I joined ECTA (East Coast Timing Association, because I live on the east coast)...the same one running the Loring, Maine event where the motorcycle rider lost his life. They have a lot of similar rules and regulations as the SCTA that runs Bonneville (if your car or bike passes tech at one of these events, it should also pass at Bonneville). Check locally if there is a sanctioning body near you or holds events near your area that you can join and then go to the events. Walk around and see what's there, talk to some of the people both running the event and participating (I found everyone more then happy to talk and share some knowledge). For me it really kindled the flames of wanting to do some kind of speed run. I will do it sometime in the not so distant future, but will probably start out at one of ECTA's events, before thinking about the salt flats to get my feet wet