Jalopnik: Bonneville

'63 Pontiac Bonneville And '74 Chevrolet Nova Down On The Olympia Street

Murilee Martin — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 14:00:00 EDT

This is Down On The Street Bonus Edition, where we check out interesting street-parked cars located in places other than the Island That Rust Forgot. Today we're going to show that old GM cars don't always dissolve into reddish stains on the pavement, even in a damp climate like the Pacific Northwest. Zeet has photographed this pair of very solid-looking examples of The General's products for us; note that all eight hubcaps are still present!

DOTS FAQ

Junkman Sells DB HBR-5 To Record-Breaking Bonneville Madmen

Murilee Martin — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 16:00:00 EDT

The Land Speed Record for the Grand Touring Sports Car Under 750cc had stood at 80.143 MPH since 1991, and what better car to make a run at the record than a Deutsch Bonnet HBR-5? That's what Mark Brinker of Texas thought, and he knew where to find one: Junkman! You can get the details after the jump, but we can tell you right now that they annihilated the old record!

Dearest D.B. Fans and Fanatics:
It has been done!
I have just returned from the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, USA, where I set the all-time Land Speed Record for a Grand Touring Sports Car under 750cc (this class is known as GT/J). I accomplished this in “BoneEvil,” my 1959 D.B. HBR-5 (#1025) which has a very special, raced prepared 747cc engine. For your interest, attached are two photos of the car (and me) on the salt.
Racing at Bonneville presents many problems and challenges for the little cars we all love. First, the temperature during the day can be as high as 110 degrees which the air-cooled two-banger is not so fond of. Second, the effective altitude is 7700 feet above sea level and setting carburetion can be tricky. Third, racing on salt presents challenges in regards to traction and tire slippage. The course I ran on is called the Short Course and is 3 miles in length. The speed recorded is not the top speed attained but is the average speed sustained between the 2nd and 3rd mile markers. In order to break a record, you must have a successful Qualifying Run which betters the existing record. The car is then placed in Impound with a sealed gas tank. The following morning you must make a successful Record Run (also known as the Backup Run) and again beat the existing record for a second time. The existing record for GT/J has stood at 80.143 MPH since 1991. I believe the previous record holder was a Honda two-seater.
During my Qualifying Run I averaged 93.070 MPH. During my Record Run I averaged 94.918 MPH. The new Land Speed Record is the average of the two and is 93.994 MPH. As you can see, we did not simply beat the old record…we crushed it!
Breaking this record has been a dream of mine for many years and I could not have accomplished this without the help of many people. When I made the decision to move forward in 2006 I had a small problem…I did not own an HBR-5. I called all of my D.B. friends in the U.S. but did not have any luck finding a car. Then I called Junkman who had two HBR-5’s in his collection. Junkman is a huge D.B. fan and was not at all interested in selling either of his cars. That is until Junkman found out what I had in mind! He loved the idea of a D.B. running at Bonneville and immediately sold me the car (at a very, very fair price!). Junkman is a fantastic guy and I am forever grateful for all of his support. Thanks Junkman!
There are many, many others who have helped me along the way. Obtaining parts is always a problem for those of us in The USA and Derek Fritz was with our team every step of the way, offering technical assistance and getting us the parts we needed in a timely fashion. Thanks Derek! Richard Plavetich was restoring his own (now gorgeous) HBR-5 and brought us parts back from his trip to France. Don Racine and JeanPierre Molerus have been wonderful friends and advisors along the way and gave us the info and parts we needed every time we called on them. For years, Bill Barkley has run all over the USA for all of us and has filled my warehouse full of spares. Thanks Bill! Finally, Raymond Milo has been our spiritual advisor and chief critic throughout the project. There is only one Raymond and I am definitely glad to have him on our team.
There are too many others in the D.B. Club who have helped me along the way to mention but to all of you…THANKS!
When I decided to make a record attempt my mechanics first reaction was…”You want to do what?!?!?!” And this was certainly logical.
From a practical standpoint, it really made little sense to go for the record in a 50 year old car. After all, the Grand Touring Sport Class is not a vintage class. It is open to any and all modern two-seaters with an engine under 750cc. But this is precisely why I wanted to break the record in a D.B. As each of you know, Deutsch Bonnet has a legendary race history which includes class wins at Le Mans in ‘53, ‘54, ’55, ‘56, ‘59 and ’60, five consecutive class wins at the Mille Miglia (1953 through 1957), class wins at Sebring in ’53, ’54, ’56 and ’59, at the Tourist Trophy in ’53 and ’55, and class wins at the Nürburgring 1000KMS in ’59 and ’60.
But was it possible to break a land speed record in a Deutsch Bonnet 50 years later? Could it be that the HBR-5 was the fastest under 750cc Grand Touring Sports Car of all time…including modern cars? This was what our team set out to accomplish.
My Chief Mechanic, Greg Lucas, has literally thousands of hours into Panhard engine development. And nearly every internal engine component is special. Our crankshafts are of one-piece billet. The roller bearing is a two-piece design as is the big end of the rods. The valve train and heads have been developed to the extreme. Greg has done an unbelievable job and in my opinion is a world authority on Panhard engines and mechanicals. When I first met Greg 8 years ago, he hardly knew what a Panhard was. But he’s a brilliant guy, a quick study, and with the help of Don Racine and my great friend Alva Rodriguez, who is sadly not here to see this, Greg is now a Panhard Jedi Warrior. His 747cc engines make 48HP at the front wheels (probably 65 HP at the flywheel) and will rev to an honest 10,000 RPM’s.
Greg also assembled a winning team to help us along the way. Mark Evans has been with us every step of the way. Mark not only “massaged” the 50 year old fiberglass body and painted the car; he did much of the fabrication and prep work. He was also with us at Bonneville, getting things ready, driving the push-truck, etc. We could not have done this without Mark. Jeff Gee has also been an important part of the team. Jeff is not only a wonderful fabricator, he is also the shops psychologist…keeping things calm whenever engines scattered parts. Dan Barton is an engine guy extraordinaire and helped our team time and time again. He was also responsible for critical machine and head work on the engines. Walt Bobo, Mike Hart, Tom Thrash and many, many others have wandered in and out of Greg’s shop offering advice and support along the way. Mike Miller did the wonderful airbrush work on the car.
Our team will be continue to make trips to Bonneville to try and go faster and faster to push the 750cc record over 100 MPH. We also have plans to make an attempt for the under 1000cc record in the car. So stay tuned for more records from BoneEvil. It will be up to historians looking back to determine the relative importance of this Land Speed Record in the context of D.B.’s past victories. It is interesting to note that D.B.’s victories in the 1950s were against contemporary cars of similar technological development. What we now have in this 50 year old car is an all-time Land Speed Record holder.
Have fun and drive fast! Mark Brinker
Houston, Texas

