Cloud Burst Washes Out a Premier Land Speed Event

   If not for the cloud burst this week, world land speed records likely would be being set on the Bonneville Speedway this weekend.
   The week's rains postponed Mike Cook's Bonneville Shootout, an event bringing in the fastest cars and motorcycles in the world. The races were scheduled for Sept. 17-21.
   "It's always a highly successful event, said Ken Saillant, track racing manager for the American Motorcycle Association, which was among the sanctioning associations.
   Mike Cook noted that while he also holds races at El Mirage Dry Lake in the Mojave Desert in California, and at Edward Air Force Base near Lancaster, California, when it comes to producing world records, most all of the those from his events come at the Bonneville Salt Flats.
   James Holter, director of communications for the AMA, noted his organization has just two land speed racing events at Bonneville, with the AMA Land Speed Grand Championships in August being the other event. That event also was canceled this year. It is not like motocross racing, he said, where there are numerous races. "There's pretty much just one event and people prepare all year long for just that one event," he said.
   Mike Cook's Bonneville Shootout has been held at the Salt Flats for about 10 years. It never missed a year until last year. This year's event has been rescheduled for Oct. 12-16.