BONNEVILLE SALT FLATS 24′

BONNEVILLE OR BUST

‘THE WHOLE STORY’

The story of one man’s quest for the ultimate thrill of speed.

A passion for excitement, and exhilaration, living life on the edge to its fullest.

‘BONNEY’

The Gary Matranga Story

THE MAN BEHIND THE WHEEL

Gary Matranga grew up in Sacramento California. He graduated from El Camino High School, and was a typical young man albeit an aspiring motor-head. He enjoyed fast, cool rides like other young car enthusiasts. He was an intelligent, diligent worker and always looking to make enough money to enjoy his passion. At 14 years old he was sweeping a parking lot when he would meet the legendary Rex Hutchison. Rex and Gary would establish a long friendship.

Rex himself, lived in the Sacramento community and through the years was the go to guy for the most powerful engines of the time. This early meeting would develop into not only a friendship but a resource for his future aspirations in motorsports.

Gary was no stranger to speed. Early in Gary’s youth his need for speed was evident by the fact he built radical high powered street machines and was a street racer of quite repute in California.

As Gary’s affinity for speed increased, he raced early Funny Cars even building one himself. Gary briefly raced flat bottom drag boats but was drawn to the ‘big boy game’ of that time, Top Fuel front engine dragsters. They were the predecessor of the quickest wheeled vehicles in the world. He was a well-known racer and was a regular at tracks around his hometown.  Gary could really handle the enormous unbridled power of those frightening ‘Front Engine Diggers’ back in the day. He was always cool, calculated and with lighting reaction reflexes that turned on many win lights.This was a time of great evolution of the sport of drag racing. It presented new challenges for Gary, but it was the never-ending need for speed which he loved so much.

He raced Stock Cars and was of note amongst his competitors. He reveled in the close, tough, hard-nosed racing and the bump ‘N’ run attitude of Stock Car racing. Gary was a man whose soul was a racer.

He also strapped up in powerful ever dangerous Sprint Cars. He was thrilled backing those overpowered open wheel machines into corners at some of California’s fastest dirt tracks. Gary rubbed shoulders with many California Racing Legends. He thrived on the adrenaline rush of ‘backing in’ to a turn in a Sprint Car at Chico Speedway and hammer down at the famous Calistoga Speedway in beautiful Napa Valley. Only the bravest of drivers dared the track known as the ‘Death Track’ for good reason. Calistoga sent drivers to the 500 most notable the 1952 Indianapolis 500 pole sitter, Fly’n Freddy Agabasham. Calistoga Speedway hosted not only the best drivers from around the country, but abroad as well. If you made the main at this track, you could drive for any owner in the country, even at the 500.

Whether dropping the laundry, backing in, or ride’n high, Gary Matranga always lives life on his terms.

So it’s obvious, Gary is a very accomplished race car driver adept with a breadth of racing disciplines under his belt. He’s probably one of the best choices to put in a devilish, World’s Land Speed Record Machine.

As it turns out, Gary is out of the same mold as some of the most renowned racers in the world. His evolution would be similar to other early hot rodders. Legends like Mickey Thompson, Craig Breedlove and Arfon.

His experience and knowledge of what’s under him and knowing when it’s, ‘not under him’ will come in handy this year for the run to Glory, during the world-renowned ‘World Finals’ at the Bonneville Salt Flats.

THE TEAM

You need a great team to win races or set world records and Gary knew that. He started building a team to take him to the next evolution in is career. The newest endeavor was the ‘Mount Everest’ of speed , the Bonneville Salt Flats in the state of Utah.

Gary reached out to procure a top of the line power plant. This would eventually lead him to where it all started, ironically when he was 14 years old sweeping the parking lot for cash. Gary knew this was the time to make the best choice he could and include in his program Rex Hutchison Racing Engines in Sacramento California. Now the early relationship would bring both together to conquer something extraordinary.

