Is it a boat? Is it a car? In fact, it's a little bit of both. Welcome to the Landsailing World Championships, held in July in the sweltering Nevada desert.
Marvelous machines —
Is it a boat? Is it a car? In fact, it's a little bit of both. Welcome to the Landsailing World Championships, held in July in the sweltering Nevada desert.
Courtesy Walter Carels
Over 170 "sailors" from 15 countries converged on the spectacular dried lake-bed of Smith Creek for this year's competition.
Globe trotters —
Over 170 "sailors" from 15 countries converged on the spectacular dried lake-bed of Smith Creek for this year's competition.
Bud Symes/Getty Images Sport/File
"It just amazes me how flat this place is," says racer Lester Robertson. "It just goes on seemingly forever. I really love the beauty and the solitude. And you get to go out on boats, wind-powered boats that just wail along."
Flat out —
"It just amazes me how flat this place is," says racer Lester Robertson. "It just goes on seemingly forever. I really love the beauty and the solitude. And you get to go out on boats, wind-powered boats that just wail along."
Courtesy Walter Carels
Situated around 30 miles from the tiny settlement of Austin, Smith Creek appears like a scorched land that time forgot.
Serenity now —
Situated around 30 miles from the tiny settlement of Austin, Smith Creek appears like a scorched land that time forgot.
Courtesy Walter Carels
Over the past 40 years, the event has evolved from an amateur pastime with pioneers trying out their models to a world sport with influences from gliding, motorsport, sailing and even the America's Cup.
World class —
Over the past 40 years, the event has evolved from an amateur pastime with pioneers trying out their models to a world sport with influences from gliding, motorsport, sailing and even the America's Cup.
Courtesy Walter Carels
The surreal machines vary greatly depending on the class they're competing in. From basic buggies with sails...
Need for speed —
The surreal machines vary greatly depending on the class they're competing in. From basic buggies with sails...
Courtesy Walter Carels
.... to impressive lightweight carbon fiber crafts.
High-tech design —
.... to impressive lightweight carbon fiber crafts.
Courtesy Walter Carels
Landsailing enthusiasts stay up late into the evening, tinkering with their speedy designs. "The amount of time you spend in what I call a 'dirt boat coma' with a glazed look in your eye, thinking about your next great innovation and hoping it works..." says racer John Eisenlohr.
People power —
Landsailing enthusiasts stay up late into the evening, tinkering with their speedy designs. "The amount of time you spend in what I call a 'dirt boat coma' with a glazed look in your eye, thinking about your next great innovation and hoping it works..." says racer John Eisenlohr.
Courtesy Walter Carels
The most advanced craft can hit speeds of 100 miles per hour.
Fleet street —
The most advanced craft can hit speeds of 100 miles per hour.
Courtesy Walter Carels
In 2009, Briton Richard Jenkins broke the speed record, hitting 126 mph in his Greenbird machine (pictured), not far from Smith Creek. He spent a decade working on the design, saying: "I can't believe in hindsight that I actually spent so much time trying to do it. I guess I was kind of focused on the result, and didn't really think about the time or the place."
Record breaker —
In 2009, Briton Richard Jenkins broke the speed record, hitting 126 mph in his Greenbird machine (pictured), not far from Smith Creek. He spent a decade working on the design, saying: "I can't believe in hindsight that I actually spent so much time trying to do it. I guess I was kind of focused on the result, and didn't really think about the time or the place."
Dan Kitwood/Getty Images/File
Landsailing isn't just restricted to deserts. Here, enthusiasts test out their designs on a European beach in the 1970s.
Beach comber —
Landsailing isn't just restricted to deserts. Here, enthusiasts test out their designs on a European beach in the 1970s.
Garry Hogg/Getty Images/File
Here British youngsters in the 1950s go for a spin in their makeshift vehicle -- an old pram with a raincoat for a sail.
Child's play —
Here British youngsters in the 1950s go for a spin in their makeshift vehicle -- an old pram with a raincoat for a sail.
Fox photos/Getty Images/File
"Smith Creek is a starkly beautiful place," says