The Bonneville salt flats, the last of the ancient lake Bonneville and now home to speed lovers everywhere, but how is driving on salt different from the road, how can you avoid getting stuck, what kind of equipment will you need, and how we can protect our greatest landmark for future generations.

The Bonneville salt flats are located near the western border of Utah, home to the Bonneville speedway, a 12-mile-long straight track where speed is all that matters. Speed week and event hosted at the salt flats is a yearly event held to prove who has the fastest car, but it’s not as simple as bringing your car out “You have to have basically a garage on wheels, you know if something breaks while you’re racing you have to be able to fix it. Like your torches, welding equipment, all your hand tools, jacks, shade, water, people to help, you’ve got to have a full support group” said Tom Glasmann, the Kearns high auto shop teacher, who has been driving on the salt for 20 years. But if having your own pit crew wasn’t hard enough all your effort can be for nothing by the hands of nature itself. “If it’s recently rained you don’t go out there. That’s why they cancel the races if the salt isn’t just the right condition. People build their cars all year and if it rains 2 weeks before that all goes up in smoke,” said Mr. Glasmann. But even if it hasn’t rained in weeks, you are still at risk of breaking through, the salt is not solid “if you break through then you’re in a real mess. The salt is only a thin layer of crust and then you’ve got soupy bottomless crap underneath.” so make sure you bring your shovel or know the number of a wrecker truck.

Many people disagree with any and all gas-powered vehicles, let alone ones that push the absolute limit of human engineering. But many who attend speed week as well as Utah natives love the lats flats and do everything, they can take care of it while they’re out there “if the people who’re out there are responsible and pick up their trash and use bathroom facilities, they respect the environment. It’s like when you’re camping, pack it in pack it out mentality. It’s an environmental resource that can be used but you have to respect it and take care of it for future generations.”