Photo: theatlantic.com
It may sound a bit funny to some, but the Bonneville Salt Flats need some replenishment from time to time. The most iconic place on Earth for land speed record setting and breaking on both the automotive and the motorcycling world, the Bonneville Salt Flats is receiving constant care aimed at preserving the geological and racing jewel.
A national treasure, the Bonneville Salt Flats have been confronted with a significant salt loss staring from the 40’s and during the recent years, programs to restore the condition of this place closer to its original state have been started. It looks like brine has been pumped into the Salt Flats by the millions of tons in the last years, but the place still needs more effective action.
The Save the Salt Coalition is the coordinator of a dry salt project which will be carried out in collaboration with the SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association), the Southern California Timing Association (SCTA) and the US Bureau of Land Management (BLM). They will also employ the services of Shelton Construction, an experienced company in the Bonneville area.
So far, around 2,000 tons of dry salt are reported to have been layered out on the flats, directly over the mud areas, where it was graded and dried to a hard texture which is suitable for racing. The project is targeting specific areas of the race tracks and is aimed at restoring the former aspect and texture of the Salt Flats surface before any further decay occurs.
The year 2014 marks a full century of land speed record racing at the Bonneville Salt Flats, and the restoration project in the area is a most welcome way to both celebrate 100 years of racing and show respect for this National Landmark site. This is only the first step in the much larger project, so we can hope that the Bonneville Salt Flats will maintain their “racing holiness” for many a year to come.
The Save the Salt Coalition is the coordinator of a dry salt project which will be carried out in collaboration with the SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association), the Southern California Timing Association (SCTA) and the US Bureau of Land Management (BLM). They will also employ the services of Shelton Construction, an experienced company in the Bonneville area.
So far, around 2,000 tons of dry salt are reported to have been layered out on the flats, directly over the mud areas, where it was graded and dried to a hard texture which is suitable for racing. The project is targeting specific areas of the race tracks and is aimed at restoring the former aspect and texture of the Salt Flats surface before any further decay occurs.
The year 2014 marks a full century of land speed record racing at the Bonneville Salt Flats, and the restoration project in the area is a most welcome way to both celebrate 100 years of racing and show respect for this National Landmark site. This is only the first step in the much larger project, so we can hope that the Bonneville Salt Flats will maintain their “racing holiness” for many a year to come.
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