A day before racing begins, the track markers are added.

Surveyors are brought in to survey the timing trap distances. Days or weeks in advance, the track preparers identify an area best suited for their track layouts and begin grading the tracks. Since at least the 1990s, track preparations have been the responsibility of the event organizers. Originally, two tracks were prepared a 10-mile (16 km) long straightaway for speed trials and an oval or circular track for distance runs, which was typically between 10 and 12 miles (16 and 19 km) long depending on the condition of the salt surface. Historically, the speedway was marked out by the Utah Department of Transportation at the start of each summer. A rest area on Interstate 80 was built on the former settlement, and a plaque there commemorates the land speed records. Park and Utah Governor William Spry attended. Salt Lake City newspapers ran an advertisement in 1914 for a special train to Salduro where the 'fastest machines in the world will compete for the world's record on the famous salt beds, which afford the finest races in America. Track layouts Salduro is a ghost town located on the south boundary of Bonneville Speedway, next to the Western Pacific Railroad. Īvailable racing surface is much reduced with just 2.5 miles (4.0 km) available instead of the 9-mile (14 km) courses traditionally used for Speed Week. The salt flats were first used for motor sports in 1912, but did not become truly popular until the 1930s when Ab Jenkins and Sir Malcolm Campbell competed to set land speed records.Ī reduction of available racing surface and salt thickness has led to the cancellation of events at Bonneville, such as Speed Week in 20. The Bonneville Salt Flats Race Track is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is particularly noted as the venue for numerous land speed records. 40☄5′45″N 113★3′44″W / 40.76250°N 113.89556°W / 40.76250 -113.89556īonneville Speedway (also known as the Bonneville Salt Flats Race Track) is an area of the Bonneville Salt Flats northeast of Wendover, Utah, that is marked out for motor sports.

Bonneville salt flats driving