It didn't take long for the track management team at Laguna Seca to respond to the lawsuit filed by some locals concerned about the noise and traffic from so many racing events.
Owned by Monterey County, the racecourse features 11 turns and 2.238 miles and has existed since 1957. In July 2023, the county signed a long-term concession agreement with the non-profit organization Friends of Laguna Seca (FLS), securing Laguna Seca's long-term financial future.
Now FLS and the track have to fight the Highway 68 Coalition Group which filed the lawsuit against Laguna Seca back in December. The suit alleges nuisance issues for the residents, including more noise and traffic from events at the track nearly every weekend.
According to Charles Bradley from Motorsport.com, Laguna Seca is fighting back.
FLS have countered that Highway 68 Coalition is "attempting to interrupt its stewardship and improvements of the Laguna Seca Recreational Area."
"We live here too and share the same concerns as our neighbors about noise and traffic," Ross Merrill, President of FLS said. "Our team of experienced business and community leaders are eager to move forward to revive this staple in our community for decades of future success and revenue generation for Monterey County."
FLS also argues that it is "bound in the concession agreement to the historical usage of the Laguna Seca Recreational Area and the existing policies limiting attendance and sound at the Park;" and is "required under the contract to invest in the facilities and infrastructure including a sound study and noise mitigation."
Highway 68's lawyers, including Richard Rosenthal, argue that the number of events at Laguna Seca has become a problem.
A spokesman for Monterey County previously told sfgate.com how "It is unfortunate certain individuals have chosen to file a complaint against the County and the operations at Laguna Seca."
It's a tough situation for both sides, but at least Laguna Seca is fighting back, because the venue means a lot to the history of motorsports, especially considering its iconic "Corkscrew" sequence. Thankfully, it appears the lawsuit won't impact any of the track operations for the 2024 season.
