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  • Bonneville Speedweek doomed??

    I met an interesting young man, at a funeral home, last night. He is a Ford engineer and was part of the team that just raced that fuel cell car at Bonneville and broke 200 mph. He only gives Speedweek a few more years, due to the aging participants. He said young people just arn't interested in this event. It doesn't sound like this young team of Ford, Roush and Ohio State people was well received by the old time racers. He didn't see any Studes. I just had to ask. Oh, their driver was a Ford retiree that has driven 200 milers before. During Speedweek, the Detroit Free Press did a feature story on a cxouple local motorcycle racers. Alas they were around 70 years old. Oh, if you haven't seen the movie, The Worlds Fastest Indian, you must. It's about an old timer racing an Indian Motorcycle on the salt. It is delightful and a true story. Huck, in Dearborn

    Gary Hildebrandt
    Gary Hildebrandt

  • #2
    While on the subject of Speed week and Bonneville Steve Fassett took off last Monday looking for dry lake beds to set a new land speed record. I have never heard why he did not just go to Bonneville. Also if there are more dry lake beds suitable for setting LSR why haven't they been used before. I would have to think that all the dry lake beds have been scoped out by now. How long has Bonneveille been used for setting records now? 70 years or more?


    Gary Sanders
    Nixa, MO
    President Toy Studebaker Collectors Club. Have an interest in Toy Studebakers? Contact me for details.
    Gary Sanders
    Nixa, MO

    Comment


    • #3
      While on the subject of Speed week and Bonneville Steve Fassett took off last Monday looking for dry lake beds to set a new land speed record. I have never heard why he did not just go to Bonneville. Also if there are more dry lake beds suitable for setting LSR why haven't they been used before. I would have to think that all the dry lake beds have been scoped out by now. How long has Bonneveille been used for setting records now? 70 years or more?


      Gary Sanders
      Nixa, MO
      President Toy Studebaker Collectors Club. Have an interest in Toy Studebakers? Contact me for details.
      Gary Sanders
      Nixa, MO

      Comment


      • #4
        I was out there last month and saw 3 or 4 studes running. I disagree with whoever said that the younger people are not interested in running. I am 38 and saw several people my age or younger running cars and bikes out there. I, myself now have saltfever and am starting the build on a bellytank lakester hopefully to run next year.

        Comment


        • #5
          I was out there last month and saw 3 or 4 studes running. I disagree with whoever said that the younger people are not interested in running. I am 38 and saw several people my age or younger running cars and bikes out there. I, myself now have saltfever and am starting the build on a bellytank lakester hopefully to run next year.

          Comment


          • #6
            Yeah this is a new one on me on both accounts; young people aren't interested and they don't think Speedweek will last. I love seeing some of the extreme cars(including our own) out there at the salt. The jet trucks, the semis, are a real hoot to look at on the web. I'd love to visit there one of these days myself. I have also seen the photos on the web from the website when they're shot every year and there seems to be a pretty regular stream of people in and out of the flats all week, just looking at the long list of record holders every year and the photos from the runs. Yeah, I'd have to agree on the salt conditions. The thinning of the salt may cut Bonneville, just like the occaisional rain that comes through there during Speedweek, World of Speed, and the World Finals.
            There's also two other dry lakes that direction I know of that are used as well as Bonneville. There's El Mirage and Muroc dry lake beds, and a few others that direction that I can't remember at the moment.


            1964 Studebaker Commander R2 clone
            1950 Studebaker 2R5 with 170 turbocharged
            [img=left]http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t102/PlainBrownR2/DSC00003.jpg?t=1171152673[/img=left]
            [img=right]http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t102/PlainBrownR2/DSC00009.jpg?t=1171153019[/img=right]
            [img=left]http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t102/PlainBrownR2/DSC00002.jpg?t=1171153180[/img=left]
            [img=right]http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t102/PlainBrownR2/DSC00005.jpg?t=1171153370[/img=right]
            1964 Studebaker Commander R2 clone
            1963 Studebaker Daytona Hardtop with no engine or transmission
            1950 Studebaker 2R5 w/170 six cylinder and 3spd OD
            1955 Studebaker Commander Hardtop w/289 and 3spd OD and Megasquirt port fuel injection(among other things)

            Comment


            • #7
              Yeah this is a new one on me on both accounts; young people aren't interested and they don't think Speedweek will last. I love seeing some of the extreme cars(including our own) out there at the salt. The jet trucks, the semis, are a real hoot to look at on the web. I'd love to visit there one of these days myself. I have also seen the photos on the web from the website when they're shot every year and there seems to be a pretty regular stream of people in and out of the flats all week, just looking at the long list of record holders every year and the photos from the runs. Yeah, I'd have to agree on the salt conditions. The thinning of the salt may cut Bonneville, just like the occaisional rain that comes through there during Speedweek, World of Speed, and the World Finals.
              There's also two other dry lakes that direction I know of that are used as well as Bonneville. There's El Mirage and Muroc dry lake beds, and a few others that direction that I can't remember at the moment.


              1964 Studebaker Commander R2 clone
              1950 Studebaker 2R5 with 170 turbocharged
              [img=left]http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t102/PlainBrownR2/DSC00003.jpg?t=1171152673[/img=left]
              [img=right]http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t102/PlainBrownR2/DSC00009.jpg?t=1171153019[/img=right]
              [img=left]http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t102/PlainBrownR2/DSC00002.jpg?t=1171153180[/img=left]
              [img=right]http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t102/PlainBrownR2/DSC00005.jpg?t=1171153370[/img=right]
              1964 Studebaker Commander R2 clone
              1963 Studebaker Daytona Hardtop with no engine or transmission
              1950 Studebaker 2R5 w/170 six cylinder and 3spd OD
              1955 Studebaker Commander Hardtop w/289 and 3spd OD and Megasquirt port fuel injection(among other things)

              Comment


              • #8
                Here are a few of the Studes I saw out there.
                [img][/img]




                Comment


                • #9
                  Here are a few of the Studes I saw out there.
                  [img][/img]




                  Comment


                  • #10
                    [img][/img]

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      [img][/img]

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        I have been wondering for years how Salt Flat racing works. Is it open to everyone and anyone? Do you just show up and start racing?? Is there a club or some sort of assoc. you must go through? Is there more then one place to go to of anywhere is OK? Just looking for some basic info as I am one that know's nothing about how this works. Thanks

                        1956 Studebaker Pelham Wagon Houston, Texas
                        Remember, \"When all is said and done. More is always said then ever done.\"

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          I have been wondering for years how Salt Flat racing works. Is it open to everyone and anyone? Do you just show up and start racing?? Is there a club or some sort of assoc. you must go through? Is there more then one place to go to of anywhere is OK? Just looking for some basic info as I am one that know's nothing about how this works. Thanks

                          1956 Studebaker Pelham Wagon Houston, Texas
                          Remember, \"When all is said and done. More is always said then ever done.\"

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            You have to be registered to run, Then your car has to be teched in and approved. You have to qualify for a class drivers licence (different classes for different speeds.) There were 2 courses set up this year.
                            Go to the SCTA website. http://www.scta-bni.org/

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              You have to be registered to run, Then your car has to be teched in and approved. You have to qualify for a class drivers licence (different classes for different speeds.) There were 2 courses set up this year.
                              Go to the SCTA website. http://www.scta-bni.org/

                              Comment

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