Trip to Bonneville speed week - advice needed

[spoolin70]

Hi all.

I'm hoping to get some advice on speed week, not so much the event, more the before and after.

Some background - My Dad was 70 a couple of days ago so for his birthday and as way of thanking him for his years of hard work, sacrifices and looking after his family, I thought it would be great to go to Bonneville Speed Week. Neither of us are regular holiday people (his passport expired in 1984 and my last holiday was to JPM dyno day). He has never been to America and I've only stopped at LAX for a couple of hours while transferring to another flight so this is quite a big deal for us. We have the same interests so there's no problem there and I'm used to driving so long distances are fine.

The question - I've already booked the hotel in Wendover, UT for speed week but I'm now thinking of having a few days either side of the event to see a bit more. Wendover itself is pretty small so I'm thinking of arriving only the day before (august 7th).

Would you fly to LAX, have a few days seeing the sights then drive to Wendover. Possibly then fly home from Vegas ?
Go the opposite way and fly into Vegas first ? Or even fly into Salt Lake City (closest to Wendover) and drive out after ?

There's not a lot in it price wise for flights and the drive from Vegas or LA is only a few hours difference.

Your thoughts please - or is there another route worth taking ?

Thanks for any guidance

Darren (and his Dad)

[richie]

I would fly into LAX for sure, spend a few days running around and checking out the sights and shops, fill your bags with goodies , that way you get used the time difference etc before going to Utah, I would fly home out of Denver if it was me, the drive from Utah to Denver is really enjoyable for me.
But given you will be knackered after speed week I would probably fly home from Salt lake city, just make sure you can leave your rental car in a different state

Sounds like a really cool trip and it will be weird for your dad to be driven around by you  

cheers Richie

[RichardinNZ]

Nothing to do with the flights (sorry) but I followed some advice on here about car hire and have saved about 30% by not hiring at LAX.  In our case we are getting picked up at the airport and driven to/from Anaheim and hiring the car there and still saving money. 

[richie]

Nothing to do with the flights (sorry) but I followed some advice on here about car hire and have saved about 30% by not hiring at LAX.  In our case we are getting picked up at the airport and driven to/from Anaheim and hiring the car there and still saving money. 

That is the way to do it if you can get a ride to somewhere that doesnt add "airport tax" to the rental car charges

cheers Richie

[spoolin70]

Hahaha I didn't think of that Richie - we better start at New York then if I'm to make some miles back 

I had never considered Denver, that's another one to look into thanks.

Richard - I didn't realise there was airport tax. I'm one of those people that just walks straight to the nearest rental place, looks at the pretty pictures, hears "you can upgrade from a V6 to a V8 for an extra $10 a day" and signs on the dotted line. A 30% saving would be very welcome. Are you still hiring from a major chain like Hertz, Avis etc ?

Thanks
Darren.

[Fiatdude]

Burly is the guy to contact -- burlybug@comcast.com -- -- He is the VW guru for all things speed week and land speed and lives real near the salt

E-mail him your thoughts and ask him for his input -- He is the greatest and I'm sure he will make some great suggestions

[spoolin70]

Thanks for the contact details Fiatdude - I'll ask his opinion for sure.

Would be great to see some VW's on the salt 

Checked out some rental cars earlier - camaro or corvette haha (does anyone actually hire these ?)

Thanks
Darren

[Fiatdude]

YOU can rent a Ferrari if you want -- just whip out the wallet -- -- Camaro's are easier to get than Vette's -- Vette's don't have any trunk space to your luggage anyway -- Budget or Avis has all them to rent -- check them out

[spoolin70]

Hay Fiatdude

Can you check the email address you posted earlier for Burly please.

I've only just realised that I got a message send failure notification back when I tried to email him.

