We asked you to mark your calendars and that we would have a surprise for you shortly. Well we do! Here it is: We have setup a MINI Cooper Corral at the famed Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway for the upcoming Tudor/Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge weekend of May 1-3, 2015. The corral will be located in PRIME Real Estate, on "The Island" in the center of the track. This is the same location where MINI USA launched the first GP back in 2006. Some of you may have been part of the Corral that we put on for the R53 MINI Swansong back in 2013. You know how much fun we all had there. Now after a two-year hiatus MINI USA is returning to competition in the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge with the MINI John Cooper Works team through a partnership with LAP Motorsports. We have the BEST Car Club Corral location of anyone. The Island is surrounded by turns 2, 3, and 4 of the race track. Our tenting will have clear panels so that you won't miss a moment. It's close to Vendor's Row and the Food Court and is right next to the foot bridge to the nearby paddock area. All MINI Corral parking will be on asphalt. There will be numerous courtesy golf cart shuttles that will take you to any part of the track. You can grab one of these free shuttles driven by volunteer US Military veterans and be chauffeured to the famous "corkscrew" at the top of the hill to view what is probably one of the most well-known corners in all of motorsport. From that vantage point you can watch the cars as they drop a few stories in altitude, navigating through multiple turns until they hit the start/finish straight again. We have arranged for the MINI John Cooper Works Team including drivers to come by the MINI Corral for a "Meet & Greet' session where you can take photos with them (standing by your MINI) and get autographs. Time permitting, the MINI John Cooper Works Team will offer tours of their paddock, transporter, and cars. We are currently working on getting some "special" MINIs to be on display in our corral. Tickets: As some may not be able to come for all 3 days and some may or may not have guests/passengers, Laguna Seca has set up the flexible ticket packages separate from the Corral so you can pick and choose the package that fits you best. Please note that the MINI John Cooper Works team will have practice & qualifying on Friday. Practice form 9:40am - 10:25am and 2:25pm - 3:10pm and Qualifying 5:35pm - 5:50pm. Saturday Pre-Race Fan Walk - Pit Lane 12:00pm - 12:45pm and the race at 1:00pm - 3:30pm (150 minutes) MINIs will not be on track on Sunday but there will be plenty of exciting racing still going on. The Corral Passes are $25 per MINI and are valid for all 3 days (Friday-Saturday - Sunday) Ticket packages are as follows: 3-Day (Fri/Sat/Sun) General Admission and Paddock $75.00 per person 2-Day (/Sat/Sun) General Admission and Paddock $65.00 per person 1-Day (Fri) General Admission and Paddock $35.00 per person 1-Day (Sat) General Admission and Paddock $45.00 per person 1-Day (Sun) General Admission and Paddock $55.00 per person These prices are a significant savings from the "Gate Prices" so ordering ahead is a wise choice. Here is the directly Link to purchase tix. Tickets are available now. MINI Corral available to the first 100 Minis. ONLY MINI/Minis with Corral passes are allowed in the corral. https://oss.ticketmaster.com/aps/mrls/EN/buy/quickbuy/176 Schedule: http://www.mazdaraceway.com/sites/main/files/file-attachments/continental_tire_monterey_grand_prix_schedule_4.8.15.pdf Track and Facilities Map: http://www.mazdaraceway.com/sites/main/files/file-attachments/2014_general_map_no_lines_0.pdf More news & Information to come. Happy Motoring Norman Nelson West Coast Editor MotorWerks Magazine
^^^ Done! Just for Saturday though... See ya then and thanks very much Norm for setting everything up!
I was going to skip this race this year and instead go to the Pirelli Challenge race in September (first time for the Pirelli Challenge at Laguna Seca). There is an Auto-X the same weekend. Now you got me thinking about going to this race instead of the Auto-X.
Quicmni - I guess I will just have to keep working on you. Stay tuned. Got more surprises ahead. Just can't post until they are confirmed. Hope you can make it.
As promised we will start to make announcements about the MINI Cooper Corral for Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Here is our first tidbit: We will have a NEW John Cooper Works F56 MINI, 231 hp, turbocharged, 4-cyclinder - 2.0 liter engine with an estimated top speed of 246 km/h and acceleration 0-100 km in 6.1 - 6.3 seconds depending on transmission on display in the corral Friday & Saturday. Teaser photos to follow.
Here is the line-up of MINI Cooper drivers for the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge Race at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca May 1-3, 2015. These drivers will pilot the two MINI's of the John Cooper Works team, beautifully prepared by LAP Motorsports LLC. You can join in on the fun at the MINI Cooper Corral which is located right in the center of everything on BBQ Island. Looks like a Canadian invasion to me smile emoticon Zack Meyer - Toronto, Ontario, Canada Remo Ruscitti - Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Glenn Nixon -Mission, British Columbia, Canada Wei Lu - Richmond, British Columbia, Canada We have more news to follow but you better get your tickets and corral passes NOW! Tickets: https://oss.ticketmaster.com/aps/mrls/EN/buy/quickbuy/176 Schedule: Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca Track and Facilities Map: Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
As promised, more great news: MINI USA has graciously offered to provide lunch to ALL the Mini owners that will have their MINIs in the corral on Saturday. MINI USA is also sponsoring the corral and tenting. They will be bringing out loads of COOL stuff, including goodie bags. THANK YOU MINI USA . OK now Let's Motor and Let's PARTY!
Help! I'm heartbroken! I waited too long to buy my car corral pass for Friday and now I am out of luck. Any chance anyone doesn't need their Friday pass? I'm a brand new MINI owner and I was so super excited to be a part of the group on Friday. Any ideas most welcome!!
I am going to miss you guys this weekend. Have a great time. I am going to Auto-X instead of going to Laguna Seca.