Something Doc and I discussed regarding Gairdner was the tides and the effect the moon has on large bodies of standing water. Both Gairdner and Bonneville are floating on water and silt.
A Gairdner local pointed out to Doc that on the perimeter of Gairdner, one can see high water marks as the water lifts and drops the salt.
On August 10th, the full moon was the closest it would be to the earth all year in the Northern Hemisphere. I'm thinking the extra water being worked upon by the gravitational pull of the moon may well have had the effect of moving and cracking the salt surface, causing the pot holes, and bringing the silt to the surface.
Just throwing it out there. I understand the DLRA now avoids booking their event during periods of a full moon.