If you’re a small town in the middle of the Nevada desert whose sole claim to fame is a road race determined by Guinness World Records as the “world’s fastest road race,” maybe altering the road isn’t such a great idea.
In an effort to prevent “run-off fatalities,” the Nevada Department of Transportation intends to place rumble strips on a stretch of State Route 318 in between Lund and Hiko. Sure, like saving lives is worthwhile or important…
The problem is that the Silver State Classic Challenge, a road race where the participants are given the “opportunity to go as fast as [they] want on a stretch of Nevada public highway,” takes place on that self-same 90 mile stretch of highway. The local politicians are understandably reticent, not wanting to lose out on that sweet racing money that comes in twice a year (in Ely, the town pulled in a cool $1.5 million from the race alone.)
The mayor of Ely, Nevada, Jon Hickman, recently told a local newspaper that the rumble strips would pose a safety hazard for drivers traveling up to 200 mph because ‘they’re designed for somebody who is going 70 miles per hour. If (racers) hit the strips it would throw them off a bit,’
The SSCC has been held twice a year ever since 1988 with the next one scheduled to take place on September 17-20. That means there’s still plenty of time for you to make your way there and get in the race.
The Slanch Report 
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