Bonneville Speed Week 2011

Where do you start with a year like this? How about the beginning.

We had Jackie make it all the way from Aomori Japan, Lance Conklin made it out for his first time, Mike from Arizona (hard core guy) Tom Branch made it out in his roadster and Jeff Arnett even rolled out with Julio and crew. Of course the LA crew showed up in full force as they always do. Plus the San Diego crew got two Flathead records under their belt.

The weather was great except for the one night of rain and it seemed to be not as packed as last year.

Jackie had plans (he told us it was his dream actually) of driving his banger all the way up to Bonneville. The car just wasn’t ready this time. The drive from Lefty’s Speed Shop in San Diego to The Backcountry Bootlegger’s shop in Ramona was a good one, well with the exception of Jackie getting lost. The story wasn’t the same when we all were loaded up and headed out to Bonneville. Jackie’s car just couldn’t keep it together well enough to trust it on the 13 hour drive ahead. So we had to park it at Bob’s house in Escondido. As the Nippon Warrior put it – “Next year… REVENGE!”

Bonneville Speedweek was pretty eventful this year. The 131 car got in impound with a 222.972 by Derby on a record of 218.566 set by Dan Waldrop last year.  Then they had some issues that required some new parts to be overnighted from San Diego and a trip to Salt Lake City. They got the car back together but simply ran out of time to really get the clearly capable car and crew back in impound. The crew of Victor, Dan and Derby worked the hardest I’d ever seen out in Bonneville to get the car back together.

Fabian Valdez and crew ran the Vintage Hammer Special 34 car (AKA Benham & Valdez Special) to a best of 222.646 on a 231.865 record. We all know the crew and car has it in them to get that number.

Julio and Jeff brought out the belly tank with an Ardun wedged in it. Ran a solid 144 and pretty much were doing laps. Both the Speed Week rookies Lance and Jackie both got a few runs in the belly tank. Mid week the team swapped out the Ardun with a straight up Flathead and continued doing laps and having fun until Conklin was driving and the head gasket decided to pack up. Pretty good showing from Julio, Jeff and crew. Julio got knocked in the head when a tow strap decided to let go, he’s lucky he still has both his eyes. Conklin took the opportunity to show of some skills with head wrap art.

The San Diego crew of Jake Doomey, Lance Dawes, Chad Ausburn and Lance Conklin rolled out with the 296 (2969) car and of course had Ruben Lovato with us again. Along with hardcore Ruben Sandwich we had Bob along for the ride too. This year the 296 ran in XF/BGALT and XF/BFALT classes which means a few modifications including a screw type blower and a step pan. With the blower pushing anywhere from 5-7lbs Chad Ausburn managed a 120.094 on a 114 record for XF/BFALT and Jake Doomey ran a 123.331 on a 115.841 record for XF/BGALT. Couldn’t have done it without everyone involved.

Everyone made it out and back safely even with the inevitable one flat tire per race team that seems to happen every year. Julio and Dick’s rides were there.

Many thanks to all the Bean Bandit Racing Team and everyone involved because without them this wouldn’t be this much fun and without Joaquin Arnett we wouldn’t be doing it. If you have some time take a look at Jackie’s blog about Joaquin at http://beanbanditssandiego.blogspot.com

Here’s to another year

All of the *good* photos on this post are courtesy of Lance Dawes – Photog, Skateboarder, Bean Bandit, Facilitator, Dad..