{"id":6232,"date":"2009-11-23T09:05:24","date_gmt":"2009-11-23T16:05:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/?p=6232"},"modified":"2012-08-04T12:37:12","modified_gmt":"2012-08-04T19:37:12","slug":"bonners-bad-berkeley-a-310-mph-sports-car","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/bonners-bad-berkeley-a-310-mph-sports-car\/","title":{"rendered":"Bonner&#8217;s Bad Berkeley: A 310 MPH Sports Car"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mr_social_sharing_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<!-- Social Sharing Toolkit v2.2 --><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><a href=\"http:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.myrideisme.com%2FBlog%2Fbonners-bad-berkeley-a-310-mph-sports-car%2F&amp;media=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.myrideisme.com%2FBlog%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2009%2F11%2FSpeedweek_2.jpg&amp;description=Bonner%E2%80%99s+Bad+Berkeley%3A+A+310+MPH+Sports+Car\" class=\"pin-it-button\" count-layout=\"none\" rel=\"lightbox[6232]\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/images\/PinExt.png\" title=\"Pin It\" \/><\/a><\/span><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><fb:share-button type=\"button_count\" href=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/bonners-bad-berkeley-a-310-mph-sports-car\/\"><\/fb:share-button><\/span><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share\" class=\"twitter-share-button\" data-count=\"horizontal\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/bonners-bad-berkeley-a-310-mph-sports-car\/\" data-via=\"myrideisme\" data-text=\"Bonner\u2019s Bad Berkeley: A 310 MPH Sports Car\"><\/a><\/span><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><div class=\"g-plusone\" data-size=\"medium\" data-annotation=\"none\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/bonners-bad-berkeley-a-310-mph-sports-car\/\"><\/div><\/span><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><a class=\"mr_social_share_email\" href=\"mailto:?subject=Bonner\u2019s Bad Berkeley: A 310 MPH Sports Car&amp;body=https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/bonners-bad-berkeley-a-310-mph-sports-car\/\" target=\"_blank\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/plugins\/social-sharing-toolkit\/images\/icons_small\/email.png\" class=\"nopin\" alt=\"Email\" title=\"Email\"\/><span class=\"mr_small_icon\">Email<\/span><\/a><\/a><\/span><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"linksalpha_button linksalpha_link\" href=\"\/\/www.linksalpha.com\/social\/mobile\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/bonners-bad-berkeley-a-310-mph-sports-car\/\" data-text=\"Bonner\u2019s Bad Berkeley: A 310 MPH Sports Car\" data-desc=\"Bonneville Salt Flats Race Car: ...oh ya, and its FRONT WHEEL DRIVE.\u00a0 Tell that to the \"wrong wheel drive\" haters! Pikesan and I first met Dr. Bonner Denton,\u00a0Professor of Chemistry and Geosciences at the University of Arizona,\u00a0in the\u00a0starting line\u00a0at Speed Week 2009.\u00a0 His crew was performing\" data-image=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/Speedweek_2.jpg\" data-button=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img src=\"\/\/www.linksalpha.com\/images\/social_share_button.png\" alt=\"Share\" class=\"linksalpha_image\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"\/\/www.linksalpha.com\/scripts\/loader_iconbox.js?v=2.4\"><\/script><\/span><\/div><h3>Bonneville Salt Flats Race Car:<\/h3>\n<p><a class=\"highslide\" onclick=\"return vz.expand(this)\" href=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/Speedweek_2.jpg\" rel=\"lightbox[6232]\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-6407\" style=\"border: 2px solid black; margin: 4px;\" title=\"Front Wheel Drive and 300mph!\" src=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/Speedweek_2.jpg\" alt=\"Land Speed Hot rod from Tucson\" width=\"575\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a class=\"highslide\" onclick=\"return vz.expand(this)\" href=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/File0110.jpg\" rel=\"lightbox[6232]\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignleft size-large wp-image-6290\" style=\"margin: 4px; border: black 2px solid;\" title=\"#3000 Bonner's Bad Berkeley speeding down the Salt at 300 MPH\" src=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/File0110-400x306.jpg\" alt=\"salt flats, speedweek, bonneville, bonner's bad berkeley, 1959 Berkeley, 300 mph, dovovan bbc, twin turbo, fwd\" width=\"400\" height=\"306\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/File0110-400x306.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/File0110-150x114.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/File0110-300x229.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a>&#8230;oh ya, and its FRONT WHEEL DRIVE.\u00a0 Tell that to the &#8220;wrong wheel drive&#8221; haters!<\/p>\n<p>Pikesan and I first met Dr. Bonner Denton,\u00a0Professor of Chemistry and Geosciences at the University of Arizona,\u00a0in the\u00a0starting line\u00a0at Speed Week 2009.\u00a0 His crew was performing the final preparations for a speed run.\u00a0 He gave us his whole land speed racing&#8217;s history in about 10 minutes.