Founded in 1976, the Utah Salt Flats Racing Association (USFRA) is a non-profit, volunteer-based association and a member of the Save the Salt Coalition, whose mission is "to protect the Bonneville Salt Flats and to promote its history and motorsports legacy." Each fall, the USFRA hosts World of Speed at the Bonneville Speedway, a "family-friendly land speed event put on by racers, for racers." Racing and land speed trials have taken place at the Bonneville Salt Flats since the early twentieth century, and numerous land speed records have been set there, but environmental changes and human impacts threaten the Speedway's viability as a racetrack. USFRA activities, including World of Speed, are intended to preserve and promote the Salt Flats as a prime venue for motorsports.
The Utah Salt Flats Racing Association video collection (1935-2002, bulk 1989-2002) contains video recordings created and collected by the Utah Salt Flats Racing Association (USFRA), an amateur land speed racing association operating on the Bonneville Salt Flats in Wendover, Utah. The videos include footage of events hosted or attended by the USFRA, including Bonneville Speed Week, World of Speed, and the Land Speed Opener, as well as other videos relating to the subject of land speed racing. All 82 VHS videocassettes have been digitized and are available to view upon request.
The collection is arranged chronologically.
Audio-visual materials can be fragile and require specialized equipment to play back. For this reason, access to audio-visual materials is provided through digital copies, and it might take longer to provide access to items that are not yet digitized. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law, condition of the material, or by donor.
The library does not claim to control copyright for all materials in the collection. An individual depicted in a reproduction has privacy rights as outlined in Title 45 CFR, part 46 (Protection of Human Subjects). For further information, please review the J. Willard Marriott Library's
Donated by the Utah Salt Flats Racing Association.
Processed by John Hammer in 2014 and Daniel Lee 2017.
See also the Utah Salt Flats Racing Association records (Accn 2304).
Notes on tape: "Movie by Firestone Tire. Ab Jenkins and other Bonneville cars - Goldenrod, Wee Eel, etc." Notes by Bruce Mercer: "Ab Jenkins calling office; Salt Desert of Utah; Ab's mother; Salt Lake City; Salt prep; 1st Mormon Meteor in Auburn; Ab running his endurance run; Salt is breaking up after 24 hours driving; 90 gal of gas, 1st lap 145 mph. / Eelco presents Speed on Salt; Craig Breedlove Spirit of America; Blue Bird - Campbell (shows crashed car resultinf in 4 million dollars); 1960 Mick Thompson Challenger 406 mph run; Wee Ell II 1000 Eelco driven by Els Lohn. / Goldenrod design to go over 400 mph; 4 Chrysler engine; 32' loong; September 1, 1965 1st time on Salt; 220 mph timed. Bob Summers ran 259 and 273.5; October 24, 400.7, 405.1; November 7 Art Arfons ran; November 1 Bob's Goldenrod 412.70, return 405.908, average 409.227. / New Porgram Spotlife News by Goodyear Tires Rubber Co; Mickey Thompson and the Land Speed Record; Fastest Man on Wheels; 7000 lbs Challenger I, 4 engines and 4 tanks, 1st run 406."
Note on tape: "Ab Jenkins' Mormon Meteor family collection of movies, news clips, TV specials, 1930's, 1940s, 1950s. Provided by Cris and Ed Shearer." Ab Jenkins is attending a banquet in his honor. A news reporter rides with Ab Jenkins to Salt Lake City without knowing who he is riding with. 2 tapes.
Arfons, Breedlove, Nolan White, Summer Bros. By John Davis Rose. "A description of the Bonneville Salt Flats. People once passed through this desolation to travel to California, etc. Bonneville Salt Flats is a mecca for World of Speed. There are various speed records being broken and the times run from 77 mph to 406 mph from various cars. The highest speed was 406 mph by Mickey Thompson. Other drivers who set records are: Sir Malcom Campbell - 301 mph in 1935. John Easton - 357 in 1937. John Cobb had a record of 394 in 1947. And Ab Jenkins completed more runs than any other driver. Drivers are still breaking records today."
