{"id":1964,"date":"2017-09-27T18:10:54","date_gmt":"2017-09-28T01:10:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lynstjames.com\/?p=1964"},"modified":"2020-10-20T12:22:51","modified_gmt":"2020-10-20T19:22:51","slug":"bonneville-2017","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lynstjames.com\/?p=1964","title":{"rendered":"Bonneville 2017"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/strong><\/p>\n

BONNEVILLE SALT FLATS\u00a0 |\u00a0 USFRA WORLD OF SPEED |\u00a0 SEPTEMBER 14-18, 2017<\/strong><\/p>\n

What is Bonneville Salt Flat Racing? Why is there such a mystique about it? And why does just about every racer want to go there? I was fortunate to finally get the opportunity to run on the salt at the Utah Salt Flats Racing Association (USFRA) 31st<\/sup> Annual World of Speed event.\u00a0 After wanting to run on the salt for many decades, it finally happened, and I\u2019m starting to understand it.<\/p>\n

Let me start with \u201cWhat is Bonneville Salt Flat Racing\u201d <\/strong><\/p>\n

I think it\u2019s the Ultimate Mechanical Challenge.\u00a0 It combines creativity, design, and the engineering ingenuity to \u201cbuild something to a diverse set of rules that will go fast on an unknown surface\u201d.\u00a0 The only area where there\u2019s no compromise is in safety \u2013 because the tech inspectors take no prisoners when it comes to safety inspection.\u00a0 Everything is thoroughly checked (even the all the drivers gear \u2013 including underwear \u2013 to the highest degree of FIA safety specs). There\u2019s a huge diversity in the types of vehicles that show up to run on the salt: production cars, custom built race cars, modified street machines, motorcycles, trucks, 2 wheels\/3 wheels\/4 wheels, wings, no wings, hot rods, just about anything and everything the mechanical mind can imagine. \u00a0And the unknown surface \u2013 well that means every time there\u2019s a meet on the salt, no one knows what condition the salt surface will be in until the day(s) of the meet.\u00a0 It varies based on the weather over the last season, the current weather conditions, and the constant deterioration of the salt.\u00a0 It takes place on public land managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), so authorization has to come from the BLM to schedule the race meets. Many variables, many unknowns, yet people spend all year (years) to build\/prepare a vehicle to run on the salt, and often the event will either get canceled prior to the scheduled dates\/or even while on site.<\/p>\n

Why is there such a mystique about it?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Literally and visually it\u2019s a phenomenon. The area is a remnant of the Pleistocene Lake Bonneville and is the largest (46 sq. miles) of the many salt flats located west of the Great Salt Lake. Speed runs have taken place on the salt flats since 1914. But I think there\u2019s a mystique when one looks out over this massive white surface, surrounded by mountains, and often you see a mirage that looks like the surface is actually water.\u00a0 And depending on the clouds and sun, everything set against this white surface takes on such artistic forms.\u00a0 Jaw dropping.<\/p>\n

Why does just about every racer want to go there?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The combination of history, engineering ingenuity, limited access (at best 3-4 times\/year), the wide range of types of vehicles, and of course \u2013 the SPEED!\u00a0 NOTE:\u00a0 It\u2019s difficult to describe the salt; it\u2019s very coarse, in some places really hard; in other places quite mushy (like slush); quite crusty; and in there are ruts and potholes.\u00a0 It\u2019s never really smooth.\u00a0 And it sticks to everything!!<\/p>\n

