Keep Laguna Seca Local

Since January 2014, the Monterey County Board of Supervisors has conducted closed-to-the-public meetings with International Speedway Corporation, (“ISC”) a for-profit, publicly traded corporation (which pays dividends to its shareholders who do not reside in the Monterey County communities) based in Daytona Beach, Fla., whose primary business is the ownership and management of NASCAR race tracks, to take over the management of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, with the possibility of taking over operations permanently.

• Do you know, that the Sports Car Racing Association of the Monterey Peninsula (“SCRAMP”), started by a group of local business owners, built what is now known at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in 1957.

• Do you know that to this day, the SCRAMP Board of Directors consists of business owners and professionals who live in the Monterey area community and who volunteer countless hours to the SCRAMP business operations and spectator events.

• Do you know that since building the famed raceway with “the Corkscrew” SCRAMP has invested more than $50 million into Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca improvements.

• Do you know that SCRAMP is a non-profit organization that has served the Monterey County community for nearly 60 years.

SCRAMP annually donates more than $250,000 of their proceeds to local charities and civic organizations. More than 300 local community members annually commit thousands of hours volunteering at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca for the love of motorsports in Monterey County.

SCRAMP and its volunteers thru the raceway events at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca annually generates a $200 million economic benefit for Monterey County.

While both SCRAMP and ISC are very good at what they do, the SCRAMP Board of Directors, SCRAMP’s CEO, Gill Campbell and the SCRAMP staff deserve an equal and fair chance at consideration to maintain operating responsibilities of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. The staff and volunteers aren't in it for the money. They are involved with SCRAMP because they care about the Monterey County communities they live in and they are passionate about motorsports and the production of quality major motorsport events. They spend endless hours donating their time to perfect the events, and ask for nothing in return. SCRAMP motorsport events fill hotel rooms and restaurants throughout the year in Monterey County.

I want to be clear. This petition isn't about either organization being better than the other. This petition is about fairness and the Monterey County Board of Supervisors giving a fair chance to the "home team".

Keep Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca Local! Let the Monterey County Board of Supervisors, namely Fernando Armenta, John Phillips, Simon Salinas, Jane Parker and Dave Potter and Dr. Lew Bauman, Monterey County Administrative Officer hear your opinion.