This stop was thrilling! No scenic highways, byways or back roads without guard rails, no cliff hangers, or switchbacks, this was all about SPEED!
Bonneville Salt Flats International Speedway is home to some of the fastest speed records in the world. This year, for the second year in a row, Speed Week at the Flats was cancelled, because of unsafe conditions. Mother Nature and/or our every changing world, is taking its toll on our natural resources.
We were fortunate enough to be on the Flats during some time trials. The sound, sights and atmosphere was unbelievable. I don’t like to go fast, but I LOVE watching vehicles go hundreds of miles an hour in seconds. Someone had an amplifier set up and the sound of “speed” was enhanced ten fold.
E T was in awe of the “salt”. She loves water especially salt water. Her first steps onto the Salt Flats were taken very carefully. The scent didn’t match the texture that she is used to. Sixty seconds and she was ready to go. Kind of like a warm up, burn out and launch!
The Bonneville Salt Flats consist of 44.000 acres of densely packed salt pan. The actual Speedway is 80 ft wide by 10 miles long. After leaving the Speedway, we drove for approximately 32 miles before we saw green again. For anyone into speed or fast cars this is a phenomena. For anyone looking for scenery like no other, this is the place to see it.
The artwork was donated to the State of Utah, by Swedish artist, Karl Momen. It is said that he was moved to create the tree after having a vision of a tree while driving across the desolate Bonneville Salt Flats. It is only fitting that it acts as a gateway to the area, heading west and a sweet farewell heading east on I-80.
Enjoy the slide show.