It shows several runs on the Salt Flats by Art Arfons' car, the Green Monster.
Easyriders and the American Bikers - Motorcycle Land Speed Record Holder - 322.149 MPH. Dave Campos and Joe Teresi. "A film with several people with various cars on Bonneville Salt Flats trying to break speed records. Al Teague broke a land-speed record and went 409.86 mph - which is equivalent to racing two football fields in one second. Craig Breedlove raced 400 MPH to be the first past that time. Art Arfons and Craig Breedlove competed throughout several years in breaking the records on land." This is in the same tape as item #7.
Goldenrod - 409.271 mph. This is in the same tape as item #6.
Note on the tape: "Donated by Mary West, Produced by D. Watson. Boneville Speed Week 1990. Quality is real weak, blurred. Interview with Mary West, Wally Parks, Alex Xadius, Carl Heaps driver of Bob Slagle's Diesel, Al Teague. Others: Car 666, 69, 34, 40, 76 - Al Teague trying for record of Summers 409 mph. Teague: Single engine, piston powered. Slagle: 1474 cu.In 4000 hp, 65 lbs boost, 4 turbos and 2 super chargers. Record 1888.8. Nolan White, Jim Burkdoll, Etc." This is in the same tape as item #9.
"50th Anniversary of Speedweek. Displays a detailed inventory of all the cars out to run on the Salt Flats. Some of the cars displayed were the 39 Ford from Nebraska, Dr. Dave's Model T, Ford Coupe, 1941 Chevrolet with Choptop. Daal Fox Christophersin Car." This is in the same tape as item #8.
"By Bill Bernstraugh. (Crew Member Car 136 - Mackichan/Schulz.). Car inspections at Wendover Airport for 1991 Speedweek Bonneville Salt Flats. Cars: #7211, Avantis, @216 Thom Thom Dan Webster, 37 Ford, 40 Ford, 41 Chev, 39 Air Flow, Bob Slagle's Diesel, Roadster, Carl Orson Car #232, Temple Palmer #208, etc."
By Bill Bernstrauch.
"Modified street bikes were the first bikes to ride at Bonneville. The motor of the car is the most talked about portion here at Bonneville. Dateline NBC reports on Craig Breedlove, who was 27 years old when he got the record. Breedlove, is now 57 and says that there's a price to pay to be the fastest. He said speed can either thrill or kill. Breedlove raced at 600 MPH. Craig is the fastest and has a passion for speed. Early in his race history, Craig nearly lost his life in what looked like a devastating crash. Fortunately, he escaped before his car fell into the water. He was so fearless, that when people came to save him from the crash, he arose and said, "It's alright baby, what's my speed?!" The music group, the Beach Boys, wrote a song about Breedlove's racing car. He won hundreds of advertisements for his car."
Featuring Ron Hall and his Studebaker Racing Team. "Ron Hall go for the elusive 200 MPH barrier during Bonneville Speed Week '92. Produced by Don Shannon." "Wendover, UT. August 1992. The Fabulous Studebaker Boys - Ron Hall and Studebaker Racing Team. Engine Dynamometer Test. Jet City: Studebaker – Tacoma, Washington July 15, 1992."
By Bill Bernstaugh. 6th World of Speed.
By Bill Bernstaugh.
By Bill Bernstraugh. 7th World of Speed.
7th World of Speed. "Full-lenght video takes you from prep work in the shop to challenging the clock on the Salt Flats, as a team of Minnesota men go on a 3000 mile odyssey to push the car and themselves to the performance limit. Get into the driver's seat of a '70 Mustang and accelerate down the long black line at Bonneville! Racing not found anywhere else on the globe! Executive Producer: Paul A. Busta, P.A.B. Video Productions."
