Everything I hoped it would be. Even met the two guys from New Zealand who built the replica of the Indian Scout used in the movie. They said the original bike had be separated and changed so much it was no longer Burt's. They had 100's of photos to work from. Amazing job. Add in watching the Danny Thompson liner at Sunrise, endless rat rods, highboys, etc. Highly recommended.
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Boothy posted:However, the airline lost my luggage so I had to hit the local consignment shop for shorts and sneakers that were one size too big. No Walmarts etc. in Wendover. Had to triple my socks just to not chafe -probably looked like Thumper but who cares.
You lucky Dog! I've always wanted to go out for speed week!
I've stayed in Wendover. You're right- there's a couple of casinos in West Wendover, and a McDonalds.
Pretty good road trip story from there, if I might bore you:
When I travel (alone)- my game is to find the cheapest, nastiest hotel I can. Wendover has plenty to choose from.
I'd been on the road for about 14 hrs, and was pretty beat when I rolled into town on I80 from the east. I got on Wendover Blvd., and came upon the Bonneville Motel just on the Utah side of the Nevada line. It had a sign out front that said, "$29, Free WiFi". I rolled in, walked up to the front desk, and rang the bell.
Out of the back came a 20-something girl from the Asian Subcontinent, about 4 ft tall with a sari (no kidding). When she opened the door, I promise you- the top hinge was broken, and the door kind've fell off at an angle. I was intrigued.
I asked for a room, and she told me it'd be $45. I turned around without saying anything and started walking back to my car. There's always a Motel 6 somewhere. She stopped me to ask where I was going. I just pointed to the sign.
She gave me the room for $29. When I asked for the WiFi password, she told me to just log onto the Quality Inn WiFi next door. She had the WEP code for them. I thought I'd died and gone to heaven- it was perfect in it's seediness.
Alas, it was actually not that bad (aside from being kind've eerie staying in a room with 4 full-sized beds in 2 rooms). I felt like I should've brought an entourage or something, but they wouldn't have fit in the car. No bugs in the shower, and the sheets were clean. Not bad for $30.
I ate 2 breakfast burritos at the aforementioned McDs, and rolled out of town about sunrise.
My favorite thing about these trips is the extended stay motor inns. Just do some laundry and bask in the beauty of life's pageant!
That's why I only travel with a carry on and backpack!
Very cool for you, Boothy! Speed Week at the Salt Flats is also on my bucket list. Got amy more pics to share? 
I WISH the room were only $29. I started calling back in Feb and got "all booked" until I found the Bonneville Motor Inn. Booked and then called a week or two before to confirm -no record. I was spitting nails. They sold the place and had no records. The woman was kind enough to give me something. I told her I didn't care what it was. During Speed Week they crazy jack the prices. So my normally $45 ratty room went to $125. I'm not fussy so I said yeah. Well, on the second night in Shangri-la the local cops came in two cruisers and latex gloves to a unit on the side. A little while later, the door was taped with "Do Not Cross -Sheriffs Department". Clearly someone was as excited about the week as I was. Then, leaving at 3 am Monday morning I realized there were orking girls a few over. As I was loading I saw them coming back and thought "Why did I spend that much in t-shirts?" Like in scene from animal house a devil and angel were up on each shoulder. "Go home Jeffreye! You have a flight to catch." The other of course saying "Look at those...." I went home and the devil chided me across the desert.
Anyway, yeah a dream realized. I read an article in Hot Rod when I was 16 about the Blue Flame going 730+ mph -read it numerous times thinking how cool is that? Watched the Fastest Indian -just solidified it.
For me it was an amazing experience. My brother built rods when I was a kid. As with everything you grow up with then denounce, I lived with it so I really didn't care about it. But my son as got older loved that stuff. He thought I didn't know anything about all that until he'd see something and I'd say "33 chopped with channel, Strombergs, Offy heads, Hallibrand rear end with quick change..." He was floored how his nerd dad knew this. Life is funny.
Anyway, incredible experience. I did find out that the casinos are a great place to stay as opposed to my fleabag. Left 3am with a large mimosa in my Kia for a 110 mile ride across the desert to Salt Lake at 90+ mph (speed limit is 80 so I wasn't crazy).
And the drinks a the Golden Nugget at night while looking at cars are dirt cheap. $5 for a rum and coke?
Last, after growing up hearing Mickey Thompson... then seeing his kid Danny 10 feet away and his mom before a 325 mph run bright and early was kinda special.
Great pics, great story. Gotta do this some day. But I wanna DRIVE out there and, well, it's a long-ass way in a car like Bridget. And how could I take anything else?
