Racers from around the world met at Bonneville Salt Flats for the 63rd annual Bonneville SpeedWeek race outside of Wendover, Utah, about 100 miles west of Salt Lake City.
The Bonneville Salt Flats are the remains of a massive former salt lake that stretched over some 30,000 acres near the Utah-Nevada border. Each summer, the Bureau of Land Management opens them up for the races.
The snow white salt flats that span northwestern Utah beckoned hundreds of drag racers who will attempt to set land speed records during the course of the week. Over 500 teams kicked off the annual event on Saturday, speeding down the straightaways so fast that parachutes were needed to slow them down.
Have a look:
Jeannie Pflum makes a run on the Butler, Pflum & Wagner motorcycle during the second day of the 63rd annual Bonneville SpeedWeek race on the Bonneville Salt Flats outside Wendover, Utah, August 14, 2011.REUTERSKevin Brooks pushes his vintage BMW motorcycle to be inspected during the first day of the 63rd annual Bonneville SpeedWeek on the Bonneville Salt Flats outside Wendover, Utah, August 13, 2011.REUTERSLarry Whiteley rides his custom bicycle on the salt during the first day of the 63rd annual Bonneville SpeedWeek on the Bonneville Salt Flats outside Wendover, Utah, August 13, 2011.REUTERSThe No Nitro Hammond lakester makes a run during the second day of the 63rd annual Bonneville SpeedWeek race on the Bonneville Salt Flats outside Wendover, Utah, August 14, 2011.REUTERSJeff Erwin of Seattle, Washington walks to his video camera on the salt during the second day of the 63rd annual Bonneville SpeedWeek race on the Bonneville Salt Flats outside Wendover, Utah, August 14, 2011.REUTERSThe Poteet & Main Speed Demon streamliner sets a record for its 408 Miles Per Hour class on a run during the second day of the 63rd annual Bonneville SpeedWeek race, on the Bonneville Salt Flats outside Wendover, Utah, August 14, 2011.REUTERSAndy Kalikakis (L) and Dale Jolley watch the races from the seat of a 1929 Ford Roadster during the first day of the 63rd annual Bonneville SpeedWeek on the Bonneville Salt Flats outside Wendover, Utah, August 13, 2011.REUTERS
