Bonneville movies????

Does anyone have any Bonneville movies, old or new, that they would be willing to copy or sell to me? I've looked at the book stores that should have them but no luck. However, I did find "Bullitt" today with Steve McQueen. Its a great old movie that I haven't seen in forever and I'm fixing to pop it in and enjoy it this evening. But if you're willing to help me out just let me know and we can work out a deal. Thank you in advance, Aman.

 

@Aman -

I'd recommend that you purchase the following "Bonneville movies" ...
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1)

"A Gullwing At Twilight"

A documentary film about 87 year old John Fitch driving Bob Sirna's (Lynn Yakel prepared) 1955 Mercedes Benz 300SL Gullwing @ Bonneville.

Here's a clip about the making of the film:

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2)

"Boys of Bonneville: Racing on a Ribbon of Salt"

A documentary film about an America that has all but disappeared, when lucrative business deals were cemented by a handshake and state of the art automobiles were designed on the backs of envelopes. It tells the story of an unsung hero and self-made man, David Abbott Jenkins, who, with almost superhuman stamina and boyish charm, set out to single-handedly break every existing land speed record on his beloved Bonneville Salt Flats of Utah. More than a century later, many of Ab's records remain unbroken and the legacy lives on in his custom car. Looking like something Batman would have owned, the story comes full circle when Ab's son Marv, restores the 12-cylinder, 4800-pound "Mormon Meteor" to its glory days for a ceremonial lap on the salt.

Here's a preview:

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3)

"The World's Fastest Indian"

The life story of New Zealander Burt Munro, who spent years building a 1920 Indian motorcycle -- a bike which helped him set the land-speed world record at Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats in 1967.

Here's the theatrical trailer:

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The Worlds Fastest Indian is a great flick

 

Great reply...thanks for sharing!!

 

Don Tuttle, the late announcer at Santa Ana, made about 4 movies some years ago, mostly about drag racing at Santa Ana, Colton, Pomona, etc...but he had one called "potpourri" that had lots of dry lakes and Bonneville stuff from years ago...forgot who I bought them from (DVDs at the time), but someone may have more details about whether they are still available...

 

Vern Tardell was listed as a "Car Wrangler" in the credits of "The Worlds Fastest Indian".

 

I saw one on the Discover channel about speed week but was never able to find it for sale. I'd sure like to own it....

 

Quite a few Hollywood movies scenes were filmed on location at the Bonneville Salt Flats and/or the Wendover Airport ... including ...
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1)

"Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End"

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2)

"Wind"

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3)

"Independence Day"

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Let's not talk about Independence Day - the crew absolutely trashed the place when they were done shooting. BLM never gigged 'em for not cleaning up - shredded plywood and sheet metal everywhere. The setup crews for Speedweek had to pick it all up.

Also, tons of car commercials are shot there and on the road leading out to the salt.

 

Don't dick around searching and hunting. Go to landspeedracing video.com They have everything you need in the line of Bonneville and El Mirage. If you want the old stuff order a copy of "Good Old Days". Its a 2 DVD set of Bob Higbeee's (Bonneville and El Mirage starter for over 50 years) home movies from the 50s, 60s, and some 70s. It silent but you won't find any better for vintage Bonneville.

 

Wow, thanks guys!! I got a much better response on this thread than I ever thought I would. Bonneville is a special place in American auto racing much like Indy and Daytona both of which have been added to my "bucket list". Life is short and you need to make the best of it. Get off the couch and make some plans for tomorrow because before you know it tomorrow will be yesterday.

 

How about our very own Brian Darwas' "Road to Bonneville"?
Really enjoyed this documentation.

 

Yep ... over the years, dozens of automobile (& other product) commercials have been shot @ B'ville ... including these within the last year:

• BRIDGESTONE Tires "Steer It Up" Ad:

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• BREITLING Watches "Too Late Baby" Ad:

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• ABSOLUT Vodka "Absolut Greyhound" Ad (featuring Diana Branch's Deuce Tudor):

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• AUDI Automobiles "Sharper Drive" Ad:

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2nd that.

 

The Absolut commercial was not filmed at Bonneville. It was shot at Bristol Dry Lake in Amboy Ca.

Thanks for the mention though!

 

I like "Bonneville Wide Open" available at www.bonnevillewideopen.com last I heard. Of course I am in it. Maybe that is why I like it. But other people have told me they liked it. They werew in it to.

 

Rich. I have and watch it often. And I'm not in it.
How's that for an independent endorsement.

 

@Tom Branch -

Thanks for the clarification ... just goes to show that one should never believe what they read on the Internet ... not even on the HAMB!

I should have known better considering I couldn't identify where on the Bonneville salt flats the footage was shot (the mountain ranges in the distance didn't look familiar to me) ... but figured they (the mountains) were just CGI added/modified during post-production (ala the "robotic greyhounds").

 

Just a bump of an old thread ... with some historic footage shot on the Bonneville salt flats:

• Pennzoil At Bonneville Salt Flats (1932):

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• Ab Jenkins Drives Auburn at Bonneville Salt Flats:

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• Hot Rods at Bonneville Salt Flats:

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• Setting up at Bonneville:

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• Racing at Bonneville:

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• Bonneville Speed Trials 1950s:

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• MG Speed Trials at Bonneville Salt Flats (1956):

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• Mickey Thompson Breaks 400 MPH Speed Barrirer:

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• 1963 - Studebaker Test Runs at Bonneville Salt Flats:

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• Mobil Film Bonneville Salt Flats:

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... and a few more recent (& a bit O/T) videos, TV programs & Ads filmed on the salt:

• PETROLICIOUS - "Mercedes 300SL Gullwing at Bonneville Gives Us Salt Fever":

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• AUTOFOCUS (Canada) - "Bonneville Salt Flats: Automotive heaven":

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• GREAT CARS TV - "Bonneville's 200 MPH Club":

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• TOP GEAR (BBC) - "USA Muscle Car Road Trip Part 3: Bonneville Salt Flats":

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• MOTOR TREND (The Downshift Episode 13) - "Bonneville: The Great American Playground":

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I had to watch the Motor Trend one again to see many friends including Goggles! Sad I will not be there for Speedweek.

 

Welcome back my friends to the show that never ends......

 

Ive got so many butterflies in my stomach by watching all those videos,
If they dont give you an excited feeling then take up knitting or talk to goldfish,
One day ill go, bloody oneday.
Heres hoping more people can move things with the athorities to save bonneville salt flats.

 

ZZ Top's video; "I Gotsta Get Paid" (although it may have been filmed at El Mirage, not Bonneville):

 

The ZZ Top video is not shot at Bonneville. Probably El Mirage since it is dirt and not salt.

 

You're right. Guess I wasn't really focused on the ground...