The Black Rock Desert

Visiting The Trials

Map of the Black Rock Desert showing Gerlach (bottom left) and the desert track

Spectators will be most welcome to witness the ThrustSSC Team and the Spirit of America Team's head-to-head challenge to set the first ever supersonic World Land Speed Record. Please read the following notes which have been compiled to help you follow the event.

The ThrustSSC and Spirit of America teams will each be responsible for their own Operations, and will take turns to use their own prepared, parallel, tracks. Desert time will be divided into three-hour 'slots' which will be allocated to the two teams by agreement the night before. In the event that mutual agreement cannot be reached on who has which slot, a coin will be tossed.

The ThrustSSC Operation

The ThrustSSC Team will depart from Stansted, England, for Reno, Nevada, in the HeavyLift-VolgaDnepr Antonov AN-124 on 30th August.

The ThrustSSC Team will be based in Gerlach and the SSC car will be kept at the ThrustSSC Base on the Black Rock Desert. The trials will start on the 6th of September and probably last through until the end of September, maybe into October.

ThrustSSC commemorative merchandise will be available on sale in the pits and at the spectator areas.

Please note that the following details apply only when the ThrustSSC Team are operating. When the Spirit of America Team are operating, you should follow their operational rules which are available on the Spirit of America Web Site.

Where To Watch

The spectator area is on a headland about 10 miles from Gerlach, north on State Road 34. This gives an excellent view of the desert and the tracks. Once trials are over for the day, the desert will be opened allowing spectators access to the ThrustSSC Base.

Please note:

• Access to the desert will be strictly controlled for everyone's safety
• Please obey all instructions you may be given by our marshalls

When you are allowed access to the desert, please remember the following:

1. do not drive on the racetracks
2. do not leave the marked desert tracks
3. do not drive up fast to anyone or any place - the dust cloud will cover them
4. always drive with your headlights on!

Daily Schedule

It is expected that trials will start around 7.00am when conditions are calmest. They will continue through the day, depending on technical, weather, safety and security conditions - which must all be perfect to run trials.

A Few Words Of Caution...

Visitors should remember the following:

• take plenty of drinking water
• take food
• take a map and a compass
• weather can be very hot (25-30°C) and can drop below 10°C at night, so take appropriate clothing
• beware snakes, wear desert boots
• always advise someone in Gerlach where you are going and your expected time of return
• some areas of the desert are always wet and impassable, be very careful
• leave the desert immediately if it starts to rain
• be advised it is easy to lose your way on the Black Rock
• ensure that your vehicle insurance covers travel on the desert. 'AAA' cover is recommended.
• do not drive on the desert at night

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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