It seems fitting that the Utah-built Turbinator is scheduled to make the first run on the Bonneville Salt Flats Saturday when the 71st annual Speed Week opens.
That’s because the vehicle, designed by Rick Vesco in his Rockville garage near Zion National Park, had quite a 2018 season on the salt.
It culminated with a top speed of 503.332 miles per hour last October in the World of Speed event. The Turbinator had the fastest top speed of 470.605 miles per hour last year and set the fastest national Bonneville car record and the fastest wheel driven flying mile.