How's it going everyone.... I've been open tracking for about 4 - 5 years now, running with various groups and mostly in advance groups within each association (~ 25 track days in total). I've spent all my time at ThunderHill, Infineon and Streets of Willow Springs and thought it was about time to give Laguna Seca a try this year.

With an event coming up soon at Laguna, I just wanted to get some pointers from those of you that are familiar with the same tracks. For some reason, Laguna actually scares me!! It seems like a way faster track than any of the ones i've listed. Just wondering if anyone can give some general, feedback, thoughts, advice, etc on Laguna in comparison to other California tracks.

Thanks and happy New Year!!

 

Make sure your brakes are up to the task. I was surprised on how much harder that track was on my brakes than the others.

 

I have a few things which may help:

1) First of all, most track days at Laguna are limited to 92db as measured by the sound shack on the right between turns 5 and 6. If you have a somewhat loud exhaust, then at least try to point the exhaust tip to the left (say 8-9 o'clock from the rear). If you get black flagged for sound, and you can't do anything to quiet it down, then you will just have to use very light throttle from turn 5 until after turn 6. They say that if they know that people are lifting to not get flagged for sound, then they can use a portable sound meter, but I've never seen of heard of that that actually being done.

2) I've been driving for a few years with Nasa HPDE program plus the Audi club with most of my track time at Infineon and Thunderhill, plus around 8-10 days at Laguna Seca. Anyway, there is some track info at the Porsche website page http://www.pca-ggr.org/node/106 for Laguna plus some other tracks. There are lots of videos on Youtube, but I don't have any specific one. Here is Graham Downey's video on Vimeo: http://www.vimeo.com/7425085.

3) You can try single or double apexing turn 2. I always used to single apex it, but I finally started double apexing it, and I like that better. Make sure to slow down enough for turn 3 as it is easy to run off at the exit. Going thru the corkscrew section, I like to be around 2/3-3/4 to the right side after turn 8b, get a slight amount of braking in, and then back on the gas clipping the berm at turn 9 and then tracking out. If possible, have an instructor ride along with you for at least the first session or two, and if instructors are driving their own cars, then see if you can ride along as a passenger.

4) Some people say that Laguna is easier to drive than Infineon, as most of the turns at Laguna are kind of individual (where one turn does not set you up for the next). What I mean, is that from turn 7 to 10 at Infineon, a mistake exiting one turn can really mess you up for the next turns. The corkscrew section (say turns 8a, 8b, and 9) at Laguna are fairly connected, but most of the others are fairly far apart.

5) It is OK to ride the corner berms, but do NOT hit the raised red curbs that are perpendicular to the track and located on the inside edge of some of the berms. Those raised curbs are high enough to damage a wheel.

Anyway, you will have a blast. I really enjoy coming around the turn 1 slight kink. Depending on your car, you will probably be doing say 100-130mph before braking for turn 2, so good brakes are definitely a good thing. - Jim

 

^^ What the kid said. I've done 2 track days at laguna. I like to come 3/4 to the right and single apex turn 2. After turn 8b, I go 3/4 to the right and slighty turn into turn 9.

 

I think Graham's video does a bang-up job of showing a few different lines through all the corners.

 

Laguna is really a must do! Great track with great history!

A general rule for Laguna, not saying a standard for the fastest lap, is just late apex all corners. Most of them are taken that way anyway.

I prefer a double apex for T2 as well.

T9 is really the one to be careful of. This is a full commitment corner if you plan to take it fast. I have yet to take the Honda there, but in other much faster cars I have driven there, you need to be "on-line" or don't mess with it. There are two lines, standard starting from the right and late apex. For this be careful, the extreme right side will be outside the "on-camber" portion of the track with will result is a big mess! So start from 3/4 track right. Another line is staying about a car width from the left side of the track and slowing turning in to a late apex. This is more conservative and probably less desireable for a track record in a low HP car.

Enjoy the track, its great! But yes, make sure your brakes are up to the task and know how loud your car is and the max. db for that track event.

 

Sorry for the delayed response but thanks for the tips. I'm signed up for an open track event at the beginning of March at Laguna and looking forward to it. The feedback i've gotten from some more experienced friends is that Laguna is easier to learn than Infineon because the front half of the track has no compound turns... but that's the part that may make it more intimidating, long straights before every turn=lots of speed. Anyways, should be fun. Let me know if any of you california people are making a visit out there for the same event.

 

if you are ever interested in private coaching, PM me... i work for skip barber and a lot of private clients in the bay area. my home track is laguna seca and i have close to a million laps around the track lol

 

Are they really strict on the sound restriction? My car might be a little too loud.

 

Yes very strict. A general rule is that a stock s2000 barely passes.

 

Wow, that's definitely concerning for me then. My car really isn't that loud but I might be louder than a stock S2000. 92 db is the limit, right? Wouldn't that limit exclude most vehicles that are more than mildly modified?

 

I don't know about a stock s2k barely passing. I built a rear section to add onto my exhaust for Laguna out of a straight through magnaflow and I still run an AEM CAI. I had no issues with sound and the car was still pretty loud (don't have in-car up yet). I've heard some cars on track that I SWEAR should be black flagged and they never get one...they're not lifting on the way to 6 by the sound booth either! Just make sure you've got more than a tiny resonator or two. Err on the side of caution.



I called Mr. G. Downey last time I was there (a month ago) and he told me to stick inside like you're saying here, about a car width from the left. It actually really worked in my CRX. I'd hug tight, hit the apex and basically sling shot out to the right. It makes setting up for 10 more difficult, but if you get back over right quick to get straight and tap the brakes, you're good.

I also recommend watching Grahams video on vimeo.

 

Thanks for the input. I may just bring over a factory ITR rear section as a back up plan regarding noise regulations.

Anyone think putting in some seat time on Gran Turismo worth it for Laguna.....hahaha.

 

nickrps, could you post a picture of your setup and how it looks like?


[HrZn]4life, when do you plan on going?

 

Petwhookie, I am attending the extpictures event on March 8th. March is too far away though...might need to add another event between now and then...=P. NCRC seems to have limited events this season though as well as Trackmasters.

 

Trackmasters gets a *thumbsup* from me.

 

I've been to a few Trackmasters events and they are always organized well and provide great track time for the money. Recently i've bee going through NCRC more but that's because my schedule has been working out better with them. All these groups just give better bang for the buck than running through a NASA day but I need my comp license eventually so I need to head back over to NASA eventually.

 

How do you find out about these open track days? and How much is it to run?

 

You can find your answers here regarding laguna seca. http://mazdaraceway.com/pages/Track_Calendar_2010

 

Why do they care how loud or quiet your car is? Jw.

 

They put some damn houses near by the track

 

^aww. Haha

 

you would think that if people were going to move next to the track, that they would realize that it's going to be kinda loud with a "race" track next to the house.. I hate people. lol.

 

correct, they also have an airport a few miles away from the track and no one complains about that.

 

QFT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!