Event Coverage First timer wanting to spectate at Bonneville in August, need input

Greetings;

I have never been to Bonneville and may be able to take my son and the camper this August. My son will have his learners permit and this way he can get some road miles in on good roads.

My questions are rather elementary. What days or portion of the event has more action? Beginning, end middle, or does it not matter?

Is the camping near by family oriented, or is it like the Coke field at Indianapolis?

Thanks for the input. I would hate to drive the near 2000 miles and not see the "good stuff"!

Any tips truly appreciated;
Craig and John in NE Ohio

 

I would say the beginning is better for seeing cars and bikes. First 3 or 4 days should be enough. Camping varies. BLM has put the lid on some of the action, I hear. Up the hill a little bit or in town at the site of the museum is family.

 

First weekend is the best but most crowded. You will be fine camping with the kid, stay out of the bend if it going to rain. Up the hill is better than a mudflat, trust me. We have had folks with kids camp near us most years. Bring lots of sunscreen, water, dark sunglasses and boonie hats or large straw hats. I have always packed a small grill and lots of fixins as well. An EZ up or other shade is needed while watching.

 

PREPARE TO HAVE FUN AND AN EXPERIENCE THAT YOUR FAMILY WILL NOT FORGET!

SUN SCREEN!!!

 

Thanks for the good advice. I am sure the heat will be a killer. We do not get hot here. Last year we never hit 90 degrees. Will have to watch out for overheating. Do you think we would need to make camping reservations or just show up?

Craig

 

Turkey, you will need to do some Google searching for more info.. I go yearly but stay in one of the many overpriced flea bag hotels. Campers park for free at a spot called the bend in the road. No services and it floods if it rains. Also there is some free high ground also with nothing. Also, these places are 5 miles from anywhere.... there are rental camper spots in near the casinos in Wendover.
You will need to drive out on the salt to spectate, also a couple of miles out from your camping area.
With all this you will have the time of your lives.....

 

I've never been there, it is on my "Bucket List", what salt protection do you apply to your daily driver before it hits the salt? Bob

 

THE SALT PROTECTION DOES NOT EXIST!
ALL YOU CAN DO IS CLEAN LATER AND THEN CLEAN LATER!

 

Small world. I live in Ohio and am going to speed week for the first time this year too, although I am flying out with a team of experienced guys. I'll be watching this one. Everyone I talk to say the same thing...sunscreen, shades, light colored clothing , lots of water, hat, comfortable shoes.

 

Am I correct to assume that tickets are not needed ahead of time? You just show up, pay admission which I assume is like general admission?

I have been to the Ohio Mile in Wilmington and assume it will be like this on steroids?

Eagerly awaiting more informed replies like above!

Craig

 

pits are big, pack a couple of bikes to get around on

 

First time to Bonneville!
1) Don't forget to take a GOOD camera.
2) Duct tape too, to tape your pant legs shut so you don't get sun burned where the sun don't shine! lol Serious! The sun reflects off the salt and burns your under arms, up your pants, under your chin and neck, up your nostrils, etc.
3) A wide brim hat and light colored clothing is very helpful too.
4) I sprayed the underside of my car with motor oil before going to try to fend off the rot.
5) Take an autograph book for the kid. You will see automotive heroes you only heard about in magazines.
6) They used too broadcast the race over CB radio, someone correct me if I'm wrong, you might want to find out and be prepared.
7) Take some coconut water or other electrolite drink.
8) Don't get bit by the salt bug... IT WILL BITE!
9) Enjoy the trip of a lifetime... it's like going to another planet!

 

The pawn shop in Wendover has some pretty good stuff hawked by broke gamblers.

 

They were also broadcasting on a FM channel, was able to use the FM receiver on my ipod, and walk with one earbud listening in. Canopies are great, the ones that are open weaving give you shade, but don't hold the heat down are great. Keep hydrated, use sunscreen. Admission passes are at the gate when you drive in. DRive easy on the salt and you don't kick up too much in the bottom of the car.

 

Can the salt issues I always hear about be any worse than driving in the winter around the rust belt?

Some real cool advice coming in, getting the itch to be on site already!

 

YES!

Search the forums on Landracing.com for methods used pre, during, and post meet to mitigate salt damage as well as a lot of other good information.

No need to get stressed with over planning, just "wing it" as the trip goes, has worked well for me. Fair warning - the salt bug can bite hard and lead to a lifetime addiction even if you can't get back every year.

Ed

 

When I was there in 1999, I spent 4 days camping at the bend. I made the trip into Wendover
each evening for dinner and supplies for the next day, Ice, snacks and food ,did I say ICE.
A pop up or awning on the side of a van or camper is good to have also.
Don't worry about salt under your vehicle ,chances are you will encounter rain on the trip home
and that will take care of any left over salt. Just dress right, use sun screen and have fun
and it will be the trip of a lifetime.