DOTS-O-Rama Sunday: 1961 Pontiac Bonneville

Murilee Martin — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 17:00:00 EDT

Tomsk sends in these photos of a very, very nice '61 Pontiac Bonneville, which he shot in- you guessed it!- Orange County. Yes, we're back in Costa Mesa, where just $4,200 will buy you this seriously original sedan (well, it would have bought it a couple months ago, when Tomsk shot these photos).

JT Nesbitt, Designer Of The Confederate Wraith, Readying Land Speed-Record Attempt Documentary

Wes Siler — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 16:45:00 EST

I first met JT Nesbitt in August 2005, when he was the most famous motorcycle designer in the world. I was in New Orleans to profile him, which I did in an article titled "Mafia, Guns, Sex Toys and Hurricanes." It's that hurricane that changed things. A few months later I finally got JT on the phone. He was at work, at his new job in a gay bar, cleaning used condoms out of the toilet with his bare hands. But even Katrina couldn't keep JT down for long. Last September he headed to the Bonneville salt flats to attempt to set a speed record in a Lincoln Mark VIII he salvaged from New Orleans' flood waters. The documentary Salt Dreams tells that story.

I joined JT and his rag tag team of Big Easy misfits on that trip, resulting in a feature that appeared in 0-60 magazine's second issue. He never did set that record, but by pushing himself and his team beyond their breaking points, by focusing himself on a new project, and by inspiring people throughout his hometown, I think JT found himself again.

