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Friends of Laguna Seca take over track: What will it mean? | Articles | Grassroots Motorsports

The nonprofit Friends of Laguna Seca officially took control of the historic WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on August 1, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony taking place August 15. So, what does that mean? We went straight to the top, speaking with Friends of Laguna Seca CEO Lauri Eberhart.

“Laguna Seca is going to remain here for the future,” says Eberhart. “It’s going to be here for decades. With Friends of Laguna Seca being the concessionaire, it allows Friends to bring the physical plant up to international stature. It’s a game changer for Laguna Seca. In the past, the county has had a lot of priorities and hasn’t been able to fund the maintenance and the capital improvement needs of the beloved historic raceway.”

Eberhart also stressed the quality of the board for FLS. Its lineup consists of racing enthusiasts with strong records of business success. Ross Merrill is a local who is president, director and CEO of Merrill Farms. Bruce Canepa is vice president, director and CEO of Canepa, which specializes in the sale, maintenance and restoration of classic sports cars. Jason Retterer is a secretary, director and partner with JRG Attorneys at Law, which has experience advising landowners on compliance with various land use regulations. Jason Feiber is director and general partner of Mohr Davidow Ventures, which invests in technology startups. Gordon McCall is the director of motorsports at The Quail Lodge & Golf Club. Warren “Ned” Spieker is the director and found of Spieker Investments, which specializes in real estate.

With its incredible board, FLS also wants to create a culture that helps WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca thrive for years.

“The board of the Friends of Laguna Seca is dedicated to executing the business plan, which is to invest in Laguna Seca, bring it up to the level of a five-star experience, and make sure it’s around for decades,” Eberhart says. “We have a real opportunity to do something good and give back to the Monterey community and also the motorsports community.”