Now onto my experience of being there for the first time.<\/p>\n

\"\"How did it happen<\/strong>? I\u2019ve wanted to run on the salt since the 80\u2019s and over time quite a few people knew about it.\u00a0 At Amelia Island in March of this year, Bill Warner had a special display of land speed record cars, and while I was drooling\/taking photos of the cars I ran into Ted Wenz of Savannah Race Engineering, who knew about my desire to run on the salt.\u00a0 He asked me if I was still interested in doing it, and of course I said \u201cYES\u201d.\u00a0 He connected me with John Goodman out of Wichita, KS who was building a Lakester to take to Bonneville, hopefully later in the year.\u00a0 John and I started emailing back and forth, and the wheels were now in motion. \u00a0I joined the USFRA and got the rulebook so I could learn what a Lakester was, and what I needed to get\/do as a driver. NOTE: A Lakester is a streamliner with four exposed wheels, and there are many difference classes based on the engine size.\u00a0 John\u2019s has a 2.0 Cosworth BDG engine, so the category is G\/GL for engine size, Gas Fueled Lakester. The current record in that class if 211.463 mph. I had to upgrade my nomex, which was fine, except for the race suit (because they are so expensive and this would likely be a one-time use, I was hoping to figure out how I could borrow a suit). I ran into Yves Morizot, founder of Stand 21, at the Rolex Reunion at Mazda Raceway, and Stand 21 came to the rescue. They had one suit (FIA 20 grade) that just might fit me.\u00a0 Walla! So I was ready (at least for the things I needed to do). THANK YOU, STAND 21!<\/p>\n

Day 1<\/strong>: I decided to rent a car and drive from Phoenix, which would give me flexibility in my traveling day(s).\u00a0 I left Phoenix on Tuesday, 9\/12 expecting to arrive in Wendover, UT that night.\u00a0 I almost made it, but had a tire blow out on my rental car just past Ely, NV \u2013 so I ended up spending the night in Ely, NV and had to wait for a replacement rental car the next day (crazy car had no spare tire\/just one of those stupid pumps).<\/p>\n

Day 2<\/strong>: As I drove into Wendover the marvel of the salt flats appeared off to my right and I just had to stop and take a photo.\u00a0 I arrived Wednesday afternoon and immediately went to the Bonneville Salt Flats.\u00a0 Everyone was just starting to set up; the folks at registration recognized me and gave me my car and pit pass, but I couldn\u2019t officially register until the car arrived and passed tech.\u00a0 After I checked into the hotel I got a call from John saying they had arrived. (They had 3 flat tires on the drive from Kansas). It rained during the night, at least at the hotel, which was only about 10 miles from the Salt Flats.<\/p>\n

Day 3<\/strong>: We agreed to meet at the course at 9am, so I met John for the first time, along with his crew: \u201cIzzy\u201d, Glen, \u201cBones\u201d, Wayne and a little later \u201cStainless\u201d.\u00a0 The sky is dark, ominous, and looks threatening for the entire day, but the only place it rains is in Wendover, but not on the course.\u00a0 The first order of business is to take the car through tech.\u00a0 This is a newly built car, so tech inspection seems to be more critical than usual. Did you see the movie, \u201cThe World\u2019s Fastest Indian\u201d?\u00a0 Well, that\u2019s what it was like going through tech.\u00a0 John Goodman is an experienced record holder on the salt flats, but hasn\u2019t been there since 1999, so he\u2019s a bit nervous.\u00a0 And then there\u2019s me, a salt flat rookie, but somewhat \u201cknown entity\u201d, so there\u2019s quite a bit of attention being paid by everyone. Almost 2 hours later and after much discussion, we leave the tech area with a list of things that need to be changed, or the car cannot run! Stainless has arrived on the scene (a true legend\/veteran salt flat record holder) and the consensus is they\u2019ll be able to fix things, so let\u2019s work on fitting me and John in the car so we can do our \u201cBail Out\u201d tests (this consists of after being tightly strapped into the car, the driver has to release everything and be able to get out of the car unassisted in less than 30 seconds). \u00a0Love the optimism in all racers!! While I make a lunch run to town (drenched in rain) they fit John in the car and he passes his \u201cBail Out\u201d.\u00a0 Then they start fitting me in the car (not an easy task). Most critical is being able to see and reach everything in the cockpit.\u00a0 About 3 hours later the tech inspectors show up to observe by \u201cBail Out\u201d.\u00a0 I have to be able to exit the car on my own from a tightly strapped in position in under 30 seconds.\u00a0 The canopy weighs about 20# and isn\u2019t hinged, and the latches are hard to reach.\u00a0 But I get it done (in 21 seconds).\u00a0 As I look up at the sky, there\u2019s a rainbow! We leave the track and decide to meet for dinner at the Copper Kettle Diner (not many options in Wendover \u2013 other than the casinos in West Wendover, NV).\u00a0 Good day!<\/p>\n

