Who Has Been To the Bonneville Speed Week?

[Pterodactyl]

We are considering going to Bonnevile next year. Would like to hear from an experienced hand about a few things.

- SCTA has two events; Speed Week in August and the World Finals in September. Which is the best event to attend?

- Do they allow camping on the Salt Flats near the event? If so, then what sort of amenities are available; porta potties, food, etc?

- How long a ride is it to the nearest place that would offer lodging, camping, restaurants, fuel and groceries?

- Just how hot is it in mid-August to mid-September?

- Any other pearls of wisdom will be welcomed.

 

[FJRay]

Haven't done speed week but have done the BUB speed trials which is the motorcycle event and a bit smaller . It's usually the week after labor day and count on it being hot most anytime in the summer . If you want shade bring it with you.

There is camping at the bend in the road but not on the salt cause it's a protected area. Maybe some porta potties but not much else.

There used to be a restaurant where you exit I80 but it's been a couple years since I was there so I don't know if it'is open

Wendover is just to the west a few miles and has anything you need including lots of ways to loose your money.

Bonneville is one of those bucket list places to visit. you will love it or hate it. I plan on being there next year for the BUB event. I usually get a room at the Nugget in Wendover.

 

[NMRoadRunner]

September in Utah is hot, July is allot hotter.

 

[Hudson]

Wendover is the place to stay unless you like a 1.5 hour ride from Salt Lake. There's a ton of wrinky dink hotels; the casino hotel on the Nevada side of Wendover is your best bet, but you have to book a long time in advance (like 6-8 months) unless you are attending BUB. Wendover is about 20 min away, and is the closest place. I suppose you could camp somewhere near there, but unless you had an RV, it wouldn't be any fun.

Speed Week is crowded, but you can see the super fast cars. BUB happens a couple of weeks later and is all motorcycles. Ray is right - you need to bring a four post sun tent or similar, as the sun is fierce. Bring a hat and an umbrella too, and plenty of water in an ice cooler.

Think carefully about whether you want to ride your own bike or car on the salt flats. The salt gets EVERYWHERE and will corrode pretty easily. Since it rains frequently in that area during both events, your car or bike will get salt water on it. The water on the flats is like a paste that coats the underside of your car and won't come off without a pressure washer. Wendover has a coin-op spray and wash and you'll want to spend $10 in quarters spraying every square inch of the underside of your car or bike. I took an SUV and near new shiny aluminum trailer to haul bikes, and that's the last time the trailer was ever shiny. Lots of really smart people fly into Salt lake and rent a car but stay in Wendover, and let the rental company deal with the corrosion (but be sure to spray the car and vacuum it out before you return it).

Watching the speed runs is kind of interesting. The real fun is either in the pits, or if you know someone or offer to help out, at the starting line (where spectators are not allowed unless they are helping with the run). You'll want an umbrella out there. Just watching the speed runs from the pits is ok, you see them fly by at about the 2-3mi mark, where they haven't quite hit their top speed. I think Speed Week would be more fun as a pure spectator, but BUB is a blast if you can hang with the racers.

I would absolutely do Bonneville if you get the chance to see Speed Week or BUB. Definitely a bucket list event.

 

[Hudson]

Here's a link to images from my last trip

 

[Pterodactyl]

Thanks folks.

 

[bigjohnsd]

I went last year, spent the day on the salt.

If you have a horse in the race it might be fun.

As a spectator sport it was quite boring, made a NASCAR race on TV seem exciting.

It was hot as hell.

Umbrella while walking really helped.

No sunscreen is strong enough

There were few facilities on the salt, you could get a grease burger and there were places to pee.

The FM radio channel broadcast from the tower was all informing.

Fast cars at high speed from a great distance, bring 10x plus binoculars.

A once in a lifetime event for me. I went because one of the Roadstar Warrior brothers built a twin engine turbocharged RS Warrior and was trying to go 200 mph on an in streamlined naked bike. He almost made it before he fell off doing 190+. He'll be back in 2015.