"The Story of the World's First 200 MPH Studebaker V8. Featuring Ron Hall and his Studebaker Racing Team. Televent Video Services." "First run: 1/4 mile = 167.332. 1 mile = 174.318. 2 miles = 187.787. The camera is filming from the inside of the car. A driver named Ron Hall is interviewed here as well. Ron said that the engines did what they were expected to do. Other names of successful drivers were: Darrell Schlabaugh, Jim Pepper, and Homer Hinchliff. The second run: the driver's lens fogged up and he couldn't see off the runway. Names of some of the other drivers were: Wally Parks - the founder of the NHRA. Ray Brock - as the former editor of Hot Rod Magazine. Bruce Geisler who holds 40 land/speed records. C. Tamoka Brady - from NASCAR motors. Belmont "Beach Ball" Sanchez is also a Bonneville Racing Legend."
"San Diego Bean Bandits - at El Mirage and Bonneville in 1994. Filmed and Narrated by Ruben Lovato. Joaquin Arnett." This 3 videos are in 2 tapes.
"Bonneville Salt Flats and Riley as presented to Secretary of Interior; Babbit."
By Bill Bernstraugh.
"USFRA, SCTA/BNI, BLM Representatives on salt preparation for 1994. Other people present: Larry Volk, Gary Allen, Ed and Cris Shearer, Bud McManus, BLM: Howard and Greg, SCTA/BNI: Jim Lattin, B. Higby, Henry Louis. Drags refurbished, sandblasted, and painted June 1994. By Wes Porter."
By Bill Bernstaugh. 8th World of Speed.
By Don Tuttle. 8th World of Speed.
As presented by Emedco and Amkus, USFRA and SCTA/BNI. Filmed by Ed and Chris Shearer.
Aussie TV News.
2 tapes. IBM [Marketing?], Delta Center. 1. Opening Video and Set Reveal; 2. Coffee Break Video.
Tape 1 of 3: USFRA 9TH WOS By Wolverine Video (Ray Nussel). Bud Barnnett's Crash (end of tape), Ellen Christensen, Geo Nielson, J. Harris, Ken Walkey. Tape 2 of 3: Rerun of Bud Barnnett's wreck, Ken Walkey, Ellen Christensen, Jack Harris. Tape 3 of 3: USFRA 9th WOS by Wolverine Video (Ray Nussel). The 5 videos are in 3 tapes.
Richard Thomason and Ed Tradup.
The Dry Lakes Racing Hall of Fame. Gold Coast Roadster and Racing Club, California. "The Dry Lakes Hall of Fame (people who made a difference in Hot Rodding) began in 1992. The show has become an annual event and every year they honor those stars of Hot Rodding. Race car builders were also honored. Mike McCabed was the Master of Ceremonies at the meeting. Cummings and Larson were honored first. Mr. Wally Parks, the Chairman of the Board of the National Hot Rod Association presented awards for a couple of racers, and then he received an award for his work. Mr. Chick Cannon honored Wally Parks. Al Teague honored Don Francisco. Southern California after WWII was a hotbed for Hot Rodding."
Jack Dolan's Private Meet 10-95; Salt Conditions prior to meet; Track conditions and damage to Bonneville International Speedway by film company; Terry Nish FIA Record in Vesco Nish Liner 320.114 MPH. These 4 items are in one tape.
Dry Lakes Racing Hall of Fame; Gold Coast Roadster and Racing Club, California. "This hall of fame started as an event for clubmakers - honoring people who made a difference. A local group of drivers were honored in 1992. Tony Capana and Tom Spalding were both honored. Al Teague was honored. The 1995 event honored people like Fred Larsen, Wally Parks, Art Arfons, Craig Breedlove, Jim Deist, Bruce Meyer, Mickey Thompson, and Ed Winfield."
BBC Speedweek 95 (15 min); BLM Saving the Salt (15 min); Extreme Machines 96 - Salt Only Al Teague, Kenny Lyon, Matt Marchett; Conoco - Mackichan Schulz - Don Cash, HPC Jeff Holmes; BBC - Speedweek - Repeat and 95 Don Tuttle - Speedweek.
Dennis Manning- Motorcycle SL "TANACIOUS II" HD Motorcycle SL. Craig Breedlove "Spirit of America", Dateline NBC - Old footage and interview.