Day 4: <\/strong>The driver\u2019s meeting is scheduled for 8 am, with another rookie driver\u2019s meeting at 9am.\u00a0 Everyone is able to take their personal\/tow vehicles down both the long course (7 miles) and short course (5 miles) to observe where the mile markers are, lines marking the course, and other important landmarks.\u00a0 It\u2019s incredibly windy and hazy, so it\u2019s pretty difficult to see much of anything.\u00a0 I\u2019m in information overload at this point.\u00a0 \u201cFloating Mountain\u201d and other references are discussed.\u00a0 I\u2019m used to finding braking zones, turn in points, and apexes, but they\u2019re like right in front of me.\u00a0 Now I\u2019m having to look at quarter mile posts, mile markers, and having a difficult time seeing them at 20 mph!\u00a0 Relax!\u00a0 Patience is required.\u00a0 The wind never lets up; gusts over 20 mph, so the track continues to be on \u201chold\u201d because of the wind.\u00a0 But our crew is now more focused on fixing the things that need changed from tech inspection.\u00a0 This mostly has to do with how the fuel lines are run \u2013 and not isolating the driver compartment from potential flow if the fuel line were to leak\/break.\u00a0 A solution is discussed, and before work is started they discuss the solution with the tech inspectors, who seem to agree.\u00a0 Work begins.\u00a0 About 4pm in the afternoon, work is completed and tech inspectors come back for final sign off!\u00a0 YES!\u00a0 We can now officially register and be ready to run tomorrow.\u00a0 Let\u2019s start the motor and do a systems check.\u00a0 Grind\/grind\/grind.\u00a0 The car won\u2019t start.\u00a0 At this point, I determine there\u2019s absolutely nothing I can offer, and I\u2019m completely windblown from the elements, so I decide to go back to the hotel.\u00a0 NOTE:\u00a0 One high point of the day was the arrival of 14 school buses full of high school students from area schools.\u00a0 How cool to see so many kids excited to be around these vehicles, asking questions, and taking photos.\u00a0 They stay for a couple of hours.\u00a0 I find out later that some of the buses got a chance to drive down the course since it was closed due to the winds.\u00a0 What a great experience for the kids!<\/p>\n

