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2013 Bonneville Salt flats "Speed Week" day 1 pictures Photo 11 of 29

Just east of the border between Nevada and Utah sits the small town of Wendover. This usually quiet town becomes the mecca for thousands of racers, hot rodders and fans of land speed racing one week a year for Speedweek. This is the place called the Bonneville Salt Flats, an ancient, dried up salt lake that hosts some of the fastest vehicles on earth and where time, speed and unforeseen weather can either make or break dreams of being the fastest in the world.

The popular "rat rod" style has come to the sacred salts of Bonneville, but traditional hot rods still prevail at their birthplace.

Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah, USA  The popular "rat rod" style has come to the sacred salts of Bonneville, but traditional hot rods still prevail at their birthplace. Auto123.TV 2013 Photographer: | © auto123.com

  • Gasser style cars have become popular again, even at Bonneville as this 1963 Chevy Impala from Washington state.
  • Bonneville may be a land speed racing event, but it attracts some of the finest examples of traditional American hot rods.
  • Gassers get the girl's attention at Bonneville.
  • Bonneville Flyer motorcycles and mopeds are modern version of vintage board track racers.
  • The sun sets over the salt and the air temperature finally drops below 100.
  • Joe Lytle is 21 years old and has built this 1932 Ford sedan hot rod.
  • A classic Chevy truck waits for the race crew to return from the finish line.
  • Known as the Retarded Sparks Special, Gary Odbert and Randy Sparks have run 141.890 mph in their 1929 Ford Roadster pored by a supercharged 358 cu. in. Cadillac Flathead V-8.
  • Buddy Walker of Greeley, Colorado brought his 1938 Chevrolet running a Cadillac Flathead V-8.
  • Red, white and blue… an all-American hot rod.
  • The popular "rat rod" style has come to the sacred salts of Bonneville, but traditional hot rods still prevail at their birthplace.
  • Wayne Whytock of Salt Lake City runs a 1965 F85 Oldsmobile powered by a supercharged 455 cu. in. V8. Top speed is 207.160 mph.
  • The racing scene at Bonneville is very much a family event with several generations participating and spectating each year.
  • Bonneville Flyer.
  • Although less common on the salt than the hot rods, there are plenty of customs cruising through the pit area and spectator parking.
  • General Motors truck
  • For many hot rodeos, getting a baptism of salt on their car is a rite of passage.
  • A traditionally souped up Ford Flathead V-8.
  • A Ford Model A roadster with a '32 grille, powered by a Flathead V-8.
  • Participants come from around the world such as these streamline Triumph motorcycle built by Dave Branch and Steve French from Biggleswade, England.
  • A vintage Harley-Davidson with a sidecar.
  • Teams have lots of set-up and preparation to do before they can begin to race down one of the four courses.
  • The belly tank racer of Vintage Performance.
  • Many of the race cars are powered by vintage race engines, so parts are scarce. Lots of work is still done by hand such as fitting a copper head gasket.
  • At Bonneville, racing technology mixes with art.
  • Jeff Brock of Abiquiu NM has created this 1952 Buick Riviera known as Bombshell Betty, the pride of Rockethead Racing. Brock's Buick is powered by an inline 8-cylinder motor and holds its class record of 165.380 mph.
  • Gordon Driedger hails from Bragg Creek AB and races this sleek 1953 Studebaker powered by a 296 cu. in. Ford Flathead V-8.
  • Buddy Walker of Greeley, Colorado brought his 1938 Chevrolet running a Cadillac Flathead V-8.
  • The Rocketheads crew prepare Jeff Brock's 1952 Buick for a run against his own record… and they were successful to bump it up by 5/10ths of a mph.
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