Great Race Pitstop at the Bonneville Salt Flats

Our pitstop at the Bonneville Salt Flats, another notable venue in the history of automobiles.

Our pitstop at the Bonneville Salt Flats, another notable venue in the history of automobiles.

The Great Race 2016 continues on Tuesday with a pitstop at the world renowned Bonneville Salt Flats in Western Utah, where we got to get pretty close to the famous Bonneville Speedway. The speedway is at the western end of the flats. Even though you’ve probably seen the flats in movies or on TV, nothing really prepares you for the harsh, alien beauty of this thick, crusty soil. Currently flooded from melting mountain snow in some areas, that is part of nature’s cycle and the waters will evaporate and leave even more minerals on the surface. If it weren’t almost 90 degrees out you would swear it looks a lot like a frozen lake bed. But it’s not, it’s hot, dry and salty. Even the air feels salty. Of course nothing grows in this soil so we had to chuckle when we saw “the tree of life” in the distance. Our little joke for the cell tower on the horizon. Automobile racing history runs deep at the Bonneville Speedway. People have been coming here to break speed records since the early 1900’s. This short video from Bonneville Racing gives you a glimpse into this unique landscape. It truly does look like we’re on another planet. Some people call this area “the eighth wonder of the world.” We’re just wondering how long until we get to tonight’s stop in Evanston, Wyoming. There will be some extreme changes of scenery along the way, and we are looking forward to the next state on our journey.

The tree of life

The tree of life, also known as a cell tower.

See you later!

See you later!

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Mary is always great at getting pictures that capture the moment.

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Yes this is indeed a Special Recreation Area

Everywhere we stop along the Great Race route, we see custom t-shirt businesses. The Salt Flats were no exception.

Everywhere we stop along the Great Race route, we see custom t-shirt businesses and we see Thermo-FILM numbers! The Salt Flats were no exception.

We are not parked by a lake or a river. It’s the flooded Bonneville Salt Flats.

Our pitstop at the Bonneville Salt Flats, another notable venue in the history of automobiles.

Our pitstop at the Bonneville Salt Flats International Speedway, another notable venue in the history of automobiles.

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These guys are not shy. Glad we didn't accidentally step in that burrow.

These guys are not shy. Glad we didn’t accidentally step in that burrow.

Keep cool the old fashioned way.

Keep cool the old fashioned way.

Bonneville Salt Flats International Raceway

On the way to the Bonneville Salt Flats International Raceway

Thanks for the warning!

Thanks for the warning!

Thanks Trevor. We get by with a little help from our friends...

Thanks Trevor. We get by with a little help from our friends…

The Great Race 2016

The Great Race 2016. No that’s not snow, it’s salt.

At the flats.

At the flats.

A once in a lifetime photo opportunity.

A once in a lifetime photo opportunity.

See you later Dan and Brett! Packards are a part of the Bonneville Speedway's history.

See you later Dan and Brett! Packards are a part of the Bonneville Speedway’s history.

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