All these posts and pictures from Bonneville are great! For those of us that have never been, what's it like as a spectator? I mean, is it spectator friendly, or is it mainly geared toward the participants? What days are best to attend, what would I need to bring, where does everyone stay, what's an average day/night like for a spectator during speedweek? Since the course is so huge, are there designated areas for spectators, and on the flip side, are the pits open to spectators? Looking for tips from those that have been before - I need to start planning now for the next one!
I am building a truck right now with the sole purpose of hauling my beer cooler and umbrella out there next year. Any other features that I should consider installing?
check out the scta - bni homepage, and landracing dot com page, there are answers to your questions. I just wanna hitch a ride next year, I was thinking of going as a monkey for hire, bring a welder, compressor, generator and work for stories.
Bottom line... its the best car event I've ever been to. You get a hundred or so cool cars in the spectator area and pits driving around... This year there were over 500 regestered cars, trucks and bikes on the course. Some of them are latemodels... but when they go by at 250 miles an hour you tend to forget that. This year I met Gene Winfield, Bob Pearson, Tex Smith... Plan on being there on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday... or go the whole week. BRING SUNSCREEN! And beer. Chapstick. Beer. A camera! A large hat with a brim. DO NOT wear loose fitting shorts and no underwear.... the salt is basically a large reflector. There is a spectator area after the pits and at the starting line... but you can basically wander around anywhere... except the course. There are a number of hotels in Wendover or you can camp... whichever you choose. The Nugget seems to be the hot spot... it had a ****load of cars in the parkinglot on Saturday night. Mike
Dude... seriously... a keg truck. Bring an Ez-Up canopy... a portable radio so you can listen to the coverage... a camera... ****, thats really all you need. And chapstick. (thats not a gay reference... the air is real dry... my lips are pretty cracked right now.)
I DO have a little keg for the gas tank. ha ha ha That isn't too white trash is it? It was cheap though.
I agree with Thirdyfivepickup I got burnt on my forehead under a wide brim hat, so that had to be reflection up + I got cracked lips too. Also take good sungl***es. Its Overwhelming!!! and very spectator friendly, including most of the racers. Its ******** hot-rodding and very little posing. One racer summed it up when he said You made it to Mecca! I slept in the rental car Sat night just go...and figure the rest out when out get there. You can buy food and hats on the salt. Only thing to watch is the car rental companies if you get told not to take the rental onto the salt then you might be up for a fee! although you can clean them up pretty good at the car wash in town. Start planning now and make sure you are there for opening Sat/Sun at least.
It is THE most unrestricted racing event that you will EVER attend. I don't know of any other organized racing event where the spectators are allowed to be within about 10 feet of the starting line. Seriously, you are allowed to be that close to the cars at the starting line. The pits are wide open for all to enjoy. The racers are generally super friendly and are willing to talk to anyone with interest in their cars. Sunscreen and water are your best friend out on the salt. If you normally would use spf 30 to prevent yourself from burning, bring 45-50, you won't regret it. As a pure spectator with not real ties to a team, having your own shade is really, really nice. Spectators are allowed to set up Easy-Ups, tents, motorhomes(?) or whatever from the starting line all the way down to the pits and then from the end of the pits all the way down to the five mile mark (or further, I'm not sure just how far down you can go). The long course (Two courses, one 3 miles the other 5 miles) is set up somewhat parallel with the pits/ spectator fence. The pits are like 2 miles long (or so it seems). Having a bicycle is really nice. It gets really tiring walking through the pits on foot in 100°+ heat. There are many accomodations in Wendover. The Nugget, Peppermill, Rainbow, Super8, Motel 6, Days Inn, Montego Bay, Red Garter and other more seedy motels are available for the stay. The only negative thing that I have to say about attending Bonneville is that the food ****s at the track and all over town. But that's not really why were there, is it?
I would say its geared towards the racers. Dont get me wrong its the best spectator event i have ever been to, but it takes a different breed to enjoy it. I am one of that breed. Its not a car show its a racing event pure and simple. I am still on a salt high, cant wait for next year..
can anyone post the picture of the course map so that we can all get a good look at how everything is laid out?...does the course/pits/starting line change design from year to year? meaning do they always lay out the course the same way no matter where it's located on the flats?...are there grandstands out there anywhere, or do you just kinda pull up and park close to the last few mile markers to watch?
