Speed Week ends on a fast note at Bonneville Salt Flats

Auto racing » Tennessee driver clocks a two-run average of 426 mph on final day.

First Published Aug 18 2012 07:03 pm • Last Updated Nov 30 2012 11:32 pm

Bonneville Salt Flats • Speed Week ended on a high note when veteran driver George Poteet recorded the fastest time of the meet.

The Colliersville, Tenn., driver, who has more 400-plus-mile-per-hour times than anyone in history, had a two-run average Friday of 426 miles per hour to set a new land speed record in the Speed Demon D Blown Fuel Streamliner.

That was the fastest record of the dozens that were set during the annual event, which drew more than 500 entries from all over the world.

"It was a very successful meet," said JoAnn Carlson, media coordinator for the sponsoring Southern California Timing Association. "We had few incidents of any kind, we ran four courses so nobody had to wait in line a long time, and the weather cooperated."

Officials were compiling records from the final two days on the salt that will be posted soon on the group’s website at www.SCTA-BNI.org.

While Speed Week is the largest and most famous event of late summer and early fall, the Bonneville Salt Flats will be busy through much of September and into early October with other racing events.

The next event is the annual Bub Motorcycle Speed Trials that run from Aug. 25 to Aug. 30. For information, log on to www.speedtrialsbybub.com.

The Utah Salt Flats Racing Association will hold its World of Speed Event Sept. 8 through Sept. 11. For more information, visit www.saltflats.com.

An Australian, Austin Healy, will be on the salt flats, as will several motorcycles capable of hitting speeds of more than 200 miles per hour.

The Top Speed Shootout begins on Sept. 15. And SCTA returns Oct. 3 through Oct. 6 with its World Finals event.

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