I didn’t know much about land speed racing, but the visuals from the races had been embedded in my brains for years when last year, out of nowhere, I found myself chasing my curiosity all the way to Wendover, Utah.
The best way to describe land speed racing is making the efforts to break the previous ‘absolute’ land speed record. (The absolute speed record is calculated from the speed over a course of fixed length, averaged over two runs.) The first event took place in 1912 and since then it has become a part of Americana and a very unique sub-culture of motorsports. Many of the hot rod, belly tanker, land cruiser and motorcycle builders pay homage to the rich history and tradition of the sport.
I remember I became fascinated with the sport as soon as I first laid my eyes on one of those rocket-looking things, shooting across the white salt field. Both the location, and the machines, have captured my imagination.
Luckily, every summer the fastest vehicles and drivers in the world gather at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah in an attempt to break the world’s top speed record. I’ve learned that the solid layer of flattened salt provides the perfect surface for high-speed racing. When I arrived I was amazed (and immediately hooked) by the diverse range of vehicles and motorcycles, all built to go insanely fast through an endless stretch of natural terrain, unlike any that exist.
However, after spending few days out there I slowly realized that it’s the people who make this unique sport unforgettable. Months of hard work, imagination, ingenuity and craftsmanship gives birth to these custom vehicles and brings them to this magical place. Here in the desert, skills and courage, along with the ambition to reach an absolute land speed record, ushers these cars and motorcycles across the salty crust.
These exceptional builders and drivers showcase not just their vehicles, but their sense of camaraderie and passion. They are all here to win, yet they’re always ready to talk shop, exchange ideas and to help each other out.
After months of preparatory work, last minute jitters can be felt at the start line. They all want their hard work and efforts to yield results. As a photographer, I know this feeling very well. I know exactly what it’s like to chase passions with lot of sacrifices and no guarantees, so I found a profound connection to these people.
While each visionary machine zooms through the Salt Flats, they are pushed hard to their maximum performance (and often beyond). This is a reality that can move the needle of experience from euphoric to catastrophic. Yet this is a risk that the drivers accept as part of the journey.
Pushing these machines to their absolute limits can have catastrophic consequences. I have so much respect for the brave drivers that step onto the salt every year and a deep sympathy for those we have a lost along the way. Worst case scenarios can happen any time in a split second…
Between these runs, as I boiled under the desert sun and burnt from the white salt reflecting onto my body, I lowered my camera and let things soak in. I realized that it’s impossible to show all the hard work, passion, commitment, technological feat and imagination that goes into these races by attending just one event, which is why I decided to track down more races in the future. For an exciting sport that’s surrounded by natural beauty and laced with danger, I’m quite sure it’s going to be an addictive endeavor.
As you may have guessed, “Salt Fever” is a term they use for the people whose lives are forever changed after attending one of these races and keep returning year after year. I must confess, I have it too!