The Senior rate is for those 55 and over, there are also AAA discounts, other discounts may apply. You can see these discounts with the on-line form by clicking on the link "Promo Code" and then selecting the drop-down-box labeled "Special Rates".
Below is the current schedule and recommedations for the 3 days. Based upon what members sign-up for and comments there may be improvements made to the following. Please note the following:
- Few people will go for all three days. I expect many will just go for one or two days.
- The Friday and Saturday boat tours have the advantages of being close to Golden Hour and the tide is lower, which may increase sightings of land/water animals.
- If you go to Laguna Seca for the race, Keep in mind that the race is an 8 hour race. So if 8 hours sounds like too much time for you to spend at the race, do something similar to what I am doing. Be there at 8am to photograph the pre-race atmosphere and the start of the race at 9am and leave at about 10am. The go to Point Lobos, Then return to Laguna Seca at about 4pm, see the finish at 5pm and leave at about 6pm.
You don't need to stay exclusively under Optiona A or Option B, think of it as alternatives at different times.
| Time |
Option A |
Option B |
FridayNoon to 5pm
|
Laguna SecaPhotograph time trials of race teams to Qualify, pit crews, etc.Planning photography locations for Saturday race (Laguna Seca is a large place)
|
Take theElkhorn boat tour.Be there before 2:40pm so the boat can depart on time at 3pm and return at 5pm
If you arrive arround 9am and are not going to Laguna Seca, I recommend going to Pt Lobos, asSaturday is more crowded
|
| FridaySunset |
Carmel by the Sea and Carmel Beach for Photos.After sunset we will gather at Asilomar for dinner and then after dinner drinks at the outdoor firepits |
Go to Asilomar for Sunset photos or have dinner in Carmel after Camel Beach Photos. |
| Saturday8am to 10am |
Race Start @ Laguna Seca is at 9amin this 8 hour race and Finish is at 5pm.My personal plan is to be at Laguna Seca from 1 hour before the start of the race until 1 hour after the start.Then go to Point Lobos at 10am.Then return to Laguna Seca at about 3:00pm for the last 2 hours of the race and race finish at about 5pm until 6pm.Then go to Asilomar for Sunset, dinner and after dinner firepit social.I am taking the Sunday boat in Elkhorn Slough |
Point Lobos is frequently called the crown jewel of the Califoria coast.If you are only in Monterey for one day and want to do more than just the Elkhorn Slough 2 hour boat tour in the slough, this should be your first stop. There are no less than 5 different areas to Point Lobos near the ocean that are dramatically different from each other.Try to arrive close to 9am, as parking can backup which means you will need to wait at the entrance before you are allowed in.Make good use of carpooling as some of the more popular areas have limited parking. |
| Saturday 10:am - 1:00pm |
Laguna Seca.As the race is 8 hours long, and the race starts at 9am you may want to leave Laguna Seca after 10am or 11am go to Point Lobos and return between to Laguna Seca beteen 3pm and 4pm so you can see the last hour of the race, the finish and the celbration for the winner. |
Leave Point Lobos no later than 1:30pm if you are booked for the Elkhorn boat tour this day |
| Saturday 2:45 to 5pm |
See above for Laguna Seca |
Be ready to board Elkhorn Slough Pontoon Boat at 2:45pm so our time on the water is not reduced $50/person.Arrive in the Elkforn area before 1pm so you are not pressed for travel time and get to see Elkhorn Slough on foot |
| Saturday Sunset Photography |
Asilomar & Point Pinos Lighthouse for Sunset Photography.The distance from Asilomar to the Point Pinos Lighthouse is about 1 mile, where one can walk along the coast. If we are lucky we may have very rough surf for dramatic photos.This is also very convienant to having dinner in Asilomar and after dinner drinks at the firepit. |
After the boat tour in Elkhorn Shough, you may want to look for a good spot for a sunset .If you plan to return home on Saturday, Elkhorn Slough and Moss Landing area may be a good balance between a good setting and drive times.Overwise consider shooting in the Asilomar and Point Pinos Lighthouse as described in the column to the left |
| Sunday 7am-9am |
Sunday pre-breakfast shoot.Grounds of Asilomar, Point Pinos and immediate coast |
Sleep-in and/or enjoy a slow breakfast with friends |
| Sunday 930am to 1:30pm |
Visit Monterey Bay Aquarium, Street Photograpy on Monterey Fisherman's Wharf or Carmel-by-the-Sea |
Point Lobos is frequently called the crown jewel of the Califoria coast.If you are only in Monterey for Sunday this is probably the best use of your time
|
| Sunday 2pm-6pm |
Consider Visit Monterey Bay Aquarium, Street Photograpy on Monterey Fisherman's Wharf or Carmel-by-the-Sea, and Point Lobos (see right column) |
|
The Laguna Seca Schedule with Recommendations
Friday, March 29, 2019
Depart Palo Alto by 7am to arrive at Laguna Seca at about 9am.Keep in mind Laguna Sec is a very big place, so once you arrive and park it will take time to get to where you want to go.
10:00 am - 11:00 amRACE #1 - GT4 SprintX West
This is a serious amateur race that lasts one hour. Plan to arrive by 9am to see this, so you have time to find a good position for photography. Shooting this will help you prepare for the pro-race. Plan to attend this race if you will be at Elkhorn Slough in the afternoon.
To photograph the cars in motion with motion blur, try panning your camera to stay steady with the car while using a slow shutter speed - try 1/30 to 1/100 of a sec using burst shooting mode, so the car is in sharp focus and the background and wheels have motion blur. Experiment to see what works. If you have 3 to 5% of your photos with the car in focus - you are doing great.
11:10 am - 11:20 am Podium - GT4 SprintX West
Festivities for the winner of the above race
11:20 am - 11:35 am Qualifying 1, Driver 1 - California 8 Hours
These are time trials to determine car starting positions for the Saturday race.
11:42 am - 11:57 am Qualifying 2, Driver 2 - California 8 Hours
12:05 pm - 12:20 pm Qualifying 3, Driver 3 - California 8 Hours
12:30 pmQualifying Interviews - California 8 Hours
IF YOU ARE GOING TO TAKE THE BOAT TOUR ON ELKHORN SLOUGH, LEAVE LAGUNA SECA NO LATER THAN 1 PM.Without traffic, this will take about 40 min (per Google)
1:00 pm - 2:30 pmLunch, VIP Hot Laps
Hot-lapping refers to cars driven around a race track without actually competing for a position or any other recording of performance.
2:30 pm - 3:15 pmAutograph Session - California 8 Hours
2:30 pm - 3:30 pmRace # 2 - GT4 SprintX West
Another GT amateur race.
3:40 pm - 3:50 pmPodium
3:40 pm - 3:55 pmPole Shootout - California 8 Hours
4:00 pmPole Shootout Interviews - California 8 Hours
Saturday, March 30, 2019
Try to arrive by 7:30am if you want to see the start of the race, If staying at Asilomar, depart by 6:45am, as even without traffic it takes about 25 minutes to drive to Laguna Seca
7:15 am Race Directors Track Inspection
7:46 am - 8:16 am VIP Grid Walk
8:15 am Pre-Race California 8 Hours
8:30 am - 4:30 pm RACE - California 8 Hours
If you are on the Elkhorn Slough boat tour, leave by 1pm