Are the majority of those great pictures taken right around the racing and pit area or do people just wander around on the salt shooting photos? Is the salt generally in good enough condition to just cruise around all over the lake bed?
yes, and yes. You can walk right up to the guys in the pits and take pics and shoot the **** if they lift their heads up enough to talk while working. The salt was the best in a long time this year, you can cruise all over with no worries. Now last year was a little wet but still can cruise.
You have to stay in the general area of the racing action. If you get too far away from that you may end up getting stuck.
always the same, you have the entry area then you drive about a half mile or so and you have the starting lines, about a mile up you have the pits area and from there its spectators lined up all the way close to the end of the course. The pits and spectator area is always on the left from the racing lines.
I imagine if you have a telephoto lens, you could take some clear shots at speed. Most of mine look like little dots. The pics I took were mostly in the pits and staging... wandering about. I took a few right on the starting line about a 2 feet behind cars as they were ready to go. The salt this year was in very good shape. We went quite a ways from the racing/pit area and it was still solid. Most everything is in close proximity to the course... if you are looking for a good photo op with no cars in the background... just drive a few hundred yards out and no one comes around.
that's a bad*** picture...thanks for posting that...it's gonna be burned into my brain forever now...take I-80 to the Bonneville exit, go past the bend in the road and voila...now all we need is the actual course/pits layout photo...
Just go. There's a nice lady (or guy...) at the end of the road that hands out programs, and takes your money... everyone on the salt is friendly... no matter who they are. I had no idea who most of them were my first time, and come to find out I talked to some of the biggest names out there, and they treated me great! It's a wonderful time, not to be missed (unless you're getting married this year, then you can't go. drat. I even tried convincing her it would be a great honeymoon!) Ben
i read that this is the last true place for PURE hot rodding at its finest.it sounds like you all agree. any more opinions its on my list to make before i die............... maybe just maybe
I really want to go next year. (Look in the 35-36 Ford thread for pics of what we are building at the shop.) I joined BNI. 200 will be cool, but I think I will be ****ping my pants at 150!
dude,do not go. if you can only go once in your life,do not go.if you do go,you will want to go every year,you will want to build a car,do not go. its a bad place,do not go. i have been only 4 times,i raced there once,and i want to go every year! its the time of your life! hotrods,racers,beer,etc. behind your knees will get sunburn,under your chin you will get sunburn,etc. its the real deal,nothing better on earth!! save your money,sleep in your car,whatever,just get your *** out there!! randy
That drawn map is not to scale. The end of the pits is close to the four mile mark. This is where we set up our shelter and so do a bunch of other hamb guys. We bring lots of water, gator aide and snacks. If you're a drinker they allow that too. As a matter of fact the popcicle truck guy got hammered and was kinda funny to watch. Some guys handed him a beer they had filled with water. Talk about cruel. Loogy mentioned bikes, thats a really good idea. The pits seemed larger than usual, but maybe its just because ive put another 30 lbs on my fat *** since 04 when i went last. Lots of people bring mini bikes or home made scooter of some sort. You can drive those in the pits, you cant bring your car into the pits unless you are hooked up with a team and have a sticker and wrist band. How do you get those? Go ask a team, like rolling bones or something, they say no problem. You go to the powers that be with the team number and lay down 10 bucks and you are in. I wore lots of sunscreen this year, long pants and t-shirts. I still got burned. I was going to try to describe the feeling of the event but i think thats something you need to experience first hand. True car guys will be hooked for life. I was talking to BenD. He had his two sons with him and they are pretty young but it was like their third or fourth time on the salt. He said they are hooked and will still be going long after he is gone.
Most folks have hit high spots, you might try a search for other threads 'cause there's some good stuff in them, too. I'll just say that the 8 days I spent on the salt on 1998 were the most satisfying motorsports experience of my life. Everyone is friendly, the heat and sun won't kill ya if you plan ahead, and the atmosphere focuses on good times. For true gearheads, ya gotta go at least once. Like the guys on the Salt Flats radio station said - "It's just a week of peace, love, and 200 MPH".
You must spend a night in front of the Wendover Nugget and share all the beer (Corona) that you can afford , Then you must borrow more money and do it the following night ... Goes on all week and then ask a friend what you missed on the salt, because you slept during the day ...
I'll be back for World Finals. I can't help myself. Sleep during the day? Sleep when you're dead. It's Speed Week. Wayno
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