Bonneville: The Great American Playground - The Downshift Episode 13

[@christopherbrummet4997]

Bonneville and the Isle of Mann are both on my bucket list. Soon.....Very soon...

[@grimheathen]

You should also see the Pikes peak race if you haven't yet.

[@TheRazosvg]

Absolutely great episode! You can really feel the love and the passion that goes into what these guys do....and that is real. Again...great episode!

[@nooranik21]

It always makes me happy to see when you guys have uploaded something. It is always worth watching.

[@MotorTrendWatch]

We're glad to hear it and we're determined to keep impressing you. Thanks for the feedback.

[@Yes-qj4bi]

How do you not have more likes

[@myundercoveracct]

I work on the blue and red streamliner 909 in the video and love the experience. I believe that hard work really pays off in setting records. Keep burning the midnight oil! Curt

[@MotorTrendWatch]

Absolutely. The race cars are usually completely disassembled and cleaned after every event.

[@MotorTrendWatch]

The car you're asking about is Art Arfons' Green Monster circe 1964-1965. It was powered by a surplus jet engine and briefly held the land speed record in 1965 at 576.5 mph. Craig Breedlove took away the record several days later, running 600.6 mph.

[@franglediddup]

Ah, I interviewed Jim Burkdoll briefly as I was there writing some articles for Australian magazines he's a great guy, they don't come much cooler and I absolutely love that Liner. I have a bellytank which we race in Australia, search for Spirit of Sunshine there's a video of my partner doing his 150mph license pass.

[@MotorTrendWatch]

The surface is salt. Literally sodium chloride. It is very hard some years, and soft others. It all depends on the drying conditions after it floods every winter. The surface is prepared for racing by being dragged to remove small, raised fissures.

[@2008calander]

These hand built one off cars are to me the best in the world.

[@budriusnathan22]

This is awesome. I hope someday I'll be lucky enough to be a part of this.

[@fredanddebramacdonald2445]

I would like to race at Bonneville, but I don't think my old Buick Electra would be allowed to. Since I retired early with back problems, I will never have the funds to build a car for this stuff, but it would be an honor to be on anyone's pit crew, even if my most important task was brewing coffee! Even the old Electra gave up this year, blowing a head gasket, screwing up cruise nights. But I just painted the new set of heads today, so hopefully, will salvage the year a little before I have to worry about changing oil in the snow blower. The heads I found came from a guy who used to race Buick stock cars. Probably a lame story compared to the salt flats, but I might have the only Electra in existence that will have heads that were once on a stock car. Anyway, happy racing! I do read about you guys in magazines I get. Thanks, Fred.

[@rokkyde]

Fred, I want you to get out there! Go on! Even if you're just gonna watch!

[@TKSMotorsports]

What year is your Electra? My first car was a '77 Deuce and a Quarter! Depending on what has been done to the car, with some minor safety work it could run in Production, Classic Production, Gas Coupe, or Classic Gas Coupe.

[@fredanddebramacdonald2445]

I'm the second owner of this 1977 Electra, and have owned it since 1993. It has the 350 Buick engine, and after a head gasket repair, and a bunch of other new parts, is finally running decent for a change. It is totally stock, and significant modifications are totally not in the budget! I did buy the heads I'm running from a guy who raced Buicks in the 90's, so the last car those heads were on was a stock car. I go to shows, and it has won silver at the Buick Nationals.

[@fastman6142]

I was missing my annual fix of salt this year....I started watching some youtube videos...I was testing my sound card & video card drivers on my trusty (again, I hope) shop computer...and, of course, forgot that I was testing. Don't believe that it does not cost money to "win"....if such it can actually be called....I have run at the salt for over 40 years and it does cost money.... What is present in a lot of cars Including both of ours) though, is a lot of ingenuity....which can save a person thousands of dollars on building the car. Until we started going so fast (speeds of 250 to 280 mph, depending on which car & class) we used Goodyear stockcar tires that we got used...sometimes for free - sometimes for a favour... We got seat belts from NHRA racers 'cuz they needed to replace them every 2 years (and B-ville rules are 5 years)....the price usually was an event t-shirt.... Fancy wheels?...Nope!....used, painted modular look wheels from a truck - in 15X7 or 15X8 for the rear and cut out centers that were installed in a 5" wide rim for the front...(Also, it helps to have a shop at home so you can make a lot of otherwise expensive stuff)... If anyone is interested in building a car to run at the salt, look up some of the sites that are land speed specific, join, ask questions in postings, comment on others' postings and pose questions there, develop some online friendships and try and figure out who in you area is doing this sort of racing...I know that I am, as far as I am able, always willing to help someone. See you there some time?

