Hello from Bonneville
Tuesday evening – August 11, 2020 (First post of this travelogue)
I am starting this post while sitting on the salt at Bonneville (Google Map)
{google_map}40.775600, -113.87667{/google_map}
Bonneville is right on the Utah/Nevada border at exit 4 on I80 close to Wendover, UT/NV. For those that know me, you know that this is a very special event for me. I first came here in 1990 and have made several events since then (see picture of hat with the buttons attached).
I had hoped that Pat and I could drive the bus with my 59 IHC truck on my trailer, but just ran out of time to get everything ready for the trip. The truck would have fit in so well with all the crazy vehicles that show up at Speed Week.
Instead I rented a car (Audi A5!!!) and have been camping out of it. This is what I did last year and I have it down to a science. I sleep in the car (reclined passenger seat) and fix freeze dried meals for breakfast and dinner. Sleeping in the car is not all that bad. Both rental cars have seats that recline almost flat. While it gets hot on the salt, it cools off significantly in the night and I have to put a blanket over me. Surprisingly I sleep pretty well.
I left Evergreen Friday and drove to Price UT where I stayed at the Holiday Inn. I arrived on the salt around 11:00 AM Saturday about the time the racing started.
The salt this year is pretty good. Over the years, a mining company has been pumping the brine off the flats and the salt thickness has gone from maybe 5 inches 30 years ago to less than one inch now. Supposedly they are now taking the components they want out of the brine and pumping the salt back. The condition of what is left of the salt is mostly a function of the rain. Last year the salt was very wet and the course conditions were not good at all. This year it has been dry and I have not heard any complaints. Indeed, one car just went 460 MPH and lots of records are being set.
Bonneville is a mix of exciting sights AND sounds of the race cars as well as an amazing car show that all the spectators bring. The car show is unlike any that you will find anywhere. Many of the cars are very old primitive “hot rods” and early customs. Almost all of them are pretty basic (almost read crude) construction and that fits me just fine {grin}.
As a part of the tradition of car camping the past two years, I drive to the salt just before sunrise and then fix my favorite coffee (Peets) using a special K cup device and boiling water from my camp stove. Watching the sun rise and drinking great coffee on the salt — it does not get any better that that.
Sunrise on the salt
Morning coffee on the salt
Today I left the salt about 11:00 am and drove to Rock Springs, WY. I had thought about returning via I80 for a change of scenery. The fact that I70 is closed due to a fire made my decision easy.
That is all for this trip.