Asistance on Infineon Raceway

[racerx]

I will be attending a russell driving academy class sometime this year. What I would like some help on is what to expect. What airport (LAX), the drive time to the track from the airport and what the traffic is like. I have never been to Cali and just would like to know what to expect. Thanx in advance

Brian

[LostRacer]

Infineon Raceway is in NorCal. So your best bet would be to fly either into Oakland or SF. Pending traffic you're probably looking at around 45 minutes ot get to the track from Oakland. I'd say maybe an hour if coming from SF.

[NorCalCoug]

Tyrice is roughly correct. Accomodations are not inexpensive if you want something better than a Motel 6 or Crazy Eddy's Crackhouse. Since you'll obviously be renting a car since you can't stuff your car into the cargo compartment of the aircraft you're flying in, gas can be a bit on the expensive side, anywhere from $1.75 a gallon upwards of $2.30 in San Francisco proper. Oakland is cheaper, but be careful where you stay. It's kinda ghetto. SF is better, but more expensive and a little more difficult to navigate and drive in. I've had people who live in big cities like Chicago tell me that it's damn near impossible to drive in SF.

According to this map:

http://1touch.rmg3.com/images/GAmap.gif

Infineon Raceway is located roughly 30 miles north of SF. If you're staying in a hotel near SFO (San Francisco Airport), you're actually going to be staying about 10 miles south of SF. This adds 10 miles to your trip. Also, there are no freeways that go through SF proper; they all end in a street and go through the city before turning back into freeway. Also bring $5 for bridge toll (you only pay to cross in one direction) for the Golden Gate Bridge as this is what you'll be crossing if you go through SF to get to Infineon.

Depending on time of day, traffic can take you anywhere from 1hr 20min to drive the 40 miles from South San Francisco (Where SFO is) to a mere 50 minutes. The part where you drive through the city itself is what kills you. :)

Other than that, watch out for slow drivers- though the SF Bay is fairly well known for people driving like bats out of hell (80mph is really kind of normal on many freeways/highways), 101 which is the main thoroughfare up into SF and north out of SF to the Golden Gate Bridge is full of idiots who think that the speed limit is still 55mph from a decade ago.

[MrFroge]

Hint: Stay in Novato.. And it is usually faster to go around SF via 880/580 to 101 noth of the Golden Gate bridge.

[racerx]

thanx everyone, I am going to check the informational packet scion sent me along with my scholarship paperwork. I wish Scion would have picked up the tab for the trip as they did for me when they sent me to Vegas, but beggars cant be choosers, they are sending me to the school and picked up the tab for it at almost $3200. Thanks again for the information. Maybe we can get together some evening after my driving school for some dinner or something. Thanx again