Gear Grinders

 

                             

Website Coordinators Willie & Sheri Buchta

ph: 209-681-6876
alt: 209-605-9189

Bonneville Speedweek '09

The following page is dedicated to Bonneville Speedweek 2009. Look back here daily for updates.

We would like to give an extra special thanks for all the volunteers that make Speedweek possible. Our hats are off to all of you...thank you, thank you.

3 days till Race Day..... 2 days till Race day... 1 day till Race day....And we are off....

We will be leaving for Bonneville on Wednesday afternoon. Soooo, there won't be too much on here until we get back. We would like to wish everybody a safe trip and we will see you on the salt.

Willie and Sheri Buchta

08/09/09: 

       Officials of the Bonneville Nationals Inc. report that Barry Bryant, 46, from Anderson, California, died after competing at the speed trials on the Bonneville Salt Flats.

      The accident occurred at 5:55 p.m. when his racing vehicle went out of control while traveling approximately 200 mph.

       He was transported by ambulance off the race track to Intermountain Medical Center in Salt Lake City.

       Race Officials were informed that Bryant died before arriving at the Medical Center.

08/07/09:  Roy Creel On Site Salt Update:  At 1700 hours, possible storms seems to have missed us.  Courses ready to go.  Driver meeting @ 9am.  Salt is perfect.

08/07/09:  Roy Creel On Site Salt Update:  A very active weather system is moving thru the area with high winds but as yet no rain.  Weather is predicted to improve this weekend.  Inspections and setup continue on schedule.

08/05/09:  Roy Creel On Site Salt Update:  Everything looking good.  Inspection starts tomorrow at 10am.

08/03/09:  Roy Creel On Site Salt Update:  3 courses Surveyed, dragging continues....                                     Tuesday will be a traveling day for me.

08/02/09:  Roy Creel on site salt update:  Salt perfect, 3 courses laid out, Survey tomorrow.

 

Salt Reports.

Save the Salt Report
By Larry Volk
July 2009

 

Just wanted to share some recent photos showing your Save the Salt money in action.

As you can see in the photos below, we have filled in some of the dips at the drop off (end of the asphalt). We soaked the two places that were filled with salt (transported from Intrepid) with about 6000 gallons of water. It soaked in completely. This should help it solidify enough so that we will be able move the excess with the drags to some of the thinner areas. After Speed Week, I will see if we can have it soaked down again, to help it solidify before World Finals.

This effort should make access to the salt a little better than last year.

Larry Volk

 

Save The Salt - July 2009 Pictures

For more pictures on this salt update please check out www.scta-bni.org.

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Recieved this email on 07/15/2009 From Jim Jensen.This is what it said.

Sheri I told you that I would let you know how the salt is and it is great. As of now we have laid out and drug three courses and they are as good as last year if not better. I hope to see you there

Jim
See pictures up above.
07/15/09:  Salt Report:  July 15th 8 pm pacific time.We have just returned from spending three day on the salt flats doing our prep work for SpeedWeek 09. We found the salt dry, hard and smooth. We were able to go to the same areas that we used last year and do our lay out. Yes we have three courses. We will return approximately. one week before the start of SpeedWeek and do more prep work putting on the final touches. Our thanks go to the crew of volunteers that made the trip.
Fred Dannenfelzer, Russ Eyres, Bill Lattin, Jim Jensen, Jim Dunn, Larry Volk, Gary Wilkerson and Mike Waters. The weather was great during our visit and if the weather holds we're in for a fantastic event.
07/14/09:  Salt Report:  Our advance team is currently on the salt locating courses and starting to drag. The salt condition is almost 100% dry and "just right" for dragging. If mother nature continues to cooperate, 3 courses will be available.  Stay tuned.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

07/13/09:  Speed Week Pre-Entries by Class (Excel):

 

http://www.scta-bni.org/Bonneville/SW_Pre-Entries_by_class_bikes.xls

 

Bonneville Land Speed Racing is a unique sport that consists of very determined people who drive hot rods, roadsters, belly tankers, lakesters, motorcycles, streamliners, and even diesel trucks to "shoot the salt" in a simple quest to have their name added to the list of many record holders.

