News

Actions

Speed Week revs it up at Bonneville Salt Flats

Posted at 9:48 PM, Aug 10, 2013
and last updated 2013-08-10 23:48:46-04

SALT LAKE CITY --  Hot rods were seen going more than 400 mph across Utah’s desert during Speed Week.

The annual event is put on by the Southern California Timing Association, and it drew quite a crowd to the Bonneville Salt Flats.

Driver Dennis Hough said the event is a chance to get some serious speed.

"You go up to line, and you can either push off or what I do is just drive off,” he said. “Take off, start shifting gears and go as fast as you can for five miles."

Jim Nattrass came from Vancouver, Canada for the event, and his presence proves the week isn’t just for drivers and mechanics.

"It's absolutely awesome,” he said. “I'm a science teacher, so the geology, the cars, the sky at night, the people, their knowledge—it's just absolutely fantastic."

Tracy Atwell came from Hailey, Idaho, and she said it’s less about the speed for her.

"I like the creativeness of what goes into the cars is what I like,” Atwell said. “I like seeing what people put on their cars, and what they do with them. It's just incredible to me. And it's extremely creative."

Anyone who certifies their car can rev it up and push their vehicle to the limit at the salt flats. Drivers don’t race against each other, instead they are taking their shot at a speed record.

For more information about Speed Week, click here.