Laguna Seca Lawsuit: Homeowners Perplexed as Iconic Race Track Materializes Overnight
Imagine the shock if, after moving into your home, you discover that a popular and world-renowned race track had materialized overnight in your general vicinity. The horror. You’d rightfully be confused, possibly even enraged at such a happening, and keen to pursue a lawsuit. Believe it or not, this is exactly the phenomenon that unfolded recently. Based on our deepest reporting capabilities, we can find no evidence that WeatherTech Raceway at Laguna Seca ever existed before 2023.
As expected, this sudden and unexpected conjuring has local residents incensed, as the noise and traffic from the venue came out of nowhere and was a shock to those who had moved into the area over the preceding handful of years. Naturally, residents have banded together to get rid of this nuisance that definitely has not been in the same location since 1957. The group, the Highway 68 Coalition, filed suit against Monterey County, which operates the fledgling track, on December 12, 2023, seeking to curtail racing at the venue.
The lawsuit hopes to target the track by calling into question the track’s zoning laws and lack of explicit racing use being in the track’s permits. The County of Monterey owns the track and spent more than $18M renovating the track surface and installing a new bridge over the front straight in 2023. The track is credited with bringing in about a quarter of a billion in local revenue each year, but the Highway 68 Commission makes a good point, noting that they have, “suffered and will continue to suffer irreparable injury as a result of the continued violation of the Respondents’ zoning laws.”
When reached for comment*, the Highway 68 Coalition was shocked—outraged even—that its mobile phone plan included the possibility of incoming calls.
The appearance of said track, which is suddenly very popular and definitely hasn’t been a staple of the area for almost seven decades, has taken a massive toll on local residents. “I can’t believe it,” said an unnamed real estate agent who recently listed a property just a stone’s throw from the track. “This house sold for $2.5 million seven years ago, long before the race track was there. Today it’s listed for just $4.25 million, we’ll be lucky to sell it for $4.2M.”
It’s almost impossible to imagine such a tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers are with those unfortunate souls who, through no fault of their own, live just minutes away from the Monterey Car Week festivities.
*We didn’t really call them and don’t much care what those jabronis think.
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Wow. So I guess the 35 years (in rain, abnormal heat & yes snow) averaging 12 hours per day, that I have been volunteering at this little known venue has been a figment of my imagination (NOT). Thru Mario’s retirement, MotoGP, Porsche’s 50th and 75th anniversary celebrations have all been fantasy events…..I’ll have to recheck the logos on my various shirts & jackets….
And noise…. Let’s not miss the fact that brand new non-modified, street legal sports cars that drive DAILY on said Hwy. 68 do not meet the noise restrictions put upon said (new) raceway.
And to the realtor, perhaps they should read the fine print disclosure for Monterey County real estate contracts which disclose the existence of the Monterey regional airport and Laguna Seca Raceway, among other disclosures….
Thanks Hagerty for exposing the idiocy of the Hwy 68 coalition.
Wait a minute an article just appeared in my browser and I in no way clicked on an email that launched a tab in my browser. I had no idea that would happen while sitting by my computer that I in no way was using. I’ve been hacked and will sue Hagerty at my earliest convenience! /s
Thank you Brandan. In this day and age everyone could use a little levity. You are invited over for cocktails anytime!
I am one of those rare folks that fairly recently when considering a move, moved closer to a race track and thought that was a plus. FYI, the front entrance at Laguna Seca is 8 miles from my front door.
I admit it is great fun to rant about such poor behavior from grown adults, but please, all you car guys do something to make the situation better. Invite that cranky neighbor to the track with you sometime. Better yet take his grandkids to the track. The threat to Laguna is very real.
“The threat to Laguna is real.” This is the point of the article, and to make readers aware of the persistent effort by ‘new’ neighbors to existing tracks to eradicate racing venues. Housing development is the final crop for farmland and the final lap for race tracks.
I am fortunate to live near two well established short-track ovals, and two drag strips. However, two other drag strips have disappeared due to this exact scenario and one dirt oval operates with a long list of restrictions. I’m not sure how they stay in business.
The deeper point of the article is clear. Find a way to support your local tracks.
where I live in Northwest Arizona. I have a very obnoxiously noisy neighbor that’s been there since the 1880s. it’s called the BNSF railroad. I’m thinking of making a complaint.
Hello Tony Soprano…………what would it take and how much to apply an “attitude adjustment” to this “Highway 68 Coalition”?
………”really, the first one is 1/2 off………..FANTASTIC!……………..and you say your success rate for helping theses types of people to see the light is near 100%?”
………..”when can we book the first application?”
If I was a local who had to put up with the noise, I would demand lifetime free admission to the track.
Sparta/St Thomas drag way was also built long before any houses were anywhere near it, the residents of St Thomas ( almost 5 miles away) tried to shut it down. It is still operating with morning restrictions on the weekend. Never understood these complaints.
I live in western Canada and U.S. news is full of stories of US people and businesses sewing each other. US citizens seem to be much more litigious than their Canadian neighbours. And maybe US universities are turning out AWAY TO MANY law graduates and they’ve gotta have something to do after graduating.
“You came here from there because you didn’t like it there, and now you want to change here to be like there. You are welcome here, only don’t try to make here like there. If you want to make here like there you shouldn’t have left there in the first place.” lunatics FRO
Bold new world, we live in a republic (rule of law) and unfortunately lawyers get to twist the law and regulators get to pass new laws to benefit the lawyers and the realtors. This is simply a money grab. Laguna Seca is a national historic landmark that needs to be preserved and used as it was intended. Furthermore, they should role back to the hours that were originally allowed for racing throughout the day.
The longest races here are sprints. IMSA can only run the cars for less than 3 hours. I’d really love to be able to see a decent enduro here, at least 6 hours like WEC?
I say we find a way to countersue, and demand one 24 hour race event per year. BAM!
I am SO thankful they were able to fit Rennsport in, with a concert to boot! Even if the show was from 6:30 to 8:30 only, at moderate volume. The Doobie Brothers did sound really good on the sound system they had tho, it was a full sized show.
Long live Laguna Seca!!!
Poor things… Live in the house for 7 years and now selling the house and only making $1.7 million instead of $1.75 million…..Give me a few months and maybe I can work up one year to shead for your loss..😂😂
I’m more surprised that group hasn’t move to Montana yet (not that Montana wants them).
You people absolutely disgust me with this nonsense. First and foremost if you don’t like noise or cars don’t buy a house by the racetrack. If you don’t like the smell of waste management would you buy a house near there. If you did then your a moron. Second witch is probably most important. If you wanna keep this cali BS going just wait and see cause it will get so much worse. Look at side shows for example. Donuts, cars crashing into each other, fights, gun shots, people getting hit by cars doing donuts, public drinking and doing all types of drugs, drunk driving, drunk stunt driving and all they want to do is close all the race tracks. OK be my guest but when that happens I will say I told you so and also I’m sure glad I left CA.