Friends of Laguna Seca Kicks Off 55 Years of Stewardship with Car Week Ribbon-Cutting

Ahead of the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, Friends of Laguna Seca CEO Lauri Eberhart, along with President Ross Merrill and Vice President Bruce Canepa, spoke to an assembled crowd at Laguna Seca to kick off a new beginning. The group officially took over track operations on August 1, but the Reunion marked the first major event since the transfer, so Friends, along with county officials, raceway employees, and volunteers celebrated the occasion with the ceremony.

“This is an incredibly exciting day in the history of this legendary facility,” said Eberhart. “It’s been a long road to get here, but we are excited to work collaboratively with the employees and volunteers of Laguna Seca Raceway and Recreation Area, A&D Narigi, and the County of Monterey to ensure that motorsports fans, outdoor enthusiasts, and the entire community can enjoy this exceptional place for decades to come.”

Friends of Laguna Seca Vice President Bruce Canepa assisted in holding the ribbon, and Monterey County District First District Supervisor Luis Alejo made quick work of the cutting with an outsize set of scissors.

“To achieve this, we needed a collective desire to ensure that Laguna Seca is brought up to the highest standards and can exceed everyone’s wildest dreams,” said Monterey County Fifth District Supervisor Mary Adams. “I thank everyone who has been part of the plans. It’s wonderful to have everyone here on behalf of the Monterey County Board of Supervisors and all of the residents in our County, particularly the residents of our lovely Fifth District.”

As a gesture of the transfer, Supervisor Adams handed over an impressive ring of Laguna Seca’s keys to Ross Merrill. The weighty collection of keys has an appropriate new custodian, as Merrill is a close neighbor of Laguna Seca and has spent countless hours at the track. He flogged his 1970 Porsche 911 for several sessions during this year’s Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion.

“All of us at Friends of Laguna Seca are pleased that our valuable partnership to restore, revive, and revitalize the Laguna Seca Raceway and Recreation Area has officially begun,” said Merrill. “We appreciate the efforts of everyone who helped accomplish this important milestone in the long history of Laguna Seca.” 

All of us at Hagerty are hopeful of the future of Laguna Seca and are glad that enthusiasts are at the helm. Here’s to a long tenure for Friends of Laguna Seca and a great relationship between the facility and the community going forward.