Bonneville Speed Week 2004 - Wendover, Utah

Overview - Rex Wright participated in Bonneville's Speed Week in 1955, assisting friend Bud Schmitt with a 2-engine Harley Davidson motorcycle.  49 years later, Rex Wright returned to the salt, with son Doug, to compete in the C/GALT class, attempting to break the current record of 233mph.  Both Doug and Rex drove the car, so both drivers were required to complete the rookie driver course, which ultimately took nearly 5 days to complete.  The rookie driving school, coupled with a few days of rainy weather, allowed for only one run at full speed...but both drivers exceeded 220 mph averages, with Rex averaging 223 and Doug averaging 226.  Each day, the web site was updated with news on the team's performance...here's the daily diary of the 2004 event.  Doug and Rex will be back in 2005 in an attempt to gain the C/GALT record, 50 years after Rex's first visit to the salt flats.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 12 - We arrived in Wendover, Nevada, about 7:00pm this evening.  Made a quick trip to the Salt Flat entrance to verify gate times for Friday morning.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 13 - We got in line at 5:45am, and headed onto the salt at 6:00am Friday morning.  We landed a great pit stall and began unloading the trailer, and setting up our "home" for the next week.  Tech inspection opened at 12:00pm, and we got our car in line about 1:00pm.  We finally entered the tech inspection area about 3:00pm, and we received our tech pass around 3:30pm.  Back to the trailer to finish preparations for Saturday's racing.  

PHOTO - Car In Tech Inspection Double click to see larger image  

SATURDAY, AUGUST 14 - A general driver's meeting was held at 11:00am today.  Officials announced that this year's event is the largest in Bonneville Speed Week history.  At 11:45am, we began our rookie school, and by 1:00pm today, racing began.  Rookie licensing mandates each new driver makes a series of runs, each increasing in speed.  The first run takes place on the salt's "short course" and must be between 125mph and 150mph for a Class D License.  Then you upgrade to a Class C license by running between 150mph and 175mph, then Class B License with a pass between 175mph and 200mph.  With this run, you then move the salt's "long course" (for all cars racing over 175mph).  Finally, a pass in excess of 200mph yields your Class A License.  Well, this process got started today...after waiting in line most of the afternoon, about 5:30pm, I took the fist pass, logging a 133.817mph time on and earning my Class D License.  Dad will take his first pass on Sunday morning to earn his Class D License.  Hopefully, dad and I will both have an opportunity to earn our Class C Licenses on Sunday.

PHOTO - Early morning Saturday, setting up our pit stall Double click to see larger image  

Sunday, August 15 - We were able to get two runs in on Sunday.  My dad, Rex, took his first Bonneville pass about 10:30am.  He made a pass at 140.245 mph to gain his Class D License.  Later in the day, about 4:30pm, Doug made a pass qualifying for his Class C license, with a run of 165.288mph.  On Monday, Rex will run in the morning, attempting a pass between 150mph and 175mph to qualify for his Class C license, while Doug will attempt a pass between 175mph and 200mph to qualify for Class B license.

PHOTO - Rex just before his first run at Bonneville Double click to see larger image  

PHOTO - Rex on the return lane just after his first Bonneville pass. Double click to see larger image  

PHOTO - Crew members taking a break at the race trailer, Jake Hall, Steve Ashby, Bud Schmitt, and Rex Wright.  Double click to see larger image  

Monday, August 16 - A heavy windstorm (overnight) damaged timing equipment on the salt flats and delayed racing by nearly 4 hours.  As a result, we were limited to a single run on the course.  Rex completed his C License requirements with a pass of 155mph on the short course about 2:00pm.  Forecasts are calling for rain on Tuesday.  If we run, both dad and I will try to complete our B License requirements (between 175mph and 200mph).

