Beautiful, Historic and Fast Flathead Streamliner     All I did was capture the return to Bonneville. Dave Thomas, owner of this beautiful recreation of a circa 1952 land speed record holding streamliner. The sleek fiberglass beauty has been known by a few names, but finished here, it's the "City of Burbank" #61 XF/GS streamliner.   Dave summed up Bonneville here...   "August 18, 2013..... The dust er salt has settled. We made it to Bonneville. We got thru tech inspection and had a chance to make a run down the course. It was the most exciting thing I have done in long time. Our driver pulled away from the push truck and motored off into the distance. We chased him for 5 miles before we saw the tiny speck up ahead parked in the turn off area. We didn't go all that fast but the car ran the whole 5 miles without incident, right out of the box. It had never turned a wheel under power before that. The little 276 inch flathead did all it could considering the density altitude was 6700 feet. No excuses, we were...

Super Clean 1960 Falcon Ranchero   Did you see the race car version of this car? When I saw this Ford Falcon Ranchero Race Car at Bonneville, owner Alan Moss said he's got another Ranchero, and it's for sale! Check it out:   1960 Ford Falcon Ranchero: Completely sandblasted inside and out, patch paneled (welded) running a 302 small block Ford with flat top pistons, a mild cam, balanced, a 500 cfm AFB. In total, there are 12,000 miles on engine and trans. It's got an AOD 4 speed auto with A+ od servo, .6:1 OD, shift kit, with updated clutch packs. It will hold any gear.   Out back, there's an 8" Ford rear with five lug Ford pattern, 3.50 ratio, open. With the 3.50 gears it is very lively in traffic but with the .6 od fourth gear it goes down the highway nicely.Up front features a Mustang II front end, disc brakes on five lug Ford Mustang II rotors, manual rack and pinion steering, 205/60x15 tires on 6x15" steel wheels.     Inside, there's a tilt column from a Cherokee, 60x40 seats from a Ranger pickup.  ...

Bonneville Racers and Hot Rods on the Salt Have I said it enough times that people found on the Bonneville salt are just cool? Each year I come away from Speed Week with a few more friends. That's sort of amazing since I run around like a wild man shooting pics and trying to get feature stories... but I try, every once and a while, to kick back, have a beer and try to enjoy it all.   This year, I got to know Holly Martin, mostly through her photography. I like to study the angles, the light and the subjects of other photographers to learn from them and hopefully add something new to my own shots. I'm dig'n Holly's work!   Click here for all of MyRideisMe.com's Bonneville Salt Flat coverage.   So I asked Holly to share some photos and she generously did.  I then asked her to write about her Bonneville experience... She was shy about sharing it, but I think it came out more like poetry than a bio. Get to know Holly a little here: (and let her know what you think of her shots!)  ...

Drive your Hot Rod! Nebraska to Utah in a Model A Roadster Download image for your iPhone here.   Nick Hoesing's a cool guy. We met at Bonneville Speed Week 2009, my first year there. He was cruising a great looking 1962 Ford Galaxie he'd driven from Omaha, Nebraska to the Salt Flats in Utah.   As friends on Facebook, I caught a glance of the model A roadster he was building, but hadn't made it over to the HAMB for a full look. I wish I had before I shot these pictures because I missed some fine details of this roadster. I'll write a brief history of the build, but you should read the 40 or so pages of posts at the HAMB where Nick supplies details and photos of the build and fellow HAMBers encourage him and help when needed. That's a community to be proud of.   Build of Nick's Model A Hot Rod   In the shortest summary of Nick's supreme one-car-garage hot rod build... Nick started with a 28/29 Ford Model A Roadster body, then added a Blackboard Hot Rods 1932 Ford frame. The...

Motorized Bike Sets Records at Bonneville Salt Flats Photographer turned record setter turned friend. It's Gunther Maier on his "Sportsman Flyer" replica 1910 Indian board track race bike.   Photos in this story are © Keith Berr www.keithberr.com. Thanks Keith! Click to see this shot full size and check out the chain. Not sure how fast Gunther's going here, but it it's a great snap!   I posted this photo of Gunther enjoying his time in impound at Bonneville Speed Week 2012: Little did I know that Gunther was the guy who'd supplied the best pictures shown in the feature story about Jeff Brock's 1952 Buick Super Riviera race car. Turns out Brock and Gunther are buddies and were pitted right next to each other on the salt!   Gunther told me, he's part of the RED RACER Team running a new production of an Indian board track racer form the 1910. The bike is the coolest and is made by Sportsman Flyer. (worth a look, or get your own kit!)   Gunther's team runs in the SCTA's A-PF class with a 175cc engine. With some success I might...

Bonneville Race Cars of Friends Oh, I might have mentioned it before... maybe every time I write about the Bonneville Salt Flats... the people are great. Hot rodders and racers in general are an easy-to-get-along-with group, but something about the salt turns competitors into co-conspirators to see who can go faster. On some levels, it doesn't make sense. These racers are after the same record, both are dying to wear the coveted red hat of the "2-club" or 200 mph club, and they both have been trying for years, but still they'll share everything from cold sodas to spare parts to advice to help a fellow racer. It's special. Speaking of special... each year I make my 15 hour trip from Phoenix, AZ to Bonneville, I meet and become friends with more racers. You almost can't help it! I want to kick off 2012 Bonneville Speed Week with pictures and updates of a few friends I'm looking forward to seeing. 400 mph Streamliner owned by Bobby and Peggy First up is this beautiful machine called the, "Maro Special". Bobby, Peggy and their entire crew treat me like family when I...

