Landracing Forum
Bonneville Salt Flats Discussion => Bonneville General Chat => Topic started by: Chad M on May 28, 2018, 05:52:03 PM
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Hi all, I am hoping to check off a bucket list item this year and get to the Flats for the first time as a spectator.
I have read alot of great things to prepare for the trip there thanks to this forum. I think my biggest fear is getting the rental stuck on the salt (I will be coming in from Vegas / southern Utah for other reasons).
I won't have alot of time to spend there so therein lies my question. I am planning on the being there Saturday. Is this a good day to view some racing? I "may" be able to extend my stay to Sunday depending on how things play out, but am not planning on that at the moment.
Any feedback is appreciated.
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Saturday is the first day for racing. Sunday evening there is usually "Salt Talks" at the Bonneville museum site. Every night at the Nugget is a great "car show" that is a must attend. You won't (shouldn't) get your rental stuck.
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Because of the drivers meeting and rookie orientation, racing doesn't start as early on Saturday as on other days. But you may well enjoy the drivers meeting. If you get stuck, it's your own fault for going where you were warned not to.
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Thanks for the responses. I will take all of it into advisement. I answered a question off line for someone, yes this is for Speed Week in August. I didn't book the hotel for Saturday night, but that could change so we can go again Sunday. We actually will be staying just outside Salt Lake. Yes I know it is quite a hike to the flats still, but it fit what else our schedule had.
I am assuming the well traveled paths get packed down better so getting stuck shouldn't be an issue. I have my list of must haves I have already packed, thanks to searching previous threads on this site. Big hat, sunscreen, light colored clothing, duct tape and garbage bags to line the car interior with, cooler with lots of water...and the camera. Probably some other things I forgot to mention.
Hoping for good conditions, I can't wait!
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If this is something you have been wanting to do for years (bucket list) I can tell you that one day is not nearly enough. You will want to see all the cars in the pits, in the line, leaving the start line and going down the track.... There is a lot to see... better plan to be there longer...
unless this is just a "mini-pail" list item. :|
:cheers:
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You'll want to be there for the drivers meeting. It's about the coolest feeling there is - standing with a crowd of people that just wanna go fast and you're at the fastest race track in the world. And when the meeting ends you're allowed to drive down the race course. The drive takes place about 10.30-11 Saturday morning and is followed immediately by racing.
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Just so we're clear -
Odds are high that you'll come to spectate, and the next thing you know, you'll be eyeing up your garage and thinking, "ya know, I've got room to build a bike/car/streamliner/lakester", and 25 years later, you'll still be working on a record - even if it's yours.
It all starts innocently enough . . .
Hi all, I am hoping to check off a bucket list item this year and get to the Flats for the first time as a spectator.
Visiting the Grand Canyon is a bucket list item. Scoring tickets to "Hamilton" is a bucket list item. Hell, going over Niagra Falls in a barrel is a bucket list item.
Bonneville is a bit more.
You'll see. :wink:
Oh, as far as getting stuck.
It's vast and disorienting at times, but it'll be pretty clear where you can drive.
If in doubt, don't go there.
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I have got to agree that Saturday afternoon is not nearly enough to see most of what there is to see. It's big.
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If you stay where everybody else is you won't get stuck. There's free RV parking/camping at the bend, you'll see where everyone else is but if it starts raining, get the hell out of there while you can because it gets slicker than snot when it's wet.
Bonneville is the friendliest race venue so don't be afraid to visit the pits, talk to racers & have fun.
Sid.
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Saturday afternoon will be fine. But I bet you come back again next year for more. It happened to me. I just wanted to step on the salt once. Just watch a little bit of racing, once. See the sun rise over the salty horizon, once. That was 12 years ago and the wife and I will be back again this year to watch.
If your camera is a DLSR, try not to change the lens out there more often than you really need to. Salt and electronics do not mix well. The salt will get in to your camera. It will. My first trip to the salt also cost me a new camera. Still, it was a great upgrade, so not all bad. :-D
Enjoy your first trip, there is far too much to take in with just a few hours on the salt, but enjoy it and relish.
John
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Sun screen. end of rant. :cheers:
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Sun screen. end of rant. :cheers:
And put it under your chin, bottom of your nose, and any place else where the sun don't shine that might be exposed. Have seen some young ladies, purportedly without under things, with very short skirts. Course maybe they were used to it. :wink: :evil:
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Jack said: "...Have seen some young ladies, purportedly without under things, with very short skirts. Course maybe they were used to it. wink evil..."
Ditto guys of the commando persuasion and wearing baggy shorts. :roll: :roll:
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Trust me when I say I have enough hobbies that consume my free time and dollars. I actually got out of drag racing about 12 years ago. I am more than happy to just watch, and have zero interest in picking up any type of racing.
Sun screen SPF 100 is already purchased and packed in with things to go. I plan on long pants and probably shirt too.
I will look into maybe staying for at least Sunday part of the day. I understand I will be missing alot, but just don't have the time to totally dedicate myself to the week. Besides, then I might really become addicted, LOL.
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Saturday & Sunday are the best spectator days. Bring a wide brim hat & if it gets real hot a squirt bottle of water is cooling.
Sid.
