Saving the Salt

[BHR301]

Fred...Is this the one?

Bill

[kiwi belly tank]

That's how it looked on Saturday.
  Sid.

[Elmo Rodge]

It looked the same on Sunday. Wayno

[donpearsall]

Those photos are labeled "Boneville" That is quite appropriate I think.
Don

[Ron Gibson]

I wonder if any one from Utah has brought that photo to the attention of the local SLC newspapers? So much for "no" depletion statement by the BLM.

Ron

[Glen]

Ron,yes they have. They have also attended meetings.

[crawford]

oh my, you do realize that the Salt Flats turn brown during the winter, and I how do I know this? I live here and see them EVERY DAY of the week.

[Ron Gibson]

Just out of curiosity how does the lake bed turn brown when it has an inches or feet thick crust of salt, as it used to have, and is the triangular area by the rest area, inside the dike also just showing mud???

Ron

[edinlr]

So I am guessing rooms at the casinos won't go as quick this year as they have in the past?  At least Montego Bay gave me a refund, less one night's stay, which is better than a lot of places did.  With three events scheduled at Loring and Wilmington, 2016 won't be too much of a bust.

[crawford]

yes the rest area is showing the brine mud, which by the way is different than MUD, the salt flats have other things besides salt which during the Winter or the wet months desolves and goes into the brine mud, which when the summer temps raise so too does the salt surface, its been that way for a really long time, I know this, because, yes to repeat, I live here and see it every day, and have for 54 years!!!! Not just once or twice a year, 52 weeks, 365 days a year.

[Milwaukee Midget]

Hi, Mike -

I know it seems like we're beating up on you and minimizing your observations and experiences.  You've been nothing but the best kind of support we could have as outsiders in a community like Wendover, I for one am grateful for the courtesy you've extended all of us.

But in your experience, have you ever seen the salt look like it did this last summer?  There are racers who have been coming here an equally long time who say no. 

Mayor, we're scared.

 

[Harold Bettes]

His Honor Mayor Mike Crawford of Wendover,

What a cool job that has to be. Glad you are doing it.

I would like to know if you have had any contact from the following folks from Utah: Rep Rob Bishop, Rep Chris Stewart, Sen Orin Hatch, or Sen Mike Lee concerning the declining condition of the Bonneville Salt Flats or the potential effects on the economy of Wendover?

There is a method in my question, sir.

I think we all recognize and appreciate your inputs concerning our favorite great white dyno.

BTW - A mentor of mine was at Wendover back in the day when the 509th was formed and later raced at Bonneville after WWII, so I grew up with holding the flats in high regard.

Thanks in advance.

Regards,
HB2

[Speed Limit 1000]

His Honor Mayor Mike Crawford of Wendover,

What a cool job that has to be. Glad you are doing it.

I would like to know if you have had any contact from the following folks from Utah: Rep Rob Bishop, Rep Chris Stewart, Sen Orin Hatch, or Sen Mike Lee concerning the declining condition of the Bonneville Salt Flats or the potential effects on the economy of Wendover?

There is a method in my question, sir.

I think we all recognize and appreciate your inputs concerning our favorite great white dyno.

BTW - A mentor of mine was at Wendover back in the day when the 509th was formed and later raced at Bonneville after WWII, so I grew up with holding the flats in high regard.

Thanks in advance.

Regards,
HB2

Our crew also had a 509th mentor. That's why we run the Bockscar

[kiwi belly tank]

 It is correct that there is brine mud showing inside the Suldura Dyke (public viewing area) but it is only at the high west end where the salt crust thins out to nothing & that is the high ground, the rest is like white concrete. I destroyed a big screwdriver trying to hammer it in to see how thick it is & never found the bottom. The drain out of there is on the east end beside the manifolds that go under the freeway to the mine.
Before the freeway & the access road to lands end , the access point to the flats was via a wooden bridge that went over a low spot in the middle of the dyke. Once the lands end access road was built, this bridge was never used again & is still there today.
 In recent history that low point in the dyke eroded away allowing salt from the flats to flow inside the Suldura Dyke which is incidentally land owned by Intrepid & is lower than everything around it. Seeing this problem, Intrepid took there equipment around to the flats side & repaired the damage. The BLM ordered the repair to the wash out be reversed so Intrepid complied.
 The result of that BLM directive produced a thick salt crust within the public viewing area that is drivable from the parking lot in any conditions, even if it's covered in water. No mater what happens outside the dyke, that salt will never flow away & is actually increasing through the BLM gap.
 This information originally came to me from Russ Ayres & was confirmed by an Intrepid employee I spoke with.

  So now Joe Public pulls up at the rest / viewing area & reads the sign that says Bonneville Salt flats Fastest Speedway In The World or what ever it is & he had heard that the salt flats racers were saying the BLM Fu##ed it up! That can't be right! Look at this $hit. What a bunch of spoiled brat whiny rich guys!!
  I know, I've spent the time talking to them, both there & lands end.
   Sid.
    

[Sumner]

Now I'm sure it is just a coincidence that the salt looks so good at the visitor's center  ,

Sum