I have never been to Bonneville. It's one of thoes events that I've always wanted to attend but have never taken the time. I would like to know how to prepair for Speed Week in August. I'm on a budget, so I plan on driving my Ranchero down, camping out and providing my own food. Info on the weather, wind, places to camp, length of lines, traffic, crowds and the event itself would be greatly apreciated. The heat alone might make me consider not driving the Rancheor. I dont know how it will do in the hot ass sun. Photos of campgrounds, crowds, the event and Wendover might be cool to look at too. Thanks
My first time last year and I must have gotten lucky because it was like high 70's Friday and mid 80's Saturday. It feels hotter because the sun is beating down but definitely was bearable. I also come from a place where it get upper 90º's and humid as hell so... You can camp right on the bend about a mile down to where you enter the speedway. It seems like the best option as that's where everybody is really. Pack a bike in the back of that Ranchero because there is so much walking and distance from one end to another you will definitely thank yourself for bringing it. Bathrooms are ever far apart!!! Pleanty of Sun screen and wear pants and long sleeve shirts if you can. Even if you don't feel the heat you surely will be burnt by then end. Sunglasses WATER!!!!! Big Ol' Hat Comfortable shoes WATER!!! It'll be the best car related experience you ever do perhaps. It's so much more then words.
Dont ever take any car you really care about on the Salt. You will NEVER get all the salt off/out of it and it will eat away at the metal. Long sleeve shirt, long pants. Put sunscreen on the BOTTOM of your: arms, nose, ears, chin... A bicycle is a GREAT idea.
Speedway is a misnomer, it is just a large, flat, hot place next to the highway that stretches as far as the eye can see. No stands, no gates, no lines, no anything, but cars and salt.
Camp at "the bend in the road", which is about a mile before the flats, and bring a bike of some sort, maybe pick one up at a garage sale on your way there. I understand that there is a truck stop at the exit off I-80 that has a pay shower. Go in to town at nite, only a couple of miles away, usually plenty of get togethers at the casinos in the parking lots. Hat, sunscreen, drinking water, and wear long pants, if you don't want your onions to get burned. Bring a camera with lots of memory.
Here is the user group for land speed racing http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/group.php?groupid=101
The one time I went to Speed Week it was 100 almost every day. Make sure you drink plenty of water. As was said earlier if you don't want to get it burned you better put lots of sunscreen on it. Remember that the sweat can run the sunscreen into your eyes so be careful. You'll take so many pictures you will be looking through them for days when you get back home. Next time I will have a bicycle to tool the pits and such. Would really have been a help! Bring a good, real good, cooler. The local grocery sells block and crushed ice. Use both to keep your goodies cold. There may be some rooms left, but if there are you'd better get one quick. Somebody already decribed camping at the bend in the road. I think there is a motorhome type campground in town. Explore the town of Wendover. The small museum at the old airbase was a great source of information about the preparations for dropping the atom bomb. I always find the local history of a place adds to the experience. It did for me during my visit. One you are there, kick back and have a great time. It will be one of the best ever.
Thanks for the links. Good info at saltflat.org. I never would have guessed about the distances one needs to cover. I'm from Portland OR. It gets over 90 for about 2 weeks max. I will have to make sure that the Ranchero can take the heat.
I'd recommend eye drops, a large umbrella or easy-up, a lawn chair, a mini-bike, scooter, or at least a good 10-speed off road bike, and a funny hat, preferably wide brimmed. Lots of water, trail snacks, and hold off on the beer or booze till the sun goes down.
I rarely see this mentioned. Bring a CB radio. Results are broadcast over conventional radio too but they lag several minutes behind the CB reports and are more akin to listening to commercial radio with all the chit chat. You get the good stuff on the CB. And as it is happening, not 15 minutes after the fact.
it'll be my first time too. we're (my wife and i) driving the '54 out from Boston, camping at the bend, and hoping for rides from friends to get around the salt. gonna try not to take the car on the salt too much. and i dont have room for a pair of bikes. as far as camping goes; i am told that the truck stop is just a short hike through the trees from the "camping area" so showers and ice are pretty close. i guess the wind can be formidable, so stake your tent with good big metal stakes. then, we're headed to the hamb drags after that. they are the next weekend.
Perhaps you can get some ideas and a feel for Speed Week from these links. Here's my Speed Week 2009 adventure http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=386667&highlight=speed+week&showall=1 Speed Week 2008 adventure http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=290930&highlight=speed+week&showall=1 Speed Week 2007 adventure links http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=205119&highlight=speed+week&showall=1 Those should keep you busy for awhile
For your first time i recommend camping at the bend in the road,shower at the truck stop and the food at the Mexican Resturant is pretty good too(It's connected to the truck stop).Make sure you visit the down town area there is alot of history there and alot to look at!I agree with everyone else about the water,suntan lotion,clothes.HAT...etc.And yes if you can help it take a small dirt bike or something to that degree on the salt and keep your vehicle off so you don't mess it up!IT WILL BE A TRIP YOU WILL NEVER FORGET!
What they all said is right. It will be hot, dry and very bright. It is also the best time I have at a car event. I would add if you can bring an EZ-up it is nice to have some shade, but chances are you can find friends or HAMBers that you could hang out with under their EZ-ups. The bicycle/mini-bike is a very good suggestion, it is a long ways to walk. I don't worry about the salt on my old cars. Yes it helps my COE is rust anyway, but other cars were nicer and I still drove them. I just spray the underside with salt-away before leaving, and rinse good once back home. Having your hot rod on the salt is much better than leaving it back at the bend in the road. Your car is to have fun, just wash it real good underneath. You get the best pictures of your car out on the salt, BTW.
the sinclair is one mile away. No trees. But it.s paved, you can drive from the bend. You can leave your camp set up nobody will bother your stuff. I walked and hitch-hiked back and forth last year to the truck stop.
You can also get any info you need from landracing.com I"ve been there for the last five years, and will be there for the next fifty,,,(if I live that long) Stop by the Old Crow Speed Shop pits and ask for the Arizona Old Crow, be glad to b.s. with ya! Crow.
OK. As luck would have it, I cant make speed week, but I can mane World of Speed. Whats the low down on that event. Pretty much the same??
Pretty much. More street driven Hot Rod type cars on the 130 course. Much cheaper motel rooms. My choice for running a car.
Camping at the "Corner of the World" is fun, interesting and free. Also, since you are into inline sixes you might want to join the Inliners for their cookout on Saturday Night. Your Ranchero will probably do fine even though it can be very hot. Take lots of sunscreen, a big hat, and lots of water. Things in town happen at the Nugget, lots of rods hang out there. Take a bike to tour the pit area as you will want to go slow and take it all in. I'll look for your Ranchero with Oregon plates.
HMS PH - The Ranch might not make it down. Front end allignment problems have me tearing into the thing right now. Hacksawed coils, bumpstop suspention and old ball joints have caught up to the old girl. I'm doin' it right and it might not be done in time. We'll see. Thanks for the info.
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