Car related things to do on holiday in California?

[Goochie]

We're going to the west coast of the USA next year, taking a leisurely road trip from San Francisco down to LA, via Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon.

Does anyone know of car related activities that can be done anywhere in that area? Can you take a passenger ride in a NASCAR, go off-roading in the desert etc.

I've trawled the web and the guide books and found nothing

Any ideas?

[shakotan]

Not car 'driving' related, but you have the Peterson Museum in Los Angeles, and the NHRA Museum just East of LA in Pomona.

[isee]

Ask Arnie if he would let you drive one of his hydrogen powered hummers. That would be ace i think!

[Chocmonster]

Laguna Seca - http://www.mazdaraceway.com - amazing track and the towns of Monterey & Carmel are wonderful places to visit. If you get a chance also go to the aquarium on Cannery Row in Monterey. The Sea Otters are so cute!

There are other tracks in California including:-
Sonoma - http://www.infineonraceway.com
California Speedway (Fontana) - http://www.autoclubspeedway.com

If you're in LA then head for Long Beach were you could probably drive the layout of the circuit used for F1 & Indycars.

It depends on when you're going as to what's on.

Edited by Chocmonster on Wednesday 17th June 16:10

[pits]

Head to Vegas, but what ever you do, dont stop in bat country

[DoubleYellow]

Drive By in South Central LA

[h0b0]

I drove a NASCAR so you should look into that. I did it on the east coast though but I know the company I went with travel around.

Some parts of route 1 can be fun to drive on the coast but I have only done it north of san fran.

[K50 DEL]

Richard Petty Nascar Experience (www.1800bepetty.com) at Las Vegas Motor Speedway

The Auto Collections at the Imperial Casino in Vegas

The Petersen Automotive Collection in Los Angeles

Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca (PHers have, historically, been successful in blagging fast laps with test drivers!

You'll pass a few circuits that host Nascar events

Drive the PCH, this is a car related experience not to be missed in itself (I've just returned from a 6,000 mile trip doing all of your route and then some in a 350z roadster - Highway 1 was just one of the highlights.