The Bonneville Salt Flats is a vast expanse of hard-packed salt that stretches for more than 40 square miles northwest of Wendover. Left behind when the ancient Lake Bonneville dried up, the barren, glimmering flats draw the attention of filmmakers, photographers, and racers wanting to set land speed records.
The vast, stark beauty of the Bonneville Salt Flats beckons all kinds of people. Some want to simply take a stroll on the thick crust of salt; others take one look at this hard-packed surface that’s totally free of obstacles and think, “This is the perfect place to see how fast I can make my car go!”
Try Media/iStock via Getty Images
Folks have been racing cars here for more than a century. In 1914, race car driver Teddy Tetzlaff unofficially broke the world speed record when he hits speeds of 142.8 mph across the flats.
Pgiam/iStock via Getty Images Over the following years, race car drivers and speed hounds started showing up to test their mettle on the hard salt pan.
The Bonneville Speedway portion of the flats is located very close to the Utah/Nevada border near Wendover. It’s marked out by race organizers every year.
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British racer Malcolm Campbell set many land speed records during his career, but on September 3, 1935, he broke the record one last time. It was his last triumph, but it was the first official record at the Bonneville Speedway.
By Richard LeSesne / State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory, Public Domain
Campbell had a newly rebuilt “Bluebird,” and he’d already set a record with it at Daytona, but he knew the car was capable of even more - he just needed a better surface to decrease his wheelspin.
By Nimbus227 - Own work, Public Domain The salt flats provided the perfect surface, and not only did Malcolm Campbell break the land speed record yet again, he also became the first person to ever drive a car faster than 300 mph.
Over the course of the following decades, dozens of land speed records were broken on the salt flats.
By Burly Burlile/Wikimedia Pictured above is a Pepco Supercharged VW Lakester, which Dick Beith drove in 1963.
While car racing has always been popular, many other kinds of vehicles are raced at Bonneville Speedway.
Matt Nuzzacco/Moment Collection via Getty Images
Three land speed events are held here every year, and include categories for cars, trucks, and motorcycles.
By Wendyhoney - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0/Wikimedia This photo shows Michael Sturtz on his 100% biodiesel motorcycle in 2007.
You’ll see all kinds of crazy, modified vehicles trying to set land speed records here! This Phoenix Diesel Truck is just one example.
By James Rice - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0
Make a visit to the Bonneville Salt Flats to see them for yourself.
sandwich/flickr Visit the Utah Salt Flats Racing Association’s website for upcoming racing events, including World of Speed. You can find information about Bonneville Speedweek on the Southern California Timing Association’s website.
Did you know that you can see the salt flats from space? It’s true! Check it out in our article here.
Try Media/iStock via Getty Images
Pgiam/iStock via Getty Images
Over the following years, race car drivers and speed hounds started showing up to test their mettle on the hard salt pan.
Alvis Upitis/Design Pics via Getty Images
By Richard LeSesne / State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory, Public Domain
By Nimbus227 - Own work, Public Domain
The salt flats provided the perfect surface, and not only did Malcolm Campbell break the land speed record yet again, he also became the first person to ever drive a car faster than 300 mph.
By Burly Burlile/Wikimedia
Pictured above is a Pepco Supercharged VW Lakester, which Dick Beith drove in 1963.
Matt Nuzzacco/Moment Collection via Getty Images
By Wendyhoney - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0/Wikimedia
This photo shows Michael Sturtz on his 100% biodiesel motorcycle in 2007.
By James Rice - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0
sandwich/flickr
Visit the Utah Salt Flats Racing Association’s website for upcoming racing events, including World of Speed. You can find information about Bonneville Speedweek on the Southern California Timing Association’s website.
If you’ve visited the Bonneville Salt Flats, we’d love to read about your experience in the comments.
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Address: Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah 84083, USA
