The Bonneville Salt Flats of western Utah are known worldwide as the home of land speed records. Every year in late summer people flock to events like Speedweek, the BUB motorcycle Trials, and World of Speed. The vehicles are diverse and the crews courteous. It’s the best car show in the world. It’s the best because unlike other car shows the area between spectator and competitor is blurred. No velvet ropes or fences separate crowds from cars. No barrier protects folks from having their nostrils singed by the acrid smell of burning alcohol. The cars aren’t clean, but they’re real. They have crummy welds, poorly running motors, and often single builders who spent years dreaming of hot sun and salt. Spectators are free to talk to drivers and builders and free to go deaf in the mayhem of internal combustion. There’s Novas from the 70’s, Camaros from the 90’s, Beetles from the 50’s and all sorts of insane handbuilt, bullet-shaped triple-V8 powered land speed racers. There are motorcycles with extended swingarms that go almost 300 mph; motorcycles with fairings and sidecars and motorcycles that struggle to hit 75mph. It’s all there, and it’s accessible, affordable, and enjoyable. I’d wanted to go to the races at Bonneville for years and finally made it happen in 2003. I’ve been every year since and hope to keep going as long as events continue.