The history of Bonneville
To view the film, scroll to the bottom of the page
Multimedia stories from history
Film now showing
Speed legend AB Jenkins makes his
last ever record attempt at Bonneville, 1951
In 1957, Stirling Moss broke the
world Class F records at Bonneville
The vast barren wilderness
is almost entirely empty
In 1963, Craig Breedlove's jet powered Spirit of America was the first car to pass 400 mph
Duration of video: 1 mins. 7 seconds
For decades, cars of every shape and size have come to Bonneville to set new records
Car manufacturers have been taking their cars to Bonneville
for decades for the publicity attached to breaking new records
Renault broke the world record for
turbine engined cars at Bonneville in 1956
A new world record for the fastest diesel
powered car was set at Bonneville in 2006
A thick black line helps the
drivers navigate the course
Pre-war race ace, AB Jenkins takes off on his last ever
run at Bonneville in his mammoth Mormon Meteor 3, 1951
Bill Gilcrease's MiniComp, based in Southern California, is one of the world's fastest Minis
For further pictures + pre-war audio recordings from Bonneville, please visit the following external web site
http://www.lib.utah.edu/spc/photo/bonn/bonn.htm
Since the early years of the 20th Century, the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah have been one of the main places where speed demons from around the world have tried to drive machines of every shape and size faster than anything has been driven before.
Bonneville’s potential for speed racing was first recognised in 1896 by W.D. Rishel who was scouting a bicycle race course from New York to San Francisco at the time. He returned to New York and convinced daredevil Teddy Tezlaff to attempt an automobile speed record on the flats, and in 1914, Tezlaff drove a Blitzen Benz at a speed of 141.73 m.p.h. to set an unofficial record.
Serious record breaking began in earnest in the 1930s when Englishman Sir Malcolm Campbell and Utah racing driver, AB Jenkins both enjoyed success here with both subsequently becoming motor racing legends.
Since then, many speed demons have brought their cars to the location- and some, such as Craig Breedlove and Art Arfons in the 1960s , set world records over the course, with Bredlove becoming the first driver to break the 600mph mark.
Located in barren wilderness near the Utah Nevada border, the Flats stretch for over 30,000 acres and are administered by Utah’s Bureau of Land Management.
The speedway itself, where all the record runs take place, is marked out by the state’s Highway Department at the start of each summer. Usually two tracks are prepared; a 10 mile long straightway for speed trials and an oval or circular track for distance runs, which is typically between 10 and 12 miles (16 and 19 km) long, depending on the condition of the salt surface. In recent years, there has also been a 5 mile (8 km) long straightway for qualifying slower vehicles.
The straightway is marked with a broad black line down its centre and has several measured mile sections after the second mile. Additional marks and cones indicate the end of the track and the position of timing equipment on the measured mile.
Typically, speed trials are scheduled throughout the summer and Autumn at the Bonneville Raceway, with most events being open to the public. The annual Speed Week is usually held in mid-August and this is when speed nuts from around the world bring with them an extradorinary collection of cars, bikes and engines to try and set their own personal records.
Some absolute diehard enthusiasts literally return year after year forever trying to add a few more mph to their own performances.
Speed Week began in August 1949, when hot rodders from the Southern California Timing Association (SCTA), already experienced at racing on the dry lakebeds of California and Nevada, decided to try their luck on the salt pan. Over the succeeding decades the event has grown considerably and now attracts around 400 entrants and some 20,000 spectators every year.
By grouping the different vehicles according to body type, engine and fuel, the SCTA has established a bewildering number of record categories: 528 for cars and 2580 for motorcycles. While this may seem an absurd number to many, it does gives plenty of opportunities for enthusiasts of every inclination and pocketbook to claim a record of some sort.
For those who have never been to Bonneville, it's a place unlike any other. For those who have been and raced, it’s an experience they will never forget.
AB Jenkins and Goldie Gardener were among the world's leading speed demons either side of the war
The Toyota Prius set a new world land speed
record for hybrid powered cars at Boneville in 2004
The world land speed record for
estate cars was set at Bonneville in 2003
Film provided courtesy of www.auto-history.tv
(c) Universal Motoring History Enterprises
Motoring through history
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