Many years ago, the Bonneville Nationals Inc. (BNI) was formed.  It's main focus would be to produce the annual "Bonneville Speed Week".  The BNI hosts a spectacular week of racing each year in August, which is the highlight event of the LSR season.  Speed Week consists of six days of racing (Mon - Sun in 2008), weather and conditions permitting.  Entrants come from all over the world to participate in the week long event.  Spectators are allowed to walk through the pits, view the vehicles, and talk to the drivers and crew members.  Public parking is south of the pit area, on the west side of the race track, outside the cones.  Be sure to bring a hat, dark glasses, sunscreen and shade from the sun.  Don't forget a camera with lots of film/memory/tapes, because you will want to remember everything you see and hear.  Binoculars are also a great idea since the race vehicles are at least 1/4 mile away as they travel down the course.

The salt flats are located approximately 88 miles west of Salt Lake City, UT on I 80.  The spectacular scenery and racing conditions at Bonneville make it one of the most popular areas in the world for speed.

The colors, excitement, people and smells are some of the reasons we race addicts return to the salt, year after year.  Better known as "Salt Fever".  CATCH IT! 

 

Speed Week Schedule

August 8-14, 2009

(Times shown are Mountain Time; Utah)

Thurs, Aug 6th

7:00 am Pits open for setup

10:00 am Fuel Truck opens

10:00 am to 5:00 pm Inspection and Registration

8:00 pm Salt closed

Fri, Aug 7th

7:00 am Pits open for setup.

9:00 am Fuel truck opens

8:00 am to 5:00 pm Inspection and Registration

800 pm Salt closed

Sat, Aug 8th

7:00 am Salt opens, Lineup opens.

8:30 am Course Stewards meeting at starting line.

9:00 am Drivers meeting (all drivers/riders, crew) at starting line.

Rookie Orientation to follow (all NEW drivers/riders and crews must attend)

10:00 am (+/-) Racing begins!

7:00 pm Racing ends

8:00 pm Salt closed

Sun - Thurs, Aug 9-13th

6:00 am Salt opens. (upon arrival of the impound monitor)

7:00 am Record Return runs on all courses will begin. Qualifying will

begin on all courses immediately following Record Return runs.

7:00 pm Racing ends.

8:00 pm Salt closed

Fri, Aug 14th

On this, OR the last day of racing, Record Return runs will be on the same day.

 

Current records:

http://www.scta-bni.org/Bonneville/BNI_records.htm

 

 


 

 


 

 

 

 

 

Bonneville Information.

 

HELPFUL HINTS FOR SPECTATORS
Click here for Participants

The Bonneville Speedway is located approximately 88 miles west of Salt Lake City, UT right off Interstate 80. Wendover is the closest town to the salt flats for accommodations, food, casinos & night life. The spectacular scenery and racing conditions at Bonneville make it one of the most popular areas in the world for speed.

Transportation from Salt Lake City to Wendover is available from downtown Salt Lake at the Red Lion Hotel: 

Lebus 1-800-366-0288   http://www.lebus.com/  

Speed Week consists of seven days of racing in August and World Final is four days of racing in October.

ALL vehicles are allowed to run every day, weather and conditions permitting. There are no special days for motorcycles or cars, etc.

There is no camping ON the salt.  EVERYONE must exit the salt at dusk.

Private campgrounds and hookups are available in nearby Wendover.  Free camping on BLM land West of the salt near bend of the road.

You can purchase entry passes daily/weekly at the entrance to the salt.

Spectators are allowed to walk through the pits, view the vehicles, and talk to the drivers and crew members. Public parking is south of the pit area, on the west side of the race track, outside of the cones.

Be sure to bring a hat, and shade from the sun. If you intend to set up a 'semi-permanent' spectator area, you must secure a tarp as a floor covering on the salt. Don’t forget your camera and bring lots of film, because you will want to remember everything you see. Binoculars are also a great idea since the race vehicles are at least 1/4 mile away as they travel down the course.

There will be vendors located on the salt for food, refreshments, eyewear, sunscreen & much more.

Hotel and accommodation information is available through the Wendover Tourism and Convention Bureau, 1-775-664-3138 or Toll Free 1-866-299-2489.

Please pick up ALL of your trash and take it with you everyday. There will be dumpsters provided near the pit area.

The colors, excitement, people and smells are some of the reasons we race addicts return to the salt, year after year. Better known as "Salt Fever." CATCH IT!

 

Website Coordinators Willie & Sheri Buchta

ph: 209-681-6876
alt: 209-605-9189