Speed Week 2014 thread?

[tauruck]

Ooooffff - I just got my first taste of SW 2014 hotel prices.  Best Western Plus - $230 per night for a 7 day stay.

I didn't have the guts to pull the trigger yet.

That's steep. In my money that's two and half grand. I guess I'd have to camp out.

[jacksoni]

Wells is a 58 min drive to wendover. tooele is 1 hour 38 min drive to wendover. I never said that there would not be a trade off. I just thought it would be worth a try just once to see if it would make a difference. So are you saying that all the businesses in wendover raise there prices during speedweek.

Might work for  a spectator and I'm sure a participant has had to go that route, but if you have a car on the salt or are a crew member another 2 hrs of the day driving is not going to be very pleasant.  We are usually off the salt about 7 in the evening and out there at 7 in the morning and hopefully at 6 if we are lucky enough to be making a backup run.


Sum

We did the Wells thing a couple of years. Were qualifying regularly bumping the record a mph or so at a time. with the time zone change you get up before 4am local, (try finding some coffee etc then (that's decent anyway)) to get to the gate for impound and be ready to push out for returns by 700. It got real old I tell you, especially if you are thrashing and only leave when they throw you off the salt, hot, tired, hungry and looking at long drive and early AM again. Made the  $180-200 casino rooms considerably more attractive.

[Stan Back]

What was the hourly rate in Wells then?

[mitchell968]

i like to go up leppy pass and take a left down the east side of the mountain.  you get the first shade of the day. big, flat gravel pads that dont turn into slop when the skies open up. also, you can camp shower without scaring anyone. you get a good view of the fire works, and if it does rain, you usually get a good view of the lightning striking intrepid. i ve been doing s.w. from the specked tator line for about a 1k$ with food , gas, and parts from washington state.  i try to squeeze in at least one truck stop shower.      mitchell

[Calkins]

About five or six years ago, I started a thread asking questions to try to be ready for my virgin trip.  Things didn't work out, and I didn't make it.  I was lucky to find a group here in Iowa that was going this year (2013), and taking who ever wanted to go.  I finally made it to Bonneville!  Eight of us shared an RV.  Most of us had never met each other.  The trip cost us $450 each for fuel and rental, for five or six days.  We parked at the Bend.  Even though there was plenty of room for all of us, I was going to tent camp.  I am glad I did.  You can't buy those memories.  I finally met a few from the forum.  Some I have been talking to for ten to fifteen years.  I just hope I can continue to make the trip.  Now, I have the push, because I know what I will miss.

[ratpatrol66]

About five or six years ago, I started a thread asking questions to try to be ready for my virgin trip.  Things didn't work out, and I didn't make it.  I was lucky to find a group here in Iowa that was going this year (2013), and taking who ever wanted to go.  I finally made it to Bonneville!  Eight of us shared an RV.  Most of us had never met each other.  The trip cost us $450 each for fuel and rental, for five or six days.  We parked at the Bend.  Even though there was plenty of room for all of us, I was going to tent camp.  I am glad I did.  You can't buy those memories.  I finally met a few from the forum.  Some I have been talking to for ten to fifteen years.  I just hope I can continue to make the trip.  Now, I have the push, because I know what I will miss.

Sounds like it worked out good for you, and on a nice tight budget. I have been 3 times and still can't fully explain it.

[desperate]

I was there with my Indian in 2012, with 5 other UK teams (we shared a shippng container). It was a complete one-off.......until I was on my way home. Work started on the new bike within weeks of getting it back & I'm returning for 2014 with a supercharged Indian Scout. I'm also almost finished building a supercharged Kawasaki for my mate, it's going for paint next week.
Due to the success of forming a "Team" for 2012, we've done it again, & so far 14 bikes are signed up including the Manx boys. Still early days but we'll definately be there. Footnote: I tested the new Indian at Pendine Sands. Scared wasn't the word, give me salt any day.
Anyone from the UK reading this, you can contact me (Chris) on (UK code) 01493 733695.

"Salt Fever"? Never heard of it

[TIIILSR]

Couple of great looking bikes.
We will be going to WOS so we will miss seeing you guys at SW.
Best of luck.

Mike

[Freud]

Like it?

FREUD

[jl222]

I was there with my Indian in 2012, with 5 other UK teams (we shared a shippng container). It was a complete one-off.......until I was on my way home. Work started on the new bike within weeks of getting it back & I'm returning for 2014 with a supercharged Indian Scout. I'm also almost finished building a supercharged Kawasaki for my mate, it's going for paint next week.
Due to the success of forming a "Team" for 2012, we've done it again, & so far 14 bikes are signed up including the Manx boys. Still early days but we'll definately be there. Footnote: I tested the new Indian at Pendine Sands. Scared wasn't the word, give me salt any day.
Anyone from the UK reading this, you can contact me (Chris) on (UK code) 01493 733695.

"Salt Fever"? Never heard of it

  Yeah...Salt fever and real racers

                   JL222

             

[peterdallan]

I've not attended Speedweek, just BUB so far  I have a question.
The dates for this years SW are the 9th-15th August. It also states that Tech Inspection is the 7th. This from the SCTA-BNI website.

Do most people arrive at Wendover on the 6th for tech on the 7th or is that the earliest you can attend tech and it is open till the 15th too, so arriving on the 7th or 8th won't present any problems. Also I'm sure people arrive and leave at all times, but on which date do most competitors arrive for the week ahead?

Cheers

Peter

[Tman]

We like to show up Wed to get our pits setup ASAP on Thusday and then head straight to tech. Lets a person relax and catch up with friends.

[peterdallan]

Ok thanks Tman, that makes sense, just trying to get a feel for it as I'm coming from 5,000 miles away and have to factor in bike pickup from customs etc. Is there a full days racing normally on the final Friday (15th)?

Cheers

Peter

[Seldom Seen Slim]

For the recent past bunch of years racing started on Saturday with tech on Friday before.  Tech does (and has, and will continue to do so) continue all during the event.  In just the past few years the Friday inspection has added "early" inspection on Thursday afternoon, partially started when the volunteer workers got "courtesy" inspections Thursday (to thank them for working and so they wouldn't be penalised for missing regular tech -- 'cause they were working.  Participants weren't even allowed on the salt 'til Thursday afternoon for pit setup.  Then regular inspections started on Thursday afternoons, likely in response to the growing number of entries.  And now inspection begins Thursday first thing - with the salt opening Wednesday afternoon (or maybe earlier.  I'm busy Weds. moving toilets and don't pay close attention to the radio just then ).

You may take your vehicle to inspection at any time during the Thursday through Friday 8 days later.

[Tman]

Linda lets non volunteers on the salt no earlier than Thursday morning around sunup-ish to set up pits. That means us racers that are not Volunteering to work the event. The Vols rightfully get to set up early so they are ready for our unwashed masses.