Hey guys as the title says this is my first trip to Bonneville. I won't get the opportunity to drive anything cool out so the plans are to fly out and have a rental car. My dad is responsible for getting me hooked on old cars, so I'm taking him to Bonneville free of charge. just kinda a father son thing. Neither one of us have been before, so we don't know what to expect. but here's the thing. pop has had surgery in the past and is doing fine now but still needs to take it easy. we are flying in and will be bare bones while we are there. Can you tell me what to expect while on the salt? Would anyone be willing to let us put a couple of chairs and a cooler under a canopy for some shade and a base camp sort of? Hopefully this will be an every year trip, and in the future i would like to drive my merc out, but this is a first and we're kinda winging this one. Any info and help would be great. We will be arriving on the 8th and plan on staying through the 12th. Thanks.
Cool deal taking your dad! Where are you staying? Check this out: http://www.saltflats.com/Getting Started Guide.html
You won't have any trouble finding people to hang with. Shade is as close as any Pit with a Canopy. Most racers are pretty Friendly. Look for a 30 Model A with an Umberalla top and No fenders. Say Hello. The Wizzard
our club will have a base camp set up at the bend in the road. We have some coolers and a couple canopies for shade. Stop by and take a load off whenever needed. Look for the truck in my member photo, its my grandfathers. There will also be my oxide primered 38' ford pickup, a beige 40' ford, and a 27' T roadster pickup to name a few.
Clean that rental car really good if you take it out onto the salt. I hear they charge a hefty fee if you return covered in salt.
Bring good sunscreen and start at the bottom and work up. yep thats right you will burn bottom up out there because the salt reflects the light. Bring a big hat especially if you will be jumping from shade to shade and DO NOT forget sunglasses! Ok now that we got a few of the essentials out of the way go out there and have a blast. Be outgoing and just talk to people especially in the pits. most of these guys will welcome you into their pits and tell you all about what they have going on. make sure you check out the scene in wendover at night and the starting line during the day. I am unable to make it out there this year to offer you any shade but no worries there are plenty of guys out there who'll have no problem lettin you plop down next to them.
Very cool that you are taking your dad! I'm doing the same thing as a Christmas gift for my dad. We are driving my Galaxie out there. We will most likely set up our canopy, chairs, etc. at the end of the pits, approx. at the 5 mile mark of the long course. There will be a HAMB banner (I hope Denise is bringing it ) hanging up, so be sure to stop by! Also, if you see us in the Galaxie, say 'hi'! Enjoy your trip! Malcolm
I have been reading on another post that if you take a rental out on the salt you could get charged a clean up fee. Has anyone had this done before?
My dad and I went in 2002...six months before he passed away. You won't regret spending the time with him, and Speed Week is an amazing experience. I have been racking my brain at how I'm going to make it and it just doesn't seem possible. If I go it will be a last minute decision, so I may be looking for shade as well. Have fun...
51 Hg, I am going for the first time as well, I think it is great that you are going with your dad. Hey Nick, I am looking forward to meeting your dad and hanging out with you guys ! I will see you there. CBB
I brought back a rental car covered in salt during an exceptionally wet year at bonneville and was not charged any fee by Enterprise in Las Vegas. They said as long as it washes off with water, you're fine. But I may have just gotten a cool representative. I would suggest either turning the floormats upside down or removing them before you go to the salt because it makes a huge mess inside the car. Also don't forget to bring sunglasses!!!!
you will need to have EVERYTHING you need to survive, short of air, with you when you head out to the salt. food, water, shade, chairs, more water, SUNSCREEN, big hat.... USE THE SUNSCREEN ON UPPER AND LOWER SURFACES OF YOU SKIN. Under side of your nose, ears, arms, way up your legs if you are wearing shorts... the salt is a VERY large reflector. WHATEVER YOU DO... DO NOT TAKE ANY VEHICLE YOU EVEN REMOTELY CARE ABOUT ON THE SALT!!!!!!! is taking a picture of your hot rod on the Salt cool? Yes Will it destroy it? Yes...eventually. Salt gets EVERYWHERE. Trust me, I've raced out there for years and still have loose salt in my garage that drops off my vehicles. Even after a full restoration YEARS ago when they went to restore the Mormon Meteor they took out LOADS of salt from the bodywork and had to make rust repairs because of it. Be ready to want to go back over and over and start racing. Its called Salt Fever. You will catch it. Be ready its worth every cent and minute you spend out there. (at least the last time I wash there)... There is a Buggy Wash in Wendover dedicated to washing off your vehicle that runs a Salt recovery program. You can much out all the salt and be assured it will make its way back to the flats. If you are renting in Salt Lake they are pretty hip to looking for salt and charging you a cleaning fee.
Couldn't picture myself there without pop. Hope to make it every year from now on with him. I will be renting a car from salt lake city, anyone know how much the cleaning fee for a rental is?
call them and ask, then report back to us. I've been asking my Dad to go for years, he's not interested.
Last year there was a guy just past the entrance that would power wash your car for a fee. But when we were finally leaving he was gone.We were a little nervous about the rental company breaking our balls so we ran our van through a quicky carwash before returning it and knocked the clumps of salt out of the wheelwells. Covering the carpets with something would probably help too, I don't know how you'd ever get all that out. Long story short, the rental company never did end up breaking our balls, and opt for a white car. You'll hear this over and over but wear lots of sunscreen and put it everywhere, I got burnt UP my shorts-OUCH.
You have the right idea............it's so dumb to wait 'till you can have a cool car to drive there...........you and your dad will have a blast, and the only question you will have is: Why did we wait this long to go?......I'm sure glad we didn't wait 'till we had a cool car to take.
We took a rental on the salt one year. We taped garbage bags to the floor and seats, this helped out a ton when it came time to clean it out before returning it. The salt dries up like concrete and is tough to get out of the upholstery. As far as the clean up fee goes, I don't know for sure ,but I have been told that if they find out you took their rental car on the salt flats.... your in deep shit!!
Hi 51 Hg, Enjoy all the time you spend with your Dad those are the memories that last a lifetime. Your first time to the salt and together ,have a great time . Rob
Some more questions from a potential first timer next year: Is it allowed to camp on the salt in an RV? Is it safe? (I mean, are there people around all night or is it deserted?) Are there food vendors on the salt during the day? When do the hotels in Wendover fill up? I assume the prices go way up for August? Thanks.
Look at http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=388461&page=2 I just pointed out the 5 meets every year on the salt flats and the other land speed type of meets. And what I think is a good way to keep up with it during the rest of the year. Every body gets hopped up on Bonneville in August. Then it dies out for another year for most. Get into the 130 club. Particapate. Build something. Look at what Jeff Brock, a HAMBer did this year, starting in March with a Panamax size Buick and running 135 and now a Bonneville record holder. A hero.
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