Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca

The Monterey Peninsula's love affair with world-class racing traces its beginning to 1950 and the inaugural running of the Pebble Beach Road Races. Those sports car events through the winding roads of the Del Monte Forest became immensely popular and brought prestige, fans and money to the area. But as the cars got faster and the crowds grew larger, it was decided that the race was too big for the open road. Rather than see the event, with its fans and financial impact go elsewhere, a group of civic-minded business leaders decided to build a permanent, world-class racing facility.

This was the impetus behind the formation of the Sports Car Racing Association of the Monterey Peninsula (SCRAMP) on November 1, 1956. The non-profit group's mission, which remains unchanged today, is to benefit local charitable and non-profit organizations and to promote the economic vitality of Monterey through motorsports events. The group leased Fort Ord land from the Army, built the circuit and staged its first race on November 9, 1957.

Since that day, events at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca have generated more than $1 billion in revenue for area businesses, while providing over $10 million for more than 100 charitable and civic groups. Today, SCRAMP is the most important economic and charitable organization in Monterey County.

---www.laguna-seca.com