Shootout 2013

[Seldom Seen Slim]

Okey-dokey -- I just got off the phone with Junior (Cook).  Here's the true scoop:

The driver meeting will be this Wednesday -- day after tomorrow - September 11 -- at 5PM.  Assuming weather permits, racing will start at sunup Thursday morning, the 12th.  If the course has not dried enough by then for racing -- there'll be another driver meeting Thursday at 5PM and racing will start Friday morning first thing.  The event is scheduled to go through the 16th.  BUT - -

In case the weather does not allow things to start on time - Mike has arranged to extend the meet up to four additional days.  That is -- as of now the event ends the 16th, but insurance and other permits are in place to continue four more days after that.

Dang it -- I thought I'd heard that the driver meeting would be Wednesday, but I couldn't get confirmation -- so won't arrive at SLC Int'l 'til Wednesday evening, and that means I won't be at the salt 'til morning on Thursday.  I'll try to get there in time to get things up and running for youse guys out there in internetland -- but even if I'm late -- hold on, I'm on the way.

There you have it, straight from the Cook's mouth (if you will). . .  See you on the salt.

[trimmers]

Jon:

Thanks for the info!  I should be able to get there by 5pm on Wednesday.  I'll take notes and try to track you down later that evening. 

[RayTheRat]

To add to Slim's comment, I spent the afternoon at Lands End and on the salt.  I shot a lotta photos of the salt conditions and Mike Cook took me for a drive from the zero to the 6 mile point.  As I was there, I could see the dry salt area growing before my eyes.  But since it's gonna take me a bit to put the post together, I'll include a photo of my Camaro (yes, I really like it) just cuz I can.   

I'll have the photos of the salt posted asap.

[Seldom Seen Slim]

I'm due to land in SLC about 7.30PM, have to find son in law to fetch the streaming equipment, and then head to Wendover to crash at the motel for the night.  I'll try to get on the salt bright and early (well, maybe dull and early. . .).

[RayTheRat]

Looking from Lands End at 12:12 pm:



At 1:47 pm:



At 2:09 pm:



Looking at Mile Zero:



Mile 1



Mile 2



Mile 3



Mile 4  (Cook was talking to Al Lamb at the time.)



Mile 5.5 (surveying equipment)



Surveyors pounding a stake into some VERY hard salt.  One of them said that the salt had cleared by 70 percent today alone.



Breach in the dike where water had blown onto the salt.



Mile 6



The point where the SCTA course crosses Cook's course:



Surveyors marking the edge of the course.  You can see that the water is 1/2 inch or less...and spread over a large area.  The wind was from the south at 10-15 mph at that time.



The tent set up at Lands End, sponsor signs and Dan Warner's pickup with graphic on the tailgate.



Italian tourists playing in the salt water near Lands End.  Not deep at all and you can compare this with the first photo to see the amount of dry salt visible.  To me it seems to have changed noticeably in an hour and 45 minutes.

[sabat]

Fantastic, thanks for posting. Hop to see you all Thursday morning    Dean

[Tman]

Nice!

[fastesthonda_jim]

Hey, I'm going with Maihk (Poteete speak, okay) and his view of the salt "It's getting better all the time!"  We're heading out Tuesday morning for the two day trip.  Besides The Legendary Barnyard Bearcat has reputation to uphold as the... as the... the...  ummmm....

Oh well, never mind.  We're just going because it's the most fun Bonneville event of all.  And besides, you can do your record return run at a respectable hour... like right after you do your qualifing run.

Stainless head on out if you can.  It'd be a gas having you on the pit crew of the "gun" carrying the most bullets.  True, George has more bullets in the pits, but I don't feel like going back there to get mine so I take 'em with me.

[RayTheRat]

See ya there, Jim.  Have a safe trip.

[Stainless1]

Jim, I'll be there, leaving Kansas tomorrow, plan to be on the salt Thursday afternoon.  See you when you get there. 

Can't afford to miss the chance to see history being made...

[Elmo Rodge]

Jim, I'll be there, leaving Kansas tomorrow, plan to be on the salt Thursday afternoon.  See you when you get there. 

Can't afford to miss the chance to see history being made...

You ain't just a'woofin' Buddy. See you there.  Wayno

[Papi]

Great pix as always Ray. 

This is getting very exciting.

[hotrod]

Will be leaving for the Shoot Out in a few minutes, will take a lazy trip out there and do some quick side trips on the way since the salt is still drying out.

[RayTheRat]

Jim, I'll be there, leaving Kansas tomorrow, plan to be on the salt Thursday afternoon.  See you when you get there. 

Can't afford to miss the chance to see history being made...

Amen to the history thing!  There otta be some great head-to-head shootouts.

Jim, I'll be there, leaving Kansas tomorrow, plan to be on the salt Thursday afternoon.  See you when you get there. 

Can't afford to miss the chance to see history being made...

You ain't just a'woofin' Buddy. See you there.  Wayno

Lookin forward to seein ya, Wayno.  I agree about history bein made.  As the Chinese curse goes, "May you live in interesting times."  I think we're right in the middle of 'em.  Not many events with ultimate record holders/contenders goin on with sub-plots in the background.

Great pix as always Ray. 

This is getting very exciting.

Thanks, Papi.  It otta be real kool!

Will be leaving for the Shoot Out in a few minutes, will take a lazy trip out there and do some quick side trips on the way since the salt is still drying out.

See ya when ya get here, Larry,  Stop and smell a few flowers for me, k?  LOL!

G'nite, y'all,

[wobblywalrus]

This here tub was filled with water just after the 2012 BUB meet.  I washed the salt off of the bike parts in it.  No water has been added and it is either out in the sun or under the porch.  I just washed off the parts from the 2013 meet.  There are a couple of inches of water left in the tub.

I read about this evaporation phenomenon in books.  I guess there is a lot of it around Utah.  Can you send some of it out here to Oregon?  We need some.