Save the Salt

Bonneville Race Way, officially known as the "Bonneville Salt Flats International Speed Way,” was entered into the National Registry of Historic Places in 1975. The smooth flat salt surfaces, a unique geological feature, have been used for decades to test engines and car bodies and to race entries in a variety of designs. However, the salt environment has seen some degradation over past decades, so an effort known as “Save the Salt” is now underway to help preserve the salt flats.

The 2018 American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) Annual Convention and Exhibition in Salt Lake City in May, 2018, was a trade show of great benefit to the “Save the Salt” movement. The backdrop was exceptional, and our message was spread to a much larger audience in a much different industry than we have seen with previous shows. We truly appreciate everything AAPG and staff did to set it up.

Having our vehicle, TURBINATOR II, at the Division of Professional Affairs booth, having a related race-theme at the AAPG booth, and granting us a booth of our own really improved our visibility and helped to spread the message that we need to “Save the Salt” for future generations.

Because of the very dry winter, the salt crust on the Bonneville Salt Flats Raceway was substantially harder than it had been in several years, which allowed the cars to get better traction without sinking into the mud. Three of the fastest cars in the world “diced it out” for Top Time of the Meet - Danny Thompson's Challenger 2 at 450 mph, Poteet's Speed Demon at 452 mph and finally, Team Vesco's TURBINATOR II coming out on top with 463 mph fastest mile time and setting the fastest record in Speed Week's 70-year history at 455.407 mph!

However, unless the Salt Pumping Reclamation Project is increased, the very thin surface will continue to erode. Legislators are now working in Washington, D.C., to fund such a project. We hope it will not be too late. We (the organizers of “Save the Salt”) are currently putting together a package whereby Congress would make an appropriation to the BLM to fund a restoration project over a 10-year period. The state of Utah would manage the money and see to it that the project is carried out. To show public support, we are asking for donations to be made to the “Save the Salt” fund as well.

People who are interested in helping with this project are invited to visit www.savethesalt.org for more information or to donate to this effort.

PS – Here is an update to our “First to 500 mph” effort in 2018: We returned to the salt flats in September 2018 and managed to increase our record to 482.464 mph, and then we were able to bump it up again in October. At the final meet, on Oct. 2, 2018, we ran a one-way time of 503.332 mph! This was our 20-plus year goal - to be the first to crack the 500 mph barrier with a wheel-driven vehicle. Due to a rain out, we were not able to make the return run the next day (required to establish an official National record). However, our 503 mph time is an OFFICIAL time! The story of the TURBINATOR II’s historic 503 mph run is featured in the February 2019 issue of Hot Rod magazine, along with pictures of the car, including the centerfold spot. For Speed Week 2019, we plan to return to the Salt Flats to set an official record over 500 mph.

See a Video of Our 500 MPH Run