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Thirst and water: One way I explain to non-racers how Bville works -- is telling them that damn near every time you walk up to someone's pit or whatever, the first words I hear will be something like "Hi. Need a drink?"
We ALL take staying hydrated pretty seriously.
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You are always welcome to stop by 7707 pits and rest awhile. Its good to have shade sometimes.
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I actually got out of drag racing about 12 years ago.
Now right there lies the problem.
I know of nobody who "got out of racing" who doesn't have a pile of parts lying around.
Then they go to Bonneville to "spectate", and two years later, that pile of parts is flying down the track.
It's a slippery slope - just sayin' . . . :wink:
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An Englishman Ian Northeast has a Jensen V8 car ready for the salt flats but he needs some final help/advice.
Please take a look at Introduce Yourself, Reply 3634.
Ian is new to Landracing.com so I am using this thread to get him in touch with the knowledgeable. He has a website for the car for the World's Fastest Jensen. Please support this racer who came to Pendine Sands last month for some practice runs. Thank You.
Malcolm, UK, Derby.
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Semi-related question that I figured wasn't worth starting a new thread for... I'll be going to Bonneville for the first time this year with a motorcycle, competing in a few classes at the AMA BMST event, not Speed Week. Is a pit bike, like a TTR125, a) allowed in the paddock/parking area, and b) useful/helpful to get around, for this event? I have one I can bring and I always do when I road race, but I don't want to haul it there if we're not going to use it.
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Pits can be long and prestage further out, a pit bike is pretty much a necessity , bring a second helmet for it
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However please note the requirements for a license for any pit bike/vehicle. If you've got a highway license, that's dandy, but if it has an ORV tag form a state other than Utah you'll need to either prove your (license) state has reciprocity with Utah - or just buy a Utah permit.
The rules are only a couple of years old. (Somebody help me here -- where's the easiest-to-find posting of the ORV rules?). Let's make sure you see them.
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www.stateparks.utah.gov
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Ok. I definitely don't have an ORV sticker, my state essentially has no public land to ride on so nobody has one. So $35 for a state sticker to ride it, might be worth it.
https://stateparks.utah.gov/activities/off-highway-vehicles/ohv-laws-rules/ (https://stateparks.utah.gov/activities/off-highway-vehicles/ohv-laws-rules/)
Looks like a helmet isn't LEGALLY required, correct?
A bicycle should be fine to get around with no permits?
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I think the helmet is part of the AMA regs
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A bicycle should be fine to get around with no permits?
I've done it. It's actually a good alternative to driving everywhere.
:cheers:
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I believe that if riding a motorcycle around pits etc at the BMST event then a helmet is required.
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I Thought I'd update you all on how my first time went.
1: IT WAS AWESOME!!!!
2: yes, no way I believe even in a week you can see it all. This place just oozes cool for literally miles.
3: I can not stress drinking enough water.....I sadly did not and ended my only day there early. Six bottles in 3.5 hours apparently was not enough. Yup, I dehydrated, with cool clammy skin, and red blotches until I somehow managed to get to the car for relief from the AC and more water. I had plenty in the trunk, just didn't bring enough with me walking. I had walked about 6 miles. This all kinda scared me so I pretty much called it a day unfortunately.
Six bottles of water may be my whole days intake while at work here on the east coast. I thought I was doing good for the short time period. I was wrong, you all warned me.
4: IT WAS AWESOME!!!!
5: The spectator cars were every bit as good as the race cars. I bet I took more pics of some serious traditional built hot rods than race cars there. I was blown away at some of the quality built stuff out there.
6: Did not realize you could drive around until I walked 6 miles of it. I never even got to the impound area, or made it to the starting line area (which looked a little confusing to get to). I missed looking at some killer cars because they were probably all at the start line as the trucks and trailers were pretty empty.
7: The racers were very nice. If you had questions about there cars, they were willing to answer them.
8: I bought lots of t-shirts, yet still not enough. You guys and gals have some really cool shirts made up.
9: IT WAS AWESOME!!!!
10: While this can be crossed off on my bucket list, I would like to return someday to spend at least two full days there. I am not sure if that will happen. I did some other pretty cool stuff (to me) in Utah while there, which is why I could not spend as much time at the flats.
11: I taped garbage bags to the floor of the rental, put the same duct tape on the pedal pads, on the bottoms of my shoes too, and i still spent some time vacuuming out the car. I also got it washed by whatever group I had heard about on here that was washing cars at the gas station off the exit. Seemed like a good cause so I donated, saved me from washing it. And I drove carefully to not try and fling that stuff everywhere. We rented down by my parents house in St George, so there was really no questions.
I think that is all. It really was an amazing time, I soooo wanted to see Danny Thompsons car and possibly a run, and I never did either. He ran the first run probably about the time I was in line paying to get in I figure. I missed alot of other amazing cars because I never got to the line (I certainly did not understand the myriad of cones in place that made the bend to the start line). I really hope someday I can make it back there. It is such an amazing place and a step back into and fowards into history all at the same time.
Thank You for all of the advice. I hope this also helps a newbie spectator in the future.
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Those cones can be confusing. A couple lead to line-up for #1 course. Others lead over to #2 and around to access to #3 and #4. There is some signage, but if you stop and ask someone, almost everyone is friendly and helpful as you found out.