\"\"Day 5<\/strong>: Perfect conditions!\u00a0 Cool (low 50\u2019s), sunny, no wind.\u00a0 I arrive at the track about 8am, and the crew are making last minute adjustments to the car to get it ready to move over to the short course. About 8:30 one of the fastest streamliners, the record holder Vesco Terminator II, makes a pass and everyone stops for a few minutes to listen (they announce the speeds on AM radio 1610 & CB radio) to what the speeds are: 315.664mph at the quarter mile, 338 mph at the 1 mile, 395 at the 2 mile, 420.499 at the 3 mile, and final trap speed is 430.524.\u00a0 Not a record run, but really fast!\u00a0 About 10am they get the car loaded onto the trailer to get in line on the short course, and load the van with as much support equipment they think they will need.\u00a0 It\u2019s like the paddock is transported to the line (which is now the pits).\u00a0 And the line is long; 38 cars ahead of us. This reminds me of my early drag racing days; hurry up and wait in line to make a pass that will only last a few seconds\/minutes.\u00a0 There are 3 lines on the short course: one for the 130mph club cars, one for the 150mph club cars, and one for Land Speed Record cars (which is the one we are in \u2013 the longest line!).\u00a0 There is very little activity, time to wander around, but not much to see.\u00a0 Things get really quiet and we realize the course is shut down; there\u2019s a communication glitch with the officials (which threatens safety) so the delay is over one hour.\u00a0 When we\u2019re about third in line John gets suited up and warms up the engine.\u00a0 At about 3:45 (5 hours after we put the car in line) the starter waves John to \u201cgo\u201d. I\u2019m in the van, which is the push vehicle, so we push John at the starting line and off he goes.\u00a0 Since this is his first pass, he\u2019s not to exceed 150mph, and even though he only has to go to the 3 mile marker, he seems to disappear into the horizon.\u00a0 It\u2019s a successful run (clocked 138 mph between the 2-3 mile markers), but he\u2019s not happy.\u00a0 The car is unstable, but he needs to get back in line for his second run (between 150-175mph).\u00a0 They inspect the car and begin making suspension adjustments while it\u2019s in line. There continues to be delays, some vehicles take runs, and darkness begins to threaten.\u00a0 Even though it was scheduled to stop at 5pm, they run until a little after 6pm when one of the cars seems to go off course immediately after leaving the start line.\u00a0 End of day! We keep the car in line so it will be able to go out early tomorrow morning, and after that it will be ready for me to run the salt!\u00a0 But we\u2019re done for today! I\u2019ve been here for four days, but still don\u2019t know what it\u2019s like to drive fast on the salt! \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Day 6<\/strong>: I arrive at the track at 7am \u2013 there\u2019s cloud coverage on the horizon, but you can see the sun peeking out as it comes up.\u00a0 I get a few good photos of the sunrise over the salt.\u00a0 The weather is perfect \u2013 cool, and soon to be partly sunny. John goes out about 9:15am and gets a good run \u2013 174mph. While walking around the pits I look over and see someone I recognize, but didn\u2019t expect to see here \u2013 Ray Evernham.\u00a0 He tells me he\u2019s doing a documentary on the Bonneville Salt Flats.\u00a0 He said Erin told him I was going to be here.\u00a0 He said let\u2019s do an interview.\u00a0 I get suited up and we do an interview.<\/p>\n

Now that John has his first two licensing runs done it\u2019s time to get the car ready for me to run. This involves installing the seat insert, pads, and additional seat belts (cheek belts).\u00a0 At about 12:15 I get my first run down the salt! The time sheet they hand out has the following breakdowns on the short course: NOTE: These are all averages. Here are all my runs.<\/p>\n

LSJ Times:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1st<\/sup> Run (Sun)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2nd<\/sup> Run (Sun)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 3rd<\/sup> Run (Sun)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 4th<\/sup> Run (Mon)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 5th<\/sup> Run (Mon)<\/p>\n

130 Club (1 mile)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 115.15096\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 137.35503\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 132.86531\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 aborted\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 151.70051<\/p>\n

1-2 Mile\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 131.05611\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 149.86149\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 148.56701\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 aborted\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 166.04504<\/p>\n

Quarter (2-1\/2 mile)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 134.43843\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 157.42704\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 153.60874\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 aborted\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 177.99668<\/p>\n

2-3 Mile\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 142.40744\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 157.44307\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 158.42839\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 aborted\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 spin\/crash<\/p>\n

