Non-profit is first choice to run Laguna Seca Recreation Area

UPDATED 10/17/16 11:25 AM: This story has been updated to include a statement from Mike Smith, president of the board of governors of SCRAMP.

A local non-profit group has the inside track to manage the Laguna Seca Recreation Area and Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

Monterey County officials announced Friday it will begin negotiations with the Friends of Laguna Seca, one of three organizations that submitted proposals to the county.

The two other groups include a partnership between racing giant International Speedway Corporation and current concessionaire, the Sports Car Racing Association of the Monterey Peninsula (SCRAMP), and Long Beach-based World Automotive Championship of California.

According to the Friends of Laguna Seca website, the non-profit was formed to revitalize and restore the original vision of the recreation area.

The deal is far from done. The County announced Friday that although it will initially negotiate with Friends of Laguna Seca, all other potential concessionaires are still considered viable candidates.

In a statement to the press, SCRAMP board president Mike Smith emphasized that nothing has been decided yet.

“This does not mean Friends of Laguna Seca has been awarded the contract,” he wrote. “It means that County staff have been charged to dig deeper into their proposal. There is more work to be done, more questions to be answered to ensure a good outcome. So contrary to what you may her or read, the process is far from over and therefore the decision has not been made,”

A final decision will require Board of Supervisors approval in a public session. Requests for comment by Friends of Laguna Seca and SCRAMP were not immediately returned.

This is a developing story and will be updated as new information becomes available.