I had always wanted to go and now I can't imagine not going. It is what 'we' are about. It is our mecca. PS- I wore a skirt and were ok in the above mentioned areas. I wore spray suntan lotion and only really got burnt on my face. But I think that was wind burn more than sun burn anyways. 6500 miles in a ******* car in all kinds of weather is a LONG way! I loved every moment of it! And on the beer front, I think it made me even more thirsty. Water worked best for me. It is amazing the amount of bottled water people go thru there.
I BBQ ............ Everyone has hot food all day......... You'd be surprised how much everyone's mood is better with hot grub in their gut. And if a couple of the crew is trashing it not only keeps everyone away from them but those two know good hot food will be ready when they are. And casino food gets pretty old after a few days.
anyone who hasn't gone will be kicking themselves for waiting once they finally make the trip. I've heard it called 'Mecca' "life changing" "simply amazing" 'breathtaking...' If a slight case of pink balls scares you away... well maybe it isnt for you... Take some time and go talk to the participants... look at the craftsmanship... the cars are as much art as they are machines... ANd bring a camera. The photo ops are second to none. You can't take a bad picture there. You really can't. I've taken pictures of portapottys and dumpsters that looked good... (seriously) I'm a hack with a simple camera... go.... Bonneville and the 'gods of horsepower' are calling you...
Avoid getting sunburned, marvel at the cars and bikes, etc. At night sit around the fire and re-hydrate.
I see there are 3 events;what is the difference between them and which one is the best for a first visit?
there is nothing like it, and yes its a life changing expierence. Its also a bring the family together expierence now for us, my kids love to go even at their young age, my son draws salt flat pics at school for his art projects in 1st grade. Its our family tradition now, granted we are so close how could it not be.
I just read somewhere that it was the towing company that was held responsible for the damage. It cost the $10,000 is fuel, labor costs, etc. to repair the damage. Boyd made a token $1000 donation to Save the Salt.
Speedweek in August is the grandaddy of it all. I think being there and feeling the history of the place is what its all about. I think you get the greatest variety and number of entries during that week. Motel rooms are scarce, but even if you have to camp out its well worth the experience. When you drive on to the salt, you feel like you are in Hot Rod Heaven, its a surreal experience.
Yeah, I wanted to go last year badly but couldn't make it. When I saw the over a foot deep "salt brine lake" you had to drive through, that eased the pain of missing it a little. I hope it doesn't rain again before Speedweek this year.
Ahhh, the Burkland Streamliner. I live close to Gene, got to crawl around that car, the craftsmanship is unreal! Amazing what happens when you mix an aerospace engineer with a couple of Donovans..... the thing has "air brakes" that pop out from the sides of the body to help slow it down, crazy stuff. And to top it off, it's a home built car.
As far as photo ops on the salt, there are freakin' rest areas off the highway where you can pull onto a small section. If you have intentions on shooting your car, that's probably a little better idea with unlimited time and no drunk sunburned turdrollers walking in your shot.
I think everyone in the family including Betty have been over 200 mph. Tom has a cool keychain that says " My other car goes 450 mph." When you talk with Tom, theres no doubt you are conversing with an engineer. I guarantee you that when he makes a suggestion for our car I'm listening! Its hard to believe that car is a lowbuck homebuilt, but it is. when they fire it up it truly scares you. Its like someone is hammering on your chest.
Yup. Just look for all the tracks from others that pulled off the highway and sunk 2 feet into the "salt". I guess you can get a picture while it's stuck, and you're car will look lower. You'll have a bit of a tow truck bill to get it out. I wouldn't suggest pulling off the highway to get a picture. big mac
The area is a few hundred square miles...I think you can probably find one spot in all that where you won't fall through the salt, and won't have to worry about people walking through your shot. -Brad
Don't feel bad dude, some day I hope I can fullfil a lifelong dream but my trip is longer than an hour. Goldy from Philadelphia.
Some people on here have moved here from other countries because they wanted to cut down on their ''Salt Commute''......( YEAH, I KNOW.....)More than 20 years for me...Crew Chief, pit janitor, push car pilot, fabricator,addict, etc, etc.Seriously...Bonneville is either a love it completely the first time deal or a never coming back thing. You owe it to yourself to figure out which side of that Hot Rod coin you are on...
I actually meet a lot of car people from Utah that have never been to Bonneville. I guess it's the old "Gr*** is always greener"...... Or whiter. haha
It's getting closer..... only 40 days, and I can't wait. <SCRIPT language=JavaScript>TargetDate = "08/18/2008 6:00 AM";BackColor = "none";ForeColor = "white";CountActive = true;CountStepper = -1;LeadingZero = true;DisplayFormat = "%%D%% Days, %%H%% Hours, %%M%% Minutes, %%S%% Seconds.";FinishMessage = "We Are Racing!";</SCRIPT><SCRIPT language=JavaScript src="http://scripts.hashemian.com/js/countdown.js"></SCRIPT>utes, 14 Seconds.
Last year a friend and I drove from Austin, Texas to Reno for hot August Nights and on to Bonneville in a flathead I/6 powered 48 Plymouth 4 door, drove through the salt brime for three days. Didn't drive all that distance in a non air conditioned car not to go on the salt. Visited old friend from my go karting days who runs two different roadsters, one for licenses and one for the 200 mph club. Walked the pits, starting line for both courses, the impound area. Went anywhere my legs could take me and if they couldnot I drove to each area. We went 4613 miles total and used 352.78 gallons of gas and three gallons of oil in my rebuilt modified flathead 218 cu in six. Everyone should go a least once in their lifetime. I turned 71 on the trip last year so you are never too old to go and the salt washes off with enough water and effort and you can always repaint your fully detailled frame and undercarrage like I am going to have to do but it was worth it. I hope I can convince my non car person wife of 41 years that it was money well spent and that I need to do it again but skip the Hot August Nights part of the trip.
watch, listen, and learn, but most of all, enjoy yourself in the most magnificent surroundings [natural, human, and mechanical] that you will ever be in. dan
Shhhhh... it's the hot rodders best kept secret. To everyone who has asked - it ****s! Stay home and watch Dr. Phil!
What do I do at Bonneville? Put it down and wait for the big orange #5 to go by. What else is there to do?
The Jalopy Journal
