Laguna Seca paddoc pass MotoGP

Trying to convince a friend you do not need a paddock pass for MotoGP at
Laguna unless you want to go into that small little restricted area behind
the garages and try to get an autograph (if you have ever been in that tight
little space you know there is nothing else to see or do).

As I recall the main paddock including around the AMA haulers was wide open
to even general admittance ticket holders except for that special little
area mentioned above. I asked the head ticket manager via email and she said
it is the entire paddock, even the AMA paddock, requires the paddock pass.
If that is the case I don't think it's ever been enforced.

Does anyone remember differently?

Thanks,
-Bob

 

Yes. You cannot get into the paddock at all if you don't have a pass.
At least that's the way it's been in the past, and I don't know
anything about that changing.

 

Yeah, but that's MGP at 'Guna. INDY? Who knows? Though given it's MGP
only I doubt pit access will be much different. Hopefully DMG will
embrace the NHRA way, every ticket, no matter where the seats are, is a
pit pass...

 

But the original poster was asking about Laguna.

Yeah, cos what these multi-million dollar teams really want is the
great unwashed wandering around the pits...

 

Multi-million dollar teams? The way NASBike is going the great
unwashed will already be in the pits before the fans even show up.
Lending another common meaning to "the pits", btw...

 

Obviously and Mark answered it too..

From what I've read lately(Robert's/D'Antin, who's next?) it would seem
as if MGP might need a few more "unwashed" and if you think Pro NHRA
teams are any different, or less "high dollar" you might want to
re-think that too. Even though I realize it's apples and orange's,
completely re-building a 4 second car, or 6 second bike in 75 minutes
makes what happens in the MGP pits look like shop class...

 

Sure. I know that top level drag racing is at least as technical.
But do those big NHRA teams really let the punters peer into their
superchargers while they're working on the car?

In the late 70s/early 80s, when GP paddocks went closed, one of the
significant drivers was stuff getting stolen by the 'fans'. The teams
ended up having to buy in security staff just to keep stuff bolted
down.

 

Of course you can't get in the way and there is security people around
just to make sure, but you can (if you want) watch the whole process of
rebuilding the cars, or bikes in the pits, it's a big part of the draw
too. Will DMG follow suit? Doubtful at best..

I can certainly see where that could be a problem and have heard
stories about souvenir hunters, but overall fans in the pits aren't
seen as a problem here, though unfortunately in some series they're
seen as a source of income...

 

I think at some point they will either start selling Pit access, or
link it to more expensive tickets as it's done in "other" series and I
don't necessarily mean MGP..

$$$

 

Champ asks:

Yes, from a distance though the distance is seldom more than
50 feet.

Amerikans are used to having pigs everywhere, in the name of
'security'. So there's typically lots of them.


Go fast. Take chances.
Mike S.

 

Yeah, just don't forget to bring your ear muff's, or plugs, because
when they lite those monster's up the decibel level is somewhere around
the Space Shuttle at liftoff, or the deck on an aircraft carrier during
flight ops..

Side note, you notice they shortened all the Pro's down to 1000'
because of the Calitta deal/catastrophe? Prolly a good idea too given
300+mph trap speeds, though I do hope they come up with some way to go
back to the full 1/4's..

And they make us feel soooo secure too...

Btw, You guys get your INDY Mile tickets yet?

 

T3 asks:

Yepper. You know where you're staying yet? I've got
a buddy with a son in town - he and I are sleeping on the
floor there. Just like the old days but with wives and
kids in tow. Most of my crew is camping at the track,
I think we're up to 35 that are riding over.


Go fast. Take chances.
Mike S.

 

Nah, not yet, though wherever it ends up being I'm fairly certain it
won't be in a campground, as I'll have "Red" in tow and she "don't play
in the dirt." (thankfully;-) So, I'm looking for friend's with
benefits, (bed) if you get my drift. Still haven't decided whether to
fly, or drive, though TBH I'm leaning towards Delta and a rental car..

I've got a couple down in the boxes,(crip seats) but we've got a few
more up in 4/36 (IIRC) for the rest of the crazyass Floriduhian's.
Suffice to say, there'll be some serious partyin' goin' on somewhere in
Indy...