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Wednesday ay Bonneville

Wednesday seems to be the day that everyone wants to turn it up. The licensing runs are pretty much done, the tune up runs are done, and the game is on. No one wants to wait for Thursday because to set a record you have to back up your speed with another run that is within 1% of the first. These record runs are usually best done early in the morning, and there are only so many mornings available. By 10:00 the heat is affecting the horsepower and the fast cars are napping.

Bob johnson’s Cadillac ran a 239 0n a 242 record so he wants to try again for a 246 or better. There are no problems with the car so he gets back in line for another run closer to evening when the heat goes away.

Poteets Blowfish ran a 284 and can easily better his old record, but is looking for 300. They found some spark scatter and a leak in the intercooler tank that must be repaired. They are done until tomorrow.

Chad Reynolds ran a 230 pass with the Camaro and will try to back it up later today. No problems for them so its back in line for the back up run.

We decided to try the grilled bologna sandwiches again tonight at the bus. This starting to become a ritual!

We have to be in Pleasanton for the Goodguys show on Friday morning so we are planning on leaving early on Thursday morning. It’s a 12 hour drive across the desert and over the mountains. I hope some of the salt that has collected on the Chevelle falls off on the way!

Bonneville day 2

Since we were at Bonneville for “research”, and had no specific responsibilities related to racing a car, I felt it was our duty to ensure that our friends who were racing were adequately fed and watered in the evening. The motorhome was perfectly set up for just such a purpose.

Although we all stayed in the motorhome on the trip out, Angie Johnson came up with a couple of rooms for us while we were at Wendover. The Rainbow Casino/hotel also had a huge parking lot perfect for parking the motorhome. The Salt closes at 8 and the party begins at 8:01.

The first night we were a bit unprepared so we feasted on grilled bologna. If this sounds like a compromise, just ask Jack Trepanier what he thinks of my grilled bologna sanwiches. Troys crew of 18 was there along with Rob Kinnan from Hot Rod, Rick Love, John McLoed, Chad Reynolds, David Freiburger, Roy Brizio, and the dozen or so gang from Alan Johnsons pit. Of course you must have some beverages to wash down that gourmet bologna. Jim, Jack, and Bud to care of those duties nicely.

Tuesday morning began just like Monday with the worlds most beautiful sunrise over the salt…another indescribable experience. Bob Johnson needed to make 2 more qualifying runs to get his license so they were already in line the night before in order to get an early morning pass in. The second run went off nicely at 197mph. Since it was a clean pass the got right back in line after a short check out in the pits. I wasn’t up for the ensuing 4 hour wait in the sun so I used the opportunity to cruise the pits. It is certainly an eclectic mix of machinery to say the least.   

About 4:00 we determined that we were sufficiently sautéed so we decided to head back to the bus to get ready for the evenings activities. Pork chops and potatoes au Bret were on the menu tonite and that required a bit more preparation than the bologna did. Everyone returned from the previous night..and brought a friend! The social experience at Bonneville is definitely one of the highlights. While the days were 90-100, the evenings were a beautiful 75-80 degrees and quite conducive to comfortable and prolific bench racing…alcohol racing, if you will!

Wednesday is the day when everything gets turned up and tuned up. I can’t wait!

On the Salt!!

I have been doing races and car shows since the Car Craft Nationals in Indy in 1979. [anyone remember the dogs on 38th and Shadeland?] I traveled the NHRA fuel circuit in 87-89, did the Offshore Powerboat races in Key West in 91, been to the Woodward Dream Cruise a couple of times with Ford, and had 2 vehicles on the Ford showstand at SEMA. I have to say that setting foot on the Salt at Bonneville was one of the most surreal automotive experiences that I’ve had in awhile. There is no way to properly describe what several hundred thousand acres of dead flat hard salt looks like…so I’ll move on to the stuff I can describe.

We were the guests of Alan Johnson’s camp who was running Bob Johnson’s new XLR Cadillac, and Troy Trepanier’s camp, who was running George Poteets Blowfish Cuda. Since both pits were within a 100 feet of each other it was easy to bounce back and forth. We also spent some time hanging with Chad Reynolds, David Freiburger, anf Keith Turk who were running their 2nd gen camaro.

The race course is about 5 miles off of I 80. There is 3 miles of paved road and then you get to drive on the hard packed salt the rest of the way. The starting line is another mile beyond the end of the road, the pits are another 3-5 miles beyond the starting line. I say 3-5 miles not because I’m not sure how far, but because the pits actually are spread out that far down the course! There are over 500 cars running here this week. There are some general guidelines about where to pit, but you are on your for the most part. EVERYBODY has a canopy and lays down tarps under their car to protect them from the salt. [In case you are wondering, yes, this is the same stuff as on your kitchen table…the Morton factory is 10 miles away.]

There are NO facilities…you could just as well be racing on the moon, except that civilization is 20 minutes away. Generators, potajohns, coolers, EZ UPS, and tarps are everyones required equipment.

Alan and Bob had teched the car in on Sunday so they were ready to make a run right away on Monday morning. The required drivers meeting was at 9:00 and the first car made their run around 11:00. Alan got in line on the special course right after the drivers meeting to make his rookie qualifying pass of 175mph or under. [They make you demonstrate your and the cars ability to handle 3 levels of speed leading up to 225mph before turning you loose] Their were 3 courses this year, 2 0f them 5 miles long and 1 that was 8 miles long. The staging process is simple and uniform…get in line and wait…for 3-4 hours.  Just like drag racing.

Bob made his 1st pass at 170mph…right on target. Since nothing was hurt he got right back in line for another run the next morning.

Geoge Poteet was running 3 cars this week, a 32 roadster, the Streamliner, and the Cuda that Troy and his guys built. Last year the Cuda went 255mph…with a 4 banger! This year they have upgraded to a new R5 NASCAR engine with a 113mm turbo. The tubo is as big as a damn basketball! They are hoping for 300mph.

Well, my ADD is kicking in again and I’m thirsty. I’m thinking this blog may get ugly if I try to type after getting un-thirsty. Until tomorrow…