Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

Laguna Addresses U.S. GP Traffic Woes \ A ,as the traffic snarl at last vear's Red YY errr u.s. GP bad eno,gir to keep you from returning in lut for this year's race? The Sports Car Facing fusociation of the l'lonterey Peninsula (SCRAMP) hopes not, but they also know the seriousness of the problem and on Friday. April 14, they announced plans to remedy the situation. Highlights of the new plan include all general-admission parking off site, with spectators transported via shuttle bus; a motorrycle-only entrance; and increased staffing and directional signage. The plan will immediateb/ limit the number of automobiles permitted onsite ar Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca by provid- ing free off-site parkint at Cal State University - Monterey Bay (CS[Jl'48), which is located near Monterey iust off of Highway l. From there, all spectators will be shuttled into Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca through the South Boundary Road entrance. Mezda Racewa/ LaBUna Seca wall continue to allow spectators to enter with personal belonSinSs (cameras, backpacks, personal coolefi, etc.), but these must be able to sit on the rider's lap. "Our first goal was to reach a solution that limited the number of automobiles onsite, and the shuttle bus system should allow us to do that efRciently," said Gill Campbell, CEo/General Manager of the facrht),. "The parkinS is conveniently locat- ed iust off of HiShway l, and will remain free of charSe- This is a system that works well for the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am golf tournament, and should help us ehminate some of rhe traffic strarn, bo(h tors, particularly those travelint by motorcycle, can assist us b),, having their tickets easily available, we'll make the entry proc€ss as painless and enioyable as possible for everyone at the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix." The only automobiles onsite will be those with pa.kint passes, such as those purchased throuSh Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in hospitaliq/ packaSes or reams. medra and officlals. These automo- biles will be able to enter throuth one lane of South Eoundary Road (shuttles will be enterint in the same direcron rn the oppo- site lane) until 2 p.m. each day, at which point the tratfic flow will be reversed and the same automobiles will exi( on the same road. Teams, media and oflicials will enter and exit the main gate through Highway 68. A limited number of general public onsite parking passes for wolf Hill parking are available throuSh Mazda Raceway laguna Seca, at a weekend price of $50. These passes are a\railable for advance purchase only. Additionally, as with all events at l'4azda Raceway Latuna Seca, spectators will be able to ride for free on Monterey-Salinat Tmnsit (l1ST). A rhuttle schedule for MST on event weekends, including bus stops on the Monterey Peninrula and in Salinas, will be avajlable at www.mst.or8. '1]ne of our main goals t"' the 2006 Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix was !o dramati- cally improve the tmfilc situation during rhe Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix." said Campbell. 'we strongly believe we've accomplished that. Now we can continue to grow and improve the MotocP experi- ence for all irwolved." Tickets and more information are avail- able by calling 800/ 327-SECA or by visit- ing wwwlaguna-seca.com. o o o o o 1200s or No 1200s in World Supers Chili Won't Quit Pier-Francesco Chili crashed out of the Misano world Superbike test on the opening day, sufferint broken ribs and a broken pelvis. But Chili doesn't plan (o retire because ofthe iniuries, according to Honda's racing bors Carlo Fiomni "l went to see Frankie in hospital, and rhe thought of this

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