Here’s a time travel back to the Bonneville Salt Flats in 1966, a year when so many records in different classes were broken.
Vintage R&T Feature: A Great Season For Speed (Bonneville, 1966)
– Updated on September 16, 2021
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Great series, I see the late great driver/journalist Denise McCluggage getting into the Cobra Daytona wearing her polka dot helmet.
I’ve been to the Salt Flats when it was flooded in winter, it’s a bucket list item to attend speed week. A CC gathering perhaps?
Oh wait, more likely Craig Breedlove with stars on his helmet.
This is a great morning’s read—perhaps I devoured all this in the city or junior-high library back in the day.
I doubt I’ll ever make a visit, but realize there’s nothing like experiencing it all first-hand. Hooray to everyone with the funds, devotion, expertise, and nerve to take on such ventures!
It’s hard to say what impresses me most, but that 156mph from a stock street hemi (and car not streamline-modded) was pretty cool.
Great read, but do you have page 32?
Oops. I’ll add it now.
Actually I can’t. My scanner is acting up. Sorry.
Is your scanner still sick?
Is your scanner working yet? Looking forward to page 32.
It is now, and I’ve added Page 32. Sorry for the long wait.
97 mph and 15 hp from a 50cc engine is amazing!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5l1Li4lArM
Good video of it here
I visited Bonnesville in 1993 or 1994 on my return trip from Vancouver, BC, Canada. I drove on the Bonnesville to the top speed in my Chevrolet Celebrity. I had no idea how fast I drove since the speedometer only went up to 85 mph. Seeing the whiteness everywhere and the rows of tall 6-feet rods on either side flashing by as I drove was very meditative experience for me.
Afterwards, I had to scrupper lot of salt from my car. They had consistency of sugar glaze on the donuts.
Speed is one thing but the history of speed is also quite interesting.
The 500cc production motorcycle record was set at Bonneville in 1998 (still stands) by a Suzuki RG500 Gamma quite like the one I currently ride. The racing version still holds the outright fastest average speed from the 1977 Belgian GP at Spa. Yes, faster than current MotoGP.
Nice article…
I was a volunteer in the archive room at the World of Speed museum in Wilsonville Oregon, and spent hours pouring over stuff like this. Could not get enough.