Saving the Salt

[Bob Drury]

  One thing to consider is that their is a very nice storage facility right in Wendover that has both indoor and outdoor storage all well protected with security systems.  The only drawback would be whether or not your container carrier has a off load capability because I don't know where you might be able to find a fork lift in Wendover with the capacity to off load you.
  If you did choose to use this option, You could most likely get fellow competitors to haul your Bikes out to the Event and back to the Storage at the close of the meet.  Also, its not to hard to find  folks that live in Wendover with pickup trucks who would most likely do the same for a reasonable rate.
  John, who owns the storage complex is One of the Heads of the Big Three Casinos and I am sure He could help you out.  He and his wife are really nice and He has raced with us in the past.  If I locate his card I will post it here.
  Another option might be to offload the container where ever it docks in the U.S. rent a large U-Haul Moving Truck with a lift tailgate. Drive it to the Salt and back to where ever your departure is located.  If it is different city than arrival, that shouldn't be a problem as the Moving Trucks can be Rented One Way.
  NOTE:  Anything you rent in the U.S.  Do not sign any rental agreement without taking pictures of the entire vehicle from every conceivable angle.  Make sure ALL pre existing conditions are noted on the Rental Agreement before you sign and DON'T LOSE THE PAPERWORK!
  If it was me I would take the same pictures at the return site just in case for future reference.  A picture of a newspaper showing that date and laying on the vehicle might be helpful should problems arise later.  AND BE DARN SURE To BUY THE FULL Liability and Collision (Comprehensive) Insurance and I wouldn't mention the word's SALT or SALT FLAT'S nor wear any Souvenir Hat's or Shirts upon Return.  Visit a Truck Stop and Wash the vehicle and especially the undercarriage the First chance you get after leaving the Salt and again before you deliver it back to the Rental Agency.  If you don't do it  soon after you leave, It may become a permanent part of the truck by the time you reach your destination!
  I hope this helps..........   Bob

[Briz]

We cant get our flights changed or refunded. Whether we get anything back from the prepaid hotel (Montego) is in the hands of the gods!
I cant afford to reschedule for a later event, just not gonna happen.
And with the state of the salt it doesn't look good for any later events anyway. Might dry up, sure; but that salt crust isn't getting any thicker this year.
Personally, I aint doing this again. Not enough bang for too much bucks I'm afraid. This whole 'getting to Bonneville' thing has become a bit of a millstone. I want my life back!

[Sporty Dan]

To the SCTA/BNI staff, thank you for getting the word out to everyone as early as possible. I know this was not an easy decision for you to make, but you made sure to put driver/rider safety first.

[jimwebb]

My experience has been that the hotels are reluctant, but will refund if SCTA cancels the meet. Last year was bit of a problem, and we were all pretty locked in due to the late cancellation of the meet - but the hotels did fine after that. Not throwing rocks at anyone; we roll the dice, we takes our chances. I'd work through the CC company first - they have more sway than you do.

[jimwebb]

To the SCTA/BNI staff, thank you for getting the word out to everyone as early as possible. I know this was not an easy decision for you to make, but you made sure to put driver/rider safety first.

I second Sporty Dan wholeheartedly. This situation sucks, but I truly appreciate SCTA making the call, making it right , and making it in a timely fashion. I am sending SCTA a donation and hope others will too. In a couple of months when our collective outrage subsides, the good folks at SCTA will be working on our behalf for future meets and they need our help. Best I know, two years cancellation in a row is unprecedented. This outcome sucks, but I truly appreciate the timely decision and thank SCTA for all the effort that went into trying to make the event happen.

[metermatch]

I would be king of interested in learning (from an attorney-type person) if they can charge for a room that you don't use.  I book on Orbitz, and some rooms say fee and some say no fee.  I seems kind of reasonable to me that a hotel that reserves a room for you that you don't use, that you have kept the hotel from selling the room to someone else.  Seems some compensation should be due.

I specifically looked for rooms that had no cancellation fee if prior to 24 hours before use.

Jeff

[kustombrad]

So, nobody really answered my question. Let's just say there was something on TV (kinda like a documentary) that showed the beginning of the salt and what it's become. How would you handle the end of the show? Show a list of contacts and phone numbers? Contact and bug EVERYONE in office in the state of Utah? Random phone calls to the BLM? It needs to be BIGGER than Save the Salt and if that's the pinnacle, then the extra funds need to put the scariest attorney possible on retainer!

[kustombrad]

We're just a small number. EVERY car guy who had going to Bonneville on his "bucket list" needs to know what's going on and how he can help. We're a small group. We need to be a HUGE group that knows what's up out there!

