Yesterday upon entering the lakebed I struck an underwater hazard which caught the diffuser,ripping it off,while bending its aft neighbor's leading edge down at a 90-degree angle within a few inches of the ground.(wettest I've ever seen Bonneville).
I heard the 'ground strike' but had no idea of the damage until I'd reached the starting line.
That kinda ended Bonneville right there.
I back-tracked,located the diffuser in the midst of a pond,pulled off my shoes and waded out to retrieve it.Pretty mangled!
I threw it on top of the truck and drove to the cul'd sac of the frontage road where I could beat it down flat enough to load.
After a trip to the DIY car wash I was able to remove the bent belly section for stowage.
I found a flat faced rock to use as a body dolly and was able to beat the creases out of the rocker panel with a plastic-faced hammer.
I found some screws and picture-hanging wire at a grocery store which allowed for the rocker to pull back in,flush as before.(kinda)(don't forget chewing gum,and bailing wire when you travel!)
Late day she was safe for travel.I topped off and headed for Battle Mountain.
This morning there was some qualifying runs.Right now,we're all at the civic center with some school kids (I'm next door at the library).
Lots of boat tail photos.
Delft has already gone 80-mph with a new rider.
More runs this evening.
I'll head for Carson City,Nevada tomorrow.
I've had wind the whole trip so far.32.7-mpg from Ogden to the salt flats.
With the belly compromised she's an unknown quantity again.
The beat goes on.I'll check in when I have more numbers.
Special thanks to Freebeard who entertained me with an impressive ride in his Bug,a great Mexican dinner at the Salt Flats Cafe,and some emergency cash to help with the return trip.
And again,thanks to the whole EcoModder crew who've helped underwrite the trip.
