Rennsport Reunion IV - arriving from Finland, give some ideas

[Samujr]

We will head first time to west coast so we need your ideas/help. Our flight from Europe will arrive to San Francisco on Thursday 13th of Oct and we are planning to stay Friday in the city. I checked maps and it should be around 130 miles drive (Highway 1) from San Francisco central area to Laguna Seca. As Rennsport activities will start very early (8 a.m) in Saturday morning we are planning to drive closer to the track Friday evening.

Few questions:
How is traffic south from San Francisco on Friday late afternoon/evening? Especially on Highway 1?
If we stay somewhere north from Monterey do you think Santa Cruz area is too far? Or could you recommend some hotel/motel closer to Mazda Raceway what would be reasonable priced like max $200 per room?

After Rennsport Reunion we will continue towards LA. If you have some ideas what roads we should not miss while in CA, please let us know. As we cannot bring our own Porsches, scenery is most important for us

[bmcuscgr94]

Originally Posted by Samujr

We will head first time to west coast so we need your ideas/help. Our flight from Europe will arrive to San Francisco on Thursday 13th of Oct and we are planning to stay Friday in the city. I checked maps and it should be around 130 miles drive (Highway 1) from San Francisco central area to Laguna Seca. As Rennsport activities will start very early (8 a.m) in Saturday morning we are planning to drive closer to the track Friday evening.

Few questions:
How is traffic south from San Francisco on Friday late afternoon/evening? Especially on Highway 1?
If we stay somewhere north from Monterey do you think Santa Cruz area is too far? Or could you recommend some hotel/motel closer to Mazda Raceway what would be reasonable priced like max $200 per room?

After Rennsport Reunion we will continue towards LA. If you have some ideas what roads we should not miss while in CA, please let us know. As we cannot bring our own Porsches, scenery is most important for us

Wow, you've got a great trip planned.

Some thoughts: Seaside or Marina for hotels (Comfort Inn, La Quinta Inn), closer than Santa Cruz. Drive from Santa Cruz to Monterey weekends is tough. Did it last summer during Rolex/Porsche/Concours in Monterey/Laguna Seca and it took twice as long as estimated.

After head down Hwy 1 from Monterey to Morro Bay but make sure you've got a full tank when you leave. Amazing views, several Porsche clubs do annual runs along the route.

Maybe I'll see you there, I'm driving up from southern California to meet up with family before I head to the Rennsport Reunion

[juanbenae]

watsonville is on highway 1 around 25 miles south of santa cruz and about another 25 miles of the track. the lodging there will be less expensive than santa cruz or the other sites listed above. if you are leaving as early as indicated much of the "beach traffic" will be limited to RSR traffic, which you will experience either way.

a group of us local pelican will be camping there in a motorhome, lower level right at the apex of 10. will set up some sort of pelican welcome there fir sure. early plans indicate kegs of beer and BBQ's running all weekend..

[boba]

Activities will be starting Fri so a drive down Thur when you land would be in order if the primary intent is to attend RRIV. If you just want time in SFO, OK I can understand that.

Traffic on US1 can be unpredictable and slow, RV's going slow so everyone on board can take a picture. Take 101 and find a hotel in Salinas near Rt 68. Rt 68 to Monterey goes right past the track entrance, aprox 15 mi.

South on US 1 will be slow and you need to check for road closures at the time of the event. Slides close the road from time to time. Traffic can also be heavy and slow, not the way if you need to make time. You can check with TRE Cup on this board for good roads, he knows and has driven them all. Some of the Targa California threads are testament to those drives.

[Noah930]

Re: your trip from Monterey to LA:

South on US 1 will be slow and you need to check for road closures at the time of the event. Slides close the road from time to time. Traffic can also be heavy and slow, not the way if you need to make time. You can check with TRE Cup on this board for good roads, he knows and has driven them all. Some of the Targa California threads are testament to those drives.

Heed this warning. You can check on the CalTrans website for road closures. Back in April when we ran the Targa California, Hwy 1 had at least one blockage. It's gorgeously scenic, though.

I just drove from the Bay Area to LA this past weekend taking Hwy 101. Also pretty (much better than Interstate 5), but it took us about 7 driving hours. We got stuck in traffic leaving Santa Barbara.

I'll go home to check what other routes we took between Carmel and Paso Robles. (Or you can PM "TRE Cup" for details.) They were absolutely incredible driving roads. One of my favorites was Nacimiento Road (we ran it eastward from the coast/PCH) in the Fort Hunter Liggett area.

[juanbenae]

[QUOTE=boba;6174557]

Traffic on US1 can be unpredictable and slow, RV's going slow so everyone on board can take a picture. Take 101 and find a hotel in Salinas near Rt 68. Rt 68 to Monterey goes right past the track entrance, aprox 15 mi.