Salt Dreams premieres April 2, at One Eyed Jacks in the French Quarter.
[Via Hell For Leather]

Gallery Photos: Grant Ray

Yours For Only 55 Grand: 1957 Fletcher Aviator

Murilee Martin — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 12:45:00 EST

When reader Thunder sent in the tip about this car, we all went "Damn!" But then we noticed the asking price and there was just this... silence. It's a reproduction of a 50s/60s Bonneville F-100 wink tank racer, with blown small-block and even license plates. Is it worth the price? Make the jump, take the poll, and let us know! [CarsOnline-Ads.com]

Biodiesel Beemer Sets Speed Record

Mike Spinelli — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 08:11:18 EDT

Although we'd imagine breaking the land speed record among diesel-powered motorcycles was a matter of showing up, an oil-burning BMW was recently crowned with that honor nonetheless. This past week, A custom-built R 1150 RT, powered by a two-liter diesel mill from the company's European 3-Series, set the record at the BUB International Motorcycle Speed Trials at Bonneville Salt Flats, hitting 130.614 miles per hour on biodiesel. The bike, dubbed "Die Moto," was designed and built by Oakland-based industrial arts collective The Crucible. Stormy weather and a faulty engine-management computer reportedly stymied the bike, which the group says will be able to hit 160 next time out. [Motorcycle.com]

Banks Sets the Record Straight

Mike Bumbeck — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 17:00:00 EDT

As the last chunks of salt are chipped off the race cars there is a post speed week battle forming. The SPAL Ford Powerstroke Rocket Ranger team is claiming the title of World's Fastest Diesel Pickup Truck. Gale Banks says this simply isn't true, stating that the Banks Engineering Cummins-powered Dodge Dakota Sidewinder still holds the official FIA World Record - set in 2002.

They have the national record, finally, at 215.091 but, the SCTA-BNI International and FIA (the acknowledged World record sanctioning body for motorsports, the Federation International d'Automobile) World's record are still held by our 'Banks Sidewinder Dakota' at 217.301. And know this, setting a World's record is more than one-way speed. To claim such a record, you must make runs in two directions over the surveyed mile within 60 minutes and do so under close FIA supervision and scrutiny.

Banks adds that the same record setting Dodge Dakota is not a trailer queen, having towed a loaded trailer and averaged over 23 miles per gallon on the 2005 Hot Rod Magazine Power Tour. Talk of broken records and bragging rights has Banks thinking it may be time to revisit the long black line for more record runs.

The Spal guys have made it interesting, sounds like I might need to dust off the Sidewinder and get salty. The bragging rights over 'fastest' might sometimes be a blur at 200+ miles per hour, but the truth is not. That's why FIA World Records are so important, and that's why they're so important to keep straight.

The velocity battle, has evidently begun. [Banks Sidewinder via Bankspower.com]

Boyd Coddington RV Mired at Bonneville

Mike Bumbeck — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 15:38:03 EDT

Gazing at images of Speed Week at Bonneville one might think the surface an impenetrable layer of white salt. In fact the salt is a relatively thin crust floating on a lake of mud. Boyd Coddington and accompanying American Hot Rod television crew found this out the hard way when their white whale of an RV broke through the salt on the return road. The first two wreckers called in were mired attempting to extract the RV. The legendary Big Blue was summoned to sort out the mess, but it too ended up askew in the landscape. Three tow trucks and a crew minivan driven into a taut steel cable later, a fourth tow truck packing three rear axles finally managed to unearth the RV, and the fallen tow trucks. One of the drivers was overheard lamenting, "From hell's heart I stab at thee; for hate's sake I spit my last breath at thee!" [National T-Bucket Alliance](Images: Ron Christensen)

The man known as Coop has installed a bang ...

Mike Bumbeck — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 12:30:00 EDT

The man known as Coop has installed a bang up gallery of Speed Week at Bonneville photos on the Flickr. Bathe your eyeballs with the 1327 pics that Coop took while he was out there.

