Well, you've finally decided to take the plunge and head towards the Wild West for the great Land Speed Record showdown. Whether you are a seasoned traveler or a complete virgin to this part of the world, there's always room for a bit of friendly advice in order to make the most of the trip. But first a disclaimer! Never forget that this is record breaking and there are no absolute guarantees. Everything depends on Mother Nature and if there is a couple of weeks of major rain, then the desert could be completely unusable until next year. With two jet cars planning to run from 2nd September, then it's also unlikely that both will suffer the sort of mechanical problems that could render them unusable, but then again you never know what the LSR gods intend to throw at you. If it makes you feel any better, Richard Noble has £600,000 on the line for this trip!! One good thing about this part of the world is that there are plenty of 'must see' places in the area and on the way to and from you likely place of arrival from the UK.
Anyway - enough caution, we know it's going to happen and that you're going to be there, so let's get planning by starting right at the beginning:
If this is your first transatlantic trip, then remember that Jumbo jets are BIG and it can take hours just to check in. Get there early if you want a good seat choice (avoid the central sections if possible and try for the side rows, preferably towards the back where there's a little more room) but you could get in touch with your airline and prebook a seat - vital if you want to sit together but you haven't booked together. Most flights are now non-smoking, but check if that troubles you either way.
As a UK national you do not need a visa but you will be asked to fill in a Visa Waiver form given to you once on board. Most EEC countries are also OK, but if you are not a UK born national it's worth checking with your country of origin or the US embassy. If you are traveling as a family, one person in the group will also be asked to fill in a customs/immigration form. Questions such as 'are you, or have you ever been a terrorist?' may seem laughable, but take this seriously and avoid any jokes or daft comments. Make sure you fill the forms in early on the flight. The last thing you need after an 8 hour flight is a rush to fill in a form while you're tired. One tip here - the forms ask for your location whilst in the US. For those like you traveling around, fill in the address of the place where you will be staying for the first night. One final word of warning - immigration queues can be lengthy, so be patient and don't get stroppy - that way you'll wait even longer. Luggage carts usually need to be paid for by inserting either a dollar or a dollar-fifty, so take some clean dollar bills and some loose change with you to liberate your cart - unless, of course, you're feeling like Rambo and want to carry everything.
Talking of money, make sure you take a mixture of dollar travelers cheques (checks!), cash and credit cards if you have them. Visa and MasterCard are taken just about everywhere, with Diners Card and American Express at most places. DO NOT take Sterling travelers cheques. Traveler's cheques can be used just like cash, so they are a good way of topping up your cash supply along the way. Make sure you record details of where and when you used each cheque. If you are traveling together, it's a good idea to split the cash and cheques between you lessen the blow if you do lose any. Another big BEWARE, all the US Dollar currency tends to look alike whatever the value of the note - they are even printed the same colour (color!), so make sure you split them up and check carefully before handing over a ten or a fifty as a single - it would cheer up the waiter though.
Yes, the steering wheel is on the other side, but it's easier than you think if you take it slowly to start with and get yourself prepared. It's not a good idea to head off in the dark, jetlagged after a 9 hour flight to experience the joys of US motoring for the first time. I did it a few years back in LA and ended up in Watts at midnight - not the thing to calm your sensitive European nerves. I'd always advise getting the airport or hotel/motel bus or a cab to a nearby hotel for the first night. That way you can attack the highways freshened up the following day. You'll smell a bit nicer as well after a shower.
99% of US cars are automatic and have air- conditioning along with absolutely lousy lights. Check all rental cars carefully and don't be afraid to complain if everything is not to your liking. The rental people frequently offer you an on the spot upgrade (at a price of course) and depending on how lucky you feel, it's usually best to refuse all these 'special offers'. Chances are it's all they've got left and you'll get it at your original price anyway. If the car won't start or you can't get the ignition key out - remember it's an automatic and shove the gearlever in Park (P). Hey presto, it'll work. If you can't move the gearshift, press the button on the stick, put your foot on the brake, and try again!
It's always cheaper to take it back full of gas rather than letting them charge you to take it back empty. Petrol (gas!) is very cheap in the US. $1.30 is about average and it's all lead free. At some city centre gas stations you may be asked to pay before filling up. Chuck them a twenty and settle up the difference either way afterwards - and don't forget to check oil and water after long journeys.
