Speed Week is back at the Salt Flats

Some of the world's fastest cars return to the Bonneville Salt Flats this week after a two-year hiatus due to poor conditions on the famed raceway east of Wendover.

"It's like being in labor for two years," said Utahn Jinx Vesco, whose husband, Rick, is bringing a refurbished Turbinator streamliner to the Salt Flats with hopes of breaking the 500-mph barrier. "We want to give birth to this."

Pre-entries are down slightly from previous years, perhaps because some racers who come from all over the world to compete are taking a wait and see attitude after two years of disappointment.

JoAnn Carlson, spokesperson for the Southern California Timing Association, which organizes the land speed trials, said there are 418 pre-entries, but that she expects in the neighborhood of 500 vehicles.

The pits opened on Thursday. The salt will open Saturday at 7 a.m. A drivers meeting is scheduled at 9 a.m. and racing begins at 10 a.m.

Spectators are welcome. Entry fee is $20 per person per day, or $50 per week. Looking at classic cars in the pits or watching the cars on the Salt Flats makes for an interesting day.

There will be three courses this year.

The long course is five miles long with three miles of shutdown. The short course is three miles long with two miles of shutdown. The rookie course is two miles with one mile of shutdown.

Carlson was on the salt earlier this week.

"It looks very white, which surprised me because it was so brown for a while," she said, adding that "we should have plenty of room out there."

Vesco said her team went up to the Salt Flats about 10 days ago.

"It looks good but it is thin," she said. "It could get worn out after the traffic. They may need to move the course a bit every day."

Land speed enthusiasts and environmentalists have been worried about deteriorating salt conditions on the famed course, where cars have been trying to set records for over 100 years. Wet courses, mud flows and thin salt combined to cancel the events the last two years.

"There were a few people who said they were too old and we are done," said Carlson. "But there is a lot of interest."

Some of the big streamliners capable of hitting the elusive 500-mph mark are expected to return.

These include George Poteet and his Speed Demon, Utahn Terry Nish with his Royal Purple Challenger Two, Danny Thompson and the Honda motor company with a new streamliner.

Vesco said her team is excited to test the Turbinator, which features a new turbine engine and the latest technology in fuel control. Californian Dave Spangler will be back to drive.

"We hope to go over 470," said Vesco. "That was our top speed in 2001. Our goal is 500 if everything is good. We don't need as much salt length as with a piston car. We can start out faster."

For information and details on the event, log on to www.scta-bni.org.

wharton@sltrib,com

Twitter @tribtomwharton