Hello and Happy Holidays!

They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. We’ll see about that.

I’ve covered motorsports locally since 1978 or thereabouts, at first on staff at the Monterey Herald, then, of late, as a freelancer. Since I’ve begun the free lance portion of my career, I’ve obtained hard cards (season credentials) for most of the major motorsports series in the U.S. As a result, I’m on a large variety of email lists that keep me somewhat up to date on the various happenings nationally, and, to a certain extent, internationally.

In this space – the appropriate vernacular is “blog” – on the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca web site, we’ll give a go at keeping you, the reader, informed as much as possible about what’s happening in a variety of series, reporting what we can on various teams and individuals. The emphasis, of course, will be on those series that appear on the MRLS calendar, but we’ll also include the rest of the motorsports world.

We will also welcome your comments (it’s OK to tell me I’m all wet) and your input as to what info you’d like to see in this blog that will be updated as frequently as we can. Of note, also, is that the opinions I’ll express in this space are not necessarily shared by the Laguna Seca staff.

We in Monterey County are blessed to have one of the most renowned permanent road racing circuits in the world. In 2007, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the first event held here in November of 1957. That was a sports car race and Pete Lovely of Washington was the winner of that inaugural race on what was then a 1.9-mile, nine-turn track.

In the ensuing 50 years, the track has gone through a couple of changes, resulting in the current 2.238-mile, 11-turn layout. Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca has once again become a Mecca of sports car racing.

We have hosted an American Le Mans Series race since the inception of the series in 1999 and Laguna Seca has become the site of the season finale with a four-hour race concluding as night falls.

When the Champ Car World Series left here a couple of years ago, Grand American Road Racing came on board, giving Laguna Seca a pair of sports car events that showcase a huge variety of manufacturers and drivers. The two series operate under different sets of rules and provide unparalleled sports car competition with something for everyone.

In 2007, we will also have a pair of motorcycle events that will provide incredible shows as the best on two wheels in the world, as well as the U.S. compete on the fabled hills and dales of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. The third annual Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix will again be held in July and the American Motorcyclist Association, which will have two classes including Superbike on the MotoGP weekend card, will return to the dry lake for a stand-alone event with all four classes in September.

And returning in its August time slot for the 34th year will be the premier vintage show in this country and one of the best in the world, the Monterey Historic Automobile Races.

I was greatly disappointed when Champ Car left town, but we will have an opportunity to preview the Bridgestone Presents the Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford, which is embarking on a significantly new era in its history with a brand new chassis – the DP01, at a “Spring Training” event March 9-10 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

Wow, what a great lineup Laguna Seca CEO/General Manager Gill Campbell and her incredible staff have put together for 2007.

By the way, that’s another of the many blessings we have in our little corner of the racing world. The Sports Car Racing Association of the Monterey Peninsula (SCRAMP) operates Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, employing as strong a staff as can be found at any racing facility in the U.S. SCRAMP is a 501(c) 4 corporation with Campbell & her Company hired to oversee the operation and bring us the best available motorsports competition. The net proceeds each year are distributed to the myriad of charitable and service organizations that help put on the events.

To get the ball rolling on this blog, here are a few of my Christmas wishes for some of the various series we’ll follow:

· A speedy and complete recovery for “The Kentucky Kid,” Nicky Hayden, who underwent successful shoulder surgery a couple of weeks ago. Hayden won the return of MotoGP to Laguna Seca in 2005, repeated that victory this year and used both successes at his “home” track to launch him forward to the 2006 MotoGP championship. Hayden is a delightful young man and a former AMA Superbike champion. He has returned to his home in Owensboro, Kentucky to recuperate prior to defending his title in the Formula One of motorcycle racing. By the way, his older brother, Tommy, and younger sibling, Roger Lee, are both stars on the AMA circuit. Another aside, Owensboro also gave us NASCAR stars Darrel and Michael Waltrip and Jeremy Mayfield.

· Continued growth for both the American Le Mans Series and Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series. Each is different in its approach, with ALMS allowing virtually unchecked technology in its LM P1 and P2 classes and Grand Am focusing on equality with a variety of engine and chassis combinations available to its Daytona Prototype class, all meeting strict guidelines.

· Another championship for America in MotoGP competition in 2007. In the past, the U.S. has been a dominant force in the international series that was formerly the 500cc World Championship with the likes of Wayne Rainey, Eddie Lawson, “King” Kenny Roberts (all Californians, by the way), Kevin Schwantz, “Fast” Freddie Spencer and Kenny Roberts Jr. winning championships. Hayden would be a worthy repeat champ, but the younger Roberts, Colin Edwards and John Hopkins could also make noise in the title chase this year.

· Many happy returns to Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca for Steve and Debbie Earle, who founded the Monterey Historic Automobile Races in 1974. That first year, all the Earles had going for them was a handful of vintage cars and a dream. The event now attracts so many entry applications that at least as many cars are turned away for the August happening as are accepted for the 400-car field. Steve and Company agonize over who to bring to Monterey and encourage those not accepted in a particular year to try again the next.

· A return of Champ Car to Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. I love the sound of the 750 horsepower, turbo-charged “iron horses” as they scream around Laguna Seca. Perhaps the March test session will be a foot in the door. We need to support the event in great numbers and show the series owners (Open Wheel Racing Series LLC) that we are serious about getting Champ Car back here.

· Reunification of open wheel racing in this country. It is ludicrous to have two series stepping on one another’s toes. With Kevin Kalkhoven representing Champ Car in talking to IRL czar Tony George, that might no longer be a pipe dream.

· To race fans everywhere, regardless of what is your favorite series, a wonderful New Year supporting racing throughout the country and to SCRAMP and the superb Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca staff, an unparalleled 50th anniversary of racing at what I firmly believe is the best race track in the world.