..................................... Jack

 

Pre Bonneville salt prep; jack up the vehicle and remove all four wheels. Add a dab of grease with your fingers to where the wheel meets the hub, and some on all the studs and nuts. Use a torque wrench to tighten them. If the car is clean on the underside, 3 M rattle can undercoater is a great product. When you get home, flush with water. I like a sprinkler for the grass. Remove the wheels again.
Out on the salt, bring a big summer umbrella. A pickup with a butt high tailgate is nice, but bring bath towels to sit on. The car wash behind the Chevron in town is good. Also, Smiths grocery at the west end of town is where to get nearly anything, and go down the hill past Smiths to another do it your self car wash. Be sure to go down the hill by the shell station to visit the airport museum, where the B29's practiced the A bomb drop. Be at the casino on the state line in the evening for the best free car show on the planet. Dont get excited, you need to do this more than once.

 

I had assumed The Salt was more isolated than it is. Wendover is only about 10 minutes away and they have almost anything you could forget.

 

The slush in the rust belt is snow & some salt.....the slush at Bonneville is all salt with enough water to make it moist. The salt damage to ALL vehicles and the hotel problems are the only bad things about Bonneville. That being said, you can't call yourself a Hot Rodder, until you have been there. The first 3 or 4 days are the best. Once you go, you will want to return, for sure.

 

I drove my pickup with truck camper from east coast to the salt in 2001. I reserved one night at the campground in town. Dumped my tanks there, filled with fresh water, and filled a water bladder that I carried on the cab roof under the camper overhang. (Used for car I was supporting). I was so glad I had my bicycle. The pits sprawl and the starting line was two miles from the pits that year. The salt packed under the fenders like frozen slush at home. A car wash in town had coin operated high pressure hoses. 25 cents for a few minutes. I spent over four dollars but got real clean. Boondocked at the bend. Recently heard that bend gets crazy. Go with recent reports. Sun screen extremely important!!! Under nose, under chin, ... And go to hotel in evening.

 

The salt is no worse than the mag water many states spray on the roads these days. BobK has 200K on his ragtop and has had it out there for many years, you gotta clean with low pressure and over the course of a couple days. I put 282K on my old pickup that made it out there 5 or 6 times and the only real rust came from a bad bedside replacement and water from nthe bed.

As for the bend, it has not been wild for many years, the BIA has cracked down HARD plus folks just like to hang out and bench race.

 

The USFRA site has a lot of good advise

 

Well, if guys back east are concerned about rust, I am sure it is a real concern. Yes, the calcium spray is a concern to us all, but such is life!

My son is excited, as I. Fortunately, my one big tractor show is a week later in August than normal, so it will probably good for my schedule this year.

Craig

 

You are correct that you buy entry at the end of the paved road. No reservations. You might want to check out the KOA in Wendover.

 

KOA is not available, all sold out. Looks like we'll be taking showers at the Pilot truck stop! (unless there is a creek nearby)

 

First weekend is busiest. Yes, just buy your daily or week passes when you get there. Can get almost anything you need in Wendover for food, drinks, other supplies. But suggestion for some bicycles is good. Pick up cheap ones in SLC at thrift store and then donate back at the end. Cheapest rent you will get. Pits are located at mile 3 to 4, along the long course. Along long course is also where you will spectate. Bring an ez-up or similar, folding chairs and cooler. It is not that bad for heat if not in direct sun, low humidity and temps are usually mid 90's daytime. can be breeze blowing, at times will be strong and secure your ez-up.

I drove my old COE out there for 6 years and just clean it off when you get home (see avatar pic is on the salt). Past 2 years had the 37 Chevy Ute, same thing. People get all worried about the salt, for shit's sake the old car is meant to be driven and have fun with. Just deal with the clean-up. You can spray some preventative, like oil or a product called salt-away. Wise to put some towels or other floor protection, you will be easier for interior clean-up than salt ground into carpet.

Bend in the road is way less roudy than past. They actually have port-o-lets there now! Camping is free, but first-come first served for locations. Bonneville Speedway is exit 4 on I-80 just into UT. Wendover is right at mile 0 at stateline. There is a Sinclair truck stop at exit 4 that has showers, closest to the bend in the road.

Nightly informal car show is at Nugget Casino, located right at the stateline.

Most of all, have fun and just be flexible. You will never forget it, and may just get salt fever for rest of your life!

 

Are there any swap meets in that part of the country during the week? My son is itching to take some inventory to sell

 

No swap meet associated with Speedweek.