Put a little salt in your diet...

[Bud English]

I just returned from Bonneville Speed Week at the Salt Flats in Utah.

I looked high and low but found no Loti. There were some British cars of note, however.

This is "Black Salt". The car holds the record for C/Blown Fuel Modified Sports @ 364.051 mph, with a 364 cu. in. Chevrolet motor.

This little 59.4 cu. in. mini is deceiving. It's from Richmond, New Zealand and just set a new record in I/ Blown Fuel Altered at 156.006 mph.

It doesn't take a big motor to go 200 mph. This Spitfire, running a Suzuki GSX1000cc motor, ran 200.061 mph, for a new record in H/Blown Fuel Modified Sports.

#1961, a Ford Coyote V8 powered, 1960, MG was having teething problems but had run 176.281 mph by the time I left. It was built in Derbyshire by Milner Off Road Racing. Absolutely beautiful car! The record in their class is 222.961 so they have a bit faster to go. EDIT: they came back on Thursday and ran 187.961.

Anyone want to start a new thread in the Mods section????

[Spyder fan]

Great photos and write up Bud!

I'd love to know what my Duratec Elan would do in a straight line over the salt flats. I reckon 150-160 as is, and maybe 180 + with a hard top and reworked head with high lift cams + engine map tweaked. Scary and expensive no doubt.

One of my favourite films is "The worlds fastest Indian". http://gb.imdb.com/title/tt0412080/ Well worth downloading or buying on DVD.

[Bud English]

It would be fun to see what your Elan would do, but it's really not just measuring top end speed, and gearing plays as big a part as weight and horsepower. It's a balancing act.

If you are running a sub two hundred mph car, you have to run on the short (three mile) course. Your times are recorded from one mile to two and from two to three, with your best speed used for your run. The car has to be quick as well as fast, if you know what I mean. It has to go from standing a standing start (on slippery salt) to as fast as it will go in three miles. If you can hit 175 mph at the 2-1/4 mile point of the short course you qualify to use the five mile course and will receive times between three and four and four and five, as well. The faster you go, the more distance you get to use to go even faster.

Blah, blah, blah. It still would be great fun to see how your Elan or maybe stevebroad's would perform.

[stevebroad]

AhHA!!

We planned to go in 2013 but my wife's mother was ill so we didn't go.

We went in 2014. Got there only to find that the event had been cancelled the previous evening due to waterlogged salt! A lot of people were caught out by this.

Last year it was cancelled, again due to rain.

We decided to try again this year, but the World Finals in September as flights were a lot cheaper. This also allows us to take in El Mirage as a reserve event.

I have been checking the weather and it looks OK at the moment. How was the salt?

Any advice for a first timer? We are booked in to a nearby hotel so that part is covered.

Steve

[Bud English]

Steve,
There is an ongoing effort to maintain the integrity of the salt flats by pumping brine into the area during the winter months. Last year just over 500,000 tons of salt were pumped onto the race area. This summer the salt was such that they were able to run three courses with five miles being the longest. The weather and salt conditions were almost perfect. There were a lot of pent up energies after no racing for the last two years and numerous records fell.

I know this is going to sound simplistic but bring a hat, sun screen and polarized sun glasses. It is brighter than you can possibly imagine. Dress in layers because you'll start your day in the low sixties and end it in the 90's, even in September.

This is the most inclusive motor sport event that you will ever attend. Your spectator's entry grants you access to almost every aspect of the event barring wandering out onto the track. You have total access to the pit area and the impound areas, take pictures and talk to the drivers and crew alike. Don't be surprised if you are standing back out of the way and get invited to come in closer for a better look or a better picture. Enjoy

Oh... and the salt gets everywhere. You'll still be finding it after you get home.

More good info here:
http://www.scta-bni.org/bonneville.html
http://nebula.wsimg.com/fb4da30220b7e88 ... oworigin=1

[stevebroad]

Thanks, Bud.

After three years of trying, fingers crossed.

Steve

[alan.barker]

Great photos and write up Bud!

I'd love to know what my Duratec Elan would do in a straight line over the salt flats. I reckon 150-160 as is, and maybe 180 + with a hard top and reworked head with high lift cams + engine map tweaked. Scary and expensive no doubt.

One of my favourite films is "The worlds fastest Indian". http://gb.imdb.com/title/tt0412080/ Well worth downloading or buying on DVD.

If you visit NZ it's on display in a Hardware shop in Invercargil, great visit great shop
Alan

[rgh0]

Great photos and write up Bud!

I'd love to know what my Duratec Elan would do in a straight line over the salt flats. I reckon 150-160 as is, and maybe 180 + with a hard top and reworked head with high lift cams + engine map tweaked. Scary and expensive no doubt.

One of my favourite films is "The worlds fastest Indian". http://gb.imdb.com/title/tt0412080/ Well worth downloading or buying on DVD.

If you visit NZ it's on display in a Hardware shop in Invercargil, great visit great shop
Alan

Only in NZ would you find it on display in a local hardware store !!!!!

totally fitting with the orginal spirit ... love it
cheers
Rohan

[prezoom]

What???? I fully expected it to be parked by a lemon tree......

[Spyder fan]

On a residential lot with a run down shed instead of a house!

This is the real "Burt" Munroe with his Indian


Must put Invercargil on the list of places to visit when we eventually go to NZ.

[Bud English]

...and unless it was topped this year, and yet unconfirmed, his 1967, 183.586 mph, record still stands in the 1000cc, S-F motorcycle class. Brilliant!

http://nebula.wsimg.com/3af91c9b4ddae14 ... oworigin=1

[nomad]

This is great stuff, Bud, and thanks for posting it.

On the subject of Burt Munro, I followed his exploits from year to year in the cycle magazines back in the 60's. At the time I was a hard core motorcyclist with a "Mum" from NZ. Quite a few relatives in NZ and the hardware store in Invercargill was tops on the list when we visited a couple of years ago. Recommend it to anyone getting down that way.

Nice to see one of his records still stand's!

Kurt.

[stevebroad]

Burt's records have been frozen, so they can't be beaten. IE, the particular class he ran in no longer exists.

I have just finished reading his biography, ONE GOOD RUN, the legend of Burt Munro by Tim Hanna. It pulls no punches but is a good read.

[stevebroad]

Bud, a question.

How far are the spectator parking areas from the pits?

Regards

Steve

[Bud English]

Steve, Your spectator pass gets you and your car through the gate and into the event area. Close in parking is never an issue. You park anywhere inside the tape barrier along the three racing courses (about a quarter mile from the actual timed courses). This includes parking right along the pits, inspection, and impound areas. Parking near the pits is the most popular, but people come and go all day long and there are always spots open within twenty five or thirty feet from the tape barrier. The tape barriers are there only to control vehicles. Park where you like outside the barriers. Step over and go where you like on foot.

To see it all , you may want to pack up and move during the day. The area you have parking access to is several miles long. You can come and go as you please from six in the morning to eight at night.