Cancelled in 2014 and 2015 due to deteriorating track conditions at the Bonneville Salt Flats, the popular Bonneville Speed Week is set to return in August. According to an update from the Southern California Timing Association, Bonneville Speedway is finally ready to host a new motorsport event.
"As of right now we have an 8-Mile Long Course, a 5-Mile Short Course and a 3-Mile Rookie Course. Course Prep is in motion and the 5-Mile & 3-Mile courses have been groomed. The SCTA is confident that the courses are all good and there is salt all the way down," claims the updated signed by SCTA President and Race Director Bill Lattin and Bonneville Nationals Inc. Chairman Pat McDowell.
That’s a significant improvement compared to last year, when the SCTA could only find 2.25 miles of safe salt to race on.
A reduction of available racing surface and salt thickness has led to the cancellation of events at Bonneville in recent years, including the iconic Speed Week in 2014 and 2015. Heavy rains caused a layer of mud from surrounding mountains to flow onto the flats, covering approximately 6 miles of the track, while nearby salt mining operations have reduced the size of the usable track and prevented the organization from finding another suitable section.
The depth of the salt crust at Bonneville has also been decreasing. Measured at as much at three feet in the 1950s, it has been reduced to just 0.17 feet in 2015. Both the SCTA and BNI have worked together with the Bureau of Land Management to protect the Salt Flat. Campaigns such as "Save the Salt" are also making effort to restore the area.
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