The Southern California Timing Association (SCTA) organizes speed trials at multiple venues, with the two primary locations being Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah and El Mirage Dry Lake in California. Both of these sites have a unique environment that makes them suitable for land-speed racing. Here’s how the SCTA speed trials work and an overview of the venues:
How SCTA Speed Trials Work
Classes and Vehicle Categories
- Vehicles are classified by body type, engine size, fuel type, and other modifications. This system ensures that similar types of vehicles compete together and that all have safety modifications that match their speed and class.
- Classes include everything from motorcycles to classic roadsters, streamliners, and even unique, one-off experimental vehicles.
Course Setup and Length
- Courses vary in length depending on the venue and event. Bonneville typically features longer courses (3 to 7 miles), while El Mirage offers shorter 1.3-mile courses due to space constraints.
- At each venue, there are multiple sections within the course where timing occurs. The fastest average speed over a measured distance (such as the “flying mile”) is used for record attempts.
Record Attempts and Timing
- To officially break a record, the driver needs to complete a “return run” within a set timeframe (usually one hour), running the course in both directions. This average speed between the two runs is the official speed recorded.
- Timing is precise, often capturing speeds to fractions of a mile per hour.
Safety and Technical Inspections
- Each vehicle goes through rigorous safety checks, including inspections for roll cages, fire systems, and high-quality protective gear for the driver.
- Drivers must also be licensed with the SCTA, with licenses tiered according to the maximum speed a driver plans to reach.
- Licensing and Orientation Runs
- Racers start with lower-speed licenses and gradually work up to higher speeds. They must perform orientation or qualifying runs if they’re attempting a speed tier they haven’t previously completed.
- Weather and Environmental Conditions
- The salt and lakebed conditions are highly weather-dependent. Rain or surface issues can delay or cancel events, so SCTA officials constantly monitor the environment to ensure safe and fair racing conditions.
SCTA Venues
1. Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah
- Primary Event: Bonneville Speed Week (usually held in August)
- Course Length: 3, 5, and 7-mile courses, depending on salt conditions
- Surface: Hard-packed salt
- Description: The Bonneville Salt Flats are ideal for high-speed racing because of their hard, flat surface. This is where many land-speed records have been set. The SCTA hosts several events here, but Bonneville Speed Week is the most famous. Other events may include the World Finals in October, but these are often dependent on weather and salt conditions.
2. El Mirage Dry Lake, California
- Primary Events: Multiple events per year, including races in spring, summer, and fall.
- Course Length: 1.3 miles
- Surface: Clay and dirt lakebed
- Description: Located in the Mojave Desert, El Mirage offers a unique dry lakebed surface that provides a firm, compacted track, though shorter and rougher than Bonneville’s salt flats. These events are a bit more accessible for Southern California racers and allow more frequent record-setting opportunities, given the lakebed dries quickly after any rain.
3. Mojave Air and Space Port, California (Occasional)
- Primary Event: Mojave Mile (not strictly SCTA, but popular among SCTA racers)
- Course Length: 1-mile airstrip course
- Surface: Paved runway
- Description: Although not an official SCTA event, the Mojave Mile uses an airstrip and attracts many of the same land-speed enthusiasts. It is held on pavement, offering a different challenge, and is open to vehicles that may be street-legal or built specifically for speed trials.
Summary
SCTA speed trials are a unique motorsport experience that combines technical precision, safety measures, and the drive for breaking speed records. Each venue offers its own set of challenges and characteristics, from the wide expanse of Bonneville to the compact, arid terrain of El Mirage, allowing racers and teams to test their engineering and driving skills in various conditions.