[@henrymccarty8077]

I was born & raised not far from there. I've been to the Bonneville Salt Flats. White as snow, far as you can see. ..pure salt, put it on your tongue and taste it. Flat as a pool - table. Watch: World's Fastest Indian. True story, great movie!

[@Bulletguy07]

@Henry McCarty ~ yeah i saw that documentary. Damned good as it showed plenty of enthusiasm and persistence.....but not much money.

[@GoKaioken]

Motortrend is just absolutely fantastic!

[@4housedoc5]

We are building a bike for Bonneville and hope to race in 2015. These videos are part of what keeps us on task

[@Dripdry74]

Did u make it out there?

[@4housedoc5]

+Zainzy As it turns out we weren't ready for last year and bonneville got rained out as well. Annie is almost ready to fire for the first time. Just waiting for some fuel system parts. If I did everything right we should be good to go. ( hope there is salt!) I will be finishing the fairings in the spring when I can work outside again. Fiber glass work is stinky according to my wife! Thanks for your interest.

[@phattyhales]

Those of you asking about the Enzo. It belongs to Richard Losee. It was rebuilt after it nearly killed him in a Targa type race. It now has twin turbos and is the fastest Ferrari in the world. Buckeye Bullet wasn't there in 2011 but they will be there this summer as well as the BYU electric streamliner. Both cars are in seperate classes and are both the record holders in their class. ;)

[@Altenholz]

Magic atmosphere there!

[@n00baublitz]

Great editing guys. These videos are incredible.

[@kh40yr]

Nice work on this from 2012. Can't believe I missed it.

[@MotorTrendWatch]

Many thanks. We intend to.

[@sparkyguy277]

This is the coolest video I have ever seen!!!!!!!

[@anidin92]

someone needs to make a video like this about the wheeling community it is probably one of the most friendly motorsports but it is also getting hard to find trails that you can legally go on

[@wolftmfg]

Amazing imagery. Great subject :)

[@PaintfullGovernor]

Does anyone know the soundtrack in the ending? It´s beautiful.

[@braberdebrabel22]

VERY nice guys ... Very well made ... Love it

[@pickledgaming]

Moving to salt lake in June can't wait to go here :D

[@TheCymbalProject]

This... and TT Isle of Man.... gotta do em' both before I die.

[@MotorTrendWatch]

Many folks are commenting on the quip in the video (from Spectre Performances's Amir Rosenbaum) that Bonneville hot rodders can give the F1 teams some competition. As a point of reference, the Honda F1 team went to Bonneville in 2006 and set a record at 246.983 mph on the flying kilo. Open-wheels cars tend to be a mess aerodynamically, and a '32 Ford roadster is about the worst. Yet Bonneville hot rodders have run 300 mph in an open-wheel '32 roadster...significantly faster than the F1 effort.

[@neilalbaugh4793]

I was there when the Honda F1 team ran their car at Bonneville. The crew was very polite- very nice guys but they were out of their element and they did the best they could. Conversely, a land speed car would be humiliated on a road course. Each is a specialized form of racing- respect both.

[@jgmagoo1]

I am a HUGE F-1 fan. I think the guy's comment about F-1 was just to indicate to the total Bonneville-uninformed that these cars are indeed very fast even when compared to existing state-of-the-art race cars. Money doesn't always buy speed....but the old addage "Speed costs money..how fast do you want to go?" does hold some credence.

