The layout was changed to accommodate the 500cc GP motorcycle championship. Kenny Roberts was instrumental in getting a US GP, but the original track was too short for homologation. SCRAMP and Monterey County put a lot of money into the track to add the current turns 2-5.
When the new Forza Motorsport came out and featured a "short layout" of Laguna Seca, I had to check the history books (Wikipedia) to see if it was a real shortened version of the track or a fictionalization. It's half-fiction since the short layout section is narrower and branches off of the modern track, but watching this to compare game vs reality has been fascinating!
It was completely embarrassing only 10 years ago that I learned the old layout. This via simracing Assetto Corsa sixties track mod. And now I learned something new, yet again. Although as a Dane I had been lucky to have watched overseas races from Laguna Seca in the 90s on delayed signals, I've always been convinced that the old layout was a 60s thing, that is from the start and then maybe sometime in 1967-68 was changed to it modern layout. It freaks me out to learn that the old layout continued for another 20 years with high speed single seaters.
Stationed at Ft. Ord 1983, I remember seeing Mario, Teo Fabi in Indy cars, saw GTP cars, Historic races and more. Great times. 250 LM was a favorite historic, Vector was an oddity but cool. Ferrari Days were incredible.
I drove Jim Russell racing school Formula Ford Van Diemens there in the early 80's, on the old layout. It was a true "big balls" track, as, even in a beater school FF, you had to hold your breath because, from the former turn 9 (the hairpin) all the way to the former turn 4 (just after the bridge) you had to be flat out to be quick. My right foot would start to shake by turn 3!
I was at the CanAm race there in 1982. Al Unser Jr was driving the Chevy powered Frisbee and had some technical issues during the morning session so they let him take to the track after the session had ended for some laps by himself. I'll never forget the sound of that solo V8 echoing off the hills at full song, through the gears on the front straight, then he tried to go flat through turn 2, the car wiggled and he chopped the throttle for a split second, caught the rear of the car and got back in it. Ended up winning that race and the series championship his first try at 20 years old.
That looked crazy fast even for mid-89’s Indycars! Did they add the infield section to make meet some FIA mandate in order to host the US motorcycle GP?
@@niismo. I watched a video of a Toyota GTP onboard on the old Laguna Seca and it was scary once he got to the top of the hill. All the better they got rid of the high speed section. I learned they got rid of it to keep the motorcycle event.
You have no idea how suprised i was when he went full throttle into turn 1 lmao
That was really cool to see! I had no idea the first sector was added on later
Laguna was crazy fast back then, almost an oval
Bobby Rahal won this race 4 times in a row right before they changed the layout of the track in 88.
The layout was changed to accommodate the 500cc GP motorcycle championship. Kenny Roberts was instrumental in getting a US GP, but the original track was too short for homologation. SCRAMP and Monterey County put a lot of money into the track to add the current turns 2-5.
I miss CART so much...
That is crazy. Imagine having an F1 race with this layout.
Actually tried some 70s F1 cars on that layout in a sim once. Damn it was fun
When the new Forza Motorsport came out and featured a "short layout" of Laguna Seca, I had to check the history books (Wikipedia) to see if it was a real shortened version of the track or a fictionalization.
It's half-fiction since the short layout section is narrower and branches off of the modern track, but watching this to compare game vs reality has been fascinating!
That’s so surreal to see. Just 10 years before I was born, it looked like that.
It was completely embarrassing only 10 years ago that I learned the old layout. This via simracing Assetto Corsa sixties track mod.
And now I learned something new, yet again. Although as a Dane I had been lucky to have watched overseas races from Laguna Seca in the 90s on delayed signals, I've always been convinced that the old layout was a 60s thing, that is from the start and then maybe sometime in 1967-68 was changed to it modern layout. It freaks me out to learn that the old layout continued for another 20 years with high speed single seaters.
Stationed at Ft. Ord 1983, I remember seeing Mario, Teo Fabi in Indy cars, saw GTP cars, Historic races and more. Great times. 250 LM was a favorite historic, Vector was an oddity but cool. Ferrari Days were incredible.
This looks like more fun than the modern track.
I drove Jim Russell racing school Formula Ford Van Diemens there in the early 80's, on the old layout. It was a true "big balls" track, as, even in a beater school FF, you had to hold your breath because, from the former turn 9 (the hairpin) all the way to the former turn 4 (just after the bridge) you had to be flat out to be quick. My right foot would start to shake by turn 3!
I was at the CanAm race there in 1982. Al Unser Jr was driving the Chevy powered Frisbee and had some technical issues during the morning session so they let him take to the track after the session had ended for some laps by himself. I'll never forget the sound of that solo V8 echoing off the hills at full song, through the gears on the front straight, then he tried to go flat through turn 2, the car wiggled and he chopped the throttle for a split second, caught the rear of the car and got back in it. Ended up winning that race and the series championship his first try at 20 years old.
I was there in the 80s watching the superbikes and 500cc two strokes on the old track.
Wow, I didn't realize how scary this track is.
He was probably smoking a cigarette while driving.
That looked crazy fast even for mid-89’s Indycars! Did they add the infield section to make meet some FIA mandate in order to host the US motorcycle GP?
old turn 1 looks awesome
Thanks for this!
The last two corners were also changed too.
Was his visor lifting when it got windy?
I think I prefer the old version. Jope to find this in a sim.
Right, if GT7 or number 8 don’t add old school layouts to the game then what’s the point?
Oldschool is best
not in this case
@@MrSkeleton131 guess you watched thr wrong video mate
@@danielwolfe4169 you know I didn't actually. Not everything in the past was better, and in my opinion this layout is an example of that
@@MrSkeleton131 how is this layout not better?
@@danielwolfe4169 it's worse for racing
Anyone know what was wrong with his helmet?
His tear off visor got stuck
I'm too young to remember the old 2-miler. Was the redesign a bad thing?
nah
Imo yes. I hate (to drive) Laguna Seca the way it is now
I’ve only seen the new version, but I’ve got to say this version looks like a lot of fun to drive. Very much a rollercoaster.
@@niismo. I watched a video of a Toyota GTP onboard on the old Laguna Seca and it was scary once he got to the top of the hill. All the better they got rid of the high speed section.
I learned they got rid of it to keep the motorcycle event.
Seems like they could add this layout. The pit exit area would have to be different at the very least.