April 12-13th, 2014
Photo: Bryan Heitkotter
The El Toro Pro needs a bump in attendance like LA needs traffic. It is one of the stand out events on the ProSolo Schedule every year with huge courses, high speeds and a packed house. So why should you make the trip? Here is why, and just because we always do, we won鈥檛 even mention the weather this time:
1. Because everyone else is. The competition is great at El Toro! Go look at the entry list. If you want to run against the West Coast鈥檚 elite, this is one of the places! Not only do the Southern California folks turn out, but also the rest of the West Coast comes down for this event.
2. This place is huge! 鈥淎irport course鈥� does not begin to do it justice. The ProSolo courses at El Toro are awesome. You will be challenged by fast, fun, courses that are 鈥渢echnical at speed.鈥� The courses are long by Pro standards and the unique surface is plenty grippy. If you have run here, I鈥檓 preaching to the choir. If not, you need to make it a priority. Remember that Southern California land is at a premium, and El Toro will eventually give way to houses and shopping malls. You don鈥檛 want to be the autocrosser that someday says 鈥淚 never ran at El Toro before they tore it up.鈥�
3. Hospitality. Don鈥檛 be fooled by what the folks in Dixie and Texas tell you about hospitality, the SoCal crowd can hold their own. This is a great group, and always willing to lend a hand, a tool or a part. I had four offers of a BMW radiator when I had an issue there last year. I hope you don鈥檛 need that level of hospitality, but you get the point.
4. Attractions? There is enough to do in Southern California that you can come down for the San Diego Tour, stay the week in between and not run out of things to do!
5. Food. How about a welcome party SoCal style! The Friday night welcome party will have homemade chili, guacamole and other goodies. There are plenty of restaurants in the area, and Southern California food is eclectic. Some recommendations close by are:
- The Hat on Rockfield Blvd. in Lake Forest. Traditional American. One comment is 鈥淭he chili cheese fries are hands down the best on the planet.鈥�
- Ask Jon Lugod for directions to a Korean BBQ two exits north of the site.
- Woody鈥檚 Diner in Laguna Hills
- Irvine: Lucca Caf茅 on Quail Hill Parkway comes recommended by none other than Mike 鈥淛unior鈥� Johnson.
- Seafood Noodle House on Culver Drive
- Cucina Enoteca on Fortune Drive
- Sagami, on Barranca Parkway
- Clay Oven Cuisine of India, on Jeffrey Road
- Bruxie, on Culver Drive (hard to quantify a place with unique waffle selections, specialty sandwiches, etc, but highly recommended by locals)
- If that鈥檚 not enough, or if you are staying in Costa Mesa: Taco Maria, Pizzeria Ortica, Marche Moderne come recommended there.
El Toro ProTip: Avoid the Train Motel! La Quinta on Sand Canyon is geographically convenient, but the train runs right behind the motel and the train sounds its horn to warn motorists at the intersection鈥� just as it is behind the motel. You鈥檒l think there is a train about come out of your bathroom鈥