<3mph

Hi all. My wife and I are super excited to be heading to Rennsport this month. We've never been before. Apart from the dinner on Saturday night that montoya has organized, we have not really made specific plans around each day.

So I was hoping to ask any of you who have been to Rennsport before, or who have a better handle on the setup of the entire event, to offer us some advice. Are there some must-do events or races? Any tips on how to make the most of the festivities? Insider info? Can't miss off-site activities the public can go to (without VIP connections)? Best places to view the races? Etc.

Hope to meet many of you in person there!

Thanks in advance!!

24Chromium

Please be sure to watch the PCA club racers. It's group one. We are on track each day.

Z356

Daniel:

Great news you both are coming back for Rennsport.
I am sure you will get a lot of good advice from folks
familiar with Laguna Seca and other 'insider' tips on
this thread.

I will be offering a list of restaurants & other attractions
in the area that I recommend. And I have also negotiated
a complimentary tasting flight of 3 of Ben Pon's* famous
wines at his 'Bernardus Winery' tasting room in Carmel
Valley Village. This will be an exclusive to those of you
Rennlisters coming to Rennsport and it will be available
from Monday Sept 21st to Monday Sept 28th, so those
that are touring our area before or after Rennsport can
take advantage of it! It will be only be announced by
me here on Rennlist...so that will be a nice treat for
some of you coming to Monterey for the event!

Looking forward to seeing you both soon!

Saludos,
Eduardo
Carmel

*https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Pon

http://www.racingsportscars.com/driv...en-Pon-NL.html

GTEE3

Eduardo,
Count us in on the Bernardus offering! This will make wifey very happy!
Bernardus is a 1st class hotel/winery. We always enjoy the Porsche memorabilia and wines in the tasting room.
CYREK and I hope to meet you at Rennsport or Bernardus.
Regards,
Phil

GregJGT3

Eduardo, very cool. We will try to stop by for the tasting. We are fans of the Bernardos wines...

Z356

Good, I'll post the information on the free tasting soon.

By the way, the name is 'Bernardus':





'Bernardo' is probably some hair stylist in the Castro...





Saludos,
Eduardo
Carmel

GregJGT3

Of course you are right... Loved the old Bernardus Lodge, not so sure I am a fan of the new administration. Do adore the wines. Went to school in SF and know the Castro well...

C6 ZED

Eduardo: My wife and I would love to attend the wine tasting. Hopefully we can co-ordinate a time so as not to miss any racing.

Regards

dunlopnick

Eduardo, Count on my better 'alf and I attending a wine tasting .....

MaxLTV

I can only make it for one day, but I will do my best to make it. Not sure which day is the best. Will not miss Lar's race for sure - last time I saw him on track, he provided plenty of drama and entertainment by almost giving away leading position but still winning in the end.

TONY AIR C2S

Eduardo, my wife is looking forward to the wine tasting. Thanks in advance

C6 ZED

[QUOTE= Less than 3mph: Hi all. My wife and I are super excited to be heading to Rennsport this month. We've never been before. Apart from the dinner on Saturday night that montoya has organized, we have not really made specific plans around each day.

So I was hoping to ask any of you who have been to Rennsport before, or who have a better handle on the setup of the entire event, to offer us some advice. Are there some must-do events or races? Any tips on how to make the most of the festivities? Insider info? Can't miss off-site activities the public can go to (without VIP connections)? Best places to view the races? Etc.

Hope to meet many of you in person there!

Thanks in advance!! [/QUOTE]

Daniel:
Some of my experience regarding the track & races. I'm sure others can add to my list or have other advice/opinions:
1) Bring bottled water, hat and sunscreen. Water & hats are for sale at the track if you don't bring them.
2) Bring a gardening type knee pad to sit on at the Corkscrew to help keep your shorts clean if you sit.
3) The best public washrooms are at the near end of the pit garages. Second best are set up near the race fuel pumps. All washrooms on site are well maintained.
4) If you are so inclined, hit the Souvenir Shop early Friday when you enter the track to avoid long lineups and to get the best selection.
5) Get "Keep Laguna Seca Local" large button pins at an Information kiosk and wear them.
6) I like watching the races from several places: (i) in the stands on the outside of Turn 4, (ii) in the Porsche hospitality tent usually at the inside of Turn 5 during the Rolex Historics - I can't remember if there was a Porsche specific hospitality area for Rennsport IV - maybe it was at the Red Bull Energy Center? Bring your PCA membership card(s) in any case, (iii) at the Corkscrew (excellent local brews available in the tent just a little farther up the hill there and you can see much of the track from there but at long distance), (iv) through the chain link on the outside of Turn 2.
7) Be sure to check out the Vendors Alley (or whatever it's called) on the Lagoon side of the track.
8) Carmel, Monterey & Pacific Grove are often misty and quite cool in the mornings so don't be fooled...the track is inland and normally sunny and hot.
9) I take advantage of the golf cart shuttles operated by Veterans and donate appropriately.

As I recall, Eduardo's list of restaurants in the Monterey area is excellent. Just put the $CAD/$US exchange issue out of your mind until you get home.

For sure you'll have a great time.

Z356

Gents:

I have arranged for this free wine tasting at Bernardus all week - from Monday September 21st to Monday September 28th.
So you & your significant other are covered before, during & after Rennsport! You can drive down anytime during the week
to the Bernardus Winery Tasting room in Carmel Valley Village (not far from Laguna Seca via the beautiful & curvy Laurales
Grade) and enjoy the free tasting on your time schedule & at your leisure.

Keep in mind that almost all wine tasting rooms today charge a fee. And so does Bernardus. It's normally $12 for their regular
wines and $20 for their reserves.

http://www.bernardus.com/About-Us

But this flight of 3 wines will be complimentary simply because all of you are Porsche fans, Ben Pon is proud of his past association
with Porsche & their racing fans and...I thought it would be a good idea. So Ben and his staff wants you to be exposed to the great
wine that his talented winemaker - Dean DeKorth - is producing in our area! I think you will be impressed.

I arranged a similar free tasting for the PCA Parade participants in 2014. Some of you might remember that one (attachment #1 below).

https://rennlist.com/forums/991/8084...l#post11436390

But I believe this selection will be even better. Rob Baker, Bernardus sales manager, is working on a 3 wine flight that includes their
signature 'Marinus' red meritage (Estate Blend) wine. I believe the selection will be something like attachment #2 & #3.

Ben sold the Lodge a year or so ago to a boutique hotel group formed by a venture capital group. He just has the winery now.
And the Pon family still has the importing franchise for the VW Group for Holland...and so much more!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pon_Holdings

Hope not THAT well! ...

Saludos,
Eduardo
Carmel

GregJGT3

Not that there's anything wrong with it 😟😏

Z356