Roof surfing

 

Mick on the road again

    This is Ellen now home, Saturday,  September 5th.  I took the above picture out the car window just before turning onto the exit toward the airport, yesterday.  Admittedly, my heart sunk at saying “goodbye” to my husband again, but this time for only five or six days until his return. 

   There is no way possible to explain this incredible adventure.  This place is like the epitome of an oxymoron on so many levels. 

Always sharing Flat Family stories

1-Here we are with motorcyclists from all over the world, the noise, the machines, the speed and yet there is a comaraderie that revels all institutions, associations, religions, or cults.  Some tend to think motorcycles with big bad burly guys and scantily clad women making a ruckus.  Not here….well, maybe a bit of a ruckus when the races are over.   There is a common goal and a passion beyond any I have experienced outside of a love for God.  All airs, pretense, and insecurities are erased here.  It truly is a Salt Flats Family embracing all who share this experience instantaneously.   Everyone fits in, everyone.

 

The Beauty

2-The Flats are such a peculiar thing.  Millions of years ago it was an ocean floor.  Now dried, tons and tons of salt make up the ground.  The Flats are surrounded by incredible mountain ranges.  All the cars, bikes, and machines are completely encrusted with a thick layer of moist salt.  It took an hour of power spraying to get the sometimes foot thick play dough like substance off the vehicle.  The temperature is 100 degrees or more every afternoon, but it is dry, so if you can get shade (tents and canopies) you can stay relatively comfortable as long as you constantly hydrate.  There have been some sad situations of people getting lost or their vehicle breaking down and dying from the elements out here.

3-The views are beyond belief.  We were volunteers throughout the event.  Some days we had to be on the Flats at 6am.  On these days, we were treated to the most “pinch me this can’t be real” sunrises.  Other days we would be there until 8pm, where the sunsets would fill the sky as the Flats allowed a ten mile or more viewing vantage with the mountain backdrops changing colors with the sky.  No picture could ever even allude to its beauty.  It is intense and only more proof of God’s design and the gifts He bestows upon us everyday.

The Frenchie and his cool bike

     4-The people open armed and warm.  I am not sure what brings this approachability out of the people here on the Flats, but it is a magnificent thing.  Mick and I had discussed upgrading our room since I would be there for the week.  I am so glad we didn’t do that.  The rooms were pretty pathetic, but the Motel 6 due to its affordability is where many of the out of country and state riders will stay.  Every night was a family reunion in the parking lot where the days events were shared, advice was given, and laughter could be found.  I am smiling just thinking about it.  There are people who come alone each year because they know how they will be instantly incorporated into the Flat family whether old friends are there or not.  The quite shy Tony from California is a perfect example.  We tossed him a beer and he lent Mick a straw hat.  All is good.  Though a strong language barrier, the French crew with their custom bike had a news reporter and camera man in tow to document their attempt to break the class record for their bike style.  Not only did they break the record but they topped their own speed each day there after.  This bike took hundreds and hundreds of hours to build.  It was a gorgeous work of art. 

Mick, Loud Jim, Ellen, Kimmie and Greg (Fastest man and woman in Aussie), and Mic

The Australians were such a hoot.  My goodness, I adore their sense of humor and relaxed way.   There is not a boastful bone in their bodies, but their wit and endurance is unmatched.  Greg, Marge, Kimmie, Mic, Bones, Evelyn, and the rest of the Aussies, as well as your California connection, Loud Jim, you all have a place to stay if you ever find yourselves in New England.  Of course, I fear what you would do on our land with Mick’s toys.  It would be an all out bonanza of racing I am sure.  I bet our golf carts would be able to do 80mph by the time you blokes left.  

Thank goodness Michael had only signed up for half days.  We did do one whole day.  It is so easy to get caught up in the event and want to see how this one or that one does, but the Flats will age you ten years in a week and that whole day was a tough one come 8pm.  God bless the all day workers, some in tougher positions than others.  We were stationed at Mile 4 of the Long Course.  This is an 11 mile race course for those machines that can do 175mph or more.  What a privilege it was to be on Jack Tate’s team at Mile 4 or now known as Mile Fo’.  Jack, known to us now as “The Jack of Hearts”, relishes life and shares his admiration for every moment with an open heart and a strong faith in God.  Speaking of God, He is ever present on the Flats.  Whether in the people, the views, the peacefulness, or the trust, God likes to hang out here and every single person feels it.  We all took our job very seriously, especially here at Mile 4.  Our basic duties with walkie talkie in hand was to watch for each rider as they push their machines to their top speeds just before the Mile 5 timing mile.  With binoculars, radio, and flag we would radio in when a rider passed our mile marker relaying how they were doing.  Sometimes the message would be “Flying by Four” others were “Puttering, spinning, or slowing by Mile 4″.  The Long Course is where the international FIM and National AMA records were recorded for the high speed bikes.  On return runs where record breaking riders had to run again for an average speed to be taken, we would often have to wave down the riders to get them off the course safely and quickly.  Safety and efficiency was our job.  The safety need is obvious.     

  On Sunday, a lovely woman,  mother of a larger than life man, was at Mile 4 for a Memorial Run on behalf of her son who was tragically killed at Mile 4 last year in a Streamliner.  Streamliners are the motorcyles that go 350mph and more.  The present record is 360mph.  She relayed how her other son’s first words to her upon hearing the news were “Mom, this is where everything you told us about our faith comes in.”    Really this woman and her son are a beautiful story of living life with passion and faith.  