Ford Goes Over 200 mph in Fuel Cell Fusion, Sets Speed Record of One

Mike Spinelli — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 10:22:57 EDT

Ford's surpassed the double-century mark, and joined the Bonneville 200-mph club, in its Hydrogen 999 fuel-cell-powered Ford Fusion. It's an industry first, considering other automakers' hydrogen fuel-cell projects have eschewed speed accrual for the message of environmental correctness. Why not do both, Ford says with the 999 project, which we're just fine with us old salts. The car was worked up with The Ohio State University Center for Automotive Research, Ballard Power Systems and Roush Racing, and was piloted by Bonneville vet Rick Byrnes, who's also a retired powertrain engineer with the blue oval bunch.

Press Release:

DEARBORN, Aug. 15, 2007 — The Ford Fusion Hydrogen 999 raced to a record 207.297 miles per hour Wednesday at the famous Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, which makes the world's first and only production vehicle-based fuel cell race car the fastest as well.

After more than one year of design and development and 10 years of hydrogen vehicle research, Ford's fuel cell vehicle team battled technical difficulties and a harsh desert environment en route to joining the 200 MPH Club of Bonneville Speed Week, an annual event that attracts hundreds of racing teams.

"What we've accomplished is nothing short of an industry first," said Matt Zuehlk, lead engineer on the project. "No other automaker in the world has come close."

Zuehlk added that Ford's historic run at Bonneville is to further expand its technological horizons with fuel cell-powered vehicles, because it is a fuel that could someday play a key role in meeting the energy needs of the transportation sector. The Ford Fusion Hydrogen 999 is Ford's latest environmental innovation and is another step on the road toward commercially viable hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.

The project is a partnership between Ford, The Ohio State University Center for Automotive Research, Ballard Power Systems and Roush Racing. Rick Byrnes, a veteran Bonneville racer and retired Ford Powertrain component design engineer, piloted the Hydrogen 999 at Bonneville.

1965 Pontiac Bonneville, with Bonus Evil DOTS Car Poll

Murilee Martin — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 09:00:05 EDT

Without beat-ta-hell 60s cars still dragging their rusty mufflers down our streets, we'd get our impression of such cars entirely from the gleaming, coddled examples at car shows... and that would be a tragedy! This especially menacing Bonneville parks right by Alameda High, on the next block over from the equally menacing '69 Continental.

So, in a sense, the high school is surrounded by ominous-looking Detroit iron. There must be a useful lesson for the kids in there somewhere...

This '65 has definitely encountered some obstacles in its journey through life; I'm guessing it spent a few years across the Bay in San Francisco, where car snouts take a beating during parallel-parking attempts.

Oh yeah, that's definitely a case of San Francisco Nose.

1965 was an especially good year for the Bonneville; it looked good and you could get one with a 376-horsepower 421 topped with Tri-Power carbs. Best of all, GM could- and did- put 4-speeds in their big Pontiacs in '65.

This is most likely a 389 car, though. Naturally, it suffers from the standard 60s-GM-car rear-window rust. Once the water starts getting in around the window, the trunk spends the entire winter full of water.

This car doesn't move very often, as evidenced by the weeds growing up around it.

Normally, I'd say that plastic JC Whitney hubcaps have no place on a 60s Pontiac, but they actually add to the car's property-value-lowering appeal in this case.

When you have ten individual pieces making up the car's nameplate, it's likely that some will go missing over the years.
The letters on the trunklid speak volumes, though.

Now for our poll! I've selected one each Ford, GM, and Chrysler car from DOTS posts (today's Bonneville included) and you get to vote on which one is the most profoundly evil-looking. Feel free to imagine each car after you've modified it with your choice of crazy drivetrain and/or rattlecan paint job!

Speed Week at Bonneville is Go!

Mike Bumbeck — Sat, 11 Aug 2007 15:00:00 EDT

The Southern California Timing Association reports that Speed Week at Bonneville is underway. Some rain earlier in the week had caused problems, but favorable weather helped the crews scrape out some courses. As of yesterday 230 entries were passed through tech inspection. Next year we'll enter the Jalopnik 1971 Fiat 500 in Classic Unblown Gas Coupe. Until then we hope the Burkland Streamliner can wick up the twin blown hemis and break its own 417 mph record. Stay on top of records as they happen over at the SCTA. [Bonneville records and photos via the SCTA]

