The Bonneville salt flats located near Wendover, Utah were first used for motor sports in 1912. But they didn’t actually become truly popular until the late 1930s when Ab Jenkins and Sir Malcolm Campbell competed to set land speed records. From there, it was game on!

Every year in August, the Southern California Timing Association and Bonneville Nationals Inc. organize SpeedWeek, the largest meet of the year in Bonneville, which attracts several hundred drivers who compete to set the highest speed in a range of categories. What once was only able to be seen in a few black and white photos or live in person, has now become one of the internet’s most popular searches within the last two weeks.

Our friends over at Auto Enthusiast captured some cool snaps out on the salt flats during this year’s time trials. Check out some of the killer rods that make their way from all over the country to capture their hopes and adrenaline along with taking a shot at some of the records.

Although it is definitely on many people’s bucket lists, to build a car and compete in these trials is definitely not as easy as it might sound. It takes a ton of practice, dedication, time, and money – not to mention some major cajones. But it also takes skill and a dedicated team with safety, knowledge, and the know how to avoid serious injury should something go array. Everyone comes out to enjoy each others creations and see some records get shattered – not cars or people.

So, until that fateful day when we’re able to build and race our own hot rod down the flats, we’ll just have to sit back and enjoy the fruits of the pros who live day in and day out for just another shot at those record boards.