Photo: motorcyclemelee.com
It's a sad day for all the speed addicts who pre-registered for the Bonneville Speed Week event at the Salt Flats in Utah. The Southern California Timing Association (SCTA) cancels the land speed record-setting event for the second year consecutively and the reason is unchanged, the poor condition of the salt bed.
SCTA President/Race Director Bill Lattin and the Bonneville Nationals Inc. (BNI) Chairman Roy Creel spent the whole day on the salt on July 20th trying to see whether they can find a suitable surface for the race course.
Unfortunately, the longest strip of salt that could safely support the stress of speeding vehicles was only 2.25 miles (3.6 km) long, whereas the absolute minimum length needed was 3 miles (4.8 km). Even so, the current condition of the Salt Flats only allows a single course to be set, instead of three or more as in the past years.
The 2015 Speed Week could have been one of the largest events to take place at the iconic Bonneville Salt Flats in the decades-long history of racing. Almost 600 racers had already pre-registered for the event, with more that would attend expected for a record participation, but now everybody will stay at home.
The SCTA adds that everyone will get a refund and that future events could be possible if the wet salt dries out. However, it will take some serious action to keep the Salt Flats alive, as it looks like certain human
activities are not doing a favor to this area.
Unfortunately, the longest strip of salt that could safely support the stress of speeding vehicles was only 2.25 miles (3.6 km) long, whereas the absolute minimum length needed was 3 miles (4.8 km). Even so, the current condition of the Salt Flats only allows a single course to be set, instead of three or more as in the past years.
The salt is either wet or wet and muddy, 600 racers stay at home
According to local sources, mud has covered a six-mile (9.6 km) area in the region used as one of the main race courses in the past. In some places the crust is very thin or is missing completely, exposing the gypsum mud laying beneath the salt.The 2015 Speed Week could have been one of the largest events to take place at the iconic Bonneville Salt Flats in the decades-long history of racing. Almost 600 racers had already pre-registered for the event, with more that would attend expected for a record participation, but now everybody will stay at home.
The SCTA adds that everyone will get a refund and that future events could be possible if the wet salt dries out. However, it will take some serious action to keep the Salt Flats alive, as it looks like certain human
activities are not doing a favor to this area.
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