You\u2019ve heard the saying \u201cflying blind\u201d, well my first runs down the salt were literally driving blind.\u00a0 I\u2019ve never done anything in racing quite like this \u2013 no real seat of the pants feel, and can\u2019t see much at all.\u00a0 Between the vibrations, distortion in the canopy, the bright white salt, the wide space between two blue lines marking the edges of the track (done with environmentally safe type fluid), and looking for the mile markers at both edges of the track, you really have no idea where you\u2019re going!\u00a0 I also can\u2019t read the GPS gauge on the steering column that indicates speed.\u00a0 And that\u2019s the ONLY indicator to give you any idea of how fast you\u2019re going (no tach\/no temperature gauges\/no gear indicator), so I just shift by the sound of the engine.\u00a0 They give me \u201cspeed goals\u201d for each gear, but since I can\u2019t read the speed, it really doesn\u2019t matter.\u00a0 I know the goal is to stay between 125-150mph to get my \u201cD\u201d license.\u00a0 Luckily I achieve that with the 142.40744 mph.\u00a0 When they check over the car they realize the battery is down, so they put a battery charger on it and work on the GPS speed gauge. I abort my next run after the 1 mile because the inertia switch tripped and shut the car off (we didn\u2019t realize what it was until John got to the car and saw it had tripped).\u00a0 At 3:30 I get back in and do a second run, but I can\u2019t shift into 4th<\/sup> gear, so I top out in 3rd<\/sup> gear at about 157 mph, which at least earns me my \u201cC\u201d license (150-174 mph).\u00a0 We get back in line and at 5:40 I get in my third run, but still couldn\u2019t get it into 4th<\/sup> gear.\u00a0 I\u2019m getting really frustrated.\u00a0 Long lines, so much work\/time spent taking any part of the body off the car to work on it, it\u2019s like time stands still.\u00a0 And then when I DO finally get on the course, something (or maybe me) isn\u2019t working. We call it a day and decide to go to the Salt River Caf\u00e9 Mexican restaurant for dinner.\u00a0 Good call!\u00a0 Time to gather the troops \u2013 but my throat is sore and I feel a bad cold coming.\u00a0 The weather is predicted to be windy tomorrow (Monday), which means the course may not even be open. I mention to John that if the track is open it might be good for him to run the car and check out what\u2019s happening with 4th<\/sup> gear.\u00a0 It was left we\u2019ll just see what the weather will be.\u00a0 And they\u2019ll check the car out in the morning.\u00a0 I go back to my hotel feeling under the weather (literally) and thinking that the likelihood of me getting any more time on the salt isn\u2019t likely to happen.<\/p>\n

Day 7<\/strong>: I get a good nights rest and slept in a little bit since I figured I wouldn\u2019t be running.\u00a0 My cold wasn\u2019t any worse, so I figured I\u2019d get some cold medicine, stop at the course to see everyone, go to impound to get my license, and get ready for the drive back to Phoenix. As I\u2019m checking out of the hotel my phone rings and it\u2019s Gary (from the team) who says \u201cget suited up \u2013 they found the problem with the shift linkage and we\u2019re getting ready to run with you in it\u201d, so I hustle over to the course.\u00a0 And the conditions are perfect \u2013 no wind, cool (60\u2019s), partly cloudy.\u00a0 I arrive about 9:30 and the crew are working on the car (they found where the shift linkage was hanging up), and we load the car on the trailer and transport it to the pits.\u00a0 There are only a few cars around, which is great \u2013 NO LINES! There\u2019s excitement in the air, and I hear John say \u201cI have a good feeling about this\u201d.\u00a0 YES!<\/p>\n

I\u2019m going down the course and the car shuts off 2 times, so I pushed the inertia button down twice and kept running (got into 4th<\/sup> easily) and when it happens the 3rd<\/sup> time, I know we aren\u2019t going any faster so I abort the run and go down the turn out area.\u00a0 Bummer!\u00a0 John and Stainless decide how to fix it so it won\u2019t happen again, and we take it back to the start line.<\/p>\n