Gary assembled his handpicked team to take him to the ultimate test of speed this year at the Bonneville Salt Flats, ‘World Finals’. He would refine the team with a dedicated and accomplished racing engine company for this attempt to move his current World Speed Record even Higher. Team members included Len Gray, Jim Hard, Mark Tullgren, Kelly Blue and Glenn Hutchison handling the engine tuning among other details during the trip down the salt.

Driver Gary Matranga and Engine Builder Glenn Hutchison of the legendary Speed Shop Rex Hutchison Racing Engines were anxious to get on the Salt Flats at the famous Land Speed Record Proving Grounds. World Records don’t come easy, an attempt here can cost something more important than money. More than one man has paid the ultimate price pursuing their ride to Glory.

The team wanted to continue building on the success of Richard Smith and Ed Umland of Eddies Chop Shop. Gary and the builder of the beastly 66’ Barracuda set the World’s Land Speed Record in Blown Gas Coupe in 2021. That year they established the World Record at 291mph. Gary was looking for more speed by bringing the legendary California Speed Shop in managing the power plant. Rex Hutchison Racing Engines was tasked to achieve the rarefied air of 325mph for a new World’s Land Speed Record that would stand the test of time.

The team dedicated an entire year getting ready for the run on the 6-mile course of salt.

Like Roger Penske say’s “Time Plus Effort Equals Results.”

THE ENGINE

The stats

Blown Gas Coupe Division

• 582 CI                7400RPM
• Indy Block (Hemi Based)
• EFI ‘F.A.S.T.’ Management System – (Fuel, Boost, Shift Points)
• Twin 88 Turbos
• Indy Heads (Hemi Based)
• Indy Intake System
• TD Rockers
• Arias Pistons
• Oliver Rods
• Callie Stroked 4150
• Engine Dyno Horsepower Rated at 2,240hp on gas
  
• Chassis Dyno Horsepower Rated at the Rear Wheels 1,975hp on gas
  
• 3 months build time

THE CAR

The 1966 Barracuda was purpose built by Ed Umland of Eddies Chop Shop in Orangevale California. The car was built for Richard Smith.

The fabrication yielded a Bonneville World Record with great possibilities for more records on the salt.

The stats

• Weight – 4600lbs
  

  

• Height – 45’
• Wheelbase – 160”
• 1966 Dodge – Barracuda
• Overall Length – 23’
• Frt Tires – 26” Dia
• R Tires – 27” Dia
• Fuel Tank – 18gal
• Water Tanks – (2) 30gal Total
• Body – Fiberglass
• Transmission – 5 Speed Lenco
• Chassis – Molly / Steel

Chassis and Fabrication- Fast Eddies Chop Shop, Ed Umland                                     

Built for Richard Smith

THE RUN TO GLORY

After setting up camp and the temporary pits on the salt the team wasted no time checking and rechecking every part of the car. This was they’re collective chance to beat the Mt Everest of Speed. A chance at immortality. Nothing would be left unprepared.

They pulled the racer into the line up. Glenn was in the push truck used to bring the Bonneville Racer up to speed. They could not be in more capable hands than that of many times Top Fueler Drag Boat World Record Holder and 3 times Worlds Champion Glenn Hutchison. Glenn had to push the racer more than 60 miles per hour because the gear ratio was so high for the Bonneville run. This is one more of the critical jobs for the launching of the World’s Speed Record attempt on the salt.

Gary is strapped-in and Glenn is at the wheel of the push truck. Even though it’s a 6-mile course the speed traps are near the middle of the course. The actual trap is a one-mile measurement that determines the final speed. The rest of the course is for coming up to speed and slowing down.

Glenn Hutchison’s intentions this year were focused on helping the ‘Cuda’ pick up speed.  He specially built an engine designed to exceed 300mph.

1st. Run The Shake Down – Gary and the team had been rained out at Bonneville for the last couple years. The team collectively concluded a Shake Down Run would be a sound move. However, a Shake Down Run for this team would be something under 300mph. The car left the push truck around the 70mph and all systems were a go. Gary was comfortable, the car was roll’n nicely, the engine was singing and the team felt  ready for business on the up coming, 2nd attempt for this year on the salt. This run was in the 265mph range.

