Jockey Journal Forum banner

In Honor Of Speed Week

38K views 115 replies 39 participants last post by  thecarfarmer 
#1 ·
See less See more
1
#36 ·
And regarding BUB, my brother and I would like to try and stay and race at least part of BUB, but it comes down to time away from family and work as well as money. If they were further apart it would be easier, or closer, but the one week gap kind of makes it tough!
 
#37 ·
Its exciting when those boxes arrive. Dig through the peanuts and pull out the trophy. It doesn't matter how many times it happens its still exciting. Tyler, post the photos. You and Kyle earned them!
 
#39 ·
No offense taken Bill. When we ran in '69 AMA was affiliated with SCTA, and we ran speed week. While we had a ball in 2010 running with BUB, I wish AMA still ran with SCTA. I missed the cars.

Scotty, we saw you make a run on Old Blue in 2010. I have to say your attitude epitomizes the spirit of the salt racer. You have fun, and that's what it's all about.
 
#40 ·
Dean, I have a question concerning AMA certs. I heard a story a long time ago that Earl Flanders charged a few buck for his signature on a record cert. I can't remember the details and I'm not even sure if I really heard it. You were there. Can you clarify please?

The cars at SpeedWeek are pretty cool. I don't suppose you could be talked into running SpeedWeek in 2012?
 
#41 ·
Scotty, we saw you make a run on Old Blue in 2010. I have to say your attitude epitomizes the spirit of the salt racer. You have fun, and that's what it's all about.[/QUOTE]

Dean,

I REALLY have had fun at the BUB events. My bike is old and slow ( me too ) but it's more about doing it and meeting people and making memories.

The late, great, Fritz Kott befriended me on my first trip, introduced me to some great folks, and showed me the ropes.

I wouldn't trade my experiences at Bonneville for anything, and would recommend the Salt Flats to anyone with an interest in racing.

Thanks for the kind words, who knows, maybe Old Blue has another trip left in it ??

Scotty.....hdstm
 
#42 ·
Scotty, You couldn't have made a better friend than Fritz (and Gayle).
 
#43 ·
Scotty, our bike is "old and slow" too. You nailed it on why we took it back to the salt after 41 years. Records are nice, but Bonneville is about the people, the place and the whole experience. I bet you wouldn't trade your Bonneville experience for anything. My brother and I sure wouldn't. I hope Old Blue does have another trip left in it!
 
#44 ·
I think a lot of us on here are "old and slow" but, for me, Bonneville is more than sheer speed. This year we met up with old friends and made some new friends. We had such a good time that we were making plans for next year before we left. No, I wouldn't trade my Bonneville experiences (or El Mirage) for anything. I've been very fortunate that I've always had a great time there and God smiled on me and let me come home with a couple of records.

I sure hope "Old Blue" has another trip or two left in it. We'll be there next year God willing (and finances permitting).
 
#46 ·
^^^^ Thats a good enough reason to go right there. Hope to see you for more than the few seconds we met this year.
 
#47 ·
Man I need to build a bike.....Bill, you let me know if you need a roadster guy to take your Norton for a spin down the track...;)....I didnt see you this year, we were unfortunately wrenching like crazy this year, in impound twice with no backup.....be back in august...;)
Hans
 
#48 · (Edited)
Hans, Good to see you here. Sorry to hear you were in impound twice without back up. Bonneville can be cruel. The Norton needs a complete going through. Sorry I missed you this year. We got to impound twice. Get on Scott's butt. He needs to make another trip. See you in August.

Meant to add. After we ran we spent a couple of days crewing for Lars Nielsen from Denmark. If we can get together next year we can have a Nordic attack on records.
 
#50 ·
Yeah, it happens...first we had a coil getting hot, then the valve springs decided they had enough punishment (as if .770 lift is hard on springs for 5 miles at a time...;)...so on our last backup run all the exh valves decided to get to know the pistons on a more intimate level....luckily major components were not hurt...but new cam,lifters,rockers,pistons and pushrods of course ...I would love to buildma bike and actually had one in the works before Ileft Texas, I got everything to build multiple bikes....but shipping is a killer....;)
 
#51 · (Edited)
Just gonna' weigh in here. Haven't been to the actual meet yet, but I've driven my ex-wifes Malibu on the ungroomed course in July one year. Ya' gotta' go! It's just too cool. If you're from a State with snow in the wintertime it's really strange. I kept feelin' like I was going to fall thru' the ice into the freezing water!