Tape 1 of 4: 1) Nov 1994 Al Teague's Shop, Ken Walkey, Loading containers. Tape 2 of 4: 2) On airplane to Adelaide Airport, Australia, Dick Wms talking about conditions, 3) Australia salt, Mt. Ive sheep station, loading containers (last day on salt to go back to US), unloading containers in Australia, 4) Australia unloading Ken Walkey, loading vehicles on trailers for salt, Ken Walkey, Al Teague, unloading Chuck Salmen, Pit area, Cooking breakfast, Drivers meeting. Tape 3 of 4: 5) Driver's meeting, inspection and cars in pits, loading containers on salt for return to US, races, working on Ken Walkey's engine, 6) working on Ken Walkey's engine, new motor - broke bore drive, inspection of George Fields, George's run 235 mph, Al Teague's run, John Goodman's run over 200 mph, George's run 286 mph, Evening at camp, George's return run 284 mph, Short interview with George, Chuck Salmen in pit, Chuck's run 222 mph, Frank's run 255 mph, Short interview with Chuck, John Goodman, Ken Walkey's run, John Goodman's run - clocks didn't work, short interview with John (broken spindle). Tape 4 of 4: 7) John Goodman's pit, Short interview with John, Al Teague's pit, inspection of Al's car, short interview with Al, Ken Walkey's run, Al Teague's start 5 mile pass at 289 mph, Thurs - Al drove 389 mph, interview with Al, Chuck Salmen's pit, Ken Walkey's pit, touring the pits, Interview with Ken Walkey, food line, tear down of camp, various scenes of events.
Muroc Reunion, April 27, 28, 1996. George Potter, Scottie's Muffler, Sam Wheeler, Rich Fosberg, Ron Joluffe (Rocket 88), Leo Hess - top speed 253.789, No Problem Racing, Lloyd Healey, Ken Walkey, Doc Jefferies Jr., Trett, Don Garlit, Salty Cude - Jim Snyder, Gary Allen car 356 speed 166 mph, Jim Travis, Bill Brandenberg, Chuck Salmen car 735 speed 190.77, Kenny Kloth car 249 speed 99.7, Al Teague car 76 speed 229, plus pit area, dust, entrance. By Chris Searer. 95 Speedweek by Mark Brazeau Video with Jr. Dragsters.
The American Hot Rodder #9, Bonneville Speedweek 1996 WATV and Speedvision: Project Goldwing with Peter Graver. Kenny Lyon. "This display includes several hot rod coupes and roadsters. Jim Travis ran at 138.963. Dana Wilson and Mike Waters put a car together - they were engineers for the project. Other names: Duane McKinney and Chuck Salmen"
By Mike Cooper.
Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah. Featuring Don and Rick Vesco's Turbinator, Vesco/Nish Steamliner, Jim Fueling's Streamliner, Denis Manning's Motorcycle. Video by Chris Shearer.
Craig Breedlove Quest for Mach I, Speedvision Newsclips October 22, 23, 24, 28, Blackrock Desert, Nevada. Dateline news. 1-22-97 Popular - Breedlove.
The Need for Speed by BBC. Features Jim Feuling, Terry Nish, Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah.
Project Goldwing - Kenny Lyon Honda Motorcycle; Extreme Machines (Learning Channel). "Some new records in 1996 included: 218.510 by the Honda Gold Wing - world's fastest touring machine. Kenny Lyon was part of Project Goldwing. The car is 24 feet long, and is candy red color. Texas Tech University made a wooden model of the Honda car. The last part of the tape is a program called, Extreme Machines. They show several racing boats. A man named Ken Warbe held the water record for 20 years."
Extreme Machines - Speed Freaks, Bonneville Salt Flats, Speed Boats, Planes, Trains, Autos, Breedlove.
Features Mike Penketh's new hands (crashed 1993 Salt Flats).
