San Fran
 

Due to work pressures, (I can't take the time to drive) I'm flying into SFO next week to attend Rennsport. A buddy of mine will be flying in eight hours later. So, what would a car nut/Porsche nut do with this time in this part of the world? (the eight hours) I know SFO has many other fine attributes but since I'm "baching" it, I thought I might make this trip a car-fest. Cheers

I believe that BART (subway/light rail) serves SFO, so you can use that to get almost anywhere.

2 words...

Leguna Seca

And there's no way you can get out of it? The rennsport thing is cool but flying into san fran-freak-o?

ewwwww.

Sammy, why haven't you moved to Texas? Seriously!

I've got to hang out in the San Fran area (with the rental car) so I can pick up my buddy when he flies in. I wasn't aware that the BART system goes to the airport....I may just leave the car at the airport then (until the pick up). Yeah I hope it's a bit of a freak show...what would San Fran be be without it's "color"? Cheers

3 words

long ass drive

8 hours is not enough to do much, some cool classic car sales places on Van Ness

Maybe go to the zoo, don't throw stuff at the tigers unless you can run super fast.

If it is daytime you could go to the Haight and look at stinking hippies and hoodlums

Right across the 101 outside the airport is Milpitas, which has some excellent dim sum places. The biggest one you can't miss on Milipitas Ave. Go grub there. Then head south on the 101 to Mountain View and go see the Computer History Museum. It's free and it's awesome, a very well kept secret. I'm sure they'll be doing something to celebrate Steve Jobs's life, since he was one their main benefactors. Then go over to Palo Alto, just back up the 101 a ways and go check Palo Alto Speedometer. There are some good bars on Univ. Ave. there. Then drive back up the 101, cross the Golden Gate Bridge and get off at Sausalito, go find the Record Plant and take a photo of yourself out front. Some of the best albums of all time have been recorded there. There's a great outdoor restaurant there too, called Fish. They don't take credit cards. Another exit or two up the 101 is the super Mill Valley Ferrari dealership. Once you've wiped the drool from your chin, drive up Mt. Tamalpais from there and/or go see the Redwoods in Muir Woods.

That should fill a few of those hours and you won't have to step foot in San Fran.

Probably too late but easier to fly into Oakland or San Jose and take the BART into San Fran IMHO.

BART from the SFO station tacks on an additional airport fee so keep that in mind. It's about $18 round-trip from SFO to downtown and back. Get your car and go for a drive. Head up 101 and go across the Golden Gate Bridge. Stop in Sausalito and find a place to eat. Drive up to Hawk Hill on the northwest side of the GG and look at the wonderful view of the city, weather permitting. Good hiking trails up there too and you can work off your lunch. Golden Gate Park houses the DeYoung Museum and the Steinhart Aquarium. Any P-car shops worth visiting? Don't know but maybe someone here does.

Sorry, that's not correct any more. BART goes right into the International Terminal; at Oakland you have to take a bus to the BART station. San Jose? Uh, no.

Take BART into SF - explore Chinatown, if you like food, go to the Ferry Building. Walk through Golden Gate Park. See the Golden Gate Bridge. Take a hop on a Cable Car. Sit in a cafe and watch the world go by. The luxury of time...

Blow a few hundred bucks at the O'Farrell Theater.

JR

8 hours is a lot of time to kill.

Across the bay, in Blackhawk is an excellent auto museum...1 hour drive from SF, likely 45 minutes from the airport.

Burlingame has the candystore (smaller, fun auto museum)

San Jose (45 minutes south) has club auto sport. Cool place.

Lots of places that don't focus on autos as well. I can continue if you would like...

Yup, and I will be making that long as drive from Calgary to race there next month...

Head over to Fisherman's Wharf to visit the Musee Mecanique or tour the WWII submarine USS Pampanito. Try riding the Cable Cars too...the POWELL-HYDE line has the best views and the CALIFORNIA line is the least crowded. The Cable Car Museum is really interesting too. Head up to Twin Peaks for a fantastic 360 degree view of the City. The Disney Family Museum in the Presideo is a real treat. It's not just about Disneyland but more about Walt's life, career and the pursuit of his vision. The Exploritorium is big fun for kids of all ages. Driving around SF is a total PITA and trying to park a car is a challenge...be prepared. BTW, Milpitas isn't just "right across the 101 outside the airport"...it's actually over on the other side of the Bay. If you want dim sum, don't waste your time going there...just head over to Chinatown.
On your drive down to Laguna Seca, Bruce Canepa's shop in Scotts Valley is well worth a visit to get you primed for Rennsport. If you drive south on 101 then head out to the coast over Route 17, you'll pass right by it. Check it out here: Canepa Design.
The weather should be perfect for for your visit and for the event...clear & sunny with temps in the mid-60s for both SF and the Laguna Seca area.

Don't listen to some of these hayseed schmucks, SF is one of the world's great cities and you have the opportunity to experience it for a few hours. Forget the car-related crap. I'm an incurable gearhead but also like to experience the world, SF is so gorgeous that if you are not prepared for it you will blow a fuse. Your mind will not be able to comprehend what you are looking at while standing in front of the Fairmont Hotel looking down on the bay and the bridge. To call it a "postcard view" is a major understatement. It will blow your mind.

I also like driving around SF, it's an adventure as long as you avoid the really traffic-clogged streets. Cross the GG bridge to Marin and get your senses blown some more w/ the beauty of Sausilito, Mill Valley and the road to Stinson Beach. (Highway 1). This is god's country. If you are from the midwest, like me, you will not believe your eyes the first time you see these places.

Hit the car places too but don't short-change yourself by missing the city and environs. That's my .02.

Car are nice, and SF is beautiful. As it happens, I'm headed there Sunday. If I had to rush into the city and only had an extra hour or two, I'd head across the Golden Gate and drive up the Marin Headlands for the view.

But with 8 hours to kill? I'd head the other way - right over the peninsula to Half Moon Bay, and drive south on PCH in the fine autumn weather down to Santa Cruz and/or on to Monterey/Carmel. Stop at Las Palmas for deep-fried tacos near the pier in Santa Cruz and eat them out near Steamer Lane and watch the surfers and/or windsurfers across Monterey Bay. Then just drive back up the way you came - windows down and radio on.

Cars are nothing without great roads, and PCH won't be crowded mid-day unless it is a weekend.

There's a great exotic car shop in Los Gatos and that's a nice town to walk around.

mitchell brothers theater. ;)

5 words
rennsport is at laguna seca