\u00a0 The more he explained the workings of the Berkeley, the more interesting it got.<\/p>\n<p>Racing on the Salt Flats is a funny thing.\u00a0 Bonner Denton, owner\/driver of this record bearing 1959 Berkeley sports car describes racing on the salt similar to driving on 1-2 inches of wet snow.\u00a0 Try putting 2400-2500 HP&#8217;s of twin turbocharged 540 cu in of\u00a0 Donovan V8 goodness to the salty ground.\u00a0 Nope, he doesn&#8217;t need a push truck either.\u00a0 This baby drives off the line under its own power.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"highslide\" onclick=\"return vz.expand(this)\" href=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/DSC04846.JPG\" rel=\"lightbox[6232]\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignleft size-large wp-image-6292\" style=\"margin: 4px; border: black 2px solid;\" title=\"Bonner and his Bad Berkeley crew at the Salt Flats\" src=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/DSC04846-400x300.jpg\" alt=\"Bonner's Bad Berkeley, Salt Flats, speedweek, bonneville, fwd, 1959 Berkeley, donovan bbc, twin turbo, 300 mph\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/DSC04846-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/DSC04846-150x112.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/DSC04846-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/DSC04846.JPG 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a>Going back to 2000 when Bonner first started running this particular Bad Berkeley,\u00a0it replaced his Bocar.\u00a0 The Bocar set the record at 264 MPH with an A motor in 2001.<\/p>\n<p>The first thing you notice about the Berkeley is the super elongated nose, which gives it a streamliner-esque look.\u00a0Rule changes allowed the wheelbase to be lengthened and the nose streamlined for the Modified Sports class.\u00a0 Bonner describes in his own words: <em><strong>&#8220;That&#8217;s where science and technology comes in.\u00a0 You have to be knowledgeable about aerodynamic forces.\u00a0 What you have to do is build a car that will NOT fly.\u00a0 We hope not to fly, but quite frankly, I never intended this car to go much faster than 300 mph.&#8221;<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p><a class=\"highslide\" onclick=\"return vz.expand(this)\" href=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/Rons06BonnevillePicts__067.jpg\" rel=\"lightbox[6232]\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-6293\" style=\"margin: 4px; border: black 2px solid;\" title=\"Bonner and his Berkeley on its air jacks and the standard issue Salt Flats Umbrella\" src=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/Rons06BonnevillePicts__067-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"Salt Flats, Bonneville, Bonner's Bad Berkeley, U of A, 300 mph, air jacks, speedweek, fwd, twin turbo, bbc\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/Rons06BonnevillePicts__067-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/Rons06BonnevillePicts__067-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/Rons06BonnevillePicts__067-400x266.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>Although the Berk&#8217; has run as fast as 310 MPH out the back door as its called, the 3 records held by the car are still in the 200&#8217;s.\u00a0 They are A\/BGMS (440ci &#8211; 500ci engine size, Blown Gas Modified Sports) at 264.007 MPH set in 2001, AA\/BFMS (501ci and larger engine size, Blown Fuel Modified Sports) at 272.232 MPH set August 2009, the AA\/BGMS (501ci and larger engine size, Blown Gas Modified Sports) at 298.983 MPH in 2008.\u00a0 That&#8217;s fast.\u00a0 &#8220;Bonner&#8217;s Bad Berkeley&#8221; is THE fastest Sports Car!\u00a0 And he&#8217;s not done yet.\u00a0 He has his sights on a record over 300 and the infamous Blue Hat.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"highslide\" onclick=\"return vz.expand(this)\" href=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/DSCN1195.JPG\" rel=\"lightbox[6232]\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-6294\" style=\"border: 2px solid black; margin: 4px;\" title=\"540 cu in twin turbo Big Block Chevy gets the Berk' rolling\" src=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/DSCN1195-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"540 cu in twin turbo Big Block Chevy gets the Berk' rolling\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/DSCN1195-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/DSCN1195-150x112.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/DSCN1195-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/DSCN1195.JPG 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Check the engine specs Bonner sent me.\u00a0 The car makes an estimated 2400-2500 HP at about 20 psi of boost with the AA engine.