…and so hopefully by the end of September or there abouts, we’d be able to sit down and have some serious discussions,” said Potter.

That is when the ISC is supposed to come back with an offer. As for SCRAMP, “We just want an equal opportunity to come to the table and go over the proposals.”

The International Speedway Corporation manages NASCAR tracks but says NASCAR events would not come to Laguna Seca if the company took over.
SCRAMP says they give thousands of dollars to local charities each year and Supervisor Potter points out that the ISC also does charity work in the areas they are in currently.