guys, can you please give me any info on the bonneville salt flat races on august 11-17th..... i have heard the nearest airport is salt lake city, 2 hours away, and there are hotels in wendover, 8 miles from the track. is this true, and how many hotels are in wendover ? any car shows or get togethers around town during the evening when the races are over ? which days are the best to attend ? im trying to make it this year and am gathering all the info i can. thanks guys
Yes, SLC is the closest major airport. Yep, there are hotels/motels in Wendover but they sell out quickly. After the day's racing nears conclusion a lot of people gather at The Nugget. It's a great gathering of hot rods there. From Friday to Tuesday are the best days to be there as far as seeing the most racers. After that, racers head back after breakage or setting records, etc. The flats are the busiest Sat, Sun, and Mon. There's a lot more detailed info around the HAMB. A bunch of picture threads, too. It's my favorite time of year, for sure.
Salt Lake city is the nearest commercial airport to the salt flats. There are spectators there from Wed. through the weekend and through the following week. The largest crowd seems to be during the weekend. There are enough cars on the flats to provide a car show and there is a gathering at the Golden Nuggett in the evening. You wont regret the experience, in fact you will probably return. Dave # 3611 BGMS
thanks brent.... im gonna see if i can make it friday til monday or tuesday... time to check on airfare and hotels and rental cars.....
There are 3 major casinos in Wendover with lots of rooms. Also numerous motels in town. My guess you can forget getting reservations there or any place else in Wendover. Rooms are tough. There are usually members here willing to give up a room to another Hamb member as race day approaches. Start asking around to people you know to find a room. Bonneville is an experience. Even if you have a long commute from your motel or you camp on the salt, it will be worth it.
http://www.saltflats.com/wendover_lodging.html Check here, as well as USFRA website. Hope to see you there, I made my reservations three months ago.
great time ! last year we had to stay salt lake,we couldn,t find any place closer . the drive wasn,t that bad we had the whole days events to talk about.remember sun blocker ,it can be brutal .There are several comments on what to do ,wear , do a search on salt flats there is a load of info. from the pros.......................... see ya there PUTZ
+2 on the plenty of info here already, just a search away, I hate to say that Rental car needs to be cleaned up really good inside and underneath. But a lot of people do it. Theres a 25 cent car wash place behind the Smith's Market. Everyone goes there, bring a roll of quarters. Weather is usually mild, you can sleep in your car at the bend in the road and shower at the Sinclair at exit 4, or at Trucker's world or the other big truck stop in Wendover. We just recently got a few rooms at the Red Garter at a very decent price. Ask about golf when you book a room, not about the racing
Book a room now if you are thinking about going at all. Cancellations aren't a h***le or problem as there is always someone on the waiting list for your room. As the others said there are lots of threads and advice on here from past years. One continuing piece of advice that needs to be followed is use SUN block and lots of it all over especially on your legs if you wear shorts. The salt reflects the sun even more than water does. The other thing is don't tell the rental car people you are planning on going to the races. It might be best to leave the rental car at the hotel or end of the road or by the truck stop and hitch a ride out on the salt.
You can usually get a room in Wells which is 60 miles west of Wendover for a few days or west of the SLC airport 100 miles east. By Monday enough cars have blown up or had other problems & left so you can find a room in Wendover if you try. As far as the Nugget or the Montego bay acorss the street you can forget it for Friday thru Monday. Ive never failed to find a Wendover room on Monday night & Ive been going since 1984. Lately they have been having vintage bike events at the track in Tooele so the airport motels may not work. Dont p*** it up its on your bucket list whether you know it or not
if you are able to rent a car say nothing about going to Bonneville Salt Flats, Wendover, etc. when you pick up car do not wear a big hat, flip flops, shorts and a car T-Shirt.
Make sure you put something over the carpet of the car or truck you use. It's a ***** to get the ****ing salt out.
Will you be saying that when the car rental place sticks another $500 for cleaning the car on your credit card?
Camping at Bend in the Road is free. No services there besides a few port-o-lets. Hotels in Bendover are expensive as they stick it to you during Speedweek. You definitely need to make the effort to go. Been going for 10 years now myself. Lucky my wife loves it out there too. You won't have a hot rod out there, but that makes the experience that much better. Duct tape some garbage bags in the rental and you should be OK. For sure do not mention Bonneville when picking up the car.
tons of info guys... thanks.... well, so far i am having trouble finding a room in wendover. the only place that had 3 nights was the peppermill but they want $240 a night... aint paying that much, but it seems there isnt much of a choice directly in wendover. i am finding rooms at the super 8 in wells nevada, but its 54 miles from wendover.... any ideas on off the beaten path for a small mom and pop hotel in or around town ? wouldnt mind driving around 20 miles, but 50 miles is a bit much for what i want to drive. i did find airfare on delta to SLC round trip from ft lauderale for $488.00, so that aint bad, but im waiting until i can hopefully find a room before i book a flight..... i will keep searching... thanks
Wendover is a very SMALL town - there will not be a lot of options for a motel. Which means two things: They will fill up fast. Their rates will be high.
yep, thats what im finding... might have to go with the super 8 in wells nevada, 50+ miles away..... dont want to stay that far from the action.... but i guess i waited too long.....
As above. Go to the forums on landracing.com and keep an eye for cancelled rooms. Or post o there looking for a room.
the drive from Wells to the salt is really not that bad. We always camp a night or two at the bend in the road, then a night or two in Wells. be prepared to become addicted. i first went in 2008 and have gone back every year since. only 100 days, 2 hours, 57 minutes, 12 seconds until Saturday, August 11, 2012. but who's counting
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