“Some day I will go to the Salt Flats.” Many hot rodders have said that phrase to themselves at one time or another. If you’re a serious performance nut and haven’t made this promise to yourself, you certainly should.

I’ve made the journey to the Salt Flats 20 or so times in the last 25 years after being railroaded into my first trip by author and old time hot rodder Tex Smith. Little did I know when I made that first trip that I would catch what many call salt fever, ultimately forcing me to make it an annual event. I made my way to Bonneville by airplane the first few years, but have driven one of my street machines every year since 1990. Even though I’ve done it many times, when I drive off the blacktop and onto the salt at the end of the road, the hair on the back of my neck still stands up. Bonneville has that kind of effect on me; it’s the Mecca of hot rodding.

What is it about Bonneville that draws enthusiasts from all over the world every August for Speed Week? Personally, I think it’s one of the most beautiful places on earth; the stark white salt surface has an almost golden glow in the sunshine. The salt is now six inches or so thick in some places, which is good considering the deterioration it experienced 20 years ago, though old timers tell stories of it being almost a foot thick in the 1930s.

The poor condition the salt was in 20 years ago was due mainly to a lack of rain in the winter months and a mining company that had a potash operation nearby. After the mining company’s extraction process was complete, the brine they removed was kept in ponds rather than put back onto the salt. Thanks to Save the Salt, an organization dedicated to the conservation of the Salt Flats, this national treasure is in the process of being restored to its former glory.

Oh yeah, the racing!
The thrill of watching a streamliner run through the four-mile marker at 362 mph will take your breath away. Watching a home built electric motorcycle achieve a speed of 76 mph and then seeing the pride on the face of the young inventor is worth the trip alone. Many believe the racing that takes place on the Salt Flats represents the last true source of automotive innovation. The variety of power sources is unbelievable, with everything from electric to diesel, from 50 cubic inches to four 500 cubic inch engines powers an awesome variety of two- and four-wheel vehicles. I’ve even witnessed a rubber band-powered car that could do 30 mph!

I was fortunate enough to be a small part of a team of friends from Southern California that set a new record in a four-cylinder Flathead class. It only reached 135 mph, but for a four-banger that is quite an achievement. The motor ran a reverse cam that switched the exhaust ports to intake ports to take advantage of better flow.

You owe it to yourself to visit the Bonneville Salt Flats at least once in your life and to experience what makes it the Mecca of hot rodding.

See ’ya down the road.