Cliff Gullett's Mom

Team FO

 From Left to Right-Ohio Maurice, the pilot, was only with us a couple days but made his mark.  He cracked me up.  Maurice is trying to talk Mick into getting a plane.  If I am Mick’s good angel, Maurice is his bad one or vice versa depending on your point of view.   Jack, Jack of Hearts, must have had ringing ears the whole week as all of us mentioned several times what a truly fantastic fellow he is.  He must be an excellent contractor because his ability to lead is unbelievable.  A man who would never ask anyone to do something he hasn’t or won’t do himself.  Love you Jack.  Texas Eric, the Man, awaiting his first baby,  Eric is one of those happy go lucky, easy as a cold beer to take, and quick with a laugh chaps.  This experience wouldn’t have been the same without you, Eric. Dave, the Doer, has been riding around the country in an effort to raise funds for the Cancer Society.  He has turned his slow work months, Lemons into Lemonade, with great riding, great stories, and a great cause.  God Bless you, Dave.  Ohio Jim, the Life Loving Listener, has the ability to really connect with others.  Jim sees the blessings in his family and those around him and lets them know they are gifts.  Remember Jim, New England certainly is gorgeous in the fall..hint, hint. We are profoundly grateful to have met all of you and look forward to more shared times.

 Now let’s talk some fun in the super hot sun.  I was spoiled by all.   I learned so much about the machines and the way other people live life, this has been the most fruitful experience of my life.  Below are pictures of spoiled Ellen. 

How fast does this go?

 

So where are the keys?

Four years ago there were only four women racers.  This year there were nineteen.  This is a testimony of the times.  Leslie Porterfield has beaten both women and men in her motorcycle class to make a 240mph record this year. 

Women Racers

 As for Mick and I, we are humbled by the culmination of events.  We have learned big life lessons from it all.  Cliff Gullett’s moto was “Go Big or Go Home!”  Ours shall be “Go Big, whether following your passion, helping others, honoring God, or being at home. Go Big!”

Joy Ride

 

The Range encompassing the Flats

 

Hello Friends of the Marsh Family Foundation,

     This is Ellen Bonner, Mic’s wife.  Mick had a very difficult time getting cell range,  forget about internet for the last week.  Hence the lack of daily blogs and pictures.  I have been fortunate enough to fly out and join my husband for a short portion of his trip where he will be relatively stationary attending and volunteering at the Bub Bonneville Land Speed Trials at the Salt Flats.   I got here Friday and before I knew it, I was completely immersed in the Salt Flat Family experience.  Mick has spent much of my visiting time relaying story after story of this last week.  He can not wait to share.  In the meantime, between work at the Salt Flats and lack of a personal computer, it is impossible to update regularly.  Dave Swift, from California,  was so trusting and generous, he has let me steal his laptop for an hour to bring to our humble room to give a quick update.

     West Wendover-Salt Flat Country-This is like taking a space shuttle to a different planet.  The topography, weather, and people so foreign to me I am enveloped by this experience of a lifetime.   The people, oh the people…  From all walks of life, Australia, France, Sweden, Switzerland, Canada, and of course most of the United States represented you name it they have come from it.  All with one common denominator, a pure passion for motorcycles and ingenuity.  With much arm twisting (four kids in school, three of which in college, and sixty hour work week) I was coerced to change my Monday am flight to Friday. My Salt Family would not take “No” as an answer.  I pray my office manager does not quit with the extra work load and my children don’t use the “You abandoned us for a whole week” guilt trip to get all their future desires met.

   I must say this has been such an opportunity for me.  I always get the whole motorcyle thing as it is my husband’s love, but until now, I never really got it.  In just the couple days I have been here  I have sobbed with a beautiful mom who had lost her son last year to an accident to the deepest laughter my insides could produce.    The people who share Michael’s (Mic)passion are from all walks of life.  Doctors, farmers, software people, teachers, contractors, CEO’s, moms, dads, 85 year olds, 14 year olds, millionaires to mechanics (some fo the mechanics are millionaires themselves) these people let it all show in what they consider the safest place on earth, those that share their passion here on the Flats.  We presently have standing offers to visit half the states in Amercia.  As Mick had said to me the other night.  “This is where all your insecurities are left behind and you can be raw, sincere, and open.”  Exactly! (people who understand….priceless)

     Well, we are pretty disappointed that we are still unable to find a spot to upload the pictures. The WiFi isn’t letting us do “unauthorized” things such as that and the closest Walmart or such store is a good 100 miles away.  I will be home by Saturday 2am and by Saturday night I should be able to post the pictures from the storage card Mick will give to me before boarding my plane. 

   This is a beautiful thing, seeing my husband in his element.  No one here is a background guy or perhaps I should say many are, just not here.  By the way, we have befriended many of the Speed Record Holders such as the fastest woman in Australia, Kimmie.  She ran 220+ mph. on a Turbocharged, alchohol burning gsxr750 (ask Mick).  Her friend,  Greg is also a World Record Holder and set the fastest run for the day yesterday at 205mph+.  You would never know it though.   Like most of the people out here Greg is a shy fellow sharing all his secrets to help his competition get better numbers.  That’s how it is here.  If someone just broke a record and is done racing they will give a part right off their very expensive modified bike to another racer (known or unknown to them) if he or she needs it.  It’s about testing your skills, your mechanic modifications, and your spirit.  The team from France has spent thousands of hours on their bike and are within 8 mph of the record.  Greg, referenced above, was sharing with them tips for a good half hour last night as we watched in awe.  Greg is an Australian crop farmer.  A regular Charles Ingalls.

  Mick could write a book on this week alone.  The characters are the big draw.

   The Libraian Nazi is peeking above her reading glasses and glancing back at the clock so I will wrap things up.  God Bless and God speed here on the Flats.