Thanks
Darren

[Fiatdude]

My bad ----- It is burlybug@comcast.net  --- ---

[RichardinNZ]

We hired from Enterprise, who I'm told are larger than Hertz etc.  The posters on the wall showed Camaros etc but we had a Yukon XL as there were 6 of us with a lot of luggage!  We took out the full insurance cover, although I found my holiday insurance already provided the liability cover which is required by law.  I showed the policy to Enterprise and this saved us $10/day.  It is worth having the full insurance; the fact that someone tried to break into the car in Vegas and made a mess of one of the window channels didn't cost us anything (zero excess).

Writing this at LAX as we wait to board our flight home...

Richard

[mg]

I was told some rental car companies do not allow their cars on the salt.
But a few local rental companies will rent cars that can be driven on the salt lake.
At least that's what I heard.
http://youtu.be/c-35_kGNA3s

Also a little over an hour away is Miller Motorsports park.
http://www.millermotorsportspark.com/

[spoolin70]

Richard - thanks for the tip on the car insurance. It's these kind of things that are easily missed, but the saving could easily amount to some good casino money 

How did you find LA in general ? Super busy and overcrowded ? Visit any shops ?

mg - thanks for the miller motorsport park tip off. It's another one on our list now (along with some great links from Fiatdude). I've read that about rental cars on the salt. Some can charge up to $800 for cleaning apparently if any trace of salt is found, even under the carpets. A good valet is the way to go after before it's returned I've read.

Like the video too - I'm quite partial to a bit of Art Arfons green monster myself 

Thanks guys
Darren

[RichardinNZ]

Hi Darren
We only visited Disneyland in LA which is very conveniently located for a trip Gene Berg Enterprises and Clyde Berg!  We then drove to Las Vegas from there. We found the interstates out of LA busy but OK to drive but we're glad we'd been lent a US GPS.  

Richard

[Fiatdude]

Yeah -- be prepared for traffic -- the rush hours in the morning (6-9) and evening (4-7) can be very trying -- IF you're leaving LAX for parts unknown and not on the road by 2pm you'll be enjoying our long parking lots,, of course if your going against traffic (out when everyone is going in,, etc) you can be flying too LOL -- having more than one person in the car helps as you can run the HOV (carpool) lanes that are towards the center on the road (I almost said to the left but thought that would of really confused you backwards driving guys LOL) -- Google maps is real cool for mapping your routes around SoCal (you can preplan your routes before leaving home) and there is a app for your phone called WAZE that is real good for directions and real time traffic and accident reporting unless you can get a GPS..... Your trip sounds so great, especially that you're taking your dad along with you to enjoy. Hope you have a great time

You might want to plan on hitting a Home Depot, LOWES or a yard supply place and get you both some really BIG floppy gardener-type hats and sun screen, and get a cheap cooler for the back seat, keep on hand lots of water bottles and ICE, for being on the salt or parking lots during the day time,,,, Because it will be H O T, I mean really HOT, especially for you guys not use to it

[kaferdave]

I know that Hertz, Alamo, Enterprise, and other well-known rental car agencies will have you sign a release that allows them to charge up to $500.00 US if they find salt underneath their car.. Get a bunch of quarters, and hit the car wash on the west end of Wendover...

[richie]

I know that Hertz, Alamo, Enterprise, and other well-known rental car agencies will have you sign a release that allows them to charge up to $500.00 US if they find salt underneath their car.. Get a bunch of quarters, and hit the car wash on the west end of Wendover...

Surely that's renting locally to the salt?  As Darren is driving out from LA I don't see the rental company their having any release requirements, of all the rentals I have had over the years I never have come across it, even going to ski resorts etc

cheers Richie

[Fiatdude]

I know that Hertz, Alamo, Enterprise, and other well-known rental car agencies will have you sign a release that allows them to charge up to $500.00 US if they find salt underneath their car.. Get a bunch of quarters, and hit the car wash on the west end of Wendover...

