I spent a few hours on the salt today. I took plenty of pictures that I put on my Facebook page. I did that mostly to keep Stan Back from seeing what I saw. I'll summarise the race course as not all that bad. Way better than last year (before the rains came). Last year the shut down was more brown than white from the 5 on. This year I went to the 12 and way around to the short course and to the camera and past the dike without seeing mud patch #1! (Caveat: Don't get too near the dike, but you knew that).
The race course per se is good. Not as bone-dry, hard and firm like you'd really want, but not all that bad. It'd improve with more sun and wind, but it looks decent. And it is much much much better looking since it spent a winter underwater. Dragging and other course prep continues.
The access road is bumpy, as it often is. (Salt isn't the best roadbed for heavy traffic), but it gets better and better all the way to the pits. The underground river is showing 1 or 2 blue spots (puddles in the salt) already. Be careful. The pits are prepared pretty well - the salt is smooth and Not bone dry but not bad at all. There's about 1 1/2 miles of pits just so everybody can have a front row seat.
The last I heard there were about 285 pre-entries. I haven't heard from JoAnn if there's an update on that number. Also - the toilets arrive tomorrow. If you've rented one for your pit - Honey Buckets will place it for you if you ask, but understand that they're installing over a hundred units and will be busy. Patience!
The start line is about a quarter mile or so from Land's End, like last year. There will be two courses - Course 1 is the long course, #2 is short and rookie and I think it's got timing lights all the way out to the 5 so it, too can be used as a long course. I'm not positive of these details, so when I hear different I'll tell you.
Yes, the ice truck will be there. Enola Gay cafe is the food vendor and will have a "remote" unit at the start line at least for the first few days.
And then there's "who's going to be there???" I saw the 44 lakester crew at the restaurant and I saw Jim Hoogerhyde's 666 electric racer. Other than that -- I know about as much as you do at this time. When I see wheels on the salt is when I'll confirm.
The radar shows heavy rain over the salt right now.
Sid.
The radar shows that we're having a near-biblical downpour. I drove around and out to the truckstop and the Bend - and it's raining on-and-off some, but so far not too much at all.
The forecast for tonight and tomorrow is grim. I'll post reports in the morning.
Slim the camera on the salt looks like it flooded again. Doesn?t look good. We are 6 hours away.
Ah, dang. Here's what I know for sure:
There's water all over the damn place and the toilet delivery has been put off for one day.
That's all I know for absolutely sure. Anything else is speculation at this point. I'll no doubt learn more really soon and will post stuff as I discover it. Everyone's attitude seems pretty good.
Should you turn around and give up? Stay tuned for more.
BUMMER!
Update #5 ? 8/2/23:
Due to the weather last night, we made a trip to the salt at 5:30 this morning. There is approximately a 1-1/2" of water at the end of the road and a 1/2" in the pits. We have instructed everyone to stay off the salt today. The sun is out and there is a nice breeze blowing the water around. We are staying positive about having the event, although it may be delayed a little bit. At 3:00 this afternoon we will be going out to inspect the salt again and will come back and update you.
Bill Lattin
SCTA President
Heather Black
BNI Chairman
It always seems to be that last week, then storms hit. 😟
Maybe a date change for next year ???
Here's the latest from the Facebook page:
Update No. 6 8/02/2023
The water has diminished greatly, and it is almost dry in the pits. Our plan is to give it another day to dry out and go back to work Friday and Saturday. If all goes well the Driver?s Meeting and Racing will begin on Sunday or Monday. All weather reports after tonight look excellent. We will check on the salt in the morning and update you again.
Heather Black
BNI Chairman
Bill Lattin
SCTA President"
So, it looks like (at least for now), we're still on, but delayed a day or two.
Jeff in Boise
I went out there one more time today - at dusk. There's no question - the water is going away. I could see the cone line leading away from Land's End. The cones were underwater this morning.
A down day tomorrow, try to finish setup on Friday so racers can start setting up pits on Saturday with the hope that it'll be dry enough to race Sunday - - or Monday at the worst.
We'll make it work. Not a problem.
A delay of a day will not be catastrophic. Hoping for some wind over night to dry it up.
Joe
sooo , would there be the possibility of early tech inspection off the salt -- casino parking lot --
Bob, I doubt that we'll resort to "remote" inspections this time around. I remember all too well the excitement of doing inspections on the pavement at Land's End, and the logistics of getting everything to town and on the airport:
Phone rings: "Hello, This is the TSA at Wendover Air Field. How can I help you?"
You: Unh, would it be okay of we brought a few hundred race vehicles over there for inspection? Maybe you could let us in without all of that security stuff, hey?"
You can see where this is going, right? Seriously - I don't think there's any need. The track will probably come back so we can set up and race. Give it another day and hope hope hope.
yep , see your point, just hang tight , all should work out
I remember in the 70s (or was that the 80s?) when the Interstate went right thru town. Inspection was on the highway's shoulders. Good little car show for the public passing thru Wendover.