[@Kav3h]

I remember a couple years ago driving out to Wendover to see that, but it got flooded

[@TheMoezilla]

I agree that comparing a current F1 team and car to teams that show up at Speedweek does not make much sense....however, if a F1 team was allowed to throw off all the current limitations issued by the FIA, the cars would cease to be Formula 1 racers and turn into land speed racers....F1 cars are technical marvels, yes, but the very limits imposed on them is what actually defines them....

[@EpicSnuggleBunny]

That was a fantastic video!

[@brunofilleti]

Car manufactures should start attempting world speed records in this place.. making it a Nurburing kind of thing.

[@MrGutsyHsv]

love all your videos ! Keep up the good work :)

[@jgmagoo1]

An F-1 team (Toyota) came to Bonneville a couple of years ago with one of their current F-1 cars. They did everything they could do to reduce drag and go fast. They did NOT even come very close to setting a record! Check it out. I think there is a video on KZbin about it.

[@MrDumptyTheDeadman]

They aren't really racing though, they are just trying to see how high of a speed they can hit.

[@neilalbaugh4793]

They are racing against the clock.

[@swinegull]

awesome, gave me goosebumps.

[@Jurvaa]

Great song at the beginning and at the end. What is it?

[@ricecakeFTW]

Gonna go watch "Worlds Fastest Indian" again.........awesome vid :)

[@msalgan]

Great piece. Who did the music - didn't see it in the credits?

[@MotorTrendWatch]

It is natural salt.

[@iTziLLUMY]

Nürburgring Nordschleife next ep? Because the 2012 edurance race starts on May 20th.

[@phattyhales]

Oh ok I gotcha. You are very right about these cars being HUGE!!! Ours however isn't. We ran a class that you had to weigh less than 1100lbs! Search BYU Streamliner.There are a few vids of the car. ;)

[@thewhiteeazye2728]

One of my life long dreams is to build my own bike and get in the 200mph club

[@Boosty_Boost]

What's that very last tune played!? @ the downshift credits!? It's so damn amazing, I've gotta be able to play that when ever I want to! :)

[@MDDeGrande1994]

There's a potential speed testing grounds here in Bosnia and Herzegovina (my country). It's called "Kanal" (pronounced "channal"), is located between two towns called Laktaši and Srbac and it's almost 10 km long (I think). It has a few kinks similar to the one at the Circuit de La Sarthe (some are bigger though). Too bad it has only two lanes and some potholes (which are kinda wide but aren't really deep; only 2.5 cm, I think), BUT if they fix those potholes and widen the road for 3 to at least 5 meters on each side, I GUARANTEE you that you could hit some stunningly high speeds in there.

[@rongwrong1]

dear downshift this is sooooo close to being really good. can't really blame anyone, but the look is great but seems to fall short when it comes to editing and use of sound, anyway it's very nice, but it's so close to something transcendent. Good Luck.

[@sentineloffreedom]

Good episode :)

[@royaloreca]

yes, Honda is one of the big names in F1, their engines have one championships

[@thelongboarddude95]

hey MotorTrend, your channel is awesome. Love road kill and downshift :) can you pleas tell the name of the song used at the slide-show and the end-title? would be really awesome, cause it's not in the credits! cheers guys! :)

[@slit4659]

At 1:20 He Says There is some people here who have been here SINCE 1949....... NOW those are some SALTY DOGS......🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔

[@franglediddup]

yeah,the Enzo, I think it set a record at 235mph ( 376km/h)....but Keith Copeland smashed that with a TT Chev motored Triumph TR6 in 2011, it's the red car with the extended hood that appears as the icon for the clip

[@HELLCOMESTOTOWN]

This seemed like a preview with no payoff let's see more

[@moochincrawdad]

1:41 Whoa, that's a Studebaker Avanti - I heard that those cars were really fast.

[@chrispile3878]

And that one has set more records on the salt than any other Avanti!

[@garwhittaker3743]

Why don't they have the same set up at the Blackrock dessert ?

[@adam1othman]

wow to think that this is the last true vessel of pure racing. Everything (with the exclusion of amateur drag racing) has been modified by big business.... its a shame really but at least i know that one day ill definitely have a racer for bonneville right next my street/strip car. I'm really you as of now (19) so i have a lot of time to think out what ill be doing but i know ill wanna do a thirties themed racer or early hot rod style car

[@sqeric]

these is purest away fight limits of speed.

