Even though Nevada and the Great Basin has plenty of other dry lake beds (or playas), the Bonneville Salt Flats are in their own separate pristine class not only because of the dry, hard-packed surface, but also because the salty texture means no dust kickup, unlike just about every other dry lakebed out there. The first ever land speed record was set here just two years later in 1914, and the rest is history, thanks to the supremely unflawed natural racing surface within. Racing has been the name of the game at the Bonneville Salt Flats since 1912. Held at the Bonneville Salt Flats each September, speed freaks from all corners of the globe descend upon the state-straddling West Wendover for four days of record-shattering racing at the World of Speed.

Ready to see where the fastest cars in the world go head to head? Here’s your chance.

In good company with even more record-shattering speed events like the Bonneville Motorcycle Speed Trials (August), Bonneville Speed Week (August), and the Bonneville World Finals (October), the World of Speed is held at Bonneville Raceway each September and as the most laid back of the series racing events held here, beckons pro racing teams to amateur racing enthusiasts from all classes to this one-of-a-kind motorsports complex.

There’s no better way to get acquainted with the fastest racing venue on Planet Earth than one suped up, custom built speed machine at a time.

Utah salt flat racer