When Spring arrives in the Bay Area, there's no better way to celebrate the fresh air but in a Porsche. Consider this blog as a depository for awesome Porsche drives/tours in and around the San Francisco Bay Area and Northern California.
Draw an imaginary line across the center of California. Anchor one end off the Monterey Area/Santa Cruz mountains, on the Pacific coast. Run the line east over the Coast Range, through the Central Valley, and over the Sierra Nevada mountains. Tether the other end of the line at the Nevada border, on the fringe of the Great Basin Desert.
"Backroads of Northern California" covers the incomparable natural beauty, the myths and the history of the Golden State on the northern side of that line, while "Backroads of Southern California" does the honors for the lower half, from the San Joaquin Valley to the border with Mexico.
TOURS are what they sound like - someone leads a bunch of Porschephiles hither-and-yon for the express purpose of having them follow onto great Porsche roads, go interesting places and generally have a wonderful time driving their cars.
"Email-a-Ride" - called short notice drive/tour "Email-a-Ride
Born in London, Vic Elford was one of the fastest drivers of the Sixties and Seventies... and a Porsche hero...Nicknamed"Quick Vic" by his peers, legendary driver Vic Elford is arguably the most versatile all round driver of all time.
The 48th running of the 2010 Rolex 24 at Daytona marks the 42nd anniversary
of Vic Elford's victory in the Porsche 907, Porsche's first 24 hour
endurance win in 1968. To celebrate the occasion, David Donohue pilots a 2010
Porsche GT3 around the Daytona road course while Vic Elford, the Grand
Marshal for this year's race, tells the story of his victory for
Porsche.
and you'll have the perfect tool for carving up the Pacific Coast Highway. ... enjoy the video!
1957 Porsche Speedster - 2004 Beck
(Photo by VintageExcellence.com)
If you can hang around on the Pacific Coast Highway or Mullohand Drive and watch the traffic go by, you would see one of almost everything in a given hour's time, from Porsches, Lamborghini's, Cobras,
Speedsters, '32 high-boy roadsters, to MGA's, TC's, E-Types, and Woodie
wagons. Porsche 356 Speedster? They are everywhere!
Vintage Porsche 356 and California Vintage Woodie
Photo taken between Pt. Mugu and the Malibu "Tourist" sign
Brian O'Kelly, Paso Robles, California, USA (Photo: 356 Registry.com)
When was the last
time you saw a Porsche 356 on the road?
There's no mistaking, vintage 356 Porsche cars are a special breed of
automobiles that have played an important role of shaping automobile
design. Car manufacturers of today are constantly
struggling to create the same kind of excitement that car
designers of the past were able to accomplish so naturally without the
use of modern technologies. With each passing year, their history,
design features, racing pedigree, and even their idiosyncrasies become
increasingly appreciated.
The 911 was the outgrowth of the Porsche 356 Speedster
cabriolet, particularly the 1963 SC version. One of
the purest and most basic and most beautiful of all
auto designs, the Speedster was designed primarily as
a California sports car to take advantage of the money
of wealthy Hollywood stars and producers and the more
convertible-friendly climate.
The 356 Speedster's famous race car sister, the 550
Spyder, was the Porsche in which James Dean was killed
on September 30, 1955, forever immortalizing that
particular model, too.
This appreciation
is especially true for those who experience these cars . If you are a owner or know someone that is a 356 car hobby bug, these newly born
enthusiasts begin buying books, magazines, regalia, cars and parts, and
anything else they can get their hands on to fulfill their yearning for 356 Speedster car fun. If these cars are
tucked away in a dark corner of a garage, this scenario would never
happen.
So if you are a owner of a 356 Speedster, grab your gloves and goggles, it is time to have some fun! See you on the road.......Pacific Coast Highway 1!!
Pacific Coast Highway in a 356 Speedster - from San Diego to San Francisco
We never forget where we come from. Every Porsche is true to the
principles Dr. Ferry Porsche defined with our very first car, the
Porsche 356 Nr. 1. If you want to discover our heritage by yourself, visit the Porsche Museum. For more information: http://www.porsche.com/international/aboutporsche/porschemuseum/
I have added great information on specific drives on Facebook. Access the library on "Posted Items" of assorted drives/tours for the ideal trip best suited for the occasion. Facebook Enjoy!
Start and end in San Francisco. Mileage does not include sightseeing. Take a journey that explores National Parks, Monuments, National Seashores and more! This road trip also includes Lake Tahoe and a beautiful drive along the coast. You may want to extend the time to visit the numerous state parks and tourist areas.
Approximate Mileage/Time: 1300 miles, 12 days
More Porsche destinations will follow. Stay Tuned!
Be sure to check back often for more backroad destinations!
Pack up the car and enjoy California backroads through the breathtaking mountains, spectacular valleys, rugged coastlines, and dry desert plains of the Golden State. Have fun exploring California’s best scenic byways and back roads.
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