2nd. Run Bringing The Heat– The second run was to gather important data from the car at speed, the driver and engine. Things were going to have to be pushed up. After all, Gary and the team are ultimately attempting to go where no Blown Gas Coup Racer has ever been.  Shift points, RPM, Tires, Fine Tuning, Running gear along with other important data of how the car feels under Gary. Gary’s vast experiences racing at tremendous speeds handling dangerous sprint cars inches away from total destruction on some of the fastest dirt tracks in America are a prescription for his success on the salt this year. Gary has raced many times at the Calistoga half mile with long straight sways and sharp turns. This track  as an example is considered to be one of the most dangerous dirt tracks in the country.

Historically, the Bonneville Salt Flats World Records are not easy either and many have paid a big price speeding along the salt. Safety is paramount and brave men here must always be cognoscente with the reality of what they’re attempting. The current World Record Holder, Gary Matranga blasts to 281mph on the 2nd high speed Shake Down run. Gary and the team feel it’s go time to make the run for all the marbles and make a Record attempt for Gary to move his World Land Speed Record even higher.

3rd. Run For The Money– The stewards of Bonneville give the command for the assault on the track. Glenn pushes Gary and his racer to launch Gary down the course. As Gary’s watching the gauges, absorbing the input from the race car in the seat of his fire suit he makes shifts at predetermined spots. Gary feels the racer is under him. Gary feels confident but this is Bonneville, the Bonneville Salt Flats that have propelled men to immortality and has taken whats most precious, a life. As Gary goes through his well rehearsed process of piloting the race car, it snaps loose with wheel spin and the 2,500hp twin turbo charge behemoth is coming from under him. His lighting reflexes gathers the race car up, pops the chutes and brings the race car and himself back to race another day. 

The team determined the shift points will need adjusting due to the loose salt to get down the track and keep the car under Gary. Gary, as cool as a cucumber is already anticipating the team sorting it out and his next attempt for him to break his current world mark. 

“Luck Favors The Prepared”  Louis Pasteur.

4th. Run for Immortality– Gary and the team determine its time to make an attempt of a full ‘Blast Pass’ for immortality on the salt. They’re confident and prepared to go where no man in Blown Gas Coup has ever gone before.

Glenn is given the signal from the Official on the salt to roll off. Gary, strapped in, is focused, highly alert, his senses peaked and his reflex reactions are on point and sharpened for this World Record Attempt. As the pusher gets the racer up to speed everything is working. The team is guardedly anxious. At around 70 miles per hour the nearly 2,500hp engine lights up and strides away. The attempt is on and its up to Gary to control the car that’s lead him to become a Bonneville Salt Flats World Record Holder. 

The sensations of speed makes things seem in slow motion for Gary. He’s now operating at an intense sense of feel. He will be one with the car, the engine and himself. The man who’s only desire to live life at its fullest, to experience the adrenaline rush of speed. Its never been enough for him and today will be another thrilling chapter in this mans need for speed.

As the car approaches 225mph Gary feels something unusual with this run. His senses are telling him to heighten his level of concentration, his awareness and his focus like never before. The noise, the vibrations, the sensation of speed as the racer approaches 255 mph are scintillating for Gary. The car is starting to move around slightly and Gary knows this because he understands, communicates with the car by the seat of his pants. He knows when a car is under him and when it’s getting ready to step out on him. The race car is not responding to him. Approaching 275 miles and hour the steering becomes lite. But it’s not lite like hes felt in this racer before. The car starts to come from under him, he gathers it up not wanting to lift his right foot off the loud pedal, but the race car seems to have a mind if its own. These next few milliseconds will be crucial and his decision making will need to as sharp, and as quick as humanly possible. The car starts to drift off the course. The steering is not responding. Gary carefully puts more wheel into it but the racer keeps drifting. It’s intense, his heart pumping his senses on full alert. The racer all of a sudden hits the safety cones and Gary must pull both parachutes to forestall a cataclysmic event. The chutes pop open, Gary is now under intense negative ‘G’ loads as he firmly holds the Steering wheel. The safety belts do their job and Gary is now trying to bring the race car under control avoiding any further damage to him or the race car.

