Went in '02 as a spectator. Salt bug bit hard. Back in '03 with car # 1050, yellow '50 FORD coupe. Raced 5 years. '08 no rooms! '09 back as a crew member for a friend. I'll be 71 when I return in '10. Don't miss Speed Week. It's as good as it gets. Been to El Mirage too - dusty and windy. Not a good combo.
One of my best expriences, checked it off my bucket list..My friend and I camped at the bend, it was OK till the wind came up and blew our tent down,(the third night)..A shower and a towel at the truck stop also good Mex. food..Went to the casinos for food, gambled and paid for the trip. We found a little hamberger place down a sideroad just before the Nugget.. The hambergers were great.. I'm going again, not sure when.. Duane..
The wife and our dogs and I went this year and camped in our rv at the bend.We had a blast and met a whole bunch of great people.the bend can get a bit load at night with amazing firework display,s some very good and some very lame lol.Watch out for the kids on 4 wheelers buzzing around and the salt gets every where.I sprayed the underside of my truck with wd40 every morning before heading out onto the salt and still had to wash it off when we got back to San Antonio 2 weeks later. You have to go at least once in your life !!!! See ya on the salt in 2010.
My roadster (see left) has been running at the salt since '58. It's still here. My Vega first went in '80. It's still here. I bought a new Dodge pickup to pull the cars around with in '92. I would like you to show me some rust on it. Before that i had a '77 Ford F100 I bought new for the same reason. At that time I would go two or three times a year to the USFRA meets. Lot of wet salt got on that truck. No rust on the body. Pretty tough getting bolts off the underside. You need to wash the underside and top side really good. If you are lazy you will get rust. Don't use a power washer. Do use Salt Away or something sprayed liberly on your underside before leaving. Check under the car often after getting back. It can and is done without ruining your car.
My 52 has been out there every year since 2004 with no problems. I use salt away before I leave for the salt, after I get back I do it again and then before I put it away for the winter I do it once more. It's cheap insurance, you will find no rust under my car at all. BB
Yep, what Rich and Bob said. I took Big Olds out on the Salt for the first time in 2003, you saw him in person in what 2007? How'd he look to you? I use the Salt Away product that BobK mentioned.
there are two casinos on the state line and the nugget is the one with all the happenings all night. Camping is way cool, I did it one year and our last night it rained (slept under a tarp while holding it so it didnt blow away). Have fun!
Bend in the Road "Motel". Stayed there for a night this year. It's free and close to the Salt. Careful, once you come, you'll never miss it again!
The Bend in the Road definitely. The car show starts before daylight and goes all day. The fireworks start at dusk. The meteor show was something else. Last year had live bands too. Haven't been there when it rains but have been told the camping area turns to snot. Rooms are least available the first weekend. Rates go down and availability goes up as the week progresses.
Been to Speedweek the last 2 yrs. Stayed at the Montego Bay both times. Burnt out on camping. Across the street is the Nugget. Got reservations in July, no problems. Drove out from Ohio in a rental. Go to the Bend to party and the casinos to gamble and cool down. Had a blast.
Bonneville is exit #4 on I-80 so it is not far to anything. The bend in the road is a blast, about 2 miles from I-80 exit. It is father to the track than to Wendover and the Casino's. You will have a ball, good fun and this year it was mostly cool (temp).
Being on the same continent is NOT too far for at least one trip in a lifetine to Bonneville! Even if I have to swim to the US then walk to Wendover I will be at Bonneville one day! Doc.
This year will be my first trip to the Salt. Me and my Babydoll will be making the trip in our freshly built 1927 T tub. All the way from Peoria,Il with no top on the tub and plenty of sunscreen.
Definately on my "To Do" list. My father in law has been there 6 times and always rubs it in my face when he goes!! He brings me back cool stuff though, like salt and shirts.....
ran various cars and continuously there since 1972. set a bunch of records of my own along with assisting or building engines for various others there. been pre occupied from about 2006 to get back.
Couple pics from the bend this year, good food and band for Salt Talks. I stayed in a tent this time, best to set it up before you start drinkin. Stake it down real well and try an tuck it in between a couple big rigs. Best place in the world!
If you wear shorts , make sure you completely cover your legs with sunscreen or the next day they will look like barber poles like mine did.
i gotta say this about the sunscreen thing: first time i went i took long white pants; longsleave white shirts; pith helmit etc.; etc. saw lots of folks dressed like they were at the beach. so the other two times i went i took "normal" missouri summer garb (shorts, tee shirts, sneakers, etc.). never burned at all. and i don't ever use sunscreen. what this all means to me is that since i don't normally burn in missouri i doubt i'll ever burn at bonneville. i bet if you have to use sunscreen in your hometown you better take some to the salt. and, oh-by-the-way; stay at the bend...
The Jalopy Journal