The latest from Facebook;
Update #7 ? 8/3/23:
We made a trip out on the salt this morning and found that the water is going away. It is about an 1/8? to 1/4? everywhere and the deepest water is at the end of the road. There are more salt islands coming through the water. The weather is forecasted to be clear and supposed to be in the high 80?s to 90?s. Our goal as of right now is to start racing on Monday morning. We will go back out this afternoon to check the progress and update you again.
Jeff in Boise
So, what happens to all the shirts and hats when an event gets rained out. Do they go online, wait till W.O.S. , next year's sales ❓️???
Told my boss I may have to call in sick Monday.
Cough, cough. 😁
Any updates from folks who are currently on the salt? Radar images don't look encouraging.
The local radar shows icky greens and yellow and even red, and the salt flats camera's view is pretty dismal right now - - and it's broken clouds and some sun here in town.
As of now the toilets are due to arrive Sunday. Ain't nothin' happens before the toilets arrive!!
Thanks, Slim, for keeping us folks posted that are still waiting for the "word" to make the drive up to B'ville.
Hold the potties!
Shoot. Two minutes ago it started raining pretty hard here in town. At the Quality and at the Nugget for sure, probably everywhere in town. The salt cam shows funky skies to the north but some sunshine around the pole.
Now it's bright sun again here. Windy as the dickens.
I'll tell you more later when it has happened.
Nyahh, mebbe not so good. The camera is showing more water on the surface than it did 10 minutes ago. It's not raining here at the instant.
Tell ya what I'm gonna do. I'm headed out to visit the feeding trough now, but I'll post about the weather if something goes all to Subaru.
Feeding trough = Mario's?
Bon Appetit and keep us posted . . .
Mario, as in Marcelo Escobedo's Salt Flats Cafe? Indeed I did eat there, although I certainly did not plan on it when I headed out of the room. I used the phrase in a more generic way, implying only that I was intending to tie on the feedbag somewhere in the area. Donny Cummins and Big Tim and Randy Speranza and Bob Sirna were there, too.
I'll assume you've seen the latest SCTA-BNI post about the water. The wind blew a whole lot of the water away and toward the mountains, leaving bare salt with no puddles. It says that the plan is to continue as announced earlier today - start racing Monday morning.
Lots of the set up has yet to be done. Some basic stuff is/was done Tuesday, but Wednesday is when the timing light wires are laid out. There's something like 35 MILES of wire hooking up about 8 lights per track. That's a time consuming chore that has to be completed before racing. The ribbons marking the pits, impound, vendor area, etc - those caution tape ribbons are tied to rebar stakes that are put in holes drilled with a power drill. I don't know if anybody had measured the total ribbon (must be a few miles, at least), but the stakes are 40 feet apart (I think). Do the math, and there's another chore we gotta do first. Toilets? Honey Buckets won't be bringing those 'til Sunday.
In other words, there's one heck of a lot of stuff that can't be started until it dries better but has to be done before racers come in and set up pits. Of course, maybe the salt will get all better soon and we can reset the schedule again another time over again.
I point out that SCTA-BNI has become really good at keeping hoi polloi informed. For the freshest info - check that site or page first, then come on over here for the day.
Salt Lake got hit by an intense lightning storm last night.
https://youtu.be/Ml-Xb6P2rx4
I just heard that inspections might start at the airport Saturday/Sunday and racing might start Monday morning.
I just heard (from an SCTA-BNI official), that Tech will start at ENV airfield (near the museum) at 1400MDT today (Friday), and that they're now aiming to start racing on Tuesday. Sounds just like 2019!
Jeff now in Wendover
I have a C/Gas Vintage Jetboat & a AA/BFS, which one should I bring? :roll:
Sid. Still in Idaho. :-D
ATTN: RACERS & CREWS
Inspection will open today at 2:00 p.m.
Car and Motorcycle Inspection will be held at the Wendover Airport near (see pic of map). You will also see a standalone chimney in the inspection lot. Bring your race vehicle, chase vehicle, crew chief and driver/rider. All vehicles must be in race condition just as if you were in inspection on the salt. You will see the Motorcycle trailer and cones along with a set up of EZ Ups for cars. Do not park on the side of ?A? Street opposite side from the airport and buildings.
Car Group #1 ? Vehicle #1 through #500 you may go to Inspection at 2:00 p.m.
Motorcycles ? All may go to inspection at 2:00 p.m.
Quote from: kiwi belly tank on August 04, 2023, 12:42:37 PM
I have a C/Gas Vintage Jetboat & a AA/BFS, which one should I bring? :roll:
Sid. Still in Idaho. :-D
Maybe bing both. Just to cover your bases. Dry today,, lake tomorrow.
Got a 3 mile course for the boat