Bonneville speedweek 2013 questions.

My dad and I are wanting to go to Bonneville for speedweek this year, which will be a first for both of us. Found a hotel that has some availability for different lengths of stays. We are thinking of arriving Sunday and leaving either Thursday or Friday.

To the guys that have been many times before:

1. When do you normally arrive and how many nights do you stay?
2. Is there racing going on all day everyday?
3. Do we have to be there when it starts?
4. When do the events start winding down for the week? Do events run full out till closing on the last day?

I'm sure we won't be disappointed with whatever we decide to do, but I don't want to get in too late and miss seeing great cars run, etc. and leave too early wishing we would have stayed longer.

Thanks,
David

 

Best to be there starting day (Friday). Most of the "big" teams don't run til mon.-tues, they let the " door busters" break or blow up. Everything kinda winding down after Wednesday.By Friday it's about over.You'll love it!

 

go here:

www.landracing.com

1: Friday, camp 4 or 5 nights, depending.
2: Yes.
3: Only if you want a good seat.
4: I don't know, never stayed all week.

Big hat, gallons of sunscreen and water. Be prepared for roasting heat, high winds, rain and lightning.

I'm sure some others will chime in. There is always something going on. You will never see everything, it's too big.

 

I'll be racing so I plan to arrive on Friday. Racing starts Sat. Generally everyone wants to run Saturday. So the lines to run are usually long. Sunday much the same. After that the lines to run tend not to be as long (Maybe the racers get some sense). There is racing all day right up to the close although the number of vehicles dwindle as the week goes on. You don't have to there when it starts. Its one of those events where you can come and go as you please. There is always something going on. And if you get tired of looking at cars and bikes going fast you can spend some time in the pits and see what it takes to make speed.

One thing is certain. You won't be disappointed and watch out for the salt bug. Once bitten you will return.

 

do a long search here - lots of info posted

 

This helps, I didnt want to get in after all the big teams ran, and miss the big mph record runs.

I hear this alot, that could be a good thing or a bad thing.

 

What time do runs start everyday?

Is there a schedule of runs or is it whoever is in line goes?

 

It all depends on the size of your bank account.

There is no schedule of runs. Vehicles just head out to the start and run. SpeedWeek has four courses. The long course is five miles and is for the Hot Dogs. You have to be able to run over 175 to run the long course. There is also a combo long/short course and for the bottom feeders a three mile short course. Also there is a two mile short course for rookie runs and tuning. It usually will close by Tuesday.

 

Things start really happening on Friday night at the Stateline Casino/hotel. that's the first night for the cruise in. That usually last for a few nights. By sunday night it's dwindled down a bit. Racing goes on all day until around 5:00 P.M. I believe. You're free to come and go as you please. Run into town for a bite, or definitly stop off at the Air Force Base below the city, and see where the Enola Gay trained. Also there is the cargo plane from "Con-Air" on display there and you can walk right into it. I've never stayed more than a few days. The party scene starts to run it's course by Wednesday, and mostly the true die-hards stay beyond that. Some Hot
Rodders are there for just the first weekend, so the sooner you can get there the better. Even if you arrive later, you'll still have a life changing experience. The FIRST thing every newbie says when they set foot on the salt for the first time is, "Why did I wait so long?"

 

So what you guys are saying, is that sunday to thursday is plenty of time and we wont be dissapointed.

 

Hotel rates for the weekend, including Sun and Monday are high. After that the tourists leave and the rates are better.

We arrive on Fri to get a pit spot and go thru inspection. On Sat morning is the driver's meeting. When that's over they open the courses to common vehicles for a ride down the track, everyone is welcome to do this, it seems.

We run as many times as we can starting Sat. The big names, like Poteet & Main and other streamliners may not run until they think conditions are right for them. Weather and track conditions.

You will not run out of things to see. Wandering the pits where there are 500+ race vehicles under preparation and repair can take you a while (days). Watching cars that qualified for records getting prepared in Impound is interesting. Watching the cars in tech inspection is also interesting.

The weather is not as bad as everyone says. It's hot, but no humidity. It's better than being in NJ in Aug. Probably better than IN, too.

Gate at the end of the road opens up for racers and fans about 6 AM. In the dark. Breakfast at the open air Red Flame in the dark is nice. Racing starts about 7:30-8:00 Am from Sunday on. Record returns are the first to go.

Frank

 

What about taking bikes/mini bikes for transportation? How big of an area is it, to walk from, starting line/watching runs and going back to truck or walking through the pits?

 

Its about three miles from the pits to the start line of the long course. Another mile or so depending on where they set up to the short course. Transport is a necessity. The pits are about 1/4 mile wide and a couple of miles long. As far as I can remember you need a pass to get in the pits but there are ways to sneak in.

 

How do you get the passes for the pits? I have been seeing some stuff on daily/weekly spectator passes. Anybody know how much those are? How much are the passes for the pits?

 

Do you have to be with a racer to get a pit pass or can you just buy one like at the drags?

 

I went last year for the first time. If/when I go next I'll go Thursday to Wednesday.