Bonneville Oder Bankrott Machen! Blown Teutonic Belly Tanker

Mike Bumbeck — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 13:00:00 EDT

Somewhere between Nebraska and California these guys scored an auxiliary fuel tank previously attached to a 1944 American Republic P-47 Thunderbolt. The tank was shipped back to Germany, where it met up with an early hemi, a roots blower, some Merc running gear, and giant tiki head with a 13 on its forehead. The entire project is supported by the Konfederate Klassics crew, who also seem to be building a Kadett V8. [A German Tank in Bonneville via rennabteilung.de]

1980 Bonneville: Reno To Tahoe On One Tank Of Gas!

Murilee Martin — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 16:30:09 EDT

With the '80 Bonneville's allegedly good fuel economy the main selling point here (rather than its stellar performance or matchless build quality), we can't help but wonder how many viewers asked themselves what the starting point for the one-tank-of-gas journey to California was. If it was Salt Lake City to San Diego, sure... but maybe it was Medford to Yreka. In any case, the Bonneville gave you More Pontiac Excitement to the Gallon!

300+ MPH Buckeye Bullet Hydrogen Fuel Cell Streamliner

Mike Bumbeck — Fri, 11 May 2007 14:15:00 EDT

A group of Ohio State University students are hoping to break the 300 mile per hour mark at Speed Week this August - using hydrogen. The Buckeye Bullet 2 will make history as first hydrogen fuel cell land speed streamliner to hit the long black line. The Buckeye Bullet 1 was the first electric vehicle to break the 300 mph mark, and currently holds a record of 315 mph. The team plans on success using a 700 horsepower electric motor and lessons learned from the first time around. No word on whether or not this type of fuel cell vehicle will be allowed on California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's hydrogen highway. – Mike Bumbeck

World's First Hydrogen Powered Streamliner [sema.org]

Last Chance for 2007 Land Speed Record Tires

Mike Bumbeck — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 15:30:00 EDT

From a tiny karting carcass to a huge slick designed to go from a standing start to 300 plus miles per hour in under five seconds, tires are a crucial part of any racing machine. Tires are of particular concern on LSR monsters - especially those of the wheel-driven variety. Streamliners moving into and beyond the 300 mile per hour zone for miles at a time require tires built specifically for the task. As the original Goodyear and Firestone 550-15 LSR tires were getting onwards of fifty years long in the tooth, Cooper Tire and Mickey Thompson teamed up to make LSR tires once more. The new tires come with speed ratings from 375 to over 590 miles per hour. The deadline on orders for this latest batch of speedy skins is the end of April. – Mike Bumbeck

[Thanks to Kenny Lyon for the tip]

Bonneville Land Speed Tires [scta-bin.org]

Deep-Fryer Oil Change: Tastes Better Than BioWillie!

Murilee Martin — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 18:47:37 EDT

Midwestern Hoons + Beater Bonneville + Deep-Fryer Oil = Breaking our addiction to foreign oil! These hoons figure that Pontiac 301 will purr like a kitten with a crankcase full of used Melfry, and maybe they're right. Well, no. But let's hope they throw some wheels on and take the ol' Bonneville out for some off-road jumping action when the snow thaws. – Murilee Martin

Related:
BioWillie May Help You Score Chicks [internal]

Dedicating One's Life to the SM is a Worthwhile Pursuit

Davey G. Johnson — Wed, 17 Jan 2007 14:45:00 EST

Now and then, Citro n SM resto specialist Jerry Hathaway has been known to show up at Crystal Cove/Coffee & Cars with a 200mph dry-lakes SM towed on a fifth-wheel trailer by an SMamino. Last night, we were talking with commenter Punkey about how the SMamino may be the greatest car ever because it's a little bit of everything any sensible enthusiast should stay away from: It's French, it's Italian it's a pickup and it's front-wheel drive. Therefore, game/set/match SMamino. Dare to front and an atomic wedgie is in your future. – Davey G. Johnson

SMWorld

Makes Friends With Its Fast, Then Carries It Around: Bonneville Rabbit Pickup!

