Today was the first day of competition at the SCTA/BNI 2009 Bonneville Speed Week, and if today’s top speed is any indication of things to come, we are in for some great racing action. Poteet and Main’s Speed Demon Blown Gas Streamliner ran an incredible 369.46 to take the early lead in the running for the Hot Rod Magazine Top Time Trophy. Team Nish Motorsports, last years’ winner, has yet to make a pass, but are expected to run tomorrow. Can Poteet and Maine maintain their supremacy? We’ll find out. Insiders tell us the tune was soft, the traction control wasn’t even turned on, and that the big number will come later in the week on fuel. We can’t wait.
Conditions on the salt today were some of the best in recent years, but a thin layer of wet salt made it difficult for some teams to get good early numbers. Ed Van Scoy from Gilbert Arizona made his first run Saturday afternoon in an effort to run 234 mph or better on the B/GT record in his C4 Corvette. Ed told us the track was smooth as a pool table, but that it didn’t quite have the grip he needed. He’ll be back out tomorrow to see what his Beck Racing Engines powered ‘Vette can do.
We’ll be back out at the salt before the sun comes up to bring you results from the first record return runs of 2009 Speed Week, so check back tomorrow for more racing action from the salt.
To see 99 photos from the first day of Speed Week 2009, click here. We included shots from the staging lanes and Impound and also a bunch of spectator hot rods from the Salt and from the cruise event at the Nugget Casino. There are 20 more photos of retro rods in yesterday’s blog item here.