I didn't get a pit pass; it's not heavily policed, i wandered where I wanted to looking at some of the awesome cars parked up and found myself in the pits 'by accident'. There is only one point where they slow you for passes but by scooting around it I got down to the pits. If i had've found somewhere to buy a pitpass I would've, but no one seemed phased. People are friendly just dont get in the way and respect the fact they're there to do stuff.

A pop-up shade for a base would be ideal (we had an RV) and pitbikes/bicycles are definitely recommended. Take water and an ice-bin, sunscreen, another ice-bin and water. Head to the Casinos on the Friday Night.
If you can afford a hotel do it, just get up early one day for a sunrise on the salt; is amazing, but otherwise the days are long and hot, so a casual start doesn't hurt if you're just a spectator.

 

I think the pit pass talked about is the vehicle pass to drive thru the pits. Spectators seem to be encouraged to park and walk thru the pits. If you want to get out to the far reaches of the pit area, you can drive outside the pits to the west and park anywhere along the fence and walk into the pit areas. I think the wrist bands for us racers are only for ID at the starting line when they need to clear out the lookie-loos.

 

I should have said that the it pass is more a vehicle pass to get into the pits. They are for racers and pit crew vehicles. When I send in my entry I sometimes add a few names to the crew for friends who want a pass. But as has been said you can drive to the east end of the pits and kind of slip in. 5 mph in the pits. Follow that rule and no one will notice you. alternatively you can drive along the pit boundary and park and walk in. then drive a bit farther and do the same. The pits aren't as wide as they are long.

 

Just go, you'll figure it out.

And, no - there are no grandstands.

 

Agreed

 

Things I learned. Join the SCTA to get your entry passes. Do not buy the program book they sell as you enter because that will be mailed to you later because of your membership. If you get there on Sunday, you will miss the big car show turn outs at the Nugget on Friday and Saturday nights. There will still be some cars there in the evenings, just not as many. Monster girls and their freebee tent leave on Monday. Took my Cushman and putted around all over the pits and it was great. Plan on going to the air base museum one afternoon for something different. Long sleeves, sun screen, no shorts. Just a few things off the top of my head. Wish I was going again this year.

 

Something nobody mentioned. Its 40 bucks to get in, good for all week. You get a badge, wear it on your hat and have it with you. That is your pass to go almost anywhere. For most of us, it will be a life changing trip.

 

Recently tried to get a room. Jumped thru all the hoops the motels put up and still never landed a room. Guess we'll stay home this year???

 

Last year on the SCTA website a Wendover resident posted that they had a basement bedroom available. Sounded like a smokin' deal at only $75 per night given what how the casinos gouge during Speedweek. So, you might check over there, sometimes things pop up.

Another thing to consider is going to the later event in September or October, can't remember. I've never been but the rooms are supposed to be a lot cheaper then but I guess the turn out is smaller.

 

Thanks for all the replies guys. An to clarify, we are going just as spectators.


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Gas Pumper mentioned, you may have missed it. On Sat. following the driver's meeting at the start line everyone is encouraged to drive down the long course. It could be the hook that will make you a life long friend of the salt.

Check on www.landracing.com, they will have a thread relating to rooms, etc available from those who had last minute cancellations.

Have fun, come meet me in Impound and I will give you the down low,

DW

 

So anyone including spectators can drive their car down the course at that time?


Posted from the TJJ App for iPhone & iPad

 

40 bucks for the pass. Do you buy that ahead of time? Or get it at the gate?


Posted from the TJJ App for iPhone & iPad

 

Yep, it got pretty bad with all the posers cruising the pits in the past few years and adding to the congestion. Park and walk or ride a bicycle or pit bike.

Take a good supply of water and or some sort of Gatorade type drink even if you are a guy who can't go to a car event without his beer. Staying hydrated is an issue on the salt.

They don't want pegs or stakes driven into the salt surface so what ever shade you take needs to be free standing. If it's only a couple of guys going I'd suggest getting a beach umbrella and rigging a weighted stand that you can set out beside your folding chair so it's easy to close up if you get up and go off to look at things and it's easy to pack up when you decide to move to a different viewing spot. Most guys move to different spots to watch during the day so they can watch the activity at the starting line and then watch the cars go by at high speeds when they are down the course at the 2, 3 or 5 mile marks. You are a long ways from the course at those viewing spots so take a camera with a long lens and take some binoculars that you can watch the cars with. A portable AM/FM radio and the old CB radio are both good to have to be able to listen to what is going on too. I highly suggest having both be portable with their own power supplies so you don't drain the battery in your vehicle you are driving.

 

Buy the 70 dollar BNI membership. That gets you a pass for the week, an event poster, and the event program.

We show up on Wed so we are ready for tech Thursday. For a spectator Thursday and Friday can be fun since you can get up close and personal with the teams and cars. Just use respect in the pits of tech areas, stay out of the way and ASK if you can look. Most teams, not all will answer any of your questions. In fact, that is my job on the team as well as strapping Tim in. You will see if a pit is in a thrash and you need to steer clear.