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Show SALT FLAT NEWS, AUGUST-SEPTEMBE- 1971 R, BONNEVILLE SALT FLATS STATE RESERVE Tooele County Elevation: 4,311 ft. The Bonneville Salt Flats as a speed and endurance site was given birth in 1911 when iW. E. Rishel put the first automobile on the salt. Teddy Texlaff brought his Blitzen Benz to the salt in 1914 and established a new record in the world of speed for 141.73 miles per hour. In 1932 Ah Jenkins, a Utahn, began his racing activity on the salt; and in 1951 he piloted his "Mormon Meteor, a racer weighing over a ton, at the fantastic need of 200 miles per hour. Each autumn the flats are the scene of the "Bonneville Nationals where racers and hotrodders from all walks of life and all parts of the world luring their vehicles and motorcycles to establish new records and to test their machines. The "fastest mile on earth was the scene of a new international speed record established in 1970 by Gary Gabel ich and his bullet nosed "Blue Flame powered by natural gas in establishing a new record averaging 622 miles per hour. r The race track itself, a shimmering expanse of white at the foot of an austere range of mountains, is the residual of old Lake Bonneville, a prehistoric body of water. Residual chemicals, principally sodium chloride, have been washed into this ancient lake over thousands of yean and, through the evaporation process that has occurred, created a hard, white surface that extends for miles without a blemish or single living thing to impede or create a hazard to the flight of mans screaming speed machines. d The Bonneville Speedway Association, a group of citizens interested in automobile of racing activities on in been instrumental and administration have the racing, protection, preservation, the Salt Flats. Now to be administered by the Division of Parks and Recreation for the State of Utah, racing will continue; and the public will be permitted to watch the racing activities under strict safety considerations. Facilities at the moment are extremely primitive. The State Department of Highways has provided rest rooms and elevated observation platforms for the highway visitor at a point south of the race track itself ; and as the racing activity increases, additional facilities will be provided by the Division of Parks and Recreation. . civic-minde- ht Immediate Release All points of the U.S.A. will meet on the Bonneville Salt Flats of Utah August 22nd as competition begins for the 23rd Annual Bonneville National Speed Trials. enFor 7 days have will thusiasts the opportunity to tune and compete for National Land Speed Records. The meet ends Saturday, August 28, 1971 with final Record Run Attempts that morning. This event is sanctioned and conducted by the Southern California Timing Association, cohigh-performan- ce sanctioned by the American-Motorcycle Association and for the first time this year by the National Hot Rod Association. The Speed Trials compose of individual timed runs in established classes. If a competing car or bike breaks the existing record during a one-wa- y qualification, reche may then make a two-wa- y STATISTICAL INFORMATION ord attempt the following mornLAND ing, and if the average of these two runs exceeds the existing recDate Value Grantor Method ord, the contestant becomes the Acreage Acquired new record holder for the class in Purchase 640 15,031.70 which he is Heyman, etal. competing. Lease to Bureau of Land Management 30.743.06 Since the beginning of Speed Week in 1949, J. Otto Crocker, Lease to State Land Board 2,480 one of the nations foremost techTotal 33.863.06 $15,031.70 nicians in his field, has provided DEVELOPMENTS accurate timing of the event. His None clocks measure speeds to one mite per hour for Recreation Investment Total $15,031.70 the first quarter mile after entry has accelerated over a two mite NEARBY OPPORTUNITY approach. Clocks also record miles 10 miles of scenic drive Danger Cave State Historical Monument speeds for three additional should entries qualify at a speed Pilot Peak Pioneer Landmark above 175 mph and wish to run the longer distance of 5 miles. Entries range from the stock bodied Production, Gas Coupe "'A, and Sedan classes with speeds " h on into from Grand Modified, Roadster, Fuel, vt V , Touring sports cars and Hot Rod classes turning speeds between with the grand finale being the Streamliner, 69 th vy, 114-209mp- 125-256m- 9 xXSrXl j, . a-.- i No Put Qa pee?'.? 4 i. t v It is cordially requested that persons desirous of chucking it do so in the can. Littering is against the law in v Utah. ... NEWS photo by R. Mtnzici Lakester and Sports Racing classes setting Land Speed Records at 140 to over 350mph. Also in strong competition are the bikes ranging from stock frames to totally streamlined machines with speeds from 38 to 265mph. Entry fees are $35.00 or $50.00 for post entry after July 15th. Pit Passes are $5.00 for 7 days or $1.00 per day. If you are interested in competing at this is not too late to write for Rule Books and Entry years event, it Forms. The one unique feature of the Speed Trials is that there are no cash awards for new records or class wins. Trophies and metal Timing Plaques and hopefully a great deal of recognition are the only awards for achievement. For the past 22 years, these meets have been conducted successfully as "run for fun events and the majority of its participants like it ' this way. They are only there to pursue tiie sport they love so well. The challenge of man and mechanical skill and endurance is very dear to these LSR seekers because most of their cars and bikes began as rough drawings on scratch paper, then built in home garages. When these machines roll off tiie trailers and up to the Starting Line, they are products of many sleepless nights and months of labor. In addition to doing all the work, these men go out and hustle to obtain a few nee parts or products in exchange for putting a companys logo or name on the tide of the vehicle. It is very rare to find 100 sponsored entries at the Speed Trials. Most of them are financed entirely by the owners. These men enjoy the opportunity to experiment try new combi-nationmachine s, products and exchange ideas with competitors. Naturally they all want to be the best in the class gimmicks and hold that National Land Speed Record. If they lose, at least experience and knowledge have been gained for the next year. In an effort to further promote the image of Speed Week, the Bonneville Nationals, Inc. established a membership type program this year, with membership available to enthusiasts throughout the world. This new program has also opened the door to companies, offering an entirely new avenue of exposure for their products and services. For information write BONNEVILLE NATIONALS, INC. 11927 E. Washington Blvd. Whittier, California 90606. Posters, Rule Books and Official 1971 Programs may also be obtained by writing to the above address. high-performan- ce - |