Unlike drivers in big cities like New York, London or Paris, those on the West Coast are much more laid back and considerate. Until a couple of years back, speed limits were 55mph and 65mph on Interstates. These days each state sets their own limits and they vary, so watch it. California limits are lower than Nevada for instance. In towns, particularly around schools, the limits can be as low as 20mph.
Whatever you do, never, never pass a school bus with its red lights flashing. Stop and wait for it to move off before you proceed.
On freeways you can overtake on either side and many people just grab a lane and stick to it, so watch out all around you. As in all countries, people exceed the speed limits, but advice for new drivers is "stick to the limits". Watch out for getting stuck in Right Lane Must Exit slip roads. If you do exit by mistake, or if driving in towns and you miss an exit, remember roads over there are built on a grid system, so just keep turning right until you get back to where you went wrong. There are no roundabouts at all, but lots of traffic lights. Avoid the right lanes, since one neat trick is that you can turn right on a red light if the way is clear. Block somebody wanting to do this and you won't be a popular bunny. One final tip, watch out for cars (usually pickups - of which there are thousands) pulling out in front of you or across you in towns. This is normal - you're expected to let them out.
There are hundreds of hotels, casinos and motels in Reno, some of which can be pre-booked with the air tickets, occasionally at very low rates - otherwise, use Motel 6, Best Western, Vagabond or any of the major motel chains, which are cheap and cheerful but not necessarily luxurious! Casinos are often the best value for money and remember they charge by the room, not per person. Wherever you stay, always eat at the casino breakfasts and buffets. They expect everybody to do this - it's self service, very fattening and very cheap.
Unlike Europe, phones are not easy in hotels. You always have to get them unblocked and usually you'll pay an up front deposit to stop you legging it without paying. Direct dial to Europe is nowhere near as widespread as you might believe, so be prepared to wait for a nice AT&T operator. You can buy calling cards from BT and other operators and charge calls to your credit cards if you must. Some European-bought GSM mobile phones now work in the US.
Accommodation in Gerlach is very difficult - there is only one motel, which is fully booked by the two teams for the period of the runs. An alternative is to rent a motorhome or Recreational Vehicle (RV), usually best done in the UK as part of a package. In Reno there are two companies: Sierra R.V. Rentals and R.V. Rentals. Most will be gone by now, so advice is to book from over here, most probably from Avis, Dollar etc. in San Francisco.
There is only one R.V. park in Gerlach, offering 17 full service spaces, which can be double-used to give 34 spaces. There is a dump station and water supply there. There will be a desert campsite on the Black Rock Desert, close to the main entrance road used to access the pits/spectating area. Use of this area will be free, services will consist of portable toilets and rubbish containers.
No dirty water or any other rubbish may be emptied on the desert (this is especially important to ThrustSSC, as we must ensure the absence of any foreign objects, however small, from the track), the dump station at the R.V. park must be used. It is expected that camping in other areas around Gerlach and the desert will be forbidden, and all campers directed to this desert site and the R.V. park. Food and drinking water can be purchased at the store in Empire (about 7 miles from Gerlach). Sophisticated night (nite) life is out, but the Miner's Club run by Bev Osborn is a real hoot.
The land of the free is also the land of litigation, so you must, must, must have adequate motor vehicle, personal and healthcare insurance. Do not even think about cutting corners on this one. Make sure when you book your hire car/RV that you pay everything you can over here (with the exception of state tax which you must pay over there) and get a receipt clearly detailing what you are covered for.
Heathcare is up to whatever adequate deal you can find, but if you take any regular medication it's a good idea to take a copy of your prescription with you and if you wear glasses it's also a good idea to take that prescription with you too. You'd feel a right berk if you went all that way, broke your glasses and couldn't get another pair quickly.
Well, what are you waiting for? Get booking and see you over there.
The Black Rock is an area of exceptional natural and cultural interests - interests which can be easily damaged by careless use of the desert and its surrounding area. When visting the Black Rock, please read and adhere to the principles of the BLM's resource-preservation programs, Tread Lightly! and Leave No Trace.
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