Bonneville Speedweek 2021

[Iceaxe]

August 11, 2021 - Bonneville Salt Flats

At approximately 12:44 p.m. Mountain Time today, driver Keith Platt 51, lost control of his land speed vehicle at approximately 120mph. Keith was treated by medical professionals at the scene and transported by ambulance to Life Flight and flown to University Hospital in Salt Lake City.

[Iceaxe]

August 9, 2021 - Bonneville Salt Flats

At approximately 2:45 p.m. Mountain Time today, driver Jim Kirk 74, lost control of his land speed vehicle at 180mph. Jim was treated by medical professionals at the scene and transported by ambulance to Life Flight and flown to University Hospital in Salt Lake City.

[rockgremlin]

Speedweek is keeping Life Flight busy this year. Is this a typical year for serious accidents?

If you take a helicopter ride to a Salt Lake hospital are you billed for that?

[Iceaxe]

This is NOT typical, usually one bad crash a year. Usually a death every couple of years. The helicopter ride is on your dime.

The Salt has never been this good in my lifetime and speeds are up.


"There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely games." -Ernest Hemingway

[Iceaxe]

Top speed so far... 399.102 mph... I don't expect that to hold...

That time was set with an unblown B motor (373 to 439 ci). There are a lot bigger motors on the salt and many are running forced induction (blower or supercharger).

[rockgremlin]

400 mph.....that's impressive!!


It's like getting strapped to a rocket.

[Iceaxe]

400 mph.....that's impressive!!


It's like getting strapped to a rocket.

FWIW - Rockets (and jets) are not allowed at Speedweek. The vehicle must be wheel driven.

[Iceaxe]

For the 10th time, Speed Demon 715 has collected the Hot Rod Trophy for SpeedWeek, awarded to the Fastest overall speed for the Event. There speed of 466.290 in A/ Blown Fuel Streamliner powered by a 443 ci small block Chevrolet took top honors.

[Scott Card]

Gotta say, that is a cool looking vehicle!

[Iceaxe]

World of Speed is this weekend on the Salt Flats. I might be crewing on this car, it's a A/BFS streamliner and should be looking at a Speed over 400 mph

[double moo]

World of Speed is this weekend on the Salt Flats. I might be crewing on this car, it's a A/BFS streamliner and should be looking at a Speed over 400 mph

How does this compare to Speed Week? Similar format? Rules?

[Iceaxe]

World of Speed is much smaller than Speedweek, which is both good and bad. The rules for each LSR is the same. The format is also the same.

One hugh difference is YOU can enter your car and attempt to qualify for the 135 mph club, and if you succeed at that you can attempt to make the 150 mph club. This is the only time you can put your street car on the salt and see what it will actually do. Earning entrance into the 135 or 150 club is not as easy as you would think and carries some prestige with it.

I won't be there this weekend as I now have to help my daughter move.

World Finals will be at the end of September. Which again is small, as only the fastest cars in the world are invited to attend.

[double moo]

Thank you for the explanation!

[Sandstone Addiction]

One hugh difference is YOU can enter your car and attempt to qualify for the 135 mph club, and if you succeed at that you can attempt to make the 150 mph club. This is the only time you can put your street car on the salt and see what it will actually do. Earning entrance into the 135 or 150 club is not as easy as you would think and carries some prestige with it.

A person has to reach 135 or 150 mph from a dead stop in 1 mile or less, correct?

[Iceaxe]

A person has to reach 135 or 150 mph from a dead stop in 1 mile or less, correct?

Not correct... you must average 135 or 150 through the measured mile... track length depends on salt conditions each year... but this year the track was 8 miles long and fast times were measured between the 4 mile and 5 mile. 5 to 8 are used for stopping.