So I just made a complaint on the 462 MPH thread about how Speed Channel doesn't have a series about land speed racing. It just gave me an idea that could help save the salt. The lakes have such an intriguing and large history. Why couldn't the History Channel do a series on it, which may help make people aware of the threats. With no disrespect to anyone here, sometimes us car people don't matter to the politicians or the eco people or ....., but maybe if they knew what was really going on (thanks to a TV series), they might be able to help save it?
very good idea, i cant understand why the magazines we buy do not devote a full issue each year to speed week and to dry lakes racing and cars. too much time spent on pro tourering stuff.
What group spends more on new parts/supplies in the magazine ads? Pro Touring or B'ville racers? Magazines are just tools to sell stuff.
no sponsership dollars involved in b'ville so magazines arn't intrested as there's no one to SELL ad's to.$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
And the fact that many of the salt veterans don't want any more spectators, more expensive rooms, new folks with no clue etc.................................................
I certainly realize there is no sponsorship money to sell it. But then again, how does American pickers, auction kings, storage wars etc. etc get shows? I also realize that the lakes don't want to be "the next cool thing" (with overcrowding etc), but if the threats are as real as I've read, they need some major players to step in and stop the damage before it's too late. Worst case scenario I see would be that they do get overcrowded for a few years until "the next cool thing" comes along and only the true lakes lovers remain to enjoy. This show (I hereby give up my royalty fee's to the save the salt cause) would actually have real deadlines (builds, and 2 way runs), real build follow. If The Fastest Indian went over so well, why couldn't a series?
I think it’s a great idea, but like it was mentioned above it won’t sell parts or advertising because nobody cares except us. The TV channels are in the business to make money and we are too small of a group for them. One of my favorite movies The Worlds Fastest Indian did miserably at the box office grossing 5 million on a 25 million dollar cost http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=worldsfastestindian.htm Even with the DVD sales I don’t think its come close to making a profit. Its just simple economics, and unless one of us wants to underwrite the production it wont happen.
NOOOO. we dont need another tv show broadcasting to the world about yet another sec of automotive culture that needs to be exploited for every last dime it can muster and therefore driving up prices for people who do it as a hobby. having said that, ive never been to bonneville (one of these days). im saying this as just a car guy surrounded by incredibly expensive parts and cars that someone thinks its worth its weight in gold because one was on barret jackson the other day and sold for 100,000. ok, ive ranted. i did not mean to hijack the thread. carry on.
Yeah... Lets get some TV show people on the salt. One of the last times that happened they left a scar on the salt that could be seen from outer space...
I believe the land speed racers are taking care of themselves (i.e. venue-related issues) rather well without the "help" of television shows, thank you very much. The last thing we need is large crowds of spectators and the potential for disaster that comes with those crowds. Keep donating to "Save the Salt" - every little bit helps - and positive things will continue to happen. SCTA would certainly welcome a few new RACERS, though. The meets are run very efficiently; this season, everyone got to make 3 runs per race - 6 runs at the 2-day November meet. Jus' sayin' . . . Willi
Pullease. No more publicity. After "The Worlds Fastest Indian" came out the motorcycle entries more than doubled. The last thing needed is for Bonneville to become the next "thing" and be flooded with clueless hipsters. The SCTA and the BNU are working with the BLM to (hopefully) save the salt for future generations.
they just had something on bonneville on the velocity channel over the holiday weekend. i have it saved in the dvr.
Its not auto related, but here one the East coast there is an event called the Punkin Chunkin. It used to be a laid back event ,with gear heads inventing contraptions to hurl pumpkins as far as 3/4 of a mile. A few years ago David Letterman sent a crew to film it. Now the event is a yuppy, tail-gating fest that just plain..****s! Screw the reality TV shows.
Yeah let's make a new show, So You Think You Are Americas Next Bonneville Celebrity X Factor Master Chef. That cant fail!! Doc.
never been to bonneville (yet) ... i be parked up on the couch ready for a good tv show -- thatd be one to watch
Truth is the salt is probably too far gone to save. If you talk to the old timers they'll tell you the consistancy of what is there is worlds different than it used to be. That being said, its all we've got and we should support efforts to have the brine pumped back
I think Lindsay Lohan cooking an omelette or a quiche while talking to a tv camera at 300 mph would be more of a threat to the salt flats than anything...
