Off the Beaten Track

These race tracks are known for their beautiful surroundings and offbeat locations.

From time to time, the SSCS Blog posts about the singular area we live and work in, the Monterey Peninsula. While our headquarters are in the heart of agricultural powerhouse, Salinas,[1] the Peninsula is only minutes away.

It’s an area that captures the public’s imagination, with miles of breathtaking ocean and bay views, including the Peninsula’s long, picturesque drive down the Big Sur Coast. Outdoor enthusiasts thrive to it; once you get south of Carmel, people of all ages as good as line the coast, always on the move, soaking up their surroundings.

Because the Coast gets all the attention, though, the impressive-in-its-own-way Fort Ord National Monument often gets overlooked. The 14,000-acre parcel of open space and the 86 miles of trails running through it are as good as hidden between Salinas and the Peninsula. Here are a few pictures to give you an idea of why this unheralded area is loved by local hikers, runners, mountain bikers, and horseback riders:

Walk around the Monument long enough and in the right direction, and you might end up being confronted by the unexpected. No, we’re not talking about a bobcat or a pack of coyotes, we’re talking about a cyclone fence, and that long track curving around behind it. You’ve just stumbled onto world-famous Raceway Laguna Seca, resting up against the Monument’s open space.

From the above photo, you can see how the track blends into its surroundings[2], serving as the perfect introduction to the main topic of this Fourth of July blog post: eye-catching automobile racing tracks from around the world and where you can find them. Let’s take a look.

RaceWay Laguna Seca (Monterey Peninsula): We’ve introduced the unique natural setting Laguna is nestled in; it’s a large part of its renown as a race track. Its other notable feature is an iconic and challenging corkscrew turn, which racers must negotiate with care. Home to such events as MotoGP and the INDYCAR Grand Prix of Monterey, the race track is also the central piece of Car Week on the Peninsula.
C-store of Note: A short drive to nearby Salinas reveals a town full of convenience stores, among them SSCS customers Toro Petroleum, A Plus Valero, and Arrow Gas & Market.

Circuit de Monaco (Monaco): This one’s really timely, as the new film, F1 starring Brad Pitt features scenes from the Monaco Grand Prix. It’s far from the only movie to use the location as a background—everyone from Herbie the Volkswagen to Iron Man has visited the circuit. Nestled along the Mediterranean coastline, the race way winds through the narrow streets of the city-state. The glamorous backdrop includes luxury yachts in the harbor and the stunning Monte Carlo Casino.
C-store of Note: More a grocery store than a c-store, Carrefour Market is right in the middle of the action here, as it was last week when we visited the Pyramid at Giza. The brand dominates in Monaco.

Suzuka International Racing Course (Japan). Surrounded by lush greenery and stunning views of distant Mount Fuji, Suzuka is famous for its figure-eight configuration. The track is celebrated for its technical challenges and unique layout, making it a favorite among drivers. The cherry blossoms in spring add to the track’s allure, creating a beautiful setting for motorsport fans.
C-store of Note: This being Japan, it should be no surprise that there is a Family Mart just a few blocks away.

Interlagos (Brazil). Officially known as the Autódromo José Carlos Pace, Interlagos is situated in São Paulo amid a hilly terrain that offers sweeping views of the cityscape. The vibrant atmosphere of a Brazilian crowd combined with the backdrop of the rolling hills and city skyline creates a visually stunning and energetic environment for racing.
C-store of Note: This is a highly populated, but older area of Sao Paulo with butchers, portable produce stands, and specialty lottery booths in the retail mix. An AM/PM close by is branded with a Brazilian fuel company, Ipiranga. A most colorful mom-and-pop store in the area about the same distance going the other way is Alvaro Mercado.

[1] Interesting in its own right.

[2] There’s even a campground in the greater Laguna Seca Recreation Area.

Even if the general public doesn’t drive around in F1 Formula race cars, the vehicles they own are reliant on the fuel products that c-stores provide. Fuel sales, however, have razor thin margins, which means fuel must be managed closely, from the time it is delivered into your tank until the time it is pumped into the consumer’s vehicle.

This kind of precision tracking requires the detail and immediacy of fuel values as they change, the kind  of information only technology can provide. SSCS’s back office, Computerized Daily Book (CDB), is a good example. Our robust set of fuel management features benefits from over 40 years of continuous development to keep you in the black. Make fuel a dynamic contributor to your bottom line. Call us at (800) 972-7727, and we’ll show you how.