Cool couple featurettes on Discovery Channel "Bonneville" show

[bull]

I don't have cable TV so sorry if this is a repost but I was at work last night and enjoyed a couple featurettes they had on. One was about a seriously modified '69 Barracuda called Blowfish that ran in the 280 mph range if I remember right and another was about Leslie Porterfield who holds (or at least did hold) a few speed records on various motorcycles.

The first pic is the Cuda "before" shot and the second of course is after the restoration and modifications. The third is Ms. Porterfield.

http://www.leslieporterfield.com/
http://www.hotrod.com/featuredvehicles/113_0702_1969_barracuda/bonneville_salt_flats.html

[bakerhillpins]

  Indeed!

[PocketThunder]

Indeed!

Indeed!!   

I just cant fathom what its like to be out on a dry salt bed lake.  Do they need to maintain the road that the cars race down with a grader or compactor?  Or is it just wide open runs on the open lake bed?  Off to wikipedia i go....

[bull]

Indeed!

Indeed!!   

I just cant fathom what its like to be out on a dry salt bed lake.  Do they need to maintain the road that the cars race down with a grader or compactor?  Or is it just wide open runs on the open lake bed?  Off to wikipedia i go....

I've wondered that too. Do they groom it like the ski runs? I'm sure they have to do some maintenance on it. I imagine you'd want to spray your car down real good after driving on it too.

[lisiecki1]

i haven't been there, but it's my understanding that they don't groom it in any way

[chargerrt]

I believe that the owner/driver of the "Blowfish" also owns the NASCAR inspired '68 Charger that Steve Strope built a couple years ago.

[Sublime/Sixpack]

 Even though Mother Nature has her method of making the Salt Flats smooth, the race courses are additionally prepped (groomed if you will) for the speed runs. They use a device called a "Drag" to smooth the surface a bit better than Mother Nature does.