QUOTE]

101 is influenced by commute traffic, plus if visiting cal for the 1st time hwy 1 is a beautiful drive. if you are looking to make time and skip the coast interstate 280 south from san francisco is better than 101 traffic wise. from 280 in san jose you can collect 101 south to points mentioned above.

[boba]

Originally Posted by car 311

101 is influenced by commute traffic, plus if visiting cal for the 1st time hwy 1 is a beautiful drive. if you are looking to make time and skip the coast interstate 280 south from san francisco is better than 101 traffic wise. from 280 in san jose you can collect 101 south to points mentioned above.

You are probably correct as I just think in Bay Area terms, as daughter and son-in-law live near 580 and 680 so I pick up 101 around San Jose, but have taken 101 south from SFO directly a few times. But not at rush hour.

[Samujr]

Thanks guys! If I could decide what to do we would drive right away from airport to track side and stay there until Sunday evening But there are four of us so unfortunately we can not spend more than Sat/Sun for RSR. We have only 10 days totally in CA.

So you are saying that traffic is bad in Sat morning all around track? I want to be on site latest at 8:30 as class 4 is running 8:50. It does not matter if I need to wake up 5am but for sure we do not want to miss morning qualifications. Maybe Salinas is best place to find hotel close enough. So leaving Salinas 6am should be enough for 15-20miles and entrance? I have no idea how parking (non Porsche), ticketing and rest of the hassle will be on these kind of activities in US. I've only been twice in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia watching F1 race.

Thank you for US 1 hints too. Initial plan is to be in LA on Tuesday. If driving south will take more time we need to adjust our schedule.
I found Targa California 2011 thread from 911 technical forum so now I just need to understand the routes they used. On those photos scenery looked amazing!

[bmcuscgr94]

Originally Posted by Samujr

Thanks guys! If I could decide what to do we would drive right away from airport to track side and stay there until Sunday evening But there are four of us so unfortunately we can not spend more than Sat/Sun for RSR. We have only 10 days totally in CA.

So you are saying that traffic is bad in Sat morning all around track? I want to be on site latest at 8:30 as class 4 is running 8:50. It does not matter if I need to wake up 5am but for sure we do not want to miss morning qualifications. Maybe Salinas is best place to find hotel close enough. So leaving Salinas 6am should be enough for 15-20miles and entrance? I have no idea how parking (non Porsche), ticketing and rest of the hassle will be on these kind of activities in US. I've only been twice in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia watching F1 race.

Thank you for US 1 hints too. Initial plan is to be in LA on Tuesday. If driving south will take more time we need to adjust our schedule.
I found Targa California 2011 thread from 911 technical forum so now I just need to understand the routes they used. On those photos scenery looked amazing!

Here's a link to Laquna Seca with some info if you don't already have it.

Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca

[Tobra]

On the drive south from Moterrey, Hearst's Castle(San Simeon) is not to be missed . 17 mile drive south of monterrey, ooh, pretty.

In SF, Pacific Grill out on Geary is good, inexpensive seafood. Dinner around sunset at the Cliff House is pretty awesome, view more than the food. The Buena Vista for irish coffee, Ghirardelli Square for chocolate and touristy stuff.

Seems to me Paul(seahawk) was picking up his car from Denis about that time too, hmm

[Mahler9th]

I will likely be racing at the Rennsport Reunion. Hopefully I can visit with many of my friends around the track as well. The paddock should be awesome, and I think there will be quite a few parties in the campground... hopefully no one drinks too much and falls off of their scooter or bicycle.

I strongly suggest making hotel reservations as soon as possible. I booked early-- six rooms on 68 right near the track.

Seaside, Marina and Salinas may possibly have some availability, but even those places might be booked. One thing that may be a long shot would be to book a home on the ocean in Marina if one has a large enough group. Back in 1998 (Porsche 50th at Historics), I did this with a bunch of my friends and we had a great time.

This should be a really fun event. Stop by and say hi... my car is a red 911 and will likely be in the PCA group... and hopefully I will get to use my usual number... 4. Red enclosed trailer named the RSRHAUS.

[Nine17]

I live in Santa Cruz; my street intersects Highway 1. I'll be driving down to R-R IV every morning; no big deal. Evenings can be a little heavy coming back, but nothing bad. Slides shouldn't be an issue on Highway 1 in October. There will be some traffic between SF and Santa Cruz on a Friday between 1500 and 1900. Traffic on 1 is pretty bad just south of Santa Cruz. As for hotels, Watsonville and Salinas can be El Armpit-o. Try for Marina or Monterey on Friday night, but leave SF by 1400 or wait until 1800. Then it's a short drive to the track.

As for scenery, the 17-Mile Drive is nice, but Ocean View Boulevard and Sunset Drive in Pacific Grove are free. Highway 1 along the Big Sur Coast is beautiful in October. Santa Barbara is lovely. Be sure to take the Pacific Coast Highway from Ventura through Malibu on your way to El Lay.

Just my 2 cents...