Landracing Forum
Bonneville Salt Flats Discussion => SpeedWeek 2019 => Topic started by: Snoofer on August 10, 2019, 11:00:41 PM
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First time to speed week. What time do the trials start? Is there a place I can park off of the salt and then catch a ride to the track? Is there a schedule published that tells when different vehicles run?
If there is a website that has this info please let me know. I?ve been googling all day looking for it.
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Normally, they would start with return runs at 7am on Sunday. This year is not normal, and runs won't start until Monday.
You could park at the bend and hitch to the pits, then hitch to wherever you want to go. The race covers a lot of real estate, so wheeled conveyance of your own is recommended.
Runs aren't scheduled. When a racer is ready, he or she get in line and wait for their turn (exceptions for streamliners, but still no schedule).
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Okey-donkey, Sir Snoofer. Here's some stuff. First of all, when we're racing, there is no way to predict exactly when anyone will run. At the start lines it's first come, first gone. Fast car followed by nitro bike followed by electric - - well, you get the idea. Once we've run for one day you can be sure to see the record return runs - those will be guaranteed the fastest from yesterday's racing.
Normal starting time is 7.30AM for the record return runs, which continue until all of yesterday's qualifiers (those that exceeded the existing record) run again to back up the record. Those runs continue until everyone has run - commonly an hour or even two.
You can leave your vehicle at Land's End and get out to the salt some other way, but there's no service that'll give you a ride. Find a buddy, ask someone that's on the way in if you can ride, etc. It shouldn't be a problem.
See you on the salt. BTW, what with the wet track there won't be much going on tomorrow morning (before 8) other than chapel at 6.30.
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Thanks guys, you? answered my questions. I?ll consider driving my Prius on the salt but will probably try to bum a ride.
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Would a bicycle work well on the salt?
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I've seen many, but not used one.
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How about vendors? Is anyone selling water by the track? Or should I carry enough to last the day?
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You know that the salt is a very large area,right? The pits may be 5 miles from the paved road. Maybe not. I don't know this year. The start line 3 miles from the pit which nay well be 3 miles long. Be prepared for long hot bike rides. There is a guy selling shaved ice. I have never seen anyone selling just water. But maybe at the food vendor they do. I brought mine. In the truck. With ice. And air conditioning. But I'm old. I didn't have air when I was younger.
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This year: The pits are at about the 3 mile, but the start line is 9/10 mile BACK from Land's End. Therefore 2 miles or so to the Village. The pits go on for over another mile or more but aren't full so you won't have to ride all that far.
You can buy water at the Enola Gay Cafe (the food vendor).
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So it sounds like I will want to take a couple liters of water with me even if I drive my car out on the salt.
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Way more, especially if you plan on pedalling.
Pete
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I biked once, and only once, because it was horrible.
Do it right... drive what you have then do a good cleaning job afterwards.
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I think I?ve abandoned the bike idea. I?ll be driving my car onto the salt or I?ll bum rides. I was just trying to confirm that there isn?t any way to purchase water on the track. I wonder if I would be allowed to sell water if I took a bunch?
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Did I mis-speak? I said that yes, you CAN buy water at the track - the food vendor.
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I was unclear as on where the cafe was located and if there is only one. I thought it might be the cafe in the Sinclair station out by the highway.
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I think I?ve abandoned the bike idea. I?ll be driving my car onto the salt or I?ll bum rides. I was just trying to confirm that there isn?t any way to purchase water on the track. I wonder if I would be allowed to sell water if I took a bunch?
You aren't an approved vendor plus most people will give water to someone who needs it. Sounds like a really good way to lose all respect in the pit area.
Pete
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When I had a stock car I would coat the rocker panels and undercarriage with baby oil before a race so the clay would wash of easier. Would that work on the salt?
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I think I?ve abandoned the bike idea. I?ll be driving my car onto the salt or I?ll bum rides. I was just trying to confirm that there isn?t any way to purchase water on the track. I wonder if I would be allowed to sell water if I took a bunch?
?You aren't an approved vendor plus most people will give water to someone who needs it. Sounds like a really good way to lose all respect in the pit area.?
Pete
I would not attempt it if it wasn?t approved. My point is that people don?t always come prepared and having water available to purchase would be a beneficial service.
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I guess the cafe has water, and yesterday I noticed the ice cream truck had water listed.
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Anyone have an opinion on whether pretreating my car with something to protect it from the salt is worth the effort? Or does it rinse off easily?
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I have heard that a liberal spraying of WD40 is a good thing. That is what I plan in a couple weeks when I hit the salt for my first time at the motorcycle speed trials.
Basically just like your baby oil idea but the convenience of a spray can.
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I sprayed the undercarriage on the bike with Pam. Works well
Joe
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I have heard that a liberal spraying of WD40 is a good thing. That is what I plan in a couple weeks when I hit the salt for my first time at the motorcycle speed trials.
Basically just like your baby oil idea but the convenience of a spray can.
I don?t care for the smell of wd40. At the race track I have seen people use diesel instead of baby oil and their cars smelled terrible. I bought a one gallon pump sprayer at Home Depot to apply the baby oil. It worked well and the smell is much more pleasant.
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The pump sprayer baby oil sounds like a good idea. Will be interested to hear how it works, might do that instead of the WD40. Would be great if you can post about your results here afterwards.
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I?ll try to remember. My thinking is that salt will probably rinse off easier than mud. But maybe the baby oil will prevent it from getting in tiny cracks that are hard to reach with a washer.
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Hey Snoofer, I'd be concerned abit driving a Pirus on the salt, electric car and salt might have trouble :-(
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Well my plans changed but I did go on Tuesday. I didn?t bother with the baby oil so I can?t tell you how it works. I paid for the wash at the Sinclair station when I left. The Prius did fine but I was a little worried about bottoming out when going across the soft spots on the way to the starting line.
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This is an old tip, but may be worth repeating. When you get home from the flats, put a garden sprinkler under your car/truck/trailer as often as you can. Either the whirly style, or the rainbow version will do a good job moistening things and loosening the salt up. You will still have salt falling off of the vehicle in October.
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The sprinkler idea works great. Gets water in all of the spots you normally cant see. I ran one for 2 hrs last night and got most of the salt off..then crawled under with a pressure washer while laying on a creeper and got the rest
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I've had the Salt "bless" my garage in April the year after, seems like there is always a place up in there that just won't give it up easily. :lol:
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Next time I?m renting a car so I don?t have to worry about it