Cost to do Bonneville Salt Flats??

One of the items on my bucket list, hard to say that in my 20's, is to run a car at speed week on the Bonneville Salt flats. And when I say a car, I don't mean some stick thing. Ideally I'd like to get to 175+ with it. For someone with no experience in this, but can do any mechanical work required as well as most fabrication, what kinds of costs is one looking at to build a car up?

I figure that the car and engine will be the biggest expenses, followed by a solid suspension and tires rated for that speed. I don't know if it's required, but for safety is want a roll cage in the car. I'm thinking something like a custom chassis 49 Ford with a turbo 5.0 in it, although a more reasonable idea would be a 70's Trans Am with a blown 455 Pontiac motor and auto Trans. I figured with the diverse backgrounds here someone has to have tried it and would hopefully be willing to share experiences with the crowd.

 

If you're just looking to go 175mph, buy a used M5 for $30K and remove the limiter. Or get a used Mustang/Challenger/Camaro and throw heads/cam/bottle on it along with some skinnies. If you're looking to build something from the ground up, the cost is going to be entirely up to you and how fast you want to go.

 

Check out www.saltflats.org > "130 club" or "150 club" - this might cure you . . .or hook you!

Rubber side down.

Been there, done that.

 

Well, a friend of mine has a 94 240sx that has the record in blown gas coupe. The record he holds is at 207mph, and the car is a pretty straightforward build. (RB26 single turbo, car is gutted, etc) They have around $100k in the build, not including the tow rig. If 175 is the goal, rent a new 5.0 (hertz) mustang and go run up there. I've seen them do 168 (stock) in the standing mile, so 175 on the salt should be doable.

 

I think the correct answer is, "how much money do you have?"

 

yes.....+1
speed costs $$......how fast do you want to go?
or how fast can you afford to go

 

Racing on the salt is entirely different than racing in other places. The safety equipment required for anything above 150 club stuff is substantial. Your cheapest bet would be to buy a used certified racer go through it and run it. You could go out and run on the salt when no one else is there but that is sketchy at best. One of the mile events on a runway is a cheaper way to get to 175.

Start by buying a rule book from scta-bni.

 

Please don't anyone do this! Make life lots worse for the rest of us who play by the rules.

 

Not to mention the safety issues, right? I would love to run Bonneville someday but I would only do it if I had a class and a chance at raising the bar/record even if only for a short time. Most people do not believe me when I tell them that when I was 15 an older friend took me up to 180mph in his '79 T/A that had a massaged big block.

Like jm2 said "speed costs $$......how fast do you want to go
or how fast can you afford to go?"

 

You'd be amazed how many cars get stuck in soft mud-like salt from trying this exact thing!

 

This is the best advice.

Spend some time with the rule book.

The ECTA rules (which is very similar to the SCTA rules) will also get you started:
ECTA-LSR | East Coast Timing Association

You need to figure out what class you want to construct a car (or motorcycle) for. Then you need to figure out what speed you want to hit, and what safety measures are required.

Costs depend on how much work you can do yourself. If you are a certified weldor, it can be much less expensive. If you can build your own engine, that can save you some big bucks.

Some teams out there are willing to rent out a seat in their car and provide support staff. That's what I did. It's much less expensive than building your own car.

Below is my pass for my 150mpg license at Maxton, which is now closed. It's an old air force runway, so you don't have the space of Bonneville, either in length or in width. Acceleration and braking are extremely important.

Land speed racing is fun. Any time you need a parachute is fun.

Matt
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You are a great guy, and I have had more older Trans Ams than one person should have, but the power needed to aerodynamically push a 79 Trans am to 180 would be nuts. Just sayin.

 

.....well, it sure <felt> like 180......! ;-) just poking fun at texasmr2 expense..... ;-)

 

Thanks and yes it was just insane. I could barely turn my head enough to read the individual gauges. The owner did tell me that the engine was basically a NASCAR engine and was pushing around 800hp. I have no reason to lie nor am I looking for brownie points. Hell I almost hit 160mph in my T66 powered MR2T but had to lift for traffic and I was no where near maxed out in rpm's or gearing so I think 180mph was completely doable.

Anyway Bonneville is on my 'bucket list'.