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RV Park near Wendover, Utah/Bonneville Salt Flats
We have a friend running on the Bonneville Salt Flats this August and probably again in September and would like to go out and watch them. There appears to be two campground/RV parks in Wendover; a KOA and park “behind the Shell station, next to the Nugget”. Anyone have experience with either one?
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13 Replies
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Left Trina there for a month while I was working shady place she said 10 years ago
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“shady”. Lots of shade from the sun? Or should we be packing our own heat?
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Dick, going out to see Johnny Rank and Mueller ? Geo.
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Geo: Yes. Also Danny Thompson is running his Dad’s car from the 60’s (updated of course) with a goal of 439. I would like to take my car out there next year and try to run over 200 with it. Was at Muellers yesterday to pay for our new trailer. Front corners of the old trailer were to close to the back of the coach. Last winter I asked Tom what it would take to extend the tongue of the trailer, he gave me a Bravo Trailer brochure. Picked the new up in Bristol, Ind @ Bravo and took it with us to Indy. Had lunch with Tom and Terry Martens at the bowling alley.
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Pack your own heat not trees
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Would you take your bus onto the flats or does the salt make it a no-no?
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I wouldn’t take the bus on the salt because of the corrosive nature of the salt. I’m reluctant to take the toad out there. I have a friend who crews on an LSR car and took a Blazer out there from Wisconsin and onto the salt. Brought the Blazer home and it sat outside. Everytime it rained there were little piles of salt underneath the vehicle and that was after he thought he thoroughly cleaned the underside.
As far as weight goes, I understand they had take big semi trucks and trailers (80,000 pounds) out onto the salt. I also understand that everything has to come off the salt at night, then the entire circus goes back out at sun-up in the morning.
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That’s what I thought.
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I stayed in that KOA last year on my way out to Yosemite. It is ok. Mostly gravel and some of sites are not very level. It appeared safe.
My wife was out walking the dog and said she saw another “bus” I went over to check it out and it was a 72 MCI. They guys were crewing for a guy named “Danny”. Turns out later that evening after a Google search of their matching tee shirts and the name Danny I figured it out:) They had the bus out on the salt so apparently it will hold the weight. The salt sticks to everything; shoes, tires, etc… so whatever you take out with you will come back with salt on it.
It was HOT. All of my roof airs stopped working during the heat of the day driving in the area. Once it cooled down to ~100 in the evening they worked fine again.
Also the I-80 pass going back east out of Salt Lake is a killer. Manage your engine temp not your speed. I ended up in 1st gear about 1/8 throttle to keep the temp down and not lug the engine. We passed dozens and dozens of disabled cars, trucks and semi’s near the top. Some of the semi’s had shut down and the drivers were backing the rigs down the interstate (via gravity) to get to the side of the road! It was complete cluster – I’ve never seen anyting like it.
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“name Danny I figured it out:)” Danny Thompson? Mickey Thompson’s son?
Right now the KOA is full. The Nugget casino has 18 sites but doesn’t take reservations; first come first served.
Does anyone know if any of the other three casinos will allow a motorhome to dry camp in a corner of the parking lot? Of if there is any camping/dry camping on the government land near the Salt Flats.
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Only BLM land where camping may be allowed that I can see is the Knolls Recreation Area to the east of Wendover.
Check out Campendium.com
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Yep, It was some of the crew for Danny Thompson, Micky Thompson’s son. They were doing a test and tune on his Dad’s old (but updated) twin engine / all wheel drive Streamliner. Apparently, they did not actaully get to run it during speed week because of rain / flooding.
You also know your are dealing with serious gear heads when they have a hopped up 8V-71 Turbo motor and a 13 speed transmission with several overdrives. They claimed the bus was geared for 120! (however they could not produce any time sheets to verify the claimed top speed) good story anyway!
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Geo and Corey are going to join us. I’m expecting Geo to bring his safety gear and helmet and try to get a good timing sheet out of his H.
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