What a boring race. I’m off to bed, see you greatriots tomorrow.

I’ve been asked about Laguna Seca. I could write a million words about it, or really any race track, but instead I’m going to summarize it here. First, here’s a good first person perspective of the one lap around the track:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTMJFrH9J6w

So here’s the secret. This is very much a high horsepower track. Most of it is just stop, turn, and go. However, there is a part of the track where you can gain a lot of time. Now, most folks are familiar with the corkscrew, a literal 2 story drop with a blind entry, but that’s actually the meaningless. Everyone can go slow over a blind corner. Also, Rainey Corner after the corkscrew is the greatest track corner. You’re racing down a cliff and only the bravest ever push to the track limits on exit. The difference here from the corkscrew is you can see the entire corner and even the next turn.

Anyway, back to the explanation of making a good lap. I’m going to skip turn 1, as that is just a matter of bravery. If you ever go there, I urge you to figure our your braking. The first time, just bury your brake pedal at the 400 meter marker. You’ll almost be stopped by the 200 meter marker, but you’ll have learned. Adjust as necessary on the following laps.

Sorry, back to where you make up time. The corkscrew is everyone’s focus. But to make that time, you have to look all the way back to turn 5. This is the left turn before you go under the bridge. This is also the same place where the track goes uphill. Which very much means you much carry as much speed as possible through this turn.

The next turn is just after the bridge. In my street car you have to brake at the end of the shadow of the bridge. In race cars you can wait another 50 meters. These are probably different today since they’ve added a paved area on the trackout of the corner. Regardless, you have to carry as much speed as possible as this is the back straight and has the steepest climb.

At this point, you are flat out and heading to the corkscrew. Right before it, there is a right turn. You’ll want to be on the gas into that turn, and once you reach the apex, then you’ll be full in the brakes. Those that are timid will brake earlier, but you’re better than that. Also, you’ll be downshifting from 5th to 2nd gear while breaking.

So, now you’re in the corkscrew. There’s a single tree that is the sight line. Find this tree, because you cannot see where the track goes. Going down the corkscrew is just a matter of getting on the correct line and staying off the pedals. Once you’re over the first part of the corkscrew and can confirm you’re on the correct line, then you can lay into the accelerator.

Then get to the right side of the track and attack the best corner of the track, Rainey Corner.