Surely that's renting locally to the salt?  As Darren is driving out from LA I don't see the rental company their having any release requirements, of all the rentals I have had over the years I never have come across it, even going to ski resorts etc

cheers Richie

X2 -- "Don't Ask -- Don't Tell" LOL

[spoolin70]

If it saves me $500 I'll be cleaning it myself 

I've heard of it being asked if you rent from Salt Lake City around the time of speed week, but Richie is correct, I'll more than likely be hiring from LA.

The next point is, can I get 4" Pauter cylinders home in hand luggage 

Thanks again
Darren

[Fiatdude]

of course -- LOL might have to throw most of your new t shirts in the post to get them home though

[spoolin70]

Nearly a year to organise and virtually one evening to undo !

Made the hard decision earlier to cancel all plans for our trip as I saw this morning on the way to work that speed week 2015 has been cancelled.

Feel pretty gutted but must be ten times worse for all the teams/drivers/builders that have invested so much time, effort and money.

Thanks for all the advice guys

Maybe next year huh 

[Fiatdude]

Was thinking of you when I heard the news over the weekend -- SUCKS, I say -- --


What I've been hearing/rumbling is that there is a real possibility that there won't be another Salt race because of all the mining of salt going on and they are not restoring any salt to the racing surface area -- almost all the areas designated for racing have only 3-4" of salt covering the mud right now -- Could this really be an end to an era? WOW

[spoolin70]

I've read lots of articles in the last 24hours and I've seen what you mentioned too - the whole future of the event could be at threat.
They are hopeful that the world finals event will go ahead but after that, who knows (I think el mirage is closed too).

There is apparently only 2 and a quarter miles of usable surface. Soo close to the 3 miles that many drivers had voted for that they would still be willing to race on, slower speeds admittedly but better than nothing.

On a side note, our flights are non-refundable so if we get offered an extension for a year, next years event may be possible, if it even happens though, not sure I can go through all this disappointment again 

Oh well, life goes on 

Thanks
Darren

[Fiatdude]

We've had some HUGE rain storms over the last weekend !!!!!! and El Mirage been a dry lake bed,,, Well, lets say it isn't to dry right now LOL -- -- It'll be back in action in a month or two -- Temps will be back into the 100's (38*C) by this weekend in that area......

Take a look at going to the Texas or California Mile (or mile and half magnum) races -- not as eclectic as the salt, but some nice times

[Fiatdude]

G'day Challengers



Well, we are now less than two months away from World of Speed at Bonneville. Will you be racing, crewing or spectating?





Sept 12-15 World of Speed (130 MPH Club and 36hp & BB Challenge). One mile standing start time trial at the world famous Bonneville Salt Flats, Wendover, UT (Note-The 175 mile per hour and faster long course racing will "probably" not take place due to salt conditions on that portion of the salt on the long eight mile course - Their is no official word from the USFRA at this time). All VW racers and spectators are welcome. For current up to date information visit www.saltflats.com . Also watch the 36hp & BB Challenge group FaceBook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/36hpvw.challenge. Pit set-up and tech inspection begins Friday September 11th.




Please email me at my new email address-  burlybug@outlook.com  -and let me know if you are planning on joining us on the salt.




As many of you have heard, the SCTA/BNI Speedweek held annually in early August has been cancelled. Apparently a large mud flow occurred onto the long streamliner course over the winter from the mountains west of the salt. The natural winter rains and snow melt were insufficient in repairing this portion of Bonneville this spring, however, it is hoped there will be room for two short courses (for up to 175 miles per hour racers) east of the damaged long course, but this has yet to be determined by the powers that be. Please closely watch www.saltflats.com for current information and race course conditions.




If the USFRA is able to secure one or two short courses on which to race, be prepared for lot's of extra competitors and long wait times in line. It is possible some long course racers may even run on the slower short courses for "tune-up" runs in preparation for Octobers World Finals.




Looking forward to hearing from you. Until then, may the Speed be with you.............




Burly




burlybug@outlook.com