Amazing vacation accident. (Page 1/2)
BingB JUL 07, 07:40 PM
I was recently on an extended vacation with my kids. One part of the trip required us to drive from Bailey Colorado to Umpqua National Forest in Oregon. It was a two-day drive so I picked our stop over spot based solely on how much time I wanted to spend driving each day. It was 2 hours west of Salt Lake City on I-80. A place called West Wendover.

When we got there I was shocked to discover that West Wendover was the home of The Bonneville Speedway on the Bonneville Salt Flats. I had not done any research on the area because we were just stopping to spend the night and then get up and drive the next morning. But we took a short trip out to the flats so I can now say that I drove on the Bonneville salt Flats.
Patrick JUL 07, 10:07 PM

quote
Originally posted by BingB:

... I drove on the Bonneville salt Flats.



Now your rocker panels will all rot away.

TheDigitalAlchemist JUL 08, 12:06 AM

quote
Originally posted by Patrick:

Now your rocker panels will all rot away.



WORTH IT!


Hey, even the Mona Lisa's falling apart. (IFKYK)
RWDPLZ JUL 08, 12:50 AM
I stopped there a couple times on my way to and back from California in the Subaru STI, the salt is an interesting surface to drive on. You can get t-shirts and other souvenirs at the Sinclair station. You can also see Wendover Will from the freeway.
Patrick JUL 08, 01:34 AM

quote
Originally posted by TheDigitalAlchemist:

Hey, even the Mona Lisa's falling apart.



Father Time spares no one!
BingB JUL 08, 08:52 AM

quote
Originally posted by RWDPLZ:

I stopped there a couple times on my way to and back from California in the Subaru STI, the salt is an interesting surface to drive on. You can get t-shirts and other souvenirs at the Sinclair station. You can also see Wendover Will from the freeway.




When the guys from RoadKill went there it was covered with water. I was afraid to drive out too far because I did not know the condition. But where I drove it was dry and packed like beach sand.
blackrams JUL 08, 10:42 AM

quote
Originally posted by BingB:

When we got there I was shocked to discover that West Wendover was the home of The Bonneville Speedway on the Bonneville Salt Flats. I had not done any research on the area because we were just stopping to spend the night and then get up and drive the next morning. But we took a short trip out to the flats so I can now say that I drove on the Bonneville salt Flats.



It's been too long and I don't remember why we were even headed that way but, I once led a flight of OH 58s and a few UH-1s at low level over the Bonneville Salt Flats. All I really remember about it was being able to say we had done it. What I do remember is hearing about the crap that was stirred up by our rotor wash by aircraft toward the rear of the formation. They actually had to gain altitude to stay out of the salt we kicked up.

Was a lot more fun flying low level in the Grand Canyon but, that's another story.

Rams

cvxjet JUL 08, 12:45 PM
I have had a few trips where there was a big surprise; A) Driving in Idaho to see Craters of the Moon NM, I spotted a sign- "EBR-1" (First reactor to generate electricity- free tours!)
I stood on top of the reactor- but I don't glow in the dark! Out next to the parking lot they have the two Nuclear Jet engine test cells...

B) Earlier on same trip had spotted campground near Elko, NV....Turns out that "Lamoille Canyon" is basically a miniature version of Yosemite Valley!

C) My buddy copied my "Circle around lake Powell" trip- 5 NPs + 2 NMs+ everything in between- but he also stopped at Goblin Valley State Park- after-hours...and saw a couple of large trailers and signs stating "Please do not move markers"...The movie "Galaxy Quest" was being filmed there.

Back to Bonneville; A movie that is 80% filmed at Bonneville, 'The World's fastest Indian" about a New Zealand man (Burt Munro) who set the world speed record for an Under 1 L motorcycle at 184 MPH...He was 67 years old! This is one of the best movies I have ever seen- Not only will it be good for us "Wrench-turners" but I have told many friends, "Your wife will enjoy it also"...Great movie, with Anthony Hopkins in the lead role. Funny, technical at times, and heart-warming.

[This message has been edited by cvxjet (edited 07-08-2024).]

BingB JUL 08, 02:09 PM

quote
Originally posted by cvxjet:
B) Earlier on same trip had spotted campground near Elko, NV....Turns out that "Lamoille Canyon" is basically a miniature version of Yosemite Valley!





I almost stopped at Elko to take a picture just because I liked the album "Elko" by Railroad Earth.
cvxjet JUL 08, 02:35 PM
I could not believe what I was seeing in Lamoille Canyon- I actually hiked thru 5' deep snow- in JUNE, in Nevada.
Here are a couple of pics off the internet;