[@StrokerAce3983]

I guess that guy at 1:25 forgot when he said all the big time records were set at Bonneville. That the fastest speed achieved by a person using a vehicle on land was Andy Green at Black Rock Desert, Nevada. something 763 mph.

[@Tylerthething]

he said wheel driven veichles

[@chrispile3878]

He said MOST. And since he has several records, you can STFU until you set some.

[@neilalbaugh4793]

Andy was driving a jet car- a different class,. Jet cars are not run at Bonneville now- there is not enough salt left to create a course long enough for them The Black Rock Desert has been almost ruined by "Burning Man" festival freaks so Bolivia may be the only venue left for jet cars.

[@TheMattDOOM]

Pretty cool!

[@JETZcorp]

Can we get some bonus footage of that Charger Daytona making a run? Pleeeeeeeeeease?!

[@chrisanHH]

Amazing video! Great suff! Keep up the good work! From whom is the Music by the way ?

[@MotorTrendWatch]

See our comment at the top about the Honda F1 team that ran in 2006.

[@giverdeadlyvirus]

i think they can, give them one year and they can probably put a couple jet engines with that kind of budget and break a couple sound barriers and they do know a thing or two about aerodynamics.

[@Catalina3600]

4:05 YES GET THE FREIBURGER IN HERE!

[@Syncronizeification]

Care to elaborate more on that?

[@boss3453]

What is the name of the music in the beginning?

[@PaintfullGovernor]

Please, does anyone know the song in the outro and where to buy it? Its so nice.

[@Liist]

I'm going to join the 200 mph club one day on a motorcycle. Hell of a lot cheaper than a car.

[@maricelagarcia3109]

mira lo que te gusta arnulfo blanco del rio es una pista de sal donde se prueva y se rompen los records de velocidad rsta a dos horas de donde vivo

[@MrCouchmen]

Red Victor 3 should race there.

[@braveheart4lif31]

Did you not see the comment somebody else posted? a F1 team already tried and they got put to shame, its not something you can do in a year, it takes full size companies 1-2 years just to design a super car you cant just make a car. One of current projects to beat the land speed record started in 2008, its estimated to have its first runs in 2013, and these are the same people who currently hold the record, so you honestly think a F1 team could do it in a year?

[@Mcbleh]

I don't know why you even compare. A circuit car who's entire profile is aimed at downforce; then attempts to minimize drag; versus salt cars who's profile minimises drag, whilst maintaining just enough downforce to stop them lifting.

[@Zalaan]

I would LOVE to see an F1 car go over 400mph in that distance.

[@chrispile3878]

Probably won't happen, but I'm sure we'd all enjoy it if it was possible.

[@benkerr69]

What he's trying to say is if F1 came to the salt flats and put their ingenuity into a top speed car they would do really well.

[@chrispile3878]

No. They tried and failed to hit their marks.

[@G30RG3walker]

why isnt there an hour long show weekly make it happen please

[@hassanp8340]

one day i will come there, and with all my money, i will clean this mans lens

[@tommyspittle]

Salt is a byproduct or the chemical reaction between salt and metal.

[@Laurenceg]

can anyone tell me the title of the song at the end of the film where the credits are shown.. Thanks!

[@guifrakss]

Can phisicaly challenged people race at these events,if they have a drivers license?

[@amberpopejoy1021]

guifrakss Yes you can, I am in a wheelchair and I race out there.

[@guifrakss]

Clayton Elbert Awsome!

[@Voodoo_One]

Nürburgring Nordschleife: The Great German Playground What you say now? :D And Part 2: Autobahn - The Also Great German Playground

[@neilalbaugh4793]

Been there, done that. Totally different track from Bonneville- both really fun.

[@phattyhales]

I didn't think he set an in-class record... He just wanted to be the fastest Ferrari.

[@pex3]

no one refers to a kilometer as a kilo, i don't mean to be rude but a kilo generally refers to a kilogram.