<\/p>\n<table border=\"1\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" width=\"547\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"139\" valign=\"top\"><strong>Class AA<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"408\" valign=\"top\">540 cu in Donovan 4.5 x 4.25<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"139\" valign=\"top\">Heads<\/td>\n<td width=\"408\" valign=\"top\">Dart<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"139\" valign=\"top\">Cam<\/td>\n<td width=\"408\" valign=\"top\">Crower (Custom Grind)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"139\" valign=\"top\">Rods<\/td>\n<td width=\"408\" valign=\"top\">Carrilo<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"139\" valign=\"top\">Crank<\/td>\n<td width=\"408\" valign=\"top\">Lunati<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"139\" valign=\"top\">Pistons<\/td>\n<td width=\"408\" valign=\"top\">Ross<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"139\" valign=\"top\">Turbos<\/td>\n<td width=\"408\" valign=\"top\">Garrett Air Research Custom<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"139\" valign=\"top\">Intake<\/td>\n<td width=\"408\" valign=\"top\">Modified Hilborn\/Fast electronic<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"139\" valign=\"top\">Headers<\/td>\n<td width=\"408\" valign=\"top\">Custom<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"139\" valign=\"top\"><strong>Class A<\/strong><\/td>\n<td width=\"408\" valign=\"top\">493 cu in Donovan 4.5 x 3.875<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"139\" valign=\"top\">Heads<\/td>\n<td width=\"408\" valign=\"top\">Dart<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"139\" valign=\"top\">Cam<\/td>\n<td width=\"408\" valign=\"top\">Crower (Custom Grind)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"139\" valign=\"top\">Rods<\/td>\n<td width=\"408\" valign=\"top\">Carrilo<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"139\" valign=\"top\">Crank<\/td>\n<td width=\"408\" valign=\"top\">Lunati<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"139\" valign=\"top\">Pistons<\/td>\n<td width=\"408\" valign=\"top\">Ross<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"139\" valign=\"top\">Turbos<\/td>\n<td width=\"408\" valign=\"top\">Garrett Air Research Custom<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"139\" valign=\"top\">Intake<\/td>\n<td width=\"408\" valign=\"top\">Modified Hilborn\/Fast electronic<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"139\" valign=\"top\">Headers<\/td>\n<td width=\"408\" valign=\"top\">Custom<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"139\" valign=\"top\">Frame<\/td>\n<td width=\"408\" valign=\"top\">1-5\/8 x 0.125 1020 DOM space frame<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"139\" valign=\"top\">Differential<\/td>\n<td width=\"408\" valign=\"top\">Coleman quick-change modified for FWD<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"139\" valign=\"top\">Transmission<\/td>\n<td width=\"408\" valign=\"top\">4L80E Lockup Converter<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>Let&#8217;s take a look at some images that will show you the ins-and-outs of the car.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"highslide\" onclick=\"return vz.expand(this)\" href=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/File0143.jpg\" rel=\"lightbox[6232]\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-6297\" style=\"margin: 4px; border: black 2px solid;\" title=\"The Berkeley showing its bare chassis\" src=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/File0143.jpg\" alt=\"1959 Berkeley, chassis, 540 ci donovan, bbc, twin turbo, salt flats, speedweek, land racing, bonneville\" width=\"389\" height=\"301\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/File0143.jpg 389w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/File0143-150x116.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/File0143-300x232.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 389px) 100vw, 389px\" \/><\/a>Here&#8217;s a pic of the Berkeley in its skinless state.\u00a0 Pretty straight forward chassis design, at least from the untrained eye.\u00a0 Looks very beefy.\u00a0 Interesting to see the quick change in the extreme front end of the car.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"highslide\" onclick=\"return vz.expand(this)\" href=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/Speed_Week_2009-514.jpg\" rel=\"lightbox[6232]\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-6298 alignnone\" style=\"border: 2px solid black; margin: 4px;\" title=\"Bonner's Bad Berkeley exhaust and wastegate dump tubes\" src=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/Speed_Week_2009-514-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"Bonner's Bad Berkeley exhaust and wastegate dump tubes\" width=\"270\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/Speed_Week_2009-514-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/Speed_Week_2009-514-150x99.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/Speed_Week_2009-514-400x265.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/Speed_Week_2009-514.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><a class=\"highslide\" onclick=\"return vz.expand(this)\" href=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/Speed_Week_2009-650.jpg\" rel=\"lightbox[6232]\"><img class=\"size-medium wp-image-6300 alignnone\" style=\"border: 2px solid black; margin: 4px;\" title=\"Close up of 1 of Berk's large turbochargers\" src=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/Speed_Week_2009-650-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"Close up of 1 of Berk's large turbochargers\" width=\"270\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/Speed_Week_2009-650-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/Speed_Week_2009-650-150x99.