I wonder if any of yous would like to see a photo of the main event grid at
the very first race? It's quite interesting to compare it the last
historics race, and particularly in light of the fact that Laguna Seca name
has officially become a "subhead"
E-mail me off list and I will gladly send you a jpeg of that "first race".
Ron
----- Original Message -----
From: Walt Boeninger <Walt@chekov.mayfield.hp.com>
To: <MHKitchen@aol.com>; <vintage-race@autox.team.net>
Sent: Thursday, April 05, 2001 1:15 PM
Subject: Re: Mazda Seca???
> > Irvine, Calif., April 5
> >
> > Laguna Seca Raceway may have been the most picturesque circuit on
theCART
> > FedEx
> > Championship Series schedule, but it likely would not make the list of
the
> > most
> > up-to-date facilities in the United States.
> >
> > All that will now change as the Monterey, California track will break
new
> > ground both literally and figuratively after signing a watershed deal
with
> > automobile manufacturer Mazda North America.
> >
> > The manufacturer inked a five-year deal with the track to buy the naming
> > rights, the first time a North American tracks has done so with an
> > automobile manufacturer. The new facility will be called Mazda Raceway
at
> > Laguna Seca after reaching an agreement earlier in the week.
> >
> > "We are excited that Mazda has decided to become a part of the Laguna
Seca
> > family with the first-ever automotive sponsorship of its kind," said
> > facility general manager John Stornetta. "Over the years, they have
proven
> > their commitment to sports car racing and motorsports as a while. We
> > believe that Mazda's support will allow us to take the track to the next
> > level and allow us to embark on a capital improvement plan that will
make
> > it one of the finest racing facilities in the world."
> >
> > No dollar figures were released, but the five-year deal will allow track
> > organizers to proceed with its Master Plan of renovations, a proposition
> > that included $15m worth of additions and upgrades to the facility.
> >
> > The plan does not affect the track itself and no changes are planned to
the
> > track surface or layout. But the periphery of the track will be changed
> > dramatically, as permanent garages and pit-lane luxury suites will be
built
> > as well as new restroom and convenience areas for the fans.
> >
> > The track will not start development on the Master Plan until after the
> > CART weekend in October, but fans and participants will be able to see
> > scale model and artist's renderings of all the proposed changes to the
> > facility.
> >
> > For its part, Mazda has earned the right to use the track for new
vehicle
> > introductions, media and corporate hospitality, advertising and
promotions,
> > product development and employee training.
> >
> > The track's naming agreement is only the second in the country, joining
> > Charlotte's Lowe's Motor Speedway, which signed a 10-year deal with the
> > home improvement store chain in 1999.
> > Eric Mauk, News Bureau Editor, Racer
>
>
> -------
> Regards
>
> Walt Boeninger - Nor Cal SAAC 67 GT500 | 67 Shelby T-A #31
> http://www.norcal-saac.org 71 Boss 351 | 97 5.0 Explorer
> mailto:walt_boeninger@hp.com 99 C5 Hdtp | 86 Mustang GT
|