\"\"I notice on my last run how much more my situational awareness had improved.\u00a0 Even though I couldn\u2019t see any better, it just seemed easier to see what I needed to see.\u00a0 And things now felt like they were happening almost in slow motion rather than fast forward motion.\u00a0 As I looked down the course I felt the left side of the course looked a bit smoother (plus that line was used for the slower cars the last few days and probably had gotten beaten up less), so I talk with Stainless and tell him I\u2019m going to try to stay closer to the left side of the course. I learned later I was right because the workers had \u201cdragged the left side of the course up to the 2 mile marker\u201d that morning (that\u2019s how they smooth out the course \u2013 they drag wooden pallets behind trucks to pack down and smooth out the ruts in the salt). My confidence level had also improved, so as they pushed me from the start line and I dropped the clutch at 30 mph in 1st<\/sup> gear, I was \u201cON IT\u201d full throttle \u2013 and went through the gears aggressively \u2013 yes, I\u2019m \u201cgoing for it\u201d.\u00a0 All my shifts were by sound (still can\u2019t read that damned GPS gauge, and when I do see a number, I don\u2019t like it \u2013 it\u2019s too slow).\u00a0 Sailed into 4th<\/sup> gear \u2013 throttle down, just past the 2 mile marker, when the front of the car takes flight and turns toward the right!\u00a0 I go into a couple of spins \u2013 pull the parachute lever (which because I was going backwards didn\u2019t deploy) and land\/dig deep into the salt headed up course.\u00a0 I \u201cBailed Out\u201d (fortunately had practiced that earlier in the week) and by the time the course workers were there I was out of the car.\u00a0 I was fine \u2013 and amazingly the car wasn\u2019t too bad. Fortunately it stayed upright, the nose box was somewhere down course, and the undertray was all torn up, but the cockpit and engine bay\/rear body work, were all attached and other than being covered in white salt, were all good.\u00a0 This was not how it was supposed to go.\u00a0 I knew I didn\u2019t do anything wrong; in fact, I felt pretty good about how I handled it.\u00a0 Then one of the course workers comes up and tells us my speeds: 177mph at the Quarter (2-1\/4) marker (which would earn me my \u201cB\u201d license) and between the 2-3 mile marker (which I was traveling airborne) the speed recorded was 273.63078mph.\u00a0 How could that be?!? The only thing we could determine was I tripped the timing line.<\/p>\n

Afterward<\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s hard to put into words how blessed and grateful I am for the opportunities I\u2019ve had in racing.\u00a0 Running on the salt has been a goal for decades, and to finally get the chance to do it was amazing.\u00a0 I\u2019ve been asked \u201cis it what you expected\u201d, and my reply is \u201cI had no idea what to expect, and kept an open mind\u201d.\u00a0 I\u2019m glad I did.\u00a0 In my opinion it is the ultimate challenge and test of courage, commitment, and determination.\u00a0 The patience required, the problem solving, the ability to brave the elements, and the determination to keep coming back (whether it\u2019s to go for another run, or get ready for another year), is beyond anything else I\u2019ve done in racing.\u00a0 I\u2019ve raced SCCA (amateur and pro), IMSA, Indycar, off road, go karts, FIA, vintage, but nothing compares to running on the salt.\u00a0 Yes, there are rules, but there\u2019s so many ways to \u201cdo it\u201d which can be successful or get you in trouble.\u00a0 To some degree I think it\u2019s a throwback to what racing used to be like (race what you bring to the track), but don\u2019t be fooled, it\u2019s not crazy nor easy.<\/p>\n

I want to thank Ted Wenz for introducing me to John Goodman, and thank John and the entire Kansas Twisters for giving me this opportunity and giving it everything they had to give. And thank you to the Utah Salt Flats Racing Association (USFTRA) for continuing the legacy and passion of salt flat racing \u2013 Safe is FAST!! I want to go back!\u00a0 I want to earn my 200 mph Club Membership!<\/p>\n

– Lyn St. James<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

BONNEVILLE SALT FLATS\u00a0 |\u00a0 USFRA WORLD OF SPEED |\u00a0 SEPTEMBER 14-18, 2017 What is Bonneville Salt Flat Racing? Why is there such a mystique about it? And why does just about every racer want to go there? 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