Lots of valid comments on saving the salt. The most effective course of action is to aid those organizations that have been at this for years and years. SCTA has an active "Save the Salt" committee. SEMA is actively working on saving the salt though it's SANS group. These organizations are in contact with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the politicians who control the fate of the salt flats. The BLM had a meeting on Nov 7 to adopt a salt replenishment program. Final outcome not yet finalized. Join SEMA and respond to their requests for help (such as writing letters to various officials and politicians). I have no affiliation with the SCTA, but I have never seen an organization that advocates for something that could not use a donation. Activism costs money. Maybe a SCTA official or SEMA rep will see this thread and respond with some direction as to how we may help, even if it just staying out of the way.
I got a better idea than getting the TV people on the salt. Does anyone remember a movie called "On Any Sunday" ? It was a do***entery about bike racing. Better than a do***entary it was a low budget do***entery and it became very popular. The same thing could be done easily with today's editing software. One might throw out a plea for peoples old footage and even stills. Take in a couple of modern events as well. Make your debut at one of the film festivals and let it fly from there. Just a thought and maybe keep money grabbers off of the salt and be ***ured that the spirit of the film be exactly what you want it to be.
A LOT more TV/film people know about the flats than you'd expect. It's in tons of commercials and movies. The place is exploited by those types already. The big thing, and this has been talked about A LOT over the years, is to restore the base of salt by methods that are currently known and sparingly used. It's more a money thing. If a few million tons are added annually that cuts into the bottom line elsewhere. Saving the salt is not an impossibility. It just comes down to companies, agencies, and responsible parties having integrity. It's scary to think that what was once five feet thick has now dwindled to less than five inches and that's with some work being done to restore the base. Support Save the Salt and "Alternative B" - the salt replenishment program.
porkn******, Funny you should mention that movie. I ran into a young film producer at the vineyard when Joanie and I were there for a charity event. I was wearing an ERC Speed Week shirt and we got to conversing over a real nice Cab. He has an interest in doing a film about LSR along the same lines as 'On Any Sunday' and the Baja 1000 film done by the original film maker's son, sorry the anme escapes me right now. Long story short, he was to come to El Mirage in Oct. to shoot some footage, missed the lakebed entirely. He had other business in Nov. We plan on connecting before May to see if he still has an interest. DW
I hope, if he is still interested, he doesn't do like that Bonneville tv program a few years ago where every other sentence seemed to be "Go fast or go home in a body bag".
Great idea, Doc! Maybe the Kardashians could be in it, or Martha Stewart cooks breakfast at Bonneville!!
Does anyone really think you will get a major corperate sponsorship to put down another major corperation? In the US, minning is big business. In Utah, it must be the number one money maker. Who will make them look bad??? This year the salt was as thick as a quarter on edge. About an inch. This was at the spectator area of the Cook Shootout, which was the center of the Speedweek long course at the six. One major peeve, most modern TV shows show something for two to four seconds. A decent Bonneville run takes a minute. I want to hear that engine from start to stop, no talking, no music. Will that happen in my lifetime? I doubt it.
Dan Looks like you got his ear. it would be a good thing to get commentery in there aboyut the salt and what has caused its demise, maybe he could talk to a few of the save the salt folks. Awareness that there are folks out there going fast just for the sake of going fast is good on its face but there needs to be some sort of info about the fact that the racers respect the salt and that saving the salt is on everyone's mind. Just my thoughts.
Discovery Channel did a one hour episode a few years ago called Speed Capital: Bonneville. It pops up from time to time on the cable channels. It was a very accurate portrayal of what a week on the salt is like, the highs and the lows. It didn't discuss saving the salt as I remember, or if it did, it was pretty limited. Support Save the Salt and SEMA. They are your best avenues to the people making the rules at the BLM.
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