PHOTO - Rex near the starting line with Jake Hall, Michael Carlson, and Jerry Carlson Double click to see larger image  

PHOTO - Rex leaving the starting line for his C License pass Double click to see larger image  

Tuesday, August 17 - Another heavy windstorm across the Great Salt Desert slowed the start of racing today.  Then, it began to rain in the afternoon, stopping racing early.  The rain was very light, but enough to stop the event.  We were able to complete two runs today, with both drivers gaining their B License status.  I went first this morning on the short course and logged a 205.2mph run in the quarter mile, and a 205.9mph average in the mile.  This was great...but I wasn't supposed to go over 200mph, as per the rules for licensing.  But, after a little discussion with the track steward, I was signed off for licensing.  I realized I had underestimated the tire growth above 175mph.  To the 175 mark we had not seen any significant tire growth, but somewhere between 175 and 200 it arrived.  So, we recalculated our rev limits for the run and sent dad down the course, hoping for a run in the 197 range.  But, dad went 199.5mph in the quarter mile, and 200.5mph in the mile.  It was now dad's turn to convince the track steward that he respected the rules and didn't mean to surpass the 200mph mark.  With a lot of begging, Rex was also signed off for his B License.  He came running back to the car, jumping in the air and kicking his heels together.  Now we've qualified for the long course, which has a 2 mile warm up run, then 3 timed miles of racing.  We'll make our first pass on the long course today and we'll begin to see what the car can do.  We intend to work up to speed slowly, as we're watching our air/fuel mixture closely.  The air/fuel mixture changes so much from low speed to 200 (+) mph...and we don't want to go lean and burn a piston.  But it should be a fun day, and hopefully we get a run in over the 215mph mark. 

Wednesday, August 18 - Once again, weather effected our runs at Bonneville.  We were only able to get one run in, but it was a good pass.  I (Doug) took my first run on the long course.  Since it was the first time down the long run, we decided to shut the car off after the 4-mile mark to get a plug check.  As I mentioned on Tuesday, we had concerns about the car going lean at speeds over 200mph.  At 1:27pm, I rolled off the long course, tagging a 210.102mph 2-1/4 mile time, 215.990mph 3-mile time, and a 226.411mph 4-mile time.  The final mile (5-mile) time was 192.443mph average (under braking - I shut the car off at the 4-mile mark), with an exit time of 156.179mph.  Which means I was running 228.701mph when I crossed the 4-mile mark.  Obviously, we had a shot at the record in the final mile (233 mph class record) if we had continued the run.  Fortunately, we didn't complete the run, as we found the car had gone very lean on the pass.  So, we went back to the trailer, and took steps to get more fuel to the car.  Just as we finished preparation, we headed to the staging lanes, where dad was going to take the next pass.  While it was dry in the pits, it was pouring down rain at the starting line (3 miles west of the pit area).  The rain cancelled the balance of the day's competition.  Thursday morning dad will take the car out for another pass on the long course.  We'll probably shut off at the 4-mile marker again to get a good plug reading...we can't afford to burn a piston and end the week prematurely.  Terri (my wife) and my mom (Jan) flew in on Tuesday and were on hand for today's run.  That was great.  On the way back to our hotel, we took mom down to the Wendover Air Force Base (now closed).  The Wendover base was used for bomber pilot training, and was the test base for the atomic bomb.  The Enola Gay's crew trained at Wendover and dropped practice bombs (called pumpkins) on the salt flats.  Today, the Air Force still uses the salt flats for target practice for our military bombers.  Wendover Air Force Base was closed shortly after the Enola Gay dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan.  When my dad came to Bonneville in 1955 with Bud Schmitt's 2-engine Harley Davidson motorcycle, they stayed in one of the hangars at Wendover Air Force Base.  Dad showed us where he stayed and told us lots of stories about his trip in 1955.  Hopefully the weather will give us a break and we'll have good news tomorrow.

PHOTO - Rex, Jan, Doug, & Terri at the end of the long course, just after the 226mph pass. Double click to see larger image  

PHOTO - Jake Hall, Doug, and Rex at the end of the course following Thursday's run Double click to see larger image  

PHOTO - Working on the car after our 226 run...taking steps to "richen" our air/fuel ratio Double click to see larger image  

PHOTO - Water standing near the start line on the salt flats Double click to see larger image  

PHOTO - Dad standing outside the old bomber hangar - pointing to the far corner, where he and the motorcycle crew slept in 1955! 

Double click to see larger image  

 PHOTO - Atomic Mission Hangar 1831, known as the Enola Gay Hangar.  The Enola Gay began its trip to end WWII in Japan by rolling out if this hangar.  Today, the US military continues to use the salt flats for bomber training exercises, although the Wendover Air Force Base is closed.