Davey G. Johnson — Mon, 11 Sep 2006 23:00:00 EDT

What happens when you put a Weber 44IDF carb on an '81 Rabbit Pickup's stock 1.8L motor, throw in a new cam and put on an underdrive crank pulley? How about a best one-way speed at Bonneville of 135.412 mph, ten national records, and a 15.2 at 96mph in the quarter? Okay, so it's got a sheetmetal cowl-induction scoop, Moon discs and a tonneau cover on the bed, but it's by far our most awesome find of the week. Okay, true, it's only Monday. Still, owner Tom Brusch is our kind of geek. [Thanks to James for the tip.]

Salt-Flats Monster: '69 Barracuda LSR Car [Internal]

It's Official: JCB's Got the World's Fastest Diesel Rig

Mike Spinelli — Wed, 23 Aug 2006 10:40:09 EDT

JCB's construction equipment may be slow, but its Dieselmax racer fulfilled boss Sir Anthony's dreams of speed. Anthony wanted to make a statement regarding the extreme performance of his hardware. That desire led to the Dieselmax project, which led to yesterday's FIA-observed run on the Bonneville Salt Flats by commander Andy Green, who set the international speed record for a diesel-powered car of 328.767. It shattered the existing record, allegedly set by trucker BJ McKay, who according to TV viewers in 1979, gave Sheriff Lobo quite a run somewhere in rural Georgia. Ok, ok. The previous record was actually set at Bonneville by the Thermo King Streamliner — piloted by Virgil W Snyder — in 1973 (235.756 mph).

JCB Dieselmax breaks the record [PistonHeads]

Related:
More on the Dieselmax [internal]

A Salty Salute: Bumbeck at Bonneville Speed Week 2006

Mike Spinelli — Fri, 18 Aug 2006 17:43:19 EDT

Here's why we like Bumbeck, whom only one of us has actually met:

Dearest Dorks,
Here is a collection of Bonneville Images for you. I am sending these to both of you guys because you're both swell. The guy on the Moped is for Davey. Speed Week is a wrap today.

And the photos aren't bad either.

BONNEVILLE PHOTO EXTRA [MoparMax]

Related:
Fire Up Your Grilles, MoparMax is Live! [internal]

Oil Burner Smokes the Salt: Dieselmax Hits 300 mph in Bonneville

Mike Spinelli — Fri, 18 Aug 2006 08:20:44 EDT

Those daring young Brits and their smelly rocket, the JCB Dieselmax, rocked the Bonneville Salt Flats yesterday, breaking 300 mph for the first time. Wing Commander Andy Green took the diesel-powered streamliner to 308 mph — and he says there's room to spare. While the only glitch was a parachute that failed to open, the load of Coors was delivered to the Big and Little Enoses without so much as a peep from smokey.

UPDATE: Bumbeck got us pictures from speed week at the flats for your enjoyment!

JCB tops 300mph [Autocar]

Honda Sets F1 Land Speed Record

Davey G. Johnson — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 14:30:00 EDT

Even in the most technologically-advanced, downforce-oriented cars, things can get hairy and unpredictable out on the salt. Alan van der Merwe, strapped into a Honda Formula 1 car, spun a few times in an ultimately-successful effort to traverse a two-way measured mile at 220.571 — headed for a new straight-line record for a race-legal F1 vehicle. Now, if one could only fit a pro wrestler into one of those cars, Bob Mould would be grinning from ear to ear. [Thanks to Cole for the tip.]

Honda set land speed record for F1 car [TSN.ca]

Honda's F1 Bonneville Speed Record Attempt Back On

Mike Spinelli — Fri, 14 Jul 2006 08:17:49 EDT

Last October, after Utah's Bonneville salt flats did its best Dead Sea impersonation for about a month, Honda F1's Bonneville 400 team was forced to cancel its speed record attempt. Now, they're on their way back to Utah to try again. Driver Alan van der Merwes saw 256.765 mph (413.205 km/h) during shakedown tests in the Mojave desert last November in the race-legal F1 car — becoming the first F1 driver to break the 400 km/h barrier. If all goes well, he could have his Bonneville record by early next week. Just don't ask him to pass the salt, he hates that joke.