[Dynoroom]

To the SCTA/BNI staff, thank you for getting the word out to everyone as early as possible. I know this was not an easy decision for you to make, but you made sure to put driver/rider safety first.

I second Sporty Dan wholeheartedly. This situation sucks, but I truly appreciate SCTA making the call, making it right , and making it in a timely fashion. I am sending SCTA a donation and hope others will too. In a couple of months when our collective outrage subsides, the good folks at SCTA will be working on our behalf for future meets and they need our help. Best I know, two years cancellation in a row is unprecedented. This outcome sucks, but I truly appreciate the timely decision and thank SCTA for all the effort that went into trying to make the event happen.

Happened in 1982 & 83      Sucked then too......

[tallguy]

I thought that the salt would be evaluated on 7/22.

Since Speed Week was scheduled to start on 8/8, and the
weather forecast seems to not show many rainy days between
now and then, I'm quite surprised and dismayed by this cancellation.

Is there something I'm not understanding here?  Something
(perhaps sinister) that doesn't meet the eye?

I'd be interested in anyone's opinion on this.  And today I
will be drinking a toast to the RACERS!

tallguy

[Milwaukee Midget]

I thought that the salt would be evaluated on 7/22.

Since Speed Week was scheduled to start on 8/8, and the
weather forecast seems to not show many rainy days between
now and then, I'm quite surprised and dismayed by this cancellation.

Is there something I'm not understanding here?  Something
(perhaps sinister) that doesn't meet the eye?



tallguy

I think two things are in play here.

One needs to take into account the cost and time necessary to prepare a course - a safe course - and a course that will take the punishment of the entire entry list for a week.  Indications are they were unable to get that.

And after last year, when they were hoping against hope to have a track that would work, they are understandably a little gun shy of hoping it could possibly get pulled together in time.  Given that there seems to be additional issues with the salt this year - lots of soil washed down from the mountains and muddy areas - I think it's wise to have pulled the plug early in order to minimize any further costs incurred by the racers.

If there's anything sinister going on, I'd be looking across the street, or directing mail to 2370 S. Decker Lake Blvd, West Valley City, UT 84119.

Midget

[jimwebb]

To the SCTA/BNI staff, thank you for getting the word out to everyone as early as possible. I know this was not an easy decision for you to make, but you made sure to put driver/rider safety first.

I second Sporty Dan wholeheartedly. This situation sucks, but I truly appreciate SCTA making the call, making it right , and making it in a timely fashion. I am sending SCTA a donation and hope others will too. In a couple of months when our collective outrage subsides, the good folks at SCTA will be working on our behalf for future meets and they need our help. Best I know, two years cancellation in a row is unprecedented. This outcome sucks, but I truly appreciate the timely decision and thank SCTA for all the effort that went into trying to make the event happen.

Happened in 1982 & 83      Sucked then too......

Shows what I know. My first trip was in '76 and didn't get back until 2000. Life interrupted.

[hotrod]

Also I am sure there were multiple timing issues.
Call it early if necessary to minimize financial losses of racers (especially those coming from outside the country) who must cancel flights or make other arraingements.
Call it early enough to avoid unnecessary expenses like the trash dumpsters and port pottys that they contract for speed week.
Call it early enough so ERC does not get on the road with a truck full of fuel an no where to go.
Save unnecessary lodging expenses for salt prep crews if it is clear the track could not be prepped in time to provide a safe course.

Last year folks were upset about the foot dragging and holding out to the last minute to make the call, this year they are upset about the early call.
No matter what they did it would hurt someone in the wallet or upset some people's plans.
I personally am glad they made the call now. Last year some of my friends were on the road almost to Bonneville when I called them to let them know.

This gives me time to make other plans before my already approved leave time starts at work (which required several of my co workers to juggle shifts to cover for me)
This sort of thing happens when you do sporting events out doors, we cannot control mother nature and just have to play the cards we have in our hand.
SCTA made a judgement call second guessing the man in the field is a good way to end up with an organization which is so risk adverse that they don't do anything.

[Buickguy3]

   Where's Jerry Spence when the World needs him?
      Doug 

[RichFox]

I second Sporty Dan wholeheartedly. This situation sucks, but I truly appreciate SCTA making the call, making it right , and making it in a timely fashion. I am sending SCTA a donation and hope others will too. In a couple of months when our collective outrage subsides, the good folks at SCTA will be working on our behalf for future meets and they need our help. Best I know, two years cancellation in a row is unprecedented. This outcome sucks, but I truly appreciate the timely decision and thank SCTA for all the effort that went into trying to make the event happen.
[/quote]

Happened in 1982 & 83      Sucked then too......
[/quote]Believe it happened in the early 90s also.

Shows what I know. My first trip was in '76 and didn't get back until 2000. Life interrupted.
[/quote]