Event Coverage Bonneville ... a salt virgin

<o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com<img src=" images="" smilies="" redface.gif="" border="0" alt="" title="Embarrassment" smilieid="2" class="inlineimg"></o:smarttagtype> Photos: http://s251.photobucket.com/albums/gg287/kiwiboy_01/Bonneville 09/?albumview=slideshow

Part1

Ryan and others have put into words better than I their first experiences visiting the speed <st1:city><st1>Mecca</st1></st1:city> know as Bonneville. This thread is more a personal perspective about the people, their conveyances and the atmosphere that makes this place unique togeather with some photos. Growing up in NZ we are told the stories of the Campbells, John Cobb, Craig Breedlove, Thompson and many others including our own Burt Munro. It’s a long way from there when other priorities in life take precedence, having lived in US for 10 years I was asked to go by my friend Randy, I had run out of excuses such as no dinero, no vacation time, too busy and it became the head of the list. The question now after coming back is, WHY did I wait so long?<o></o>
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I flew up on Friday and enjoyed the vagaries of American airlines travel included a broken plane, a different terminal, a new plane that required fixing via disembarkment due to cabin overheating. Finally SLC, 4 hours late, to be picked up by my buddy Randy (Randaddy) and off on the trip to Andover using Garmina the SatNav which tried to tell us to get off the highway all the time, gotta love technology.<o></o><o></o>
Book into the Montego Bay Hotel, the usual booking mix-up and the experience of the most ghastly, scary décor I’ve ever seen. We meet up with Rick Finch late and he called it “…..damn, looks like a neon factory explosion” We eat and talked with Rick until late, up at 5:00 AM, cause you have to be on the salt early. It was like driving from hell (Wendover) to the moon, in the early light my mind keep saying it was snow, but the temperature and the taste belied that, unbelievable.
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Last night Rick said find a team and get some pit passes, so at <st1:time minute="15" hour="6">6:15 AM</st1:time> we drive past the apocalyptic refugee camp know as “the bend” and soon are hanging in line at the SCTA caravan with competitors. You find out fast these are the best of people, the bikers where most cool, maybe because that what it takes to ride on the salt. We were talking about what it takes race a bike at 250 mph on salt, one competitor says “ you have to cut the string”, us “what string”, him “ the one from the throttle to your left nut” ha ha so right.

A few of the slower bike types, but cool in their own right



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Part 2

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The start line is so cool, probably my favorite place…they line up in a half circle, willing to chat about their vehicles, in the background you hear the staccato of race engines warming up while others start on the longest of race tracks. The vehicles get pushed; they catch a gear hopefully high enough on the cam to not bog down or foul the plugs, then the crank it out to speed. To hear a car change into gear (maybe 2^nd) at 175 mph and accelerating, winding that motor out is a sound you will not forget.













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Part 3

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One of the amusing sideshows is watching the various conveyances go by, the myriad of vehicle type that people used to view, tow, get to, cruise and speed to somewhere, was truly amazing.








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Malcolm

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Just checked out the slide show. Great pic's, thanks Kiwiboy.

 

Part 4 - Just pics

 

Part 5

<link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CHP_ADM%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C05%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Calibri; mso-font-alt:"Century Gothic"; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1073750139 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:10.0pt; margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";} p.NoSpacing, li.NoSpacing, div.NoSpacing {mso-style-name:"No Spacing"; mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;} </style> <![endif]--> Bonneville to me was about freedom, freedom of an ethereal unique open area, freedom to see, touch and view cars (try doing that at an NHRA or FIA event) and see those people of all backgrounds, countries and race car types, just hanging out because it&#8217;s Speed Week &#8230;..that word again, unbelievable.<o></o>
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Yes, being a spectator was fun, one day &#8230;. in a crew with a vehicle, maybe driving, who knows &#8230;I&#8217;m allowed to dream because I have been bitten by the salt.


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Very cool post Kevin, the pictures are great, your story uplifting.

 

Cheers Kev, Fantastic photos. Thanks for sharing!

 

Kevin, man, you are killin' me. Now I've GOT to go!!!

Pete

 

Great stuff. Thank you for posting. Now, I gotta ask why "a little reluctantly" on the move to the 2-mile marker? Did you want to hang out at the start?

 

Kevin...MY MAN, that was frigging awesome! Kiwis are a reserved lot indeed.........you've been holding out on us bro.

 

Very nice pics !! Thanks man >>>>.

 

This pic does for me. Don't know exactly why, maybe the angle, focal length, etc.... regardless, it's a classic and says everything there is to say about land speed racing. For me, anyway...

Great pics and a very neat story. I especially like your accurate description of The Montego Bay

Rich

 

Everywhere you go is great, moving somewhere is like ....will something cool happen when I go, will the place I go be better than here... It's good everywhere & always lot's to see & hear.

 

Thanks for the beautiful pictures and your stories really make it engaging. Excellent work.
Al

 

Just how I remember it............... Except the Montego Bay Resort looks like a neon factory exploded inside. The Nugget is no better!

 

I was cool to meet ya on the Salt. OFC compound was a perfect place to cool your jets.

 

Thanks Phil, nice to meet you too, it was fun & the OFC pavilion (thanks Rany) was just another component of a perfect trip. Next year ........

 

Awesome coverage!

 

Great pics,its on my list too do..

 

The Nugget was down right subdued compared to Montego Bay!!

Great coverage Kevin. nice to meet you at the OFC's little piece of the salt!

 

Great stuff, Thanks for sharing your story and photos. Slim

 

Beautiful photos! Thank you!

 

Thanks for the kind comments Andy, I was really nice to meet you as well. And yes the Montego Bay was like a bad nightmare, insane dacor.....anyway, viva la OFC - Kevin

 

Good writeup. And totally agreed on the Montego Bay...I dubbed it "Seizures Palace"

We stayed at the Rainbow...just as bad, if not worse.

 

Cool pics - even better write up - 'the apocalyptic refugee camp.."
Love it! I was an apocalyptc refugee last year, hope to do it again in 2010.
I'm sure I'll see you there, sounds like you're hooked!
Cheers from another ex pat Kiwi
CraigR