The Sports Car Racing Association of the Monterey Peninsula (SCRAMP), which currently managesMazda Raceway Laguna Seca, is now taking a grassroots approach in hopes of staying in control of the circuit. In an open letter, the group is imploring people to contact local politicians to keep the circuit from coming under the control of International Speedway Corporation, a company owned by NASCAR'sFrance family. County officials are seriously considering a change in administration at the track and already have a 90-day due diligence deal in place with ISC.
Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca sits on land owned by Monterey County, and SCRAMP has a deal with the government to manage things. Problems in attendance and the loss of the MotoGP race led the county's Board of Supervisors to start looking around for alternative leadership at the circuit. That was when ISC entered the picture, according to The Salinas Californian. SCRAMP didn't know about the search until June and was clearly upset.
The organization believes that the selection process is being kept hidden, and the county isn't giving equal consideration to all sides. SCRAMP argues that it's helpful to the community and switching to ISC would keep about $250,000 from nearby charities annually.
The county doesn't accept those claims, though. "Any actions on a new concession or track management agreement will be subject to a full public process at the appropriate time," Monterey County Communications Coordinator Maia Carroll said in a statement to The Salinas Californian. "The raceway will continue to be 'local' because Monterey County will remain its owner and continue the county's historic oversight of this important asset."
KEEP LAGUNA SECA LOCAL
The following is an open letter to the public from Gregg Curry, SCRAMP Board President:
Dear Neighbors and Friends,
The Sports Car Racing Association of the Monterey Peninsula (SCRAMP) built what is known today as Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in 1957. Laguna Seca was created by a Federal Land grant to provide a safe and dedicated facility for racing. The land was originally a part of Fort Ord but was deeded to the county in 1974 to administer the land with a concession agreement to operate the facility with SCRAMP.
SCRAMP is a non-profit organization that has served the community for nearly 60 years, which annually donates more than $250,000 of its proceeds to 60-70 local charities and civic organizations. SCRAMP has grown from presenting a single motor sports event in 1957 to annually producing five major events which generate a $200 million economic benefit forMonterey County.
More than 300 local community members annually commit thousands of hoursvolunteering at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca for the love of motorsports in Monterey County. We are a local, active and highly visible member of the community dedicated to bringing world-class racing events to the Monterey Peninsula -- benefitting our race fans, sponsors, charitable organizations and our community.
SCRAMP has invested more than $50 million in the Laguna Seca facility, and we continue to be committed to upgrading Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca to enhance the overall experience for spectators, sponsors, participants and visitors.
Since January 2014, the Monterey County Board of Supervisors has conducted closed-session meetings to discuss a new Concession Agreement without SCRAMP's knowledge. These closed-session meetings resulted in the Board of Supervisors entering into a 90-day due diligence agreement with International Speedway Corporation (ISC) to take over management and operation of the raceway. ISC is a for-profit, publicly traded corporation based in Daytona Beach,Fla., whose primary business is the ownership and management of NASCAR race tracks.
SCRAMP is requesting a fair and open process where we be given equal consideration to continue to improve and manage operations of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca and that this process be held in the open with the benefit of public participation and review.
We urge you to contact your Monterey County Supervisor to support and request consideration of SCRAMP to keep revenue local for the benefit of our community and to continue the legacy SCRAMP established in 1957. We, your neighbors and friends, ask for your support.
For more information please visit www.mazdaraceway.com.
Sincerely,
Greg Curry
SCRAMP Board President
Monterey County Board of Supervisors:
District 1, Fernando Armenta
district1@co.monterey.ca.us
(831) 755-5011
District 2, John Phillips
district2@co.monterey.ca.us
(831) 755-5022
District 3, Simon Salinas
district3@co.monterey.ca.us
(831) 755-5033
District 4, Jane Parker
district4@co.monterey.ca.us
(831) 883-7570
(831) 755-5044
District 5, Dave Potter
district5@co.monterey.ca.us
(831) 755-5055
(831) 647-7755
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