Cruising the Corkscrew
Hot laps with my hottie on Laguna Seca Raceway.
Laguna Seca Raceway pop quiz! What do Roger Penske, Bruce McLaren, Phil Hill, John Surtees, Jackie Stewart, Cal Rayborn, Kenny Roberts, Mario Andretti, Paul Newman, Eddie Lawson, Wayne Rainey, Freddie Spencer, Randy Mamola, Kevin Schwantz, Nicky Hayden, Casey Stoner, Valentino Rossi, Marc Marquez and Jean-Marie Boulanger have in common?
They’ve all survived the famous hard-left, hard-right combination at Turns 8 and 8A, commonly known among motorsports fans as The Corkscrew. At the apex to Turn 8 (the lefthander and entry to The Corkscrew), the elevation change is a 12 percent drop. By the time a rider reaches the apex of Turn 8A (the righthander), the elevation is at its steepest – an 18 percent drop. The Corkscrew drops 59 feet between the entrance of Turn 8 to the exit of Turn 8A—the equivalent of a 5½ story drop—in only 450 feet of track length. From Turn 8 to Turn 9, the elevation falls 109 feet, or just over 10 stories.
Valentino Rossi vs Casey Stoner 2008
The annual Quail Ride is limited to 100 paying guests, held on roads weaving through John Steinbeck country in Carmel Valley, California. The ride – led by event organizer Gordon McCall – includes two paced laps on WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca after 90 or so bumpy and twisty miles on Carmel Valley Road/Arroyo Seco Road/Foothill Road/River Road, east of Big Sur and running parallel to CA-101.
The Quail Ride brings out motorcycles of all makes, models and eras, leaning on vintage and classic. Jean and I chose a 2020 Triumph Bonneville Speedmaster and 2011 Moto Guzzi California Black Eagle, respectively, because we were riding approximately 85 miles down from Mountain View and packed gear for three nights and three rides. The main event was the Quail Motorcycle Gathering on the 19th green at the Quail Lodge, with Saturday being the big day for a few thousand enthusiasts to ogle nearly 200 vintage, custom, and historic motorcycles.
Communicating over our Sena Bluetooth helmet headsets during the 55-mile stretch before our first break at Crū Winery, Jean expressed some trepidation about riding on the famous Laguna Seca track, specifically The Corkscrew. I’ve ridden it once, on the 2018 Quail Ride. We’re paced by several California Highway Patrol motorcycle officers, heading out in separate waves. Laguna Seca Raceway is an 11-turn, 2.238-mile storied road course, where legendary motorsports battles have been waged with two wheels and four among some of the great names in racing history.
I reassured her that she’d handle The Corkscrew with aplomb, reminding her of the hairpins and elevation drops she experiences weekly in Los Altos Hills, specifically on Altamont Road between Moody and Page Mill Road. That, and the shareable experience to pass on to friends and family forevermore.
Never one to back down from a challenge, Jean took to the track in the first wave of riders, tacked on to the back. I told her to follow my line, and after screaming down the starting straight to Turn 1, she was already pushing her Speedmaster like a champ. Quickly warming the tires through Turns 2 - 7, we approached The Corkscrew, with its blind approach and a view of the sky above before flicking left, right and left.
With a better understanding of the course thus far, and our hearts still in our throats, we twisted the throttle a bit too hard through the final tight left turn onto the finish line before beginning our second lap.
I gave my Guzzi cruiser all it could handle, blitzing through the rest of the track on our approach to The Corkscrew and the finish line. Jean caught up a few seconds later, breathing heavily with a nervous laugh as we exited the track and waited for the others to join us. Turns out Jean overcooked that first Corkscrew lefthander and spent a little time on the right side rumble strip before course-correcting back onto the track, just like Valentino.
Minutes later, our friend Robb Talbott rolled up behind and asked Jean how it went. Robb has ridden the track dozens if not a hundred times, and he knew how intimidating it can be on a track bike, let alone a cruiser. I delighted in seeing a helmeted Jean describe her experience gesticulating with her hands like a champ.
Once we arrived back at Quail Lodge for lunch, one of the CHP officers asked Jean if she enjoyed the track. After explaining her second lap exploits, the kind officer said “I know; I was right behind you!”
With less than five years riding experience, Jean has pulled off what most lifelong riders may never get a chance to do, and she’s fully aware of the weight of what it means to say “I survived The Corkscrew at Laguna Seca!”
About Laguna Seca Raceway
The original Laguna Seca Raceway was built in 1957 at a cost of $1.5 million raised from local businesses and individuals on part of the US Army’s Fort Ord (a maneuver area and field artillery target range) after the nearby Pebble Beach Road Races were abandoned for being too dangerous. In 1974, the property was deeded over to the Monterey County Parks Department. The entire facility is owned by Monterey County.
The first race, held on November 9, 1957, was won by Pete Lovely driving a Ferrari. In the intervening years, the track has hosted the United States Road Racing Championship, Can-Am, Trans-Am, Formula 5000, IMSA GT, Champ Car, American Le Mans Series, Grand-Am, Superbike World Championship and MotoGP motorcycle races, and the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion.
Do you have a personal Laguna Seca Raceway experience to share?
So much fun! Kinda scary. But SO MUCH FUN!
Thank you to all my teachers, mentors, and encouragers. I'm so grateful to have this wonderful motorcycle community.
Motorcycles ARE drugs - gimme, gimme, gimme...
Crazy!! And fun! Way to go, Jean! That is amazing!