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/Speed_Week_2009-650-400x265.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/Speed_Week_2009-650.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Here&#8217;s a look at the large exhaust.\u00a0 I love how the exhaust pics up salt from inside the body from the front wheels.\u00a0 Those Garret turbo&#8217;s are Large and In Charge, that&#8217;s for sure.<\/p>\n<p>Boost is the only way to get 2500 HP right?\u00a0 I wonder if that exhaust aids in forward propulsion?\u00a0 That&#8217;s gotta have some force behind it&#8230;right?\u00a0 Maybe it works as a stabilizer, liked vectored thrust?<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"highslide\" onclick=\"return vz.expand(this)\" href=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/Speed_Week_2009-660.jpg\" rel=\"lightbox[6232]\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-6303\" style=\"border: 2px solid black; margin: 4px;\" title=\"This is the main office of the Berkeley.  You gotta mean business when going 300 MPH, on the earth's surface!\" src=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/Speed_Week_2009-660-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"This is the main office of the Berkeley.  You gotta mean business when going 300 MPH, on the earth's surface!\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/Speed_Week_2009-660-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/Speed_Week_2009-660-150x99.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/Speed_Week_2009-660-400x265.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/Speed_Week_2009-660.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>This shot was taken in the pits.\u00a0 You can see the Laptop downloading run data sitting on the &#8220;dash&#8221;.\u00a0 This interior is all GO.\u00a0 You can see the Ignition switch with permanent marker to point you in the right direction.\u00a0 The big tach right in front of your face.\u00a0 Not sure how much you&#8217;re looking at that at the 3rd, 4th and 5th mile marker.\u00a0 The Salt is smooth, but not that smooth.\u00a0 I can&#8217;t imagine what its like to go 300 MPH!?\u00a0 You can also see the blue Bonneville stickers from years gone by.\u00a0 These blue stickers are proof that these guys have been around the Salt awhile.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"highslide\" onclick=\"return vz.expand(this)\" href=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/Speed_Week_2009-661.jpg\" rel=\"lightbox[6232]\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-6306\" style=\"border: 2px solid black; margin: 4px;\" title=\"More cockpit, shifter, fire extinguisher, fuel cutoff and seat\" src=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/Speed_Week_2009-661-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"More cockpit, shifter, fire extinguisher, fuel cutoff and seat\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/Speed_Week_2009-661-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/Speed_Week_2009-661-150x99.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/Speed_Week_2009-661-400x265.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/Speed_Week_2009-661.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>Here&#8217;s a drivers view to his left.\u00a0 You have the shifter engaging the 4L80E transmission.\u00a0 Be careful not to bump the Fuel cutoff shift to the &#8220;OFF&#8221; position, also in permanent black marker.\u00a0 Keep it simple right.\u00a0 Looks like a fire extinguisher\u00a0 at the ready in case of emergency.\u00a0 Bare aluminum seat holding Dr. Bonner down during his runs.\u00a0 Again, super spartan here, no cushion?\u00a0 Crazy!\u00a0 That is hardcore!\u00a0 Throw in some ziptied roll cage padding and its off to the races!<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"highslide\" onclick=\"return vz.expand(this)\" href=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/Speed_Week_2009-649.jpg\" rel=\"lightbox[6232]\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-6308\" style=\"border: 2px solid black; margin: 4px;\" title=\"Salt Flats Land Racing wheel and tire package\" src=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/Speed_Week_2009-649-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"Salt Flats Land Racing wheel and tire package\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/Speed_Week_2009-649-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/Speed_Week_2009-649-150x99.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/Speed_Week_2009-649-400x265.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/Speed_Week_2009-649.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>So, with the body off the Berkeley, I found this view interesting.\u00a0 First, you wouldn&#8217;t think this was a race wheel.\u00a0 It&#8217;s different than the pic above in Bonners shop.\u00a0 That&#8217;s a beefy\u00a06 lug bolt pattern too.\u00a0 Emphasis is certainly on strength and durability as opposed to lightweight or looks.<\/p>\n<p>Check out that &#8220;salt flap&#8221; behind the wheel.\u00a0 Can you image how fast that tire turns?\u00a0 Then imagine the force at which the salt flings up off the tire and hits the salt shield\/flap?