  Double click to see larger image  

Thursday, August 19 - Once again, the start of our day was significantly delayed due to weather.  Rains overnight flooded a portion of the course and forced officials to move the starting line and re-set the race course.  Finally, about 11:00am, racing began.  After re-jetting the car and changing timing, dad got in the car to run another 4-mile pass.  Dad had a great run and earned his A Class License, with a pass of 223.784mph in the 2nd measured mile!  This was dad's 2nd pass in excess of 200mph...he did great.  Again, we shut the car off early to verify we had rectified our "lean" fuel issue.  Upon inspection in the pits, the plugs looked great and we turned around to do another run...this time a full 5-mile run down the long course.  I (Doug) was going to drive the car, but just as we pulled into pre-staging, a serious accident occurred on the race course.  A blown modified roadster became airborne at over 250mph.  The driver was airlifted to Salt Lake City Hospital and we have no news on his condition.  Due to the long clean up and medical emergency, the track was closed at 5:00pm.  If conditions are favorable, we plan to make one run on Friday morning...a 5-mile pass on the long course with Doug behind the wheel.  (Note 08/24/04 - just got word the driver who was injured has stabilized in a Salt Lake City hospital.  He suffered serious head injuries.  I'll keep you posted as we learn more.  -DW)

PHOTO - A streamliner in the pre-staging lane  Double click to see larger image  

PHOTO - An open fuel roadster in the pre-staging lane today  Double click to see larger image  

PHOTO - A Nissan 350-Z which was shipped in from Japan in pre-staging.  The car was transported by ocean liner from Tokyo.  When we arrived a large semi was on the salt with the cargo container.  Later a crane arrived from Salt Lake City to lift the container off the trailer.  Tomorrow, the crane will return, place the car back in the container, and it will ship later this month out of a port in Southern California. 

 Double click to see larger image  

PHOTO - This is an interesting streamliner, owned by Chet Herbert, the high performance parts builder.  It is has 4 engines!  They're shooting for a 400mph run on Friday.  During the last speed meet, they ran too lean and burnt 17 pistons!!  Amazing!

  Double click to see larger image  

Friday, August 20 - Well, once again it rained overnight and the racing was delayed.  Most of the water has moved to the north end of the salt flats (see picture below).  We finally got a run in about 1:30pm.  Doug took the car the full 5 miles and logged a 226mph average speed in the final mile, with an exit speed of 228mph.  Unfortunately, the engine went lean on the run, limiting the speed and we caught a lot of wind in the last mile.  The wind moved me around over 20 feet (side-to-side), but the car stayed stable.  A lot of unusual things begin to happen above 200mph.  On the positive side, we have now begun to assemble air and fuel data to tune the car in future events.  Like every other form of racing, experience is essential.  The density/altitude plays a major role in this type of racing, as the weather is constantly changing in the desert.  We're also on a steep learning curve with our air scoop and the air induction above 200mph.  Overall, we are very, very happy with our week of competition.  Both dad and I got our A Licenses completed and we both raced over 220mph.  The car is running and we have a working unit to develop over the next year.  Most importantly, we had a trouble free (safe) week.  It was really fun to accomplish this goal..getting a chance to race with my dad.  We're looking forward to next year.

PHOTO - Here's the water standing along the north end of the salt flats after Thursday night's rain

  Double click to see larger image  

PHOTO - The Wright & Wright C/GALT entry  Double click to see larger image  

PHOTO - Another shot of the car prior to Friday's racing Double click to see larger image  

SATURDAY, August 21 - We're on our way home.  We did confirm that 2004 was the largest Bonneville Speed Week in the event's 56 year history, with 330 cars and 109 bikes competing.  A total of 181 records were set during the meet.  We did see the fastest motorcycle run in the event's history, a 2-engine Kawasaki streamliner made a pass of 334mph!  The fastest car was 384mph, the Nish Family Streamliner.

SUNDAY, August 22 - We're finally home.  Thanks for your interest in the web site...check back often and to check on our progress for 2005.  A special thanks to Jake Hall, Jerry Carlson, Michael Carlson, Bud Schmitt, and Steve Ashby for their help during the event.