The Monster of the Salt

Monster of the Salt is a work-in-progress documentary film about Gardiner’s adventure in seeking out Nira Johnson, a pioneering African-American drag racer, who inspired a love of American hot rod culture in France after simply having his photo taken with his drag bike while at the Bonneville Salt Flats in 1967. This single photograph inspired a comic book character, which in turn inspired a fan to build a replica of the drag bike based only on an illustration of the bike and his imagination.

Mark Gardiner has successfully tracked down Nira Johnson and wishes to share his story as well as capture on film the restoration of the original Salt Flats racer bike. Mark also plans to have Nira meet his two biggest fans as they run their replica bike alongside Nira’s original race bike at the Bonneville Salt Flats.

It’s an incredible story of treasures lost and then found, and a real testament that the love of motorcycles is a universal language.

Go HERE to read the full story of how Mark Gardiner came upon the Monster of the Salt, and be sure to support Mark’s indiegogo campaign so that his documentary can be seen by generations to come.

Check out the Monster of the Salt sizzle trailer below.