[Rattiac]

Anybody going to Speed-Week or the World of Speed out at the saltflats this year ?
Landracing.com is the place for live updates, pics and ect.

Ive been to the W.O.S a few times but have yet to see Speedweek . Want to drive my Rattiac out there sometime just to make the trip but it may not be this year .

[sammons]

On my bucket list, but not this year. I had an invite 3-4yrs ago, but couldn't get away. Should have made away!

[sixball]

Three friends and I are heading out there Saturday for a few days. We aren't running anything but a few other friends are. A supercharged 302 GMC in a '54 Chevy pickup and an injected 302 GMC in a belly tank lakester.  Just a pair of inline sixes so they won't be going very fast. 

[sammons]

Sixball ya lucky SOB. I guess it ain't to far for you. Not very fast, what not much faster than 200?

[sixball]

It's about 400 miles. The pickup has set 3 records at less than 125 mph. They do it the old fashion way and only bump the record enough to set a new record so more people can play with it longer. A lot of new guys are showing up now running on "soft" records and blowing them away. What are you going to do next year and where are new people going to run if it takes a million bucks to get a car through tech because all the records are 300+ mph. I guess there will always be someone with enough money but it sure takes the fun out of it for regular folks.

[sammons]

I don't know how all that works up there. Hell, i'd be happy running any thing flat out on the salt just to do it. They need an entry-level "run what ya brung" for fun round. They probably don't allow any such thing, but they should. Like you said that's where the "fun" part is.

[sixball]

Safety is a big issue. I have seen some bad wrecks where cars came completely apart and have only see two deaths. Once the Blowfish came by us at better than 240 going backwards and shedding body panels. They have to be strict because guys like me don't have any sense. As speeds in a class increase all cars running in the class must meet the top safety requirements no matter how fast they go. I wanted to build a lakester around a 413 CI Dodge flathead six but because it would run in a class with a record near 300 mph tires alone would cost over $3,000. Then there would be two fire supression systems and that's just the start. I doubt I could have gone over 150 mph. I wanted to do it for fun but I can not afford that much fun.

[sammons]

You hit on the safety issue, last weekend was strange to me. I think the "run what ya brung" stop light drags were originally started for the street cruisers.  Most in 1/8th mile would not be up to hiway speeds. No tech inspections what so ever, not even a seat belt check or helmet required(i only seen 2 helmets on the premmises ) With all these new guns showing up with trailered Race cars ( or very high dollar super rods) somebody is going to get hurt. I can't imagine the liability on this thing, reguardless of the waiver you have to sign. I'm sure it's going to get shut down within a couple yrs.
I know this car is OT for here. We had dreams of taking this to Bonneville in the 90's. Although we exceeded NHRA requirements (had Nascar full cage/tires) my buddy checked into Bonn.regs. like you say waymore money than we had.

[chopper526]

Man, all this stuff sounds fun! But with a wife, four little boys, a full time job..........and nothing but bills, I'm lucky I can take a trip to the garage

[Rattiac]

Bring back some pics for the rest of us . Here's a link to the site and there's daily updates w/pics and its streaming online sometimes .
http://www.landracing.com/forum/index.php/board,67.0.html

[TFoch]

Would love to go sometime in the future.  Long haul from New Hampshire though.  Some day

[sixball]

People come,some with cars and motorcycles, from all over the world. I can't believe the number from New Zealand and Australia. You can't get much farther away than that. I'm a little worried about rain. They got some there yesterday and a chance of more on the way. It doesn't take much, it's a lake bed.

[Rattiac]

Sammons ;
Have you tried the 130 club. About the only requirement is steel valvestems (wheels) and I think just seatbelts and helmet.
One year I drove that lil 80 chevette out there just to see if it would make the trip. Had alot of people wondering why I wasnt racing (v6, th350, 8" rear w/273 gear) . I didnt think it would pass tech and im sure I was right (oil leaks) but coming back from the long course I cranked it up to 100mph just to see how it would handle. It did great and handled smooth    but,  it was soooooooooo illeagl and over the speed limit going back to lands-end. It was the end of the day and I had the salt to myself going back. I just had to .

Sixball ;
The conditions should be great. Most of the rain has somehow missed the flats. We've been getting dumped on here in salt lake .

[sammons]

Didn't know that, but we were looking into the certification, regulations, etc for the 180-200mph. No way we could afford all that, or all the licencing passes. The 130 we could do here for free, but my safe stretch of 2miles was really hard on brakes @ 145-50. Just not enough shut down area to be safe. Them days are over anyway, but I still want to go watch!

[sixball]

This was posted on the SCTA site last night and some say it was on their facebook  page before the storm hit last night. At best there will be wet salt in a lot of the access areas and that crap is tough on vehicles and hard to fully remove.

Course Condition Update

Salt Report Wed Aug 6th

The Bonneville Salt Flats has experienced a flash cell that came over within the last hour. The storm left additional water on the salt that had been drying out nicely. Therefore the SCTA has decided to delay all activities one full day. Inspection will be held Friday, with the first racing day now scheduled for Sun Aug 10. Please do not use the access road as you will be turned around. Further updates will be posted tomorrow (Thurs) afternoon. We still believe the event will occur based on the current weather forecast.

Scott Andrews, SCTA President.