Bonneville Salt Flat Racing For Charity (and Fun!) Bonneville's an amazing place for so many reasons. I just learned of one more. I read and reviewed a book about Baldwin Motion, you know the "Phase III", Motion Performance, "Dragon Snake" guys?? Well that was written by Martyn Schorr who's now my Facebook buddy. He told me about the Bonneville Racing Team 608 he's a part of and forwarded this story. I had to publish it. Greatest thing is, as good as the people are on the salt, this doesn't surprise me. TEAM 608 RETURNS TO BONNEVILLE WITH TWO CARS, AND A MISSION: GO FAST – DO GOOD! Grassroots racers run a Lakester and Roadster on the Salt Flats to raise money for, and awareness of, health-related charities. Team 608, a 100% volunteer, grassroots land speed racing team, is comprised of lifetime hot rodders and drag racers who have been competing at Bonneville for more than a decade. Since 2006, Team 608 has raised and donated in excess of $95,000 for charities: Susan G. Komen For The Cure (Breast Cancer), Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) and Autism Speaks. Next month, they...

Speed Week 2011 - Bonneville Salt Flats Summary Being out on the Bonneville Salt Flats for Speedweek is an amazing experience like none other. I always return with way too many pictures then I can post to the web and way too many thoughts than I can convey in my stories. So here it finally is - Grease Girl’s Speedweek Summary and Salt Flat Favorites for 2011! Record Breaking Summary This 63rd Speedweek saw 160 records broken - 93 for cars and 67 for bikes. 21 new members gained entry into the 200 MPH Club, 6 of those being the 300 MPH Chapter. Any of you less familiar with land speed racing may be surprised to find out the entire point of the sport is breaking a record! You aren’t racing against another opponent on the course or anything like that – you’re going in a straight line trying to go as fast as possible and break the record in the particular class racing in (The class takes into account engine size, fuel used, and the cars body design.) Favorite Experience Walking around the pits for someone who is...

Speed Week 2011 Results - Bonneville Salt Flats As Sunday was ending out on the Bonneville Salt Flats, lurking black clouds were rolling in and lightening was breaking all around. People were packing up their pit areas very well and getting off the salt. Was there going to be a storm? Would it halt Speedweek 2011?!? There was a storm! The rain poured down not long after the racing area closed up at 7pm. Luckily though, it didn't continue for long. Early the next morning as we drove out at the crack of dawn to see what Monday held in store - this is what we found. Out at the starting line however, the salt appeared like it might be all right. Cars and crews were lined up for record-confirming runs. (Not sure what it takes to set a record at Speedweek? Read more about it by clicking here!) Everyone waited around while officials made sure everything was in order for the fast times of land speed racing. After awhile a number of the crews were lead for a drive down the track to check out conditions for themselves....

Going to Impound - That's a GOOD thing! 2011 Bonneville Speed Week sponsored by Spectre Performance It's a thing of beauty. The 1969 Plymouth Barracuda built by Rad Rides by Troy. So imagine that everyone's happy they're off to impound! You should remember that when you run faster than a record, the car goes to impound, then the next morning you back up the record or start over. Review: Setting a Record at Bonneville The thrash is on! In impound, the team has 4 hours to make any changes and get ready for the back-up run. Blowfish is owned by George Poteet and nobody's more excited to see what the team has almost accomplished in the B/BFCC class. The record is held by a family everyone knows, the Burkland's. Tom Burkland set the record way back at Speed Week in 1985 with a coupe named "411 to Bonneville" at 294.868 mph. Blowfish ran 303 and change, so a new record, and a coveted blue hat (300 mph club) are within reach. Stay tuned for an update... Update! I caught up with Lawrence Laughlin, the shop manager from Rad Rides...

Toyota's Irwindale Speedway Heats up on Thursday Nights! Speed Fever is a serious thing. Once I caught on, it was only a matter of time before I got interested in drag racing. First I hot rodded my Studebaker. Then I began attending Speed Week each year. Eventually I learned to do a burnout. Why not drag race!? Although it's not time for my own Studebaker to get on the dragstrip just yet, I'm sure it's day will come. First I've got to learn a thing or two about drag racing - and what better way to go to do that than ride along with a pal who's been racing his 1955 Chevy Gasser for years!? When my buddy Stan first invited me to go along with him to the Irwindale Raceway, I didn't realize we were going to actually drive his racing gasser TO the races. But yep, he built this car to drive and there'll be no trailer for him. (Read more about his Chevy here.) Thursday nights at Irwindale is a run-what-ya-brung amateur night with some professional class racers around also. It isn't a nostaglic-class night, anyone...

Bonneville Salt Flat Racing Vintage Studebakers Speed Week 2011 is quickly approaching! And you know what that means...Salt Fever! It's reminded me that I still have many Speed Seeking Studebakers to add to the series I started after last year's Speed Week. In fact, there's 11 more racing Studebakers I have to bring ya. Rounding out a total of 14 Studebaker racers on the Salt Flats I caught last year (and I'm sure I missed a few!) If you missed #1-4, begin here - All Speed Seeking Studebakers. To start with is this wicked 1953 Studebaker Coupe owned by Bob Drury and Old Stud Racing running in the A/cF ALT category with top speeds of 225 mph. Also a '53 is this more highly modified body, #974. With an extreme chop and a hood scoop to match the roof height it's an extreme looking Studebaker salt flats racer! In 2008 this Stude set the class record at 249.945 mph. Another highly modified and chopped coupe is this #749. They're not ALL '53 Coupes. There's always a good showing of Avanti's also..of course! Speaking of Avanti's, keep an eye out for...