The 61st Bonneville Speed Week…but My First Visit
August 17, 2009 by GreaseGirl
Salt Flat Recap:
Story by my Dad, Greg Martin, who I was lucky enough to spend speed week with!
I’ve never seen such a group as these speed freak, salt flat hot rodders. I do believe they would all agree with Mark Twain’s adage, “Let us so live that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry.”
My first impression after riding my bicycle down the three-mile-long pits was that maybe I had stumbled upon a movie set for yet another Mad Max movie. I fully expected to see Mel (Max Rockatansky) Gibson or Tina (Aunty Entity) Turner come screaming down the pits followed by a cackle of hyenaish groupies. Oh, well it must have been the immediate effects of the blazing reflections off the salt – the old timers told me to make sure you put plenty of sunblock on the bottom of my chin and nose.
I was amazed by the diversity of cars and syckles that ranged from the do it yourself bring what ya got to the high-tech, hyper-slick long blown fuel streamliners with a million secrets beneath their perfect skin.
The best spot to see the action is definitely the starting line. Bonneville has three courses: a three mile for rookies and 
those not expected to exceed 175 mph top speed. The five mile is a must if you are going to attempt to gain entry into the prestigious 200 Mile Per Hour Club. And if you are driving something nasty enough to really get scootin’ they have an eight mile course that runs along the mile long spectator area, the pits and beyond. They say that if you make a wrong turn at the end of your run on the middle track you can get lost because you are surrounded by nothing but an ocean salt and there is no way to gain a sense of direction.
So, the best spot to see the action is the starting line (did I say that already), cause you cannot get any closer to a car going down the track than about a quarter of a mile away at the end of the pits.
A lot of cars are geared so high that even with well over 500 foot pounds of torque it is not enough to start rolling down the track without a push. Once they get going fast enough to put their foot in it, screamin’ is the only word I can come up with to describe the feeling of watching a mobile invention that may go over 400 miles per hour away from you.
I did run into one grump but everyone else I meet at Speed Week seemed happy to be there and anxious to get to know you.
With no salt under my finger nails yet, I was drawn-in more by non-technical aspects of this sport. Like the fun you can have naming your car and team when you don’t have some big sponsor paying all the bills. The result is entries like the So What Speed Shop, Larry Old Volks Home, Low Sodium, Fine Art Racing, Never Paid For Racing, Loose Screw Racing, Saltbiscuit and of course Old Men Can Fly 2.
I did notice a lot of gang activity which was surprising – you had The Fat Boyz, The Barbee Boys and Fuzzy Logic for California, the Prairie Drifters and the Salt Dogs from Wisconsin, from Washington it was the Hudson Boys and the Nobody’s. Then there were the loners like Seldom Seen Slim, The Avanti Kid, Evil Tweety, Bone Evil and cousins Bonneville Bob and Bonneville Bobber.
And so my two days at the 61st Bonneville Speed Week were far too short of a week and more fun than most of the things I’ve done in 
two days. It did get me think’n though –that Nissan Versa I’ve been dreaming about with 24s and a chopped top – suppose it turned into my entry in next year’s Speed Week. I’ve always thought I would call it the “Dinky Donk” but perhaps I would have to call it “Ain’t Nobody’s Business”. After all, if you don’t have the right name it won’t go as fast.
We’re anxious to hear your impressions from Bonneville too. Feel free to leave a comment.
Don’t miss a thing from 2010 Bonneville Speed Week:
Bonneville Speed Week 2010 – First Look
Bonneville Salt Flats Pictures linked below:
The people and drivers from Bonneville Speedweek 2009 Picture Gallery
Nuggest Casino Car Show Bonneville Speedweek 2009 Picture Gallery
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Great stuff Greg. GreaserGreg? That should be your screen name. :) It was great to meet you and GreaseGirl for the first time. I dig your writing and pics. I really hope you have more to share. Sign this guy up Pikesan! Anyway, I already can’t wait until Speedweek 2010. See you on the Salt GreaserGreg!
Chris
Greasegirl.. I liked your story. I am not a :real” car/hot rod fan, I’m Pikesan Mom. Therefore I read MyRideIs Me everyday. I was glad to see your story. As I have heard about both you and Chris. Both of you do a GREAT job.
mamasan
Thanks Mamasan! That’s good reason to read MyRideIsMe! Who knows…maybe that son of yours will get ya behind the wheel one of these days :)
Greaser Girl – Great Story!!!!
I really liked the way you described the scene from a first time visitors perspective.
Like Mamasan I’m not a car guy. I’m a communitee guy. Consequently I enjoy hearing, reading and seeing what it is like when a group of Like Minded individuals get together and share what they are passionate about.
You hit on some great topics like sharing the time with your Dad, How other families make it an event for everyone and really liked the Photo’s.
Hi: I just tumbled onto your site while looking up Speed Week. Last year was my 1st time as well. You have described it a lot better than I ever could have, but we do have 1 thing in common – I will be there this summer! I had been in Reno for Hot August Nights and found out at the last min. that a friend had a car going to the famous Bonneville Salt Flats. It was a Streamliner, going to try for a diesel speed record. Unfortunately it overheated and there was not enough time for a repeat so he is planning (hopefully) to try again in 2010. Something all young men dream about. He said “be there”, I said I would try. I had to stay in Salt Lake but the 200 mile return trip was worth it. It was way better than I had ever imagined and I wish I had gone sooner, but now I know and will return. Great pioctures and terrific writing. Maybe I will see you this summer. Best wishes, Del (all the way from Vancouver, BC)
Right on Del. Check back here (often!) and before you go.. we’ll layout our plan.
nice write up mate, Im planing on attending this year with my dad. were flying over from Melbourne (Australia) and should be there all week. any tips for a first timer?
Glad to hear you’ll be making it over Matt! The SCTA website has some first-timer tips, definitely check those out. Other than that, be prepared with lots of sunscreen (and apply it under your chin and nose too!) and long sleeves/long pants, lots of water, and binoculors are good too.
We’ll be putting up quite a few speedweek stories in the next few months leading up to August…be on the lookout for those!
[...] all around GreaseGirl.com, you know I drive a 1955 Studebaker Champion Coupe. Last year, during my first trip to Bonneville for Speed Week, I had no idea how many Studebakers I would find out on the salt. I [...]