Help Please !!!! Bonneville Lodging Needed

Been reading about Bonneville since I was 10 years old, never wanted to build a race car, but always wanted to see Bonneville. My son is 13 now and I been wondering if Bonneville is spector friendly enought for a father son trip of a lifetime. It may mean more to me..... but I bet he would never foget the trip.
So for those in the know, is is possible to wander around and see some of the action? Are the racers approchable?

 

Are puppies cute? Come on out. Find the Salt to Salt crew from your neck of the woods. Great people.

 

You can wander around near anywhere except on the race course. Pits and starting line are wide open. You'll never regret going there.

 

Brad, THOSE are the hotels - about seven of them - that everyone TRIES to book rooms at!
(and are now ALL GONE! )
They are only 10 min. from the salt.

If you got a room at the Pepper Mill; consider yourself VERY, VERY LUCKY!!

 

Ratstar, are you pulling my leg? Does the "Trailways" drop you off at the salt then pick you up later to go back into SLC? The racing goes on well past the entrance off of 80, right? If you're not pimping me, do you know what hotels are served by this? I figured I'd get some razzin' for asking about this option, so that is why I'm su****ious.

I'm trying to get things set up for me and 3 high school buds. B'ville is on our "bucket list".

 

Talk nice to the bus driver; and he will let you off at the truck stop on I 80 and the entrance road to the track.

NOTE: These bus rides are regularly scheduled between Wendover and SLC. They don't go out TO the salt.

Start up the entrance road, stick your thumb up, and within 5 min. someone will give you a lift to the pits.

As far as the return, - to SLC - give Trailways a call and see if they pickup at the truck stop or any of the hotels.
See if you can get a timetable. (I have seen them stop there in past years)

 

The KOA still has tent sites as of 1/31/08....A little spendy at $32 a night though.
Pat

 

Tent sites are pretty good.....you get access to the showers. Lotta racers and hot rodders around.

 

Hey Dave, thanks for the info. I figured thumbing it to get in would work, how about leaving? Are people just coming and going fairly constantly? I will call Trailways and ask them about a schedule.
Lou.

 

I read your post and just had to reply. Hell yes Bonneville is a good father and son trip. My father and I went in 1996 for the first time. We were hooked and started planning a car as soon as we arrived home. Now with a busy family and work the only time I see my dad are on those few weekends that we work on the car and speedweek. Bring a tent, stay in the bend, don't hessitate to talk to the racers.

 

Lou, during Speed Week, there is ALWAYS someone - my guess this year will be around 700 to 800 vehicles; entries and support - coming and going on the track entrance road at the corner of I 80 and the truck stop. Plus it's the only way to get back to Wendover.
Starting from as early as 6 AM right up to 5 PM - when the sun has started to set - and runs are finished for the day.

If you don't mind "roughing it", there is a place called "Bend in the Road" - first turn in the entrance road going out to the track - and lots of people pitch a tent and call it "home."

The truck stop back at the entrance on I 80 has showers - when your starting to get a little too smelly - for a couple of bucks. They will throw in a towel and a bar of soap as well.

And, "Bend in the Road" is known for parties after the days racing is over.

 

Dave, thanks very much for the info. While I continue to try to go the hotel route, I may try to see if I can find a friend with a motor home. I'm a pretty citified sissy, never camped much. Survival school in the Navy was rough on me.

I started this "bucket list" program after seeing "World's Fastest Indian" and obtaining a pretty beat up Albatross drop tank. Told my hi school friends that we should build this thing when we all retire to have fun, not necessarily set any records, kinda like the guys from Strange have said on here. This is, if I can put it together, is our initial "fact finding" trip. Thanks for all the suggestions. Lou.

 

Lou, one of the BEST things about Bonnneville is the fact that you can wander around the pit area - you'll need to stop at the SCTA trailer and buy a pit p*** - and talk to almost everyone.

One thing that is an an absolute NECESSITY is a camera, lots of film - or memory sticks if you have joined the "digital age."

You can get close - within reason - to the start line, set your "****" on a camp stool; and shoot pictures all day long.
But leave time to tour the pits - now up to about a mile long, and four rows wide - because that's where you'll see the details of all the entries. (under the hood so to speak)

Oh - if you see #1149 B/STR (A black '28 Model "A" Roadster Pick-up ) stop by and say hello!!