[@wingfoot48]

ny step dad broke world land speed record driving wingfoot express

[@hisham202]

I'd love to know the music starting at 7:43

[@affansonicfan]

1:45 Wooo!!! what the hell is that?!

[@chrispile3878]

That is Art Arfons GREEN MONSTER. Set the land speed record several times.

[@SanandanDA]

What I dont understand is every one is saying F1 sucks.Well it does not because f1 cars are designed for maximum speed and down-force around a corner if they change there goal from that to just going fast in a straight line and have speed in mind they can ass-rape the low budget teams.Always have the best possible information about a sport before saying that it sucks or its lame.

[@benjo1899]

Their comparing an F-1 to a 32 roadster, an open wheel roadster. I don't know if you know this but it's almost impossible to minimize drag in one of those

[@neilalbaugh4793]

F1= open wheel, F1= "roadster" what is your point?

[@TheRealFufuchs]

This is racing in America. Driving a straight line x)

[@Sameh90]

i bet there weren't any downshifts that day

[@jershinator13]

but what's it like to drive on a surface that isn't anything like tarmac at 400 mph?

[@chrispile3878]

The old salt racers say it's like driving on packed snow

[@CandiiBanks]

One day

[@DoctorYammy]

The reason why these races are conducted here is because the salt decreases friction, right? Less friction, more speed

[@chrispile3878]

The races are conducted on the salt because there is NOTHING TO HIT if it all goes wrong.

[@neilalbaugh4793]

There are not may places where you can drive very fast for miles and miles.

[@mitaux495]

Can you please tell us end title song name? Thank you!

[@hahahump]

why do they race on ice and snow? couldnt they race on the track?

[@bigenginesismythang]

I see, but wouldn't it be easier to have it all asphalt instead?

[@chrispile3878]

You wanna pay to pave 20 square miles of racing surface and keep it dead flat for decades?

[@FreshFromDaBasement]

Less Friction more speed also less friction bad grip, bad grip hard to get to top speeds on that kind of salt

[@TheFalkdome]

Does anyone Know the music in the ending?

[@ProbablyRCVideos]

+Dominik Falk wondering the same thing.. shazam won't recognize it:)

[@505197]

"it doesn't take money to win here" Who does he think he's kidding? It takes quite a bit of money just to get there from Kentucky. All you need to race is a nice truck to pull the hauler, which is filled with tools, spares, and a race car or two. Then it no doubt costs to get into the place, pass tech, buy fuel etc. Hell, if all they held were foot races a pair of Air Jordons ain't cheap. If the man was honest, he'd have said it takes bushel baskets of money to run there. And to actually win takes more money and countless hours of time, all invested so you can have bragging rights for a bit of time, until someone else comes along and beats you. It's a cool sport though, if you have the money and time.

[@pamelahenning9999]

I might have believed him if he wasn't standing in front of a about a $500,000 car surrounded by all of his obviously expensive racing gear. Everything takes money because speed is expensive. How fast can you afford to go?

[@oducks5820]

You don't use air Jordan's to run.

[@fastman6142]

+505197 Having run there since 1971, I can say for sure - Yeah, it does take money to "win" here (there, actually).... I know how many hundreds of thousands of dollars we have spent since then! We set a a few records over the years, we currently have 3 records in the books with our 2 cars; several Bonneville 200MPH Club members from our team and a lot of great memories......But, if you are only interested in having some fun, you can run a car there for less money...you do need to be safe and have ALL of your safety equipment up to date...that costs a few hundred a year by itself...everything else also costs money...Just put in a large engine with 600 or so hp and you too can be running over 200mph yourself....you might not make the club as it takes setting a record to do that but ....think of the bragging rights you will have - especially when the loudmouth with the hopped up blah blah blah starts beaking off about how fast he has gone,,,,You don't need to say a lot....just pull out the copy of the timing slip and the engraved dash plaque that shows how fast you REALLY DID GO!...See you there soon?

[@gnescom]

505197 elitist talk for "it takes money"

[@neilalbaugh4793]

He was comparing the expense to a professional race team in F1 or NASCAR. It is all relative.

[@Mixa8222]

OMG - ENZO !!!!