I made it to Bonneville 2008 Speed week and now am hooked and scheming my vacation for 2009 and need to know- If I can only be there for 3 days is the first of the week best or the end of the week? My guess is that everybody is there the first part but due to breakage it thins out and maybe the big guns show up later when they can get more runs in. Any info from you salt veterans out there?
I'd go the first three days. You get to see tech inspection and it seems the first two days have the most runs.
Why not come in Sept to the World of Speed and with the money you save on motels you can enter for the 130 mph club and run your car on the salt? More fun than watching me have fun.
So far sounds like first few days. As for driving my ride in sept. I would try that but I think I need a rollbar for a roadster to compete. And room reservations don't happen till January but I need to plan time early. Keep the input coming and see you on the salt.
We made our reservation already. I think it was the only place that would do it before January 1st, 2009. We're stayin all week....wanna suck up the fine salt air (and a few beers) at night!!!!
One of my buddies wives did the deal..... I'm actually not sure which hotel it is. I do know we got the last 4 rooms!!!!! I'll check though and let ya know!!!!
Things get a little more relaxed as the week goes on, and as a racer, we get more runs with less waiting. As a spectator, probably the beginning. I think the best for a non-racer , personally, is to sign on as a "helper" with one of the teams. You get deeper into the whole experience. In 2008, our team didn't race the car, so, instead of just watching cars go by, I helped crew for a bike racer and a great veteran with a supercharged model a/flathead. I'm sure someone here could use a hand.....Look around for "Salt2Salt". We run a blue primered 53' Stude #4594. Engine to be announced......
We got our room for 2009 before we left the Salt this year as did most that were staying at the Motel6. I would start to try to find one now. The casino's might not start to reserve now but the other motels are. We've gone at the begining and have usually just stayed a few days, not the whole week. The Motel6 is less then $100 per night and we split it three ways this year. Very reasonable, very clean, very friendly place.
We, like Denise, Booked for the week at Motel6. seems to be where the action is. But, as of just a few days ago, they are totally booked. We think the starting of the week is best. More to see and all the BBQ's & Parties through thursday,(Hop-up, Inliners, BeanBandits). The big Hotels start taking reservations in early Feb. Check the Montego Bay and the Nugget first,for fun factor, then the Peppermill and the Rainbow. You'll find something somewhere for just three days. Good Luck. B
Your best bet is to be there at the first of the week. Most of the runs are made then. There is a lot of attrition so you get to see most cars run. See you there.
O.K looking like the first of the week wins, now just waiting to make reservations. I went this year & looked for the HAMB shoot but I guess I was on the wrong side of the track. I was cruising the pit side and around the 2-3 mile mark but east side not west. Better luck next year. If you see this 34 roadster cruisin around say hi. (new computer & hopefully this pic post)
Went for first time in 2007, could only stay 2 days, Had to drive back to SLC each day (2 hours one way) This year stayed at Wendover. Got there Sunday,flew out Friday morning. 5 days much better. Also when you get there early you get to pick all the good SCTA stuff. By WED most stuff was sold out. Good with your roadster.
Heads up - just changed! New 2009 Bonneville Speedweek dates: the BNI board voted to change the SW 2009 dates to Aug 8 - 14, with inspections starting on (Friday) Aug. 7th. We regret having to do this since some folks have already made reservations, however the major hotels in Wendover have notified us they had a considerable gambling income loss during Speedweek 2008 and credit this loss to the attempt they made to accommodate the Speedweek attendees. They have stated that they can no longer afford to curtail their "Special programs" during Speedweek. While we encouraged folks to "Stay out until Sunday" during SW 2008, it seems the town (and hotels) were still full or racers and fans anyway. Since "Weekend rooms" are the problem, it was felt that by adjusting the dates to encompass only one weekend, it will make it a little easier on the racers to find rooms.
Of course, we already know this will not help the room situation, as we have seen in years past, lets just keep changing dates untill the entire world is so confused that no one will come out, then the problen is solved ???
You seem to miss the point that the hotel association controls the dates. If they say "we don't give a fig when your race is, we will charge what we want when we want" the dates are immaterial. Cutting to one weekend at the beginning will give the competitiors with childern who have to back to school time to return home at the end of the event. DW
Dan, I was blowing off a little there , I know you have been involved since ,, well forever,, and I respect that greatly. When the date change was first announced for 08, I did'nt see any advantage, because we were sitll gonna take up two weekends,The guys were still going to show up early to get set up and tech. My thoughts where, the only way around this was to run Thursday to Wendsday, Sounds really screwed up , right ? But, you only use one weekend ! No matter what days the event took place we are going to get stuck with "event" prices on rooms! So Its a no brainer, we are just going to have to deal with high prices and limited avalabilty, I wish I had the 'silver bullet ' but , oh well ! Thanks , man !
boones I may see you there because of the date change the motel 6 was over booked by 3 rooms, I signed up before I left last year but there is also a new manager I am trying to work with, I will be there no mater if Im sleeping in my car which will be my 53 chevy this year, and yes I will say Hi this time denise, if any one has a room at motel 6 they will not need let me know it would be much appreciated.
We ended up getting shorted by the new manager too!!! Had 5 rooms reserved with the old manager...the new manager called and said we could only have 3!!! How much does that suck? After some back snd forth we ended up meeting in the middle a 4!!!!!!
I too thought the date change in 2008 should have been something like Wed. to Tue. or as you suggest Thur. to Wed. I couldn't see the deletion of one weekend in the pln that was decided on. Oh well, I'm not part of that decision process so I live with what we have. DW
I used to live in Salt Lake and make the drive over to the flats. Its a real easy drive, plenty of cheaper rooms in the SLC area, and you dont have to plan or pay a deposit months in advance. Don't know about the motel deals in Wendover, but if you have to put down a non refundable deposit, and bad weather comes in for the week you are out of luck.
Hi boones yes I got my confirmation today, now I relly need to bust ass and get the 53 running so I can put some miles on it before then, I should have it running by the end of feb. see ya there, unless I see you sooner like at hot rod arama or billet proof nw
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