Return to Bolivia 2024

[ack]

The 2023 Bolivia event was an unmitigated disaster. We had the wrong people in Bolivia that were incompetent and dishonest supposedly helping us. Having the event go so badly just made us more determined to put on a very well-organized event that proves the location is the best in the world to set international speed records. I, Reg Cook, Jamie Williams, Jim Knapp, and Al Lamb have decided to finance a return in 2024. We have hired Marcos Soto to organize the logistics in Bolivia. Marcos has come recommended by people we trust. He has worked with movie and video production companies for the last 15 years. This will be a combined FIA and FIM sanctioned event. Marcos has enlisted the help of the various government ministers who are supporting the event. The Bolivian Sports Minister is issuing a permit as a National Sporting Event to promote it and will work with others within the government to obtain required approvals. Marcos and the FIA are working with the Auto Club Bolivia who will help with promotion and logistics. We chose the month of October as it was recommended by Marcos and other local people in Uyuni as the best time to run such an event. There is no chance of rain, there is very little wind, and the temperature is much warmer than previous events. We have decided to have a flat rate entry fee for the event of $10,000.00. If you have any interest in going this takes away the uncertainty of cost. Also, we are not recommending you stay at the hotels located at the salt which are expensive, and food is limited to what is offered at the hotel. Good hotels in the town of Uyuni run from $50.00 to $85.00 per night and offer a good free breakfast. Uyuni has a population of 30,000 and has a wide variety of restaurants to choose from. Travel time to the entrance of the salt is 30 minutes.

Here is a link to the 2024 website.

https://www.boliviaspeedtrials.com/

[ack]

We have received the official permit from the Bolivian government for the 2024 event. It is now on the FIM calendar. Marcos Soto, our new organizer is doing a great job. The track will be 19 miles long. with a 9 mile runup each way, With 1 mile timing. Our web site has been updated. As of now the entries are Reg Cook with 4 cars. He is hoping to go well over 500 mph. The ACK attack motorcycle is looking to go well over 400 mph, Jim Knapp's streamliner is looking to go over 400 mph. Scott Horner with a new Hayabusa, Jamie Williams is bringing his snowmobile,  MTT turbine bike and his Hayabusa powered car. For a total of 10 vehicles. The event is open to anyone for a flat $10,000.00 entry fee. I may have room to take one bike in our container and would transport it for free if anyone is interested.

https://www.boliviaspeedtrials.com/

https://www.fim-moto.com/en/news/news-detail/article/fim-land-speed-world-records-set-for-south-america-return


https://www.fim-landspeed-worldrecords.com/en/

https://cmrchallenges.co.nz/

[Stan Back]

Any update on this event?

Sure hope it can happen.

[ack]

Yes the event is on. Reg Cook flaked out at the last minute after telling us he was packing up and taking 50 people and four cars. Now says he has no money to bring even one car. Big hat no cattle. Jim Knapp, Jamie Williams and myself are putting on the event. We have a trustworthy honest organizer making the local arrangements for us. I will be updating the website soon. 

[stay`tee]

2024 event cancelled

[ack]

Bolivia bit in the butt again

Containers were packed ready to ship, flights were booked, hotels booked. We were unable to get fuel for the event shipped in time to be able to have this event. Jamie Williams, Jim Knapp and myself are committed to having an event next year. Solving the fuel problem will be our priority. Our website has notice and details on the cancellation.

https://www.boliviaspeedtrials.com/

[stay`tee]

If the 2024 event (October 18-23) had not been cancelled we would be at day4 (Monday, 21st), according to the Weather Channel "Wind" has/would be a challenge during daytime hours,10-36mph, however very early morning hours show brief lows at 4-6mph 

[TrickyDicky]

Ummm ... day 4, so the containers would have just arrived and the teams would be unpacking.  Possibility of some runs on day 5 and then a busy last day.     

[ack]

Ummm ... day 4, so the containers would have just arrived and the teams would be unpacking.  Possibility of some runs on day 5 and then a busy last day.     

The wind reports fooled me in 2015 when I first thought about running there. The reports you get from the Weather Channel and on other reporting platforms are from the airport in Uyuni. The track is 80 miles from Uyuni and the conditions on the salt are totally different. There are no mountains within 40 miles of the track. The other thing we soon learned is a 5 mile an hour wind at that altitude feels like maybe 2 ? 3. When we did our last run in 2017 the Rice brothers reported 5+ MPH directly across the track at the timing stand. We were at the 15 mile and had what felt like a slight breeze. Rocky will not run over 4 MPH in a cross wind for good reason. I said let?s go down to the timing stand and wait for wind. When we got there the anemometer read 5-6 mph, but it didn?t feel like more than 2 ? 3. I realized the anemometer doesn?t know density altitude and the wind force is dependent on the density of the air. Rocky didn?t hesitate to make a run. I gave a Power Point presentation in early 2016 at Freud?s get together in which I said that Bolivia was not feasible for motorcycles because of the wind. When Jack Costella went there in 2016 he reported no wind during the whole time while I was seeing 10 ? 15 mph on the weather reports that?s when I reevaluated Bolivia and sent Mike Cook to check it out.
Here is the power point.

[ack]

Because of the political and financial conditions in Bolivia we have decided not to have an event this year. There is an update on our website with more information about the situation and future plans.

https://www.boliviaspeedtrials.com/

[TrickyDicky]

Meanwhile, Reg Cook says he is going in September/October 2025 ...

https://cmrchallenges.co.nz/news/bolivia-2025-to-chase-the-impossible-500-mph-188/

https://cmrchallenges.co.nz/news/brian-lawrence-new-ceo-of-cmr-kiwi-can-do-bolivia-191/

[racergeo]

  I hope they can pull this off. Reg is not getting any younger, but great determination.  I think his cars are brilliant builds. The G/ FS streamliner with the little 2L V8 F-1 engine and transaxle is brilliant. I think the engine transaxle assembly only weighs about 300 lbs. After all a F-1 car and driver weigh in the 1200 pound range. You have to know someone to get an engine though.

[tallguy]

I wish the best of luck to the entire Reg Cook team.