I plan on taking my grandson to bonniville the week before he goes into the marines. I need an idea of the costs as I havent been in years. I am sure all of the rooms are gone so we plan to sleep in my Denali in the back. I hear there are showers at the truck stop or we can drive two hours to friends house in Layton Utah. I know its early but I need to plan ahead so aas to give him a great send off to the service. Cost of rooms if available and race entry? ( if they charge now) thanks Bear
It can cost as little or as much as you want it to. Camping at the bend in the road is free but rustic. under 10 bucks for a shower and the shower rooms are full private restrooms so there is a clean john to use. I paid 5 12 years ago but prices have probably gone up. Food costs are what you make of them and what you are happy eating. Some guys get by with cold cereal on the tailgate and some want ham and eggs in town, at the truck stop or at the "cafe" in the pits. Same with lunch and dinner. You didn't say how old your grandson is but for most kids under 12 or so it isn't going to be a lot of fun for more than a few hours then they will get bored. The best advise I can give anyone contemplating going to Bonneville is don't take anyone of any age along who gets bored easily or is a complainer. that can ruin the whole trip quicker than anything.
Its defientaly not early! When you say race entry do you mean entering a car to race or getting in the gate to watch? If you going to just watch you can buy a daily/weekly pass on the salt. (sorry im not sure of the price) If you are going to race a car the entry fee is $400 before May 15 and $600 after. Rooms can vary in price ($150 - $220) depending on the hotel. You might have a hard time finding a place this late in the game though.
Thanks my grandson is 18 going into the marines the next weekend I can survive on any type food again thanks for the info Bear
$5 breakfast at a casino in front of the KOA camp ground when I was there in 06. KOA not bad either at that time. Showers etc.
Take good shades with UV protection, sunscreen if you are a real whitey and maybe a hat to protect your scalp. The sun and the reflection off the salt will blind you while torching your skin. Take lots of water unless you enjoy paying salt flat prices for bulk walmart bottled water. Things like Salt peanuts and beef jerky can also be picked up at walmart and will hold you over till dinner if need be. Wondering around seems to make short work of lunch so pocket sized snacks really come in handy. And plan on taking at least several sets of camera batteries for each day you are out there. All the above can be picked up at walmart for less than $30 which is one H*ll of a lot cheaper than you will buy things on the salt. I like to spend evenings both in the pits and/or in Wendover as both will be alive and photo worthy. Many spectators tend to head back to Wendover during the evening to hang with the salt crowd under the neon lights, which again is very photo worthy. If you plan ahead you can save those hard earned $$ for the real necessities that you Will find on the salt, things like t shirts, decals and trinkets should be the items that you are prepared to buy on the salt. No need to waste money paying 3 or 5 times the price of walmarts bottled water when you could be spending it on a new t shirt or 2. Support the race teams by buying Their t shirts rather than buying from a vendor. jmho .
Can't wait. Riding the motorcycle from SC to salt flats in August. Camping at the KOA. Reservations already made and the nightly price was about $25.00. I booked early.
If I remember correctly last year it was $35 to enter the Salt for a week long pass. The button itself it a great momento. Bring a cooler and buy your bottled water, beverages, food, ice, etc at the local grocery store at the far west end of Wendover. Much cheaper then the smallerr stores around town. A week on the Salt cn be very inexpensive if you really want it to be.
If you don't drink alot of beer, want to go to bars, casinos, etc, at night, it is a pretty inexpensive deal. Last time I went, my main expense was gas..about $600. I had a pit pass to get in, camped at the bend and brought my own food and beer. We did a buffet at one casino for dinner, it made me sick. But it was about $10. Do like the others say and bring plenty of water, beer, whatever, food and batteries, budget out for souveneirs.. Thank your grandson for me for signing up to serve. Fewer kids do that these days. If I can go this year, I'll BBq you guys some dinner one night at the bend.
You can hang with the Vagabonds, we do stay up late but have lots of NA guys that do not drink. We always have good food and will be camping at teh bend in the road. Does your kid like strippers? PM me if you have questions
Active Duty service members get in to Speed Week for FREE! In fact, the SCTA will treat any ADSM out to lunch at the Red Flame as well. Just their way of saying thanks. Shoot me a private message and I'll give you my phone number and you can call me any time about this and I'll make sure your grandson gets taken care of. PS STAY AWAY FROM THE STRIPPERS!
LOL... If you want to test the waters, just go to Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart greeters by day, strippers by night. All members of AARP. We'll be there Fri/Sat opening weekend. CAN'T WAIT!!! See you there.
Thanks guys told him about the post he is stked to be going have raced before a few years ago but this time it is for him for a good send off T-Man will contact you by the way love the black hills have friends in boxelder that we stay at for sturgis bring a big ice chest and looking foward to camping at the bend and meeting everyone and maybe some cookies???????? Bear
Bear,what a great send off for your Grandson!Thank him for me for his service to the country.I know you both will have a great time.Enjoy the time with him at B-VILLE.
57 posts on the HAMB and you're asking about cookies??? Come to the meet & greet, introduce yourself and your grandson and we'll owrk something out.
Hey bear39.. Adopt me I need a grandfather like you...Really I think that is a great idea..He will remember that trip for the rest of his life....
I have been around this board for a few years dont post much read alot about your famous cookies knowing you usually make the trip to b-ville figured I would try to get in line for a taste of a cookie
We need to schedule the meet and greet for a time that I can actually make it. I want some cookies too.