WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca Appoints McGrane as Chief Executive Officer, Effective June 1
MONTEREY, Calif., May 24, 2018 — WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca takes another step in building towards its future by announcing Timothy P. McGrane as Chief Executive Officer of the County of Monterey-owned facility, effective June 1.
McGrane is a lifelong automotive enthusiast with an extensive background in event management, fundraising, and sponsorship acquisition. He has been involved with classic car auctions for 30 years, the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance through various associations for 25 years, and most recently served as Executive Director of Blackhawk Automotive Museum since 2013.
WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca is an iconic 11-turn, 2.238-mile road course built in 1957 and hosts world-class motorsports events such as Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship GEICO Motorcycle U.S. Round, Continental Tire Monterey Grand Prix, and Porsche Rennsport Reunion.
In 2018, the iconic raceway announced a naming rights agreement with WeatherTech Inc., signed Lexus as the Official Luxury Automobile of WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, and extended the naming rights agreement of the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion with Rolex Watch U.S.A.
“The County of Monterey and SCRAMP have made a long term commitment to transform this legendary race track facility into a modern motorsports and lifestyle special events venue, and I am looking forward to being a part of the transition of this iconic and historic motor racing circuit,” said McGrane. “We are entering into a new era of not only continuing its motorsports legacy but also evolving it to maximize the potential of the entire facility with motorsports as well as nonautomotive and lifestyle events. We want to get the rest of the facility to match what is a world-class motorsports circuit. We want the participants, sponsors, spectators, and local community to see an immediate difference and know that WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca is headed toward the future.”
The track was originally built in 1957 for the sole purpose of keeping those tens of thousands of spectators who were watching sports car racing at the Pebble Beach Road Races. That underlying mission hasn’t changed. The County of Monterey owns the facility and events, and it benefits the community by bringing in people who are outside of the area to the Monterey Peninsula. We will look at the audience experiences and taking care of all competencies of providing everything that people who are competing on the race track need, everything the sponsor expects, and everything the fan expects. We have to make sure we meet or exceed all of those expectations so that they want to come back and bring their friends.
The partnership between WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca and Monterey County is bringing improvements to the historic facility, and McGrane’s expertise promises to accelerate that process.
“Tim shares the County’s vision of transforming the raceway into a world-class facility,” said Dewayne Woods, Assistant County Administrative Officer for Monterey County, “The combination of Tim’s experience and the County’s engagement will expedite success in this transformation. We are looking forward to an exciting future at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.”
International Motor Sports Association President/COO Scott Atherton, who served as President/General Manager of Laguna Seca Raceway from 1993 to 1997, applauds the hire of McGrane. The IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship headlines the annual Continental Tire Monterey Grand Prix at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca Sept. 6-9. Concours Chairman Sandra Button likewise endorses the hire.
“I think SCRAMP and Monterey County have made an excellent choice,” said Atherton. “I have known and worked with Tim for many years and he is ideally qualified. I can personally attest to the fact that the CEO job at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca is a very unique role. However, Tim’s industry experience, character and personal style will be a perfect fit for the track and the community. A wise choice has been made, and I am very much looking forward to working with Tim in his new role.”
“Tim McGrane has worked with us at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance for over two decades, and we greatly admire his ability to move mountains – quickly, calmly and professionally,” said Button. “We know he will do all he can to help the raceway meet the future well prepared. We look forward to continuing our relationship with Tim for many years to come.”
Remaining events on the WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca motorsports calendar include the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship GEICO U.S. Round featuring MotoAmerica Championship of Monterey, June 22-24; Monterey Pre-Reunion, August 18-19; Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, August 23-26; Continental Tire Monterey Grand Prix featuring AMERICA’S TIRE 250, Sept. 6-9; Porsche Rennsport Reunion VI, Sept. 27-30; and California 8 Hours presented by Pirelli World Challenge, Oct. 26-28.
For tickets and information about WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, please go to www.WeatherTechRaceway.com or call 831-242-8200.