Has anyone ever tried to buggy on the Utah salt flats? Or has anyone of us been there and know the surface to know if it would be suitable?

I was told the salt plays havoc with our gear when I asked but have no personal experience.

Just use Wexlers gear and you should be fine ! :smug:

Alvord isn't that much further

Just passing through Salt Lake on a little trip and wondered if it was feasible to kite there.

I was there once and have to agree that the salt would eat kites very quickly (but I think at NABX it is probably bad also?)
What I noticed was there was very little wind. I'm not sure if it always that way but i'm sure there must not be too much wind otherwise they would have lots of problems with the high speed runs.

Bonneville Buggy Enduro 1994:
http://www.doomwheels.com/articles/bbe.php

Quote:

Anybody can do 20 miles an hour in a 30-mile-an-hour wind, but if you're doing 20 in a 15 you're a lot more efficient.

Boy kites have come along way haven't they.

hard on kites because of the chemical nature of the salt or from abrasion of a rough surface?

Good question Bob !

I have always questioned this answer ?

2 things that don't sit right with me :

My rides get a salt covered riding the beach and I just make sure I wash it off, use stainless etc.. I'm pretty protected ?

That leaves the salt grit damaging the kites ? I have a hard time seeing how salt is any harder on our kites that the silica stuff at Ivanpah ?

I didn't read any comments on how the salt effected things in Bob's Blog ? Can you expand on the Salt Flat Experince please Bob Childs ?

With so many snowkite locations so close to Salt Lake I have always wondered why they don't have a dedicated land group ? Do they ALL hit the water off season in Salt Lake ???????

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Originally posted by BeamerBob hard on kites because of the chemical nature of the salt or from abrasion of a rough surface?

I'll be passing through there this week and might try to spend an hour or two there Tuesday evening if time allows. I'm sure that if you drag kites around on the salt surface there would be damage but like you BR, can't imagine it being worse than the ivanpah dust which embeds itself everywhere.

Quote:

Can you expand on the Salt Flat Experince please Bob Childs?

The salt at Bonneville is coarse and can be tough on kites if you were to drag the tips along the surface. I don't know of any long term affects of salt on nylon - I did not notice any problems with my own kites. On the other hand, buggies, skates etc. should be rinsed well to avoid rusting.

Overall, it's easy to roll on salt flats as long as it has been dry for a while. Although the salt looks hard, it is actually very moist - sometimes wet - and sits on top of mud. Where the salt surface is thin, it's easy to go through and get stuck in the mud. Warning: keep your cars/trucks off of the salt or risk a shockingly expensive tow. Even on dry days, the salt cakes up very quickly on tires when rolling slowly and then sprays off all over the rider as speed increases. Prepare to be covered head-to-toe with little salt clumps!

Also, wear pads and thick pants! While skating, I fell on my arse and forearm and received a ripe road rash packed with salt and pollution. Yes, it burned like mad and the hotel was 10 miles away. I still have the marks.

Coreykite can tell more about riding on salt. As I recall, he spent a week or so on a massive salt flat in Australia.

I recommend it as a unique buggying experience. Remember to bring sun block and a stiff brush for removing salt build up on your wheels.

Skating on Bonneville Speedway 1994

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Originally posted by doomwheels Skating on Bonneville Speedway 1994

It looks like you raided the costume archives of the movie Tron. Is that what everyone wore kiting back in the 90's?

Philip

That is a friend and fellow kiteskater; Sliceman. However, Spandex was absolutely 'in' throughout the 90's. LOL

I - never being in fashion - am the guy in the black jeans and flopping desert hat:
http://www.doomwheels.com/movies/kiteskate/bonneville1.php
http://www.doomwheels.com/movies/kiteskate/bonneville2.php

Although the salt flats are probably some of the largest and longest flat areas on the planet to ride, there are also some other great areas that are closer to SLC than Bonneville. As you get closer to Toelle and just off of I-80 you will see large flat dirt areas that are great to ride on. Usually the wind is on the lighter side in SLC but it can blast you out of nowhere at time if it wants...and usually with very little warning. I know of quite a few buggiers that ride up in SLC area, not sure on the exact locations but can check to see in the next bit if needed.

I use "Pink Lake" a salt lake that they harvest salt on, close to me.
The salt is very abrasive on unbridled dyneema. My reactors (Mark1's) all have fluffy bridals where they catch on the crystals. I run a cigarette lighter quickly along the outside lines that come in contact with the lake when setting up the kite etc.
I wash the buggy in rain water after every use to keep the corrosion down. The surface is very fast, particually after rain and has dried out again as it's a super smooth hard crust.

Quote:

Originally posted by doomwheels That is a friend and fellow kiteskater; Sliceman. However, Spandex was absolutely 'in' throughout the 90's. LOL I - never being in fashion - am the guy in the black jeans and flopping desert hat: http://www.doomwheels.com/movies/kiteskate/bonneville1.php http://www.doomwheels.com/movies/kiteskate/bonneville2.php

Sliceman? Brian Vanderslice? Do I have the name right? I'm having flashbacks to an early Buggy Boogie Thang. Or was it one of those events on Elmers?

I'm feeling a primal urge to return to the desert. It's so far from Florida, but i must go again. NABX 2012? I could start saving my pennies.

Philip