Racers have already hit the road for what many consider to be the last bastion of true hot rodding left–the Southern California Timing Association’s Bonneville Speedweek.
Officially, the week lasts from August 13-19 at the Bonneville Salt Flats outside of Wendover, Utah. As of this writing, 307 cars and 71 bikes from 39 states and five countries have registered.
Despite a good amount of rain and snow in the region, salt conditions reportedly remain good, perhaps the best racers have seen in years.
Expect to see all sorts of hot rods in the pits, in the parking areas and as push vehicles, but the racing will take center stage.
Tech starts Friday morning, then racing begins Saturday at about noon. Record return runs will begin at 7:00 a.m. Sunday and run through Thursday. Expect racing results on the SCTA’s website www.sctabni.org or on www.landracing.com .
And as in the last few years, General Motors will field several entries at Speedweek pushing the performance capabilities of the company’s Ecotec four-cylinder engine. A 2006 HHR, modified with a turbocharged and intercooled 2.0-liter Ecotec, will join GM’s 179.381 mph (officially; 184.135 mph unofficially) supercharged Ecotec Lakester and the 243.127 mph-tested supercharged Cobalt SS. So-Cal Speed Shop worked with General Motors to prepare all three entries.
(This post originally appeared in the August 11, 2005, issue of the Hemmings eWeekly Newsletter.)