Anyone ever shot at Bonneville?

I am planning out an epic car guy road trip, with the middle of it being at Bonneville (driving through Reno for Hot August Nights and driving back through Monterey for the vintage weekend there hopefully).

I was jsut wondering if anyone had shot there, spent time there, anything there. I have no real idea of what to expect other than salt and the cars being very very far away.

chopperdave wrote in post #12684791
I am planning out an epic car guy road trip, with the middle of it being at Bonneville (driving through Reno for Hot August Nights and driving back through Monterey for the vintage weekend there hopefully).

I was jsut wondering if anyone had shot there, spent time there, anything there. I have no real idea of what to expect other than salt and the cars being very very far away.

Bonneville Speed Week is a life-changing experience, I was lucky enough to go two years ago. It is in the middle of nowhere, the nearest town is Wendover which is in both Utah and Nevada, so you need to book a hotel room before you get there. Alternatively camping is tolerated on Salt Flats Road off I 80, but follow the rules and take advice from the regulars. I suggest that you devour the information contained here:

http://www.scta-bni.org/

You can see some of what I posted here, here, here and here

OK enough of history, just go and have a great time.

One thing to remember, clean the car inside and out to get rid of all traces of salt...............oth​erwise it could really cost you.

Stick up some pictures on your return.

Take some serious sun block, a good hat and sunglasses.

Another suggestion, go along to the airbase at Wendover, the locals are trying to restore it. It was the training location for the crew of Enola Gay, who went on to drop the Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima. If I recall correctly the Control Tower dates back to that time. It is all very cool.

Awesome, thanks so much. It should be a good time. A friend of mine and I are meeting out there (he is coming from the east, me from the west) and we will probably be camping at least part of the time on the land they let you use. There is supposed to be a truck stop near there with pay showers so it should work out ok, haha.

Thanks for the info on the airfield, we will have to check that out. I think i am going to be out there for about 3 days, so having a little extra to do will be great.

It will be quite the culture shock leaving that event and driving directly to Pebble Beach Concourse de Elegance but man, its gonna be a hell of a time. AND somehow I got the most perfect URL for my blog about it.

http://www.awesomeroad​trip.com/

haha!

Nice stuff, and on Speedhunters, super cool. =)

And I am planning on maybe even coating the underside of my car in Pam or something, heard some people do that, haha.

chopperdave wrote in post #12745406
Awesome, thanks so much. It should be a good time. A friend of mine and I are meeting out there (he is coming from the east, me from the west) and we will probably be camping at least part of the time on the land they let you use. There is supposed to be a truck stop near there with pay showers so it should work out ok, haha.

Thanks for the info on the airfield, we will have to check that out. I think i am going to be out there for about 3 days, so having a little extra to do will be great.

It will be quite the culture shock leaving that event and driving directly to Pebble Beach Concourse de Elegance but man, its gonna be a hell of a time. AND somehow I got the most perfect URL for my blog about it.

http://www.awesomeroad​trip.com/

haha!

Nice stuff, and on Speedhunters, super cool. =)

And I am planning on maybe even coating the underside of my car in Pam or something, heard some people do that, haha.

To say that I am jealous would be an understatement, but I must not be greedy...........other​s must also experience the magic of Bonneville.

If my memory does not play tricks, there is a truck stop at the entrance to Salt Flats, it is around that area that camping is allowed. Take plenty of refreshment, the salt might make you thirsty. If the car is yours take all precautions against the corrosive salt.

I met a few folks that year at Bonneville, even shared my birthday with them in one of the Nevada casinos. I hooked up with one Aussie, Paul Stubber, recently as he was competing in the Nurburgring 24 Hours. You will make friends in the desert.

Speaking of the casinos, go into Wendover and have a look at the cars on display outside on Main Street, they are worth the journey. The whole place and event sums up why the USA ruled the 20th Century.

Thanks, I can't stop thinking about the trip all day at work. haha. I don't know how I am gonna do it, but I am!

SpeedHunter - Speed Weed 2009 - we must have seen each other. I think your pics are better than mine, but I'm willing to share my so-so stuff.

http://flatheaddrag.co​m/bonneville_2009.html

chopperdave, you will love it! Use plenty of sunscreen (and keep it out of your eyes) and a broad-brimmed hat. I sure hope I get out there again some day. As far as photography goes, it is very strange to have that much white around. The light is quite strange. The place to be is by the starting line(s) and in the pits. Of course, there aren't too many other places. The pits are several miles long and can wear you out if you are on foot, which of course I was.

The camping place is called The Bend in the Road. I don't know if that is an official name or just what folks call it. We didn't stay there, but I think it's an always room for one more kind of deal.

Wendover is interesting. There is a museum at the old Army Air Base where the training took place for the first atomic bomb mission and was home base for Enola Gay, if I recall correctly. And SpeedHunter is right about the casino. Well, no need for us to tell you about it. Just go out and have a good time.

This will be my 12 year at Bonneville. Camping out is the cheapest way to do it. Hotels jack up the rates on their room to 200-300 dollars a night for speedweek. Don't use the showers at the Salt Flats Cafe truck stop. First they are ****ty filthy and there will be a LONG line of other camper all wanting to do the same thing at the same time. Drive into town about 5 miles away and use one of the newer truck stop showers, much, much cleaner.


If you want to get decent sleep don't stay at the bend in the road, camp a mile or so away. Too many drunks that stay up all hours of the night carrying on. I like to get up at 4:30 am before the sunrise and get in line with some of the first cars to photograph the racers in the impound lot as they work on their rides to make record return runs. The return runs usually start somewhere around 6:30-7:00 am.


Predawn hours....nothing like it in the world. Watching a sunrise on the salt is epic!

Hey, thanks! amazing shots. Yeah I dunno where I am gonna stay since a chunk of the bend is off limits now.

How do you get around out there? I was thinking about bringing something but i am not sure what is good for getting around on the salt having never been there.