Just watched "World's Fastest Indian" again yesterday and it really gave me the chills! I would love to head out and see Speed Week, heck I even live in Utah! But I don't know how it all works out. Is it possible for me to actually park a car on the salt for some cool photos? Is it totally regulated (parking spot only...?) Can I just head out with my wife during speed week and get close enough to watch an event? ANY info appreciated! I wanna see the salt, and would love to drive on it (not compete). If I get my '27 done, I'd love to photograph it and my '54 belair out there.
You definately need to head out there! Start by reading this, it answers most of your questions: http://www.saltflats.com/Getting%20Started%20Guide.html See you on the salt! Tom
You drive out park, set up your camp (shade,food,beer,AM radio to listen to the action) and have fun. You can wander the pits and talk to folks, you can walk right up to the starting line area.
Drink beer, carouse with all the cool people in the pits, and eat free hot dogs at the HOP UP banquet.
I'm in total shock and disbelief and shaking my head as I was reading this....are you serious? Your into cars, live in UT, are a HAMB member yet you have no clue about Speed Week? I really fine this very hard to believe. Aug 2006 rolled around weren't you reading the HAMB? Aug 2007 rolled around AGAIN you weren't reading the HAMB? What about all those months prior to where everyone's talking about going? Start here, my first Day on the Salt this past Aug. Will give you a good idead what goes down for the average person on the Salt. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=203312&showall=1 I'm still shaking my head at ya though
I too can't understand how you can live in Utah, be into cars and have never made the scene. Yes grasshopper you will be on the salt, you can get as close to any car or bike as you want, you can walk around as much as you want including anywhere in the pits or either starting line and you can talk to anyone you want. Bring water and shade, oh, and you might not want your girlfriend or wife to wear a skirt. Reflection off the salt can do bad things. DO make the trip! It's like nothing else.
I live in Utah and haven't been and have had the same questions. But all the stories of dudes getting their balls sunburned didn't sound like fun. Do you get to be near the starting line when the cars take off? that would be cool otherwise seeing a car in the distance then hearing it 20 seconds later wouldn't be so much fun. Maybe I should just drive the hour or so for the free hot dogs. when is this thing?
well, ive thought about goin, but really...a week of drinkin and hot rods, well thats just not me! and im not allowed to eat hot dogs unless my moms there...she has to cut them up for me!
PMSL!!!!!!!!! But I have to remember that when I was in the (former) Soviet union I actually took pictures of Hotel plumbing to show people back home just bad the toilets were even in the best places.....
AN HOUR??? Jesus it took our crew FOUR DAYS to drive there from Pennsylvania in Hot Rods. I wish I lived as close as you... Spike
We have to travel for 2 days, over 1000 miles a lot of it rough dirt roads to run here in Oz. You live an hour away from Bonneville, the meca, the place I would loose at least my righty for, and you've never been?! <insert words here, I don't know what to say>
Technically you have to be on a crew to be in the staging lanes and start line. But as a spectator you will still be able to get real close. If you go this year,try and find me so I can smack you in the side of the head for living so close and waiting so long to go!!
Denise - he's been here for 26 posts - don't be too hard on his tender FNG hide - LOL. You will have to pay to get out on the salt - it's not free. look at the BNI and SCTA web sites. Read every thread you can find about Bonnevile. Take everything back that you take out there with you. Take shade, water, sunscreen, good sun glasses and a hat. There is food available and as previously noted the facilities are well cleaned. Charlie
If you go to the registration trailer, sign the insurance release form, get a wrist band (free) you can go about any place. The pits are restricted to race and support vehicles and there are some areas that are restricted for safety. You can walk right out to the starting line and be in the way just like everyone else! Everyone should get a wrist band! There is usually a course map posted on the SCTA web site once they know where the courses are going to be. Start looking about the middle of July.
Denise is just going through salt withdrawl. Its kinda like Menopause. After you are home for a few months it sneaks up on you and makes you crabby! Shit! it even happens to me and I have testicles.... I think.
Too hard??? I was kind, cuz in truth, I don't believe his comments about being so clueless. Let's call it Salt-O-Pause Doc is probably going to get sick and tired of you, Me and Steve talking about Speed Week when you guys are here in March.
I guess what I have always wondered about... Given how hard the ongoing battle with rust is on these old cars, doesn't anyone have the least bit of concern about all that salt on your car? It can get into all kinds of cracks and crevices a spray washer might not ever reach. I don't doubt folks do a thorough washing as soon as they get the chance, but still.
It always amazes me that people around SLC don't know the cool stuff happening out on the salt flats. The TV and newspaper don't give it any coverage unless the Nish royal purple team (local guys) are going for a record or there's a bad accident, so you'd never know when its going on. People ask me how I get SNOW all over my truck in the middle of August. People from all over the world make the pilgramage every year. In '07 I made it out for Speed Week, World of Speed, and the World Finals. I haven't been to the BUB run, plan to change that this year. 3 weeks out on the salt this summer wasn't enough for me. It seems to me that SCTA and USFRA try to avoid the local media exposure to keep away clueless local spectators. "in the know" spectators are always welcome. Tom
Frank, there are always some that won't drive out on the salt but most of us just figure we will have to do a bit more than the normal cleaning. That list was a good one but I would add a few things. The powers that be and your fellow rodders and racers frown greatly on idiots who decide to do donuts on the salt. It isn't the best place to take young kids. You will end up with sunburned bored whiny kids and a mad wife. If your specific other gets bored or whines about the time spent at the local rod trot they won't like it on the salt at all. If the are a stone car freak or can be happy with sitting in the shade of an umbrella with a book and the walkman for hours on end out in the heat head on. The sunburns in places that don't normally get sunburned is no joke. dress appropriately. In 88 my dad, Mr long pants, long socks, leather shoes, got burned up up to his knees by the reflection off the salt. Take a good camera and lots of photo storage or film. This is one of rodding's best photo ops. I think I took 8 rolls of pictures in 98. If I had had a digital then I probably would have taken 500 photos. Take portable shade, those big beach umbrellas work great. Or a stand alone shade like an EZ (tm) Shade. Again it isn't cool to drive stakes or pegs in the salt. The umbrella works great because it is easy to pack up if you want to move to another spot. Fold it up if you walk away as the wind can come up in a hurry and blow things around. Take plenty of water and what ever other beverages you may want. No you don't have to spend the week in a drunken stupor, some do but plenty don't. There are some good parties during the week though. If you are going to motel/hotel it reserve NOW as they go fast if they aren't already gone. In 88 we waited with 30 others at Motel 6 hoping for a cancellation and lucked out that time. In 98 I tented it at roads end, thanks to who ever ran my tent down that year and weighted it down when it blew away. You can get a shower at the truck stop for a few bucks if you tent it. Take a portable radio to listen to the tower on AM radio, Thanks to the guys who push started the chopped 48 Chev pickup with the Maverick in 1998 when I didn't heed that advice.
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