<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"highslide\" onclick=\"return vz.expand(this)\" href=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/Speed_Week_2009-657.jpg\" rel=\"lightbox[6232]\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-6310\" style=\"border: 2px solid black; margin: 4px;\" title=\"The pit crew each with their own task\" src=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/Speed_Week_2009-657-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"The pit crew each with their own task\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/Speed_Week_2009-657-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/Speed_Week_2009-657-150x99.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/Speed_Week_2009-657-400x265.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/Speed_Week_2009-657.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>This last pic was taken at the end of the day.\u00a0 Preparation for the following days runs continues until about 7pm when they kick everyone off the Salt.\u00a0 You just leave your racecar and trailer on the Salt over night.\u00a0 But back to this picture, Bonner is at the Laptop downloading data while his crew is nose-to-the-grindstone with their individual tasks at hand.\u00a0 These guys have to be total Salt Heads and dedicated friends to come all the way out from Arizona\u00a0to slave away in the heat and salt (its everywhere and sticks to everything) in support of Bonner&#8217;s Bad Berkeley.<\/p>\n<p>There you have it!\u00a0 A 300 MPH Sports Car! \u00a0Good luck next year and here&#8217;s hoping to seeing you with a Blue Hat in 2010.<\/p>\n<p>Hechtspeed<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"highslide\" onclick=\"return vz.expand(this)\" href=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/Speedweek_1.jpg\" rel=\"lightbox[6232]\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-6411\" style=\"border: 2px solid black; margin: 4px;\" title=\"The only thing cool about UofA. (Go Devils!)\" src=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/Speedweek_1.jpg\" alt=\"300mph on the Salt at Speed Week\" width=\"575\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Click To Enlarge the Pictures<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"highslide\" onclick=\"return vz.expand(this)\" href=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/Speed_Week_2009-511.jpg\" rel=\"lightbox[6232]\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-6313\" style=\"border: 2px solid black; margin: 4px;\" title=\"Side shot of Bonner's Bad Berkeley\" src=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/Speed_Week_2009-511-150x99.jpg\" alt=\"Land speed racing hot rod at Bonneville\" width=\"150\" height=\"99\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/Speed_Week_2009-511-150x99.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/Speed_Week_2009-511-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/Speed_Week_2009-511-400x265.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/Speed_Week_2009-511.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a><a class=\"highslide\" onclick=\"return vz.expand(this)\" href=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/Speed_Week_2009-513.jpg\" rel=\"lightbox[6232]\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-6315\" style=\"border: 2px solid black; margin: 4px;\" title=\"The 1959 Berkeley Modified Sports awaits its turn down the legendary track\" src=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/Speed_Week_2009-513-150x99.jpg\" alt=\"Land speed racing hot rod at Bonneville\" width=\"150\" height=\"99\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/Speed_Week_2009-513-150x99.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/Speed_Week_2009-513-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/Speed_Week_2009-513-400x265.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/Speed_Week_2009-513.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a><a class=\"highslide\" onclick=\"return vz.expand(this)\" href=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/Speed_Week_2009-515.jpg\" rel=\"lightbox[6232]\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-6317\" style=\"border: 2px solid black; margin: 4px;\" title=\"Rear shot, 2 parachutes, spoiler and drivers roll cage \" src=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/Speed_Week_2009-515-150x99.jpg\" alt=\"Land speed racing hot rod at Bonneville\" width=\"150\" height=\"99\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/Speed_Week_2009-515-150x99.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/Speed_Week_2009-515-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/Speed_Week_2009-515-400x265.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/Speed_Week_2009-515.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a><a class=\"highslide\" onclick=\"return vz.expand(this)\" href=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/Speed_Week_2009-516.jpg\" rel=\"lightbox[6232]\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-6320\" style=\"border: 2px solid black; margin: 4px;\" title=\"Bonner is the Proud Papa of this 300 MPH Sports Car creation\" src=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/Speed_Week_2009-516-150x99.jpg\" alt=\"Land speed racing hot rod at Bonneville\" width=\"150\" height=\"99\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/Speed_Week_2009-516-150x99.