Filmed by Ed and Chris Shearer. All footage takin at starting line. Some pits, people. Featured runs: Thunder Frog 213.52 mph; #1203 Geo Calloway New Record 132.925; #65 Earl Wooden New Record 232.42; #659 Bug Freenleaf's car new record 207; #126 Robbie Cohn new record 200.9; #44 Fred Dannenfelzer new record 273 mph and also top time for this meet; #4422 Rich Manchan new record 202.755; #369 Greg Waters new record; other runs: #412 Rasberry Rocket driven by Chuck Small 198 mph; #1120 Cal Smith 206.54 mph; #359 Arivette Bros, driver Kenny Hoover; #9898 Bickford; #4422 Paul Stanley driving 155.4 mph (Manchen, Manghelli Kennedy Streamliner). Landena Eller driving streamliner 120 mph; car #611 made new record plus several other vehicles. Special note: Robbie Cohn got into El Mirage 200 mph club this event.
Filmed by Bill Bernstrauch. Some names: Bruce Tucker, San Diego Roadster Club; Russ Ayers; Al Teague.
Filmed by Bill Bernstrauch.
By Speedvision/WATV. Mendenhall, Wooden, Benham, Bill Summers, AK Miller, Greighton Hunter, Vic Edelbrock Jr., Chuck Salmen, Bob Charlie Markley, Dennis Varni, Stu Hillburn, Ron Benham, Earl Wooden, Bean Bandits, Otto Crocker, Gary Cragle, etc. "Mendenhall's Petroleum Museum; a journey to Day Lakes Hall of Fame. The event organizer is Jack Mendenhall. 13 individuals were inducted to the racing Hall of Fame. Bill Summers received an award along with brother, Bob. Dean Moon's children accept his award."
By BBC, inside story of Thurst SSC.
By Ray Crowell.
By Bill Bernstrauch. In Laughlin, Nevada.
By Ed and Chris Shearer (Emergency Fire and Rescue 7 mile). Cars entered for FIA/FIM were: #76 Teague, Welch, Banks; #999 Sam Wheeler E-Z Hook; #278 World Record Perf. Assoc.; #678 Treit and Davenport; #912 Linsmeyer; #131 Autopower National Parts Peddler; #447 Lighting Rod Electric Car; #111 Team Vesco Turbinator; #444 Vesco/Nish; #411 Burklands; #499 Herbert/Steen; #750 Feuling; #902 Lessman; #7795 Danny Boy; #111 Don Vesco Fast Time 438 mph; #76 Al Teague 2nd fast time 383 mph; #131 Nolan White 3rd fast time 362 mph. Plus footage of Noble's Thrust SSC at Blackrock September 20-23 1997 693 mph and Footage of Don Vesco 349 mph run at Speedweek August 1997.
New record - 7 minute run on board camera.
TLC. A documentary about the famous attempts to beat the land speed record and achieve speeds exceeding Mach 1. It goes into the different attempts made by the Budweiser Rocket driven by Stan Barrett, Andy Green, and others.
Plus Ed and Chris Shearer's Life at the 7-Mile (Fire and Rescue).
By Paul Busta.
Bakersfiel, California. By Bill Bernstrauch.
Video segments of 1999. Flat Fire - Danny Boy - Richard Brown and Paul Busta's footage of Turbinator; Andy Green visits Vesco pit. By the Shearers.
USFRA - West Valley Fire Department, Utah. By Cris Shearer. Firemen rescue training video. Firemen are trained with wrecked cars, to break through and simulate a rescue.
One tape by Ed and Cris SHearer (People, pits, and our life at the 7 mile); and the other tape is by Bill Bernstrauch. Some names: Al Teague, Rose Meeks.
New record. By P.A.B. Video (Paul A. Busta). Kugel achieving the speed of 300.788 mph with his stock body car.
AdrenalinkTV WOS 2000 - Burkdoll and McLean, Car #136 Mackichan Schulz Interview, Pat Rummerfield, Amateur Champion Car 278.
TLC. Noble and Green, Arfons, Breedlove, Don Vesco, Pat Rummerfield. Other names: Louise Noweth (Land Speed Louise), Al Teague.
People, Pits, and Our Life at the 7-mile. By Ed and Cris Shearer. Some car names: Williams, Tenney, Beckett, Danny Boy II, Stassy Roadster.
From timing standing. 1st Burkland Cooper. By Mike Cooper.