Like Ryan said: a week or two and less than a grand in money. Edit--I meant like Tyler said! Sorry.

Ya' gotta' go, gotta' go, gotta' go.

Whack.
 
#52 ·
Tell me please how to do SpeedWeek for less than a grand. Between entriy fees and gas alone I'm up to $1600. Maybe if I lived in Wendover.
 
#54 ·
Entry $400. Class change $250. Gas for a 31 year old RV towing a trailer about $900. Camping at the bend is the only freebie for the week. Going home with two record certs in your back pocket and you don't give a shit about the cost.
 
#55 ·
Lucky bastards every one of ya...;)....my expenses start at an international plane ticket to Texas....fuel is 1500 or so just for truck n trailer , then the normal fees, we cant camp as we have a few in our crew and driving another huge expensive rv isnt in the books. Then you have the $1589 for beer n whiskey....I would shit my pants if I actually added up every penny, so I just bust my ass and save as NOT going to Bonneville and racing is not an option. We Are finalizing budget for engine repairs/upgrades now to have car ready 7 minutes before expected depature time in August..;)

"Bonneville is not a bucket list item, it's a lifestyle"...Allison Volk 2008
 
#56 ·
Ha!! That the price you pay for going, what was it Hans?, 244mph? I was in line to run and I was talking to a guy beside me with a nice Stude. He said he flies in his crew. Pays their hotel bill, feeds them etc. He picks up all the costs. He budgets around $15,000 for Bonneville

I don't get to deep into costs. The entry fees and gas I know bt the rest of the expenses I don't think about. If I did I'd never go.
 
#59 ·
Ha!! That the price you pay for going, what was it Hans?, 244mph? I was in line to run and I was talking to a guy beside me with a nice Stude. He said he flies in his crew. Pays their hotel bill, feeds them etc. He picks up all the costs. He budgets around $15,000 for Bonneville

I don't get to deep into costs. The entry fees and gas I know bt the rest of the expenses I don't think about. If I did I'd never go.
I need to find a sugar daddy like that to get our team there! Hell, I just priced a Budget and a Uhaul box truck and got a rude awakening. $1400 for the week!
 
#57 ·
Hoof, I'm talkin' about for goin' and hangin' out, meetin' people and maybe helpin' anybody that might need it--that's all. Actually runnin' at Bonneville is a dream that helps me get thru' the crappy times that life throws at all of us. If me and the Mutt ( and a friend if she can get away ) sleep in the truck bed or tent and eat cheese and bologna sandwiches and water, I can do it from Michigan for about $1200. That allows for 2 or 3 nights in a motel for some good sleep and a shower and a little emergency money. I might go for the last 3 days of Speed Week and the first 3 days of BUB so I can at least run my street bike in " Run What Ya' Brung " and use the week between to go to Cali 'cause Gina's never been there.

I'm not tryin' to whine here, but some of us, because of poor choices in the past, family or health concerns or just plain bad luck--whatever--don't have any disposable income. So just gettin' there is a major victory. For some of us runnin' an el-cheapo roundy-round hobby stocker or 4 or 5 trips a year to the drags is all we can afford to indulge in our passion for goin' as fast as we can just for the pure joy of it. But one way or another I promise if I'm not dead I'm gonna walk up to you in the pits in 2012 and say " Howdy Hoof, I'm Whack. "
 
#58 ·
Whack, it would be a pleasure to meet you. You won't regret going. Camping at the Bend in the Road is free. Its basic but free. The cafe at the I-80 off ramp has showers. I tend to live on $1 tv dinners for the week. There usually is no spare cash for the casinos or eating out.

Stating a fact isn't whining. I can tell you in 1984 I had $23 in the bank and was coming up to three months behind with the rent. You keep plugging away and things get better. Sometimes not as fast as you would like. This year Bonneville cost more than expected so I had to skip the last two El Mirage meets. We'll see how things go but Bonneville is a definite.
 
#60 ·
He would a big help indeed!!!! Unfortunately I didn't have enough time to make him my BFF.
 
#61 ·
Thanks for the encouragement Hoof, it's greatly appreciated! Looking forward to meeting you, that's for sure. I've just tonight put a count down calender--days to Speed Week--on my computer and I'm making a paper one for my bathroom mirror.

whack
 
#63 ·
Stop reminding me!! The sidecar looks like it got hit by a bunker buster. Gotta git movin'!!
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top