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/Speed_Week_2009-516-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/Speed_Week_2009-516-400x265.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/Speed_Week_2009-516.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a><a class=\"highslide\" onclick=\"return vz.expand(this)\" href=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/Speed_Week_2009-512.jpg\" rel=\"lightbox[6232]\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-6314\" style=\"border: 2px solid black; margin: 4px;\" title=\"Front shot of the Bad Berk'\" src=\"http:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/Speed_Week_2009-512-99x150.jpg\" alt=\"Land speed racing hot rod at Bonneville\" width=\"99\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/Speed_Week_2009-512-99x150.jpg 99w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/Speed_Week_2009-512-199x300.jpg 199w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/Speed_Week_2009-512-400x602.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/11\/Speed_Week_2009-512.jpg 531w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 99px) 100vw, 99px\" \/><\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"mr_social_sharing_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t<!-- Social Sharing Toolkit v2.2 --><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><a href=\"http:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.myrideisme.com%2FBlog%2Fbonners-bad-berkeley-a-310-mph-sports-car%2F&amp;media=&amp;description=Bonner%E2%80%99s+Bad+Berkeley%3A+A+310+MPH+Sports+Car\" class=\"pin-it-button\" count-layout=\"none\"><img border=\"0\" src=\"\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/images\/PinExt.png\" title=\"Pin It\" \/><\/a><\/span><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><fb:share-button type=\"button_count\" href=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/bonners-bad-berkeley-a-310-mph-sports-car\/\"><\/fb:share-button><\/span><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share\" class=\"twitter-share-button\" data-count=\"horizontal\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/bonners-bad-berkeley-a-310-mph-sports-car\/\" data-via=\"myrideisme\" data-text=\"Bonner\u2019s Bad Berkeley: A 310 MPH Sports Car\"><\/a><\/span><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><div class=\"g-plusone\" data-size=\"medium\" data-annotation=\"none\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/bonners-bad-berkeley-a-310-mph-sports-car\/\"><\/div><\/span><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><a class=\"mr_social_share_email\" href=\"mailto:?subject=Bonner\u2019s Bad Berkeley: A 310 MPH Sports Car&amp;body=https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/bonners-bad-berkeley-a-310-mph-sports-car\/\" target=\"_blank\"><img src=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/plugins\/social-sharing-toolkit\/images\/icons_small\/email.png\" class=\"nopin\" alt=\"Email\" title=\"Email\"\/><span class=\"mr_small_icon\">Email<\/span><\/a><\/a><\/span><span class=\"mr_social_sharing\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"linksalpha_button linksalpha_link\" href=\"\/\/www.linksalpha.com\/social\/mobile\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/bonners-bad-berkeley-a-310-mph-sports-car\/\" data-text=\"Bonner\u2019s Bad Berkeley: A 310 MPH Sports Car\" data-desc=\"Bonneville Salt Flats Race Car: ...oh ya, and its FRONT WHEEL DRIVE.\u00a0 Tell that to the \"wrong wheel drive\" haters! Pikesan and I first met Dr. Bonner Denton,\u00a0Professor of Chemistry and Geosciences at the University of Arizona,\u00a0in the\u00a0starting line\u00a0at Speed Week 2009.\u00a0 His crew was performing\" data-image=\"\" data-button=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img src=\"\/\/www.linksalpha.com\/images\/social_share_button.png\" alt=\"Share\" class=\"linksalpha_image\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"\/\/www.linksalpha.com\/scripts\/loader_iconbox.js?v=2.4\"><\/script><\/span><\/div><p>Email Bonneville Salt Flats Race Car: &#8230;oh ya, and its FRONT WHEEL DRIVE.\u00a0 Tell that to the &#8220;wrong wheel drive&#8221; haters! Pikesan and I first met Dr. Bonner Denton,\u00a0Professor of Chemistry and Geosciences at the University of Arizona,\u00a0in the\u00a0starting line\u00a0at Speed Week 2009.\u00a0 His crew was performing the final preparations for a speed run.\u00a0 He [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0},"categories":[19],"tags":[2527,1758,2584,6,967,1178],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6232"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6232"}],"version-history":[{"count":49,"href":"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6232\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6438,"href":"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6232\/revisions\/6438"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6232"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6232"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myrideisme.com\/Blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6232"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}