Glenn Hutchison, No stranger to risking his life was following the race car and Gary in the return vehicle. He knew how close this attempt was at achieving a new World Record or utter destruction. The team and Gary will sort things out with the racer. Gary will make another attempt for the World Record Mark and the adrenaline rush of speed.

This was an attempt at a World’s Land Speed Record on hallowed ground, the Mt Everest of Speed, the Legendary Bonneville Salt Flats and if it was easy everyone would have World Records here.   

The team will have more attempts before they’re finished with Bonneville 24′.

As Caesar laments in Spain, “The Dye is Cast,”  

5th. Run Locked and Loaded– While the pit crew swarms over the race car the team finds the steering box had an issue that was something unforeseen. Looking over the check list the steering box was checked and signed off on by several crew members. This was puzzling in that the steering box had been examined and had no manifestations evident on previous runs down the salt.

Gary and the racer were were pointed down the course once again. The stewards signaled the pusher to go, it was pushed away. Everyone of the crew members we intent to be a part of this World Land Speed Record attempt. As the racer pulled away from the pusher the car came to life. As it moved away from the pusher to meet the challenge for glory everything was going according to plan.

Gary was confident in the crew and what was under him. As the racer gained speed the crew could see it was on a good lap.The engine was roaring, the car had traction, the salt created two rooster tails billowing from the rear tires. The car was straight, not moving and clearly under the skill-full hands of a racer determined to set a world mark. The race car hits its shift points, the speeds increase to 190mph, then to 225mph. The team is growing excited they may see the first leg of the World Land Speed Record set by they’re driver. It seems well within reach as they diligently watch. The racer exceeds 255mph, then, 275mph. The teams exhilaration grows and they erupt as the car exceeds 295mph !

The team in fact did un-officially break Gary Matranga’s current World’s Land Speed Record of 291mph and change. Gary’s initial blast to 295mph earned him the first of two required legs to establish a new World’s Land Speed Record. The illustrious Blue Hat is reserved only for drivers that exceed the 300mph barrier for they’re World’s Land Speed Record. No small feat in and of itself.  If Gary could bring another run above the first leg the driver from California would in deed where the ‘Blue Hat’. The ‘Blue Hat’ is only given to the rare racers who break the 300mpr barrier with a collective 1st and 2nd back up run. It was a near flawless run and there was still more left in the car. Glenn couldn’t wait to get the car back and review the telemetry of the car. It was an amazing run and even Gary, Mr. Cool was animated with the cars performance and results.

The team was shooting for something around 315mph to 325mph. The engine builder had set a minimum of the 300mpn barrier. The team did as mention earlier UN-officially nail the first leg for the World’s Land Speed Record in class at 295mph. That 66’ Barracuda Blown Gas Coupe went faster than any other in the world. Gary had put another notch on his gun belt. At Bonneville you must perform a back up run to make the record official. The attempt for the second leg will come latter during this trip to the trials on the salt.

The car was immediately impounded by the officials for a rigorous going over as everything had to be verified as legal for the first leg results of the Official, World’s Land Speed Record for Blown Gas.

It was getting late in the day and the Bonneville officials came to Gary and the team and told them they could run before they close the track for the evening of leave the racer in the in-pound till tomorrow morning. Glenn Hutchison made the decision, based on the days runs corrected altitude of 7,800ft to run the next morning anticipating cooler temps and a smooth track.

6th. Run Against the Wind– The day starts out at 8:30am and the team is anxious to retrieve the Hot Rod from in-pound. Glenn Hutchison was highly motivated to get the car on the 5 mile course asap while the air was crisp with a corrected altitude of 5,400ft. Those cool temperatures are exactly what the monstrous Hemi loves. Glenn feels confident for the day to unfold in the teams favor. Everything is finally coming together and there’s no looking back now.

