54 Porsches toured backroads of the Northstate in hot ticket tour

REDDING, Calif. — 104 members of the Porsche Club of America toured through the back roads of the scenic Northstate this weekend and getting a spot on the tour has become a hot commodity.

54 Porsches travelled in groups of three as they weaved around the beautiful mountain scenery in Shasta, Lassen, Trinity, and Siskiyou counties.

"In the Porsche Club of America, which is a worldwide organization, this is the place that has the best roads and the best venue for doing this kind of touring," one member said.

The tour was called the Shasta Region Tour. It was three 8-hour days of driving to various scenic locations along with lunch spots at noteworthy restaurants.

This tour was only the second annual Shasta Region Tour, but last year's tour was such a success people were waiting all night to be the first to sign up this year.

"We went online and opened the registration at 7 in the morning and within 90 minutes it sold out," said Allen Krohn, Tour and Safety Director.

Thomas Simpkinson is from Vacaville and did the tour last year. He said he and his wife spent more time in the Northstate after seeing it on the tour.

"We wouldn't have known how nice it was if we wouldn't have gone and done the tour before," said Simpkinson.

They were lucky enough to get a spot on the tour again this year.

"Today, when we were driving up the back roads we could see Mount Shasta to the north and Mount Lassen to the east," he said.

Between lodging in Redding and an estimated 200 tanks of gas purchased in Redding by the tour group, the tour helped the Northstate's economy.

However, it was the Northstate open roads and fresh air that really helped these out-of-town Porsche owners.

"We have these high-powered sports cars that are made for curves and acceleration and the people in the bay area don't ever have the opportunity to utilize that," said Krohn. "You drive two hours to get to a country road and then you're in bumper to bumper traffic. Up here in Shasta County, we've got all these beautiful roads everywhere. So, these people are very happy and they'll come back."

All profits received from entry fees will be donated to a local charity. Last year, the donation went to the Redding Veterans Home.