laguna

Mastering Laguna Seca with the 2013 Nissan GT-R

SALINAS, CA--On a recent Friday at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Nissan hosted a group of 2012 GT-R owners as part of the rollout of the revised 2013 version of the car. This was one of three such gatherings nationwide, and about 35 owners were present with their cars, while Nissan provided demo versions of the 2012 GT-R for invited members of the media. Also on hand were instructors from the Skip Barber Racing School, providing tips on driving lines and technique in a series of morning sessions using the current cars, and giving full-tilt rides in the new cars in … Read more

2013 Subaru BRZ Limited: Believe (most of) the hype

Take a moment and mentally process all of the hype surrounding the launch of the 2013 Subaru BRZ. Go on, I'll wait. Now take that hype and dial it back to 80 percent. That's how good the Subaru BRZ is. It's not the second coming or the messiah for performance driving -- it's not perfect -- but it is quite good.

The B in BRZ should stand for "balanced" because that's exactly what Subaru's new rear drive coupe is. This car is all about balance with a near 50-50 weight distribution between … Read more

Cycles, cars, tech come together at Mazda Raceway

SALINAS, Calif.--Though the Red Bull Grand Prix at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca is considered a pilgrimage destination for motorcycle and racing fans, anyone with an interest in technology and engineering will find a wonderland of expensive toys here.

The Red Bull Grand Prix packs several days of test runs, time trials, and elite motorcycle racing into the big weekend. Thousands of bike and racing enthusiasts flock to the Mazda Raceway, as they do to Daytona Beach for Bike Week or the Sturgis Rally in South Dakota. In between races, fans can see the superbikes up close, explore the latest motorcycle and car models, and shop the latest developments in gear and helmets. … Read more

Trackside in the Chevrolet Volt

There are cars that were born for the track and those that have absolutely no business there. The 2011 Chevrolet Volt is one of the latter. But when given the opportunity to lap Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in GM's newest electrified vehicle, we jumped at the opportunity.

Imagine, for a moment, pushing your favorite dull midsize sedan (say a Toyota Camry or Chevy Malibu) at 8/10ths around your favorite back road with all of the understeer, body roll, and middling power-to-weight ratio. It's unoffensive, but few would call the experience "fun." This is the starting … Read more

Bring on the Mustangs (SEMA preview)

Yesterday, we took a sneak peek at some of the custom Ford vehicles that will be on hand at the 2010 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, NV. However, that list was all Fiestas, Explorers, and Fusions. Where were the Mustangs?

Today, Ford delivers with an all-pony car preview of a few of the custom Mustangs, most of which started life as 5.0 GT models, that we'll see at the show. From the pink Creations n' Chrome convertible to the street-warrior-themed MRT custom coupe, it's always a thrill to see the completely different directions the customizers take when … Read more

Race-ready limited production 2012 Mustang Boss 302 unveiled

You might not remember the 1969 Mustang Boss 302. But if you do, you'll be even more excited about today's announcement of the 2012 Mustang Boss 302 and the 2012 Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca.

Based on the 2011 Mustang GT, the Boss 302 features upgrades to the engine output, brakes, suspension, interior, and exterior. It's lighter in weight and offers better aerodynamics and track performance, according to a Ford news release.

"The decision to build a modern Boss was not entered into lightly," said Derrick Kuzak, group vice president, Global Product Development. "The … Read more

Honda drivers hit the track

Amateur drivers who build and race their own Honda race cars hit the track at Buttonwillow Raceway Park in Central California.

The drivers, a group of friends that call themselves FF Squad, talk about the perils and rewards of building and racing their own cars.

The race is hosted by Speed Ventures, which holds events at several California tracks including Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca and Infineon Raceway. Drivers pay from $180 to $290 to participate in each event.

115: 100 mpg in a Hummer

Chrysler days away from bankruptcy? The 100 mpg Hummer H3, the Peapod car uses the iPhone for just about everything, and we soak up the fumes trackside at Laguna Seca.

Listen now: Download today's podcast SHOW NOTES

• CNET's day at the track

• Watch the Scuderi split-cycle engine at work

• Chrysler's Peapod car turns on with an iPhone

• Good roundup of ways to connect your iPod in the car

• 100 mpg in a Hummer H3

Google sets Street View for Laguna Seca racetrack

Editors' note: Google has just informed us that the launch of this new feature will be delayed, and is not occurring on March 26. Google would not specify a date when the new feature will be launched.

On March 26, Google lets you get in the path of American Le Mans racers on the track at Mazda raceway Laguna Seca. Specifically, Google was able to roll one of its Street View trucks, which use a spherical camera to take 360-degree photos, around the track in front of the cars preparing for the final race of the 2008 American Le Mans … Read more

Photos: Performance testing at Laguna Seca

On the second day of the 2008 Western Automotive Journalists Media Days, we drove a variety of different cars at Laguna Seca. This famous track employs a number of technical turns, not to mention a quarter-mile straightaway, for testing handling and acceleration.

Click here for photos of production cars tested on the track at Laguna Seca.