Gary, Glenn and the team are trying to hustle the Rod to the front of the line to take full advantage of the freshly groomed salt and the cold air. Gary and the team wrestle themselves third in line and the team couldn’t be happier at this point.    

The stewards are happy to get the show on the road because they’ve been there for a few weeks prepping and sending the racers down the track and all that it takes to make it happen.

Gary is helped being loaded in ‘Bonney’ by his lovely wife Kelly Blue. Glenn notices the track is very smooth,  groomed and beautiful with a slight breeze from the west which is lite. The team awaits the go sign from the officials.

The starting steward signals Gary and Glenn to roll out. With hopes running high Glenn, Kelly Blue and Mark are in the push truck knowing this is for the final leg to solidify a new World’s Land Speed Record during the World Finals at the epicenter of top speed world records. The support truck with Jim and Len are trailing Gary in ‘Bonney’ with the push truck for the run to infamy.  

The race car lights up and immediately starts leaving push truck. The run is officially Rock’n Roll. Gary is now all alone. He’s raced nearly every vehicle there is and this is his world. The push truck team watch as the race car is really pulling away much faster than previous runs. They don’t get any information on the CB from race control regarding the speed. But everyone acknowledges ‘Bonney’ is on a real burner.

Soon Race control tells the team at the two mile mark the speed is a full 6 miles an hour faster than Gary has ever done!

The stewards tell the team at three miles down track the speed is again a full 10mph faster than Gary and ‘Bonney’ have ever been

Over the CB at the four mile mark the speed is a fantastic 15mph faster still! Everyone on the team are hearing the race control calls generating a lot of excitement. Its been a long hard fight to get here and still tougher once they arrived. It ain’t easy, and that they know for sure.

As Gary’s foot is cemented to the floor but the car starts getting lite. Still nailed, Gary feels the car making unusual moves. Undaunted he’s not in any mood to pedal to the finish. As he can taste victory the race car catches one of those ‘wide open winds’ coming off the salt flats and ‘Bonney’  shutters. Still legging the race car a cross wind from the opposite side hits the car and nearly sends the car reeling. All the experience Gary can muster brings the car back. However, this time to keep the racer under him, ever so slightly he pedals to save the run.

The steward officials announce the measured speed.        

The speed will be determined a few ticks off what is needed to back up the the first leg of the World’s Land Speed Record run Gary had previously laid down.

Gary and the team are stunned. So close yet so far. Kelly Blue knows how disheartened Gary will be when he finds out. The team is silent but knowing Gary, he’ll be back bigger, better and badder ! 

WHATS NEXT

World Land Speed Record Holder, Gary Matranga left the salt still ‘Wearing The Belt.’ Looking back on this years blasts at Bonneville 24′, the team was successful laying down a first leg new World Land Speed Record with the second run for the roses albeit, just a few ticks off backing it up.

This negated the chance for Gary to post a new, Official World’s Land Speed Record over 300mph earning him the famous ‘Blue Hat.’ 

The ‘Blue Hat’ is only given to the racers able to achieve the rarefied air in excess of a 300mph, official World’s Land Speed Record.

Racing is similar to other competitive sporting events, you can’t win them all. With that Rex Power we’re betting Gary Matranga will get that ‘Blue Hat’ and join the Official, 300mph Club.

Like Arnold said, “I’ll Be Back.“

SPECIAL THANKS TO THE COMPANIES THAT MADE IT HAPPEN

AAA RECYCLING, INC.

Recycling Today For A Better Tomorrow

REX HUTCHISON RACING ENGINES, INC.

Winning Is All That Maters

7L, INC.

Holistic Meds Direct

Eddies Chop Shop

Richard Smith

Nathan Gerolamy

Special Thanks To The Crew of Bonneville 24’

Glenn Hutchison

Len Gray

Jim Hard

Mark Tullgren

Kelly Blue

Von Richards

Copyright Global Media 10.23.2024