Here ya go, kiddos! SpeedWeek 2025's topic now exists.

[37 ROADSTER]

 the car was making check out runs in measured steps, being rebuilt it was only running to the 3

[1leg]

Looks like they combined course 2 and course 3 data. We only ran on couse 3 and we are listed in the short course data.

[javajoe79]

It would be interesting to see a video of the way the front suspension actually worked after it was finished. I wonder how much total travel the axle actually had, maybe 1" total?  Armchair inspector questions.

Tom G.

  It looks pretty simple to me, just a lower arm and an upper rocker that functions as the upper arm. Both sides look to be fixed together so they do not travel independently. Both sides use both coilovers. I think you're right on travel though, guessing on the rocker arm ratio it seems to be 1-2" of suspension travel.

I would expect a limiter/bump stop that would prevent it from burying the nose at speed or if a spring broke. Maybe that wasn't fabricated yet in those pics.

Javajoe79,

I understand the simplicity of the basic setup. I would just like to see how the axle reacts to full travel. Just curious that is all. 

Tom G.

Gotcha.

[desotoman]

  any thoughts on why the car count was so low this year?? Do folks that go out to prep give feed back to their friends and keep them away because the salt is suspect? I just seemed alarmingly small. Any theories?

Hi George,

You were running your Firebird weren't you? And I think I read the firebird spun on one of its runs, which could happen to anyone racing at Speedweek. So what is your personal take on the condition of the salt at Speedweek this year?  Bumpy, potholes, slushy, great, bad, etc. ?
I was not there and you are a salt veteran, so I appreciate your opinion.

On the turnout being small, that could be many factors, but I would guess Money might be the number 1 answer, as everything is rocketing in price, just my opinion. Maybe racers are going to race other events as the hotel rooms etc. are less expensive to save money.

Tom G.

[JAL AKA JL222]

  Yeah, we are interring the USFRA Sep meet. Cooler weather and hotel rooms way cheaper.

  But the main reason. We couldn't get reservations for Speed Week hotels all full?

  Doesn't add up with such a small turnout.

  More spectators?  I wasn't there and didn't see any videos of spectators on live feed.

                   JL222

[racergeo]

  Hi Tom, ya, I spun and did some damage. Car caught air and came off the ground. Luckily I didn't over build the spoiler, as it collapsed and the car settled but tilted. It's all repairable though.
  I think that the fact the starter told you on every run to stay all the way left or right and away from the middle of the track was a good indicator of track condition. They changed the course 4 times in the 6 days I was there. One day they weren't finished till noon. Salt was hard and dry didn't start till a couple of miles after the end of the access road. First time I've had a feeling that the end might be near.
.

[1leg]

I only raced on course 3, When I was up for my A license pass the starter told me he didn't think the course might not take 200 and to be careful, I avg 216 in the 2 1/4, so likley had a exit speed around 234. Never once did I feel the car want to get loose once I was past the 1 mile mark. The 832 weighs around 5000lbs and has front and rear suspension. It was my 4th pass ever lakes racing at Bonneville or El mirage.

Rumer I heard was some where worried about the salt not being safe to race on. I have not driven enough to feel qualifed to answer that. But the guys i'm with would not have let me race if they thought it was unsafe. I did drive course 3 Friday afternoon with Russ and he told me what I should be looking for and how to drive the car.

[deepindebt]

Nobody asked but here is my 2 cents, i have been racing on the salt since 2003, of course its nothing like it was then but i will say, this year was not bad. SCTA did a great job making new courses. We made 4 runs, 2 on Wednesday and 2 on Thursday, all before noon on course #1.
We also run a roadster, i felt the course was very drive-able. As far as being rough, it was very gritty, hence the tire damage but pretty smooth. I did notice that the salt is not as bright white as in the past and i feel the end is coming sooner than
later. We are going back to WOS and not sure what they are going to have to work with between SW and the bike guys this week. There is only so much crust left. And i will be honest, if we can only get a few runs out of a pair of $1600 tires then this may not
be for us due to our budget moving forward.

[desotoman]

George, and everyone else that replied, Thanks for the information.

Did any of you talk to anyone who used the center of the track?  Were the starters maybe keeping that for 300 mph cars?
The few cars I could hear on the video that had a lot of HP, seemed to be hunting for traction by the RPM variations, Got Salt Lakester comes to mind.

Thanks for the replies, sorry to hear the salt crust is that fragile, and abrasive. The next 3 meets will be interesting to see how they turn out.

Tom G.

[deepindebt]

Being in a roadster, we use all the course😂 made no difference, and tariffs have nothing to do with the turn out🤦‍♂️

[ronnieroadster]

Each year when we arrive at Bonneville we have a tradition drive to lands end and look out to see where the courses are set up. Seeing the Zero marker is always uplifting however this year at land's end there was no salt to be seen there was nothing but dirt as far a the eyes could see that was certainly upsetting. What's left is definitely nothing like it was even in 2009 and then into the next decade! I have a Save The Salt bumper sticker in my garage I purchased when I attended as a tourist my first speed week back in the 80's .   Is the end near possibly?
   Ronnieroadster

[1leg]

Each year when we arrive at Bonneville we have a tradition drive to lands end and look out to see where the courses are set up. Seeing the Zero marker is always uplifting however this year at land's end there was no salt to be seen there was nothing but dirt as far a the eyes could see that was certainly upsetting. What's left is definitely nothing like it was even in 2009 and then into the next decade! I have a Save The Salt bumper sticker in my garage I purchased when I attended as a tourist my first speed week back in the 80's .   Is the end near possibly?
   Ronnieroadster

I'll agree that the salt is nothing like it was, But too say all you saw was dirt as far as the eye can see, You went to a different location then me this year. All I saw was salt, thin yes, not as bright white as before maybe.

[bubruins]

Posted today on Facebook from BMST event. You can see the salt, but it's not right past the sign.

[1leg]

Posted today on Facebook from BMST event. You can see the salt, but it's not right past the sign.

Not sure the picture is accurate. I was there 3 weeks ago at speed week, and that was all salt, just not as bright as out on the course. I wouldn't call it dirt, maybe dirty salt.

[gowing]

Posted today on Facebook from BMST event. You can see the salt, but it's not right past the sign.

I don't think I've ever seen a lands end sign without a sticker on it before.

We will be getting there this Sunday to see the conditions first hand.