Best Route from Road America to Laguna Seca?
 

Headed to Laguna Seca next. Which route is best Upper, Middle, Lower? Pro / Cons of each?

Towing 24' enclosed aluminum ATC with 2002 Yukon XL 2500 8.1L engine (330Hp, 450Ft-Lbs). She does fine on East Coast hills. Not sure how she will do up the western mountains. I expect her to be ok but slow.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...083e6a5e45.jpg

The northern route would be easy.. pretty straight forward from utah to nor cal. (someone else can verify) the traffic in LA will kill you if you are going through LA but I cant tell from the map. , . Going the northern route, coming out of Reno into the sierras is an easy climb only a couple thousand feet over 30 miles. i dont know what the climb going into colorado is like, but i would expect you to see the same on the southern route. what does the time say for the northern route for google?

what is the occasion? world challenge?

If you are coming through Colorado via I-70, then yes, there are some pretty significant hills as you enter the front range going west and continuing through the Rockies.
We do that drive 4 or 5 times every ski season going from Denver out to Vail/BC and the extended climbs and descents through the passes are significant. I would be more concerned with the downhills than the uphill's. You can smell truck brakes burning on those descents, and you will also notice numerous runaway truck ramps going up the sides of the mountains along the highway. They're there for a reason.
The passes through the Wasatch range in Utah are significant as well.
As far as your 3 routes above, the northern route would seem to have the least amount of big hills, but there will still be hills, just not as significant as in Colorado and Utah.
Not sure if this applies to you, but there are plenty of dispensaries along I-70 in Colorado. The Downeyville exit in particular comes to mind.....

I prefer American Airlines

I prefer a zig zag route through Miller motorsports park to CoTA, to LS, to Sonoma before heading home to RA

That southern route follows the western half of Route 66. Some cool things to see if you're interested in that sort of thing.

Thanks for the input. Keep it coming.

Headed to RRVI for the PCA race group. Racing Laguna Seca has been on the bucket list for a long time. Having 14 E cars is icing on the cake.
Mid and Southern routes stay to the east and north of LA, so LA traffic should not be an issue.
Google map shows Northern route at 33 hours, same as middle route.
Thanks for comments re the Northern route.

Thanks for input on 70 from Denver to Salt Lake. Good point re the downhills, I have seen those runaway truck ramps, glad they are there, hope to avoid. Ah, the dispensaries, hmm!

AA - definitely if I did this often but looking forward to the views and adventure. May regret in the areas where the highway goes straight forever!

Love the idea of the zig zag route, but budget is already busted: taking it would mean no racing for the next several years. Home is actually on the east coast. Left rigs in WI following RA event.

Considered the RMR HPR race and will likely regret it, but figured attending NJMP and Road America was enough risk right before RR. May attend the PCA Hallett race on the way home if the race car and tire inventory allow.

Any input on the southern route?
Also any input on must stop and see sights along any of the routes?

thanks. I missed your post while composing above comments.

What sights do you suggest?

Just looked. We'll likely hit some of 66 on the way home, especially if we go to Hallett.

when is the PCA race?

Group 1 at Rennsport Reunion VI

https://rennlist.com/forums/racing-a...-schedule.html

I find the lower route the dullest of the three.
Most interesting ( to me) is the middle route, but there are hills. Did it with a Uhaul truck pulling a car trailer.

The western half has some beautiful scenery, lots of 2 lane roads that just follow the land. There is also some parts that either run parallel to I40 or were replaced by it entirely.
It is amazingly similar to Disney's Cars movie, down to some of the characters being inspired by business owners along the route. Lots of parts are a time capsule, abandoned and restored gas stations, old motels, diners, shops . Cool photo ops.
This link seems to list all the attractions worth considering (at least all the ones I remember off hand). https://roadtrippers.com/stories/the...de-to-route-66
If you're interested in driving more than just a few segments (and also have a passenger) I'd recommend getting this book that maps out the entire route (easy to follow the wrong road in places). It also points out all the sights (most of which aren't stop worthy, but easy to miss if you don't look for them)
The most stop worthy are: Mid-point cafe, Pops Sode Shop, Cadillac Ranch (not actually on Route 66), VW Bug Ranch, Wigwam motel, and any of the restored gas stations. The best things, surprisingly, are the free ones.
Few pictures: Link

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/rennlis...caef25721f.jpg

September 14 - 16
https://www.rmrclubrace.com/

Yes, come!

66 sights in Arizona:
Oatman, AZ between Needles, CA and Kingman, AZ is one of the more popular small towns - and fun with the wild burrows and old saloons, etc.
Seligman, AZ is another much smaller town just off the I-40 - old rusty cars, buildings, tourist shops with 66 stuff
Williams, AZ is a larger town but interesting main street
Flagstaff, AZ is even larger and has an interesting downtown area

Routes:
Recommend North route going West and South route going East - - IMHO of course . . .
The "hill" going West out of Denver is a real mountain climb - and without a Turbo diesel it will be taxing on your rig . . . just sayin'
The East coast has hills - - the West has mountains = long steep climbs (No offense Matt - I really do like Denver - and great fun in a Porsche)

I'll be watching your race at Rennsport and hope to see you in the paddock . . .
Enjoy your trip,
Regards,
Roy T