Honda goes for Bonneville F1 record [internal]

Rained Out at Bonneville, BAR Honda Unofficially Sets F1 Speed Record at Mojave Airport

Mike Spinelli — Wed, 09 Nov 2005 13:43:24 EST

After getting a Bronx Cheer from Mother Nature, in the form of a storm that ruined conditions at Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, BAR Honda driver Alan Van Der Merwe took a 067 F1 car to nearly 266 mph on the tarmac of Mojave Airport in California this past Friday. The run makes Bar the unofficial fastest F1 team, despite the change in venue, which made the team ineligible for accreditation by the Bonneville Nationals folks. The team ran the car in F1 spec, though in Bonneville parlance, the 3-liter, unblown, open-wheel car is classified as a Lakester, the B-ville speed record for which is around 230mph. The team plans to return to the salt for another shot in May or June of 2006.

Bonneville 400

Related:
GM Sets Class Record at Bonneville Speed Week [internal]

The World's Fastest Small Block Chevy?

Davey G. Johnson — Fri, 04 Nov 2005 17:42:28 EST

The Nish Streamliner is designed to be the world's fastest Chevy small block-powered vehicle. Designed to run 425 mph on the salt, the flaming purple arrow is 27 feet long and weighs only 2750 lbs. A fiberglass body shell wraps around a 4130 chromoly tube frame, while various Klein-built SBC's can be wedged between the framerails for competition in different classes. Terry, Jeff, T.J. and Mike Nish have all run well over 300, calling themselves "The World's Fastest Family." We shall see if they'll all break the 400mph barrier in the seasons to come.

GM Sets Class Record at Bonneville Speed Week

Mike Spinelli — Wed, 24 Aug 2005 16:11:00 EDT

Veteran Bonneville racer and auto journalist Don Sherman took GM's Ecotec-powered Lakester to 189.205 mph — a speed record in the G Class/Blown Gas Lakester group. The record likely made GM Performance Division honchos happier than a basket of puppies on Zoloft, considering the division offers such Ecotec crate motors (and the aftermarket parts that make it speed-record worthy — like the supercharger that boosted the Lakester's horsepower to 312) for sale to anyone with a wrench and a dream. The Lakester broke the previous class record of 179.381, set last year in the high-tech reincarnation of the famous So-Cal Speed Shop Lakester — a high-tech version of SoCal founder Alex Xydias's Belly Tanker of the early '50s.

Related:
It s Speed Week Again: GM Takes on the Salt [internal]

Land-Speed Racer Killed at Bonneville Speedweek

Mike Spinelli — Wed, 17 Aug 2005 17:02:47 EDT

John Beckett, longtime land-speed racer and member of the Bonneville "200 MPH Club," was killed in an accident this past Sunday, the second day of time trials for the 2005 Bonneville National Speedweek. Beckett had been traveling more than 200mph in his 1930s-era Crosley when the car went out of control and flipped just as he was reaching top speed. A former high-school teacher (the cool one, we'd suspect) was a former president of the East Coast Timing Association, which organizes top-speed races on the Atlantic side of the US. [Thanks to Randy for the tip.]

Crash kills driver at Salt Flats [Salt Lake Tribune]

Related:
It s Speed Week Again: GM Takes on the Salt [internal]

It's Speed Week Again: GM Takes on the Salt

Davey G. Johnson — Mon, 15 Aug 2005 17:25:30 EDT

General Motors is making a full-scale assault on Bonneville this summer, having paired with both So-Cal Speed Shop and California Street Rods (builders of ZZ Top's Eliminator). So-Cal chopped an HHR (making it an HLR?) and their Tony Thacker mentioned to us not long ago that they expect it to run well over 200. Plus, they're bringing back the Ecotec Lakester, modeled on Alex Xydias' legendary belly tanker. Automobile's Don Sherman will take his second shot at piloting the diminutive land-bullet.

Over at CSR, Chuck Lombardo's crew teamed up with four female college interns to build a Cobalt that GM hopes will break 160 MPH. We at Jalopnik would like to take a quick break from our usual snarky commentary and genuinely wish every racer on the salt this year a safe Speed Week. To warp an old Catholic Discipline lyric, speed records must fall. [Thanks to Dave Thomas for the tip.]

GM Performance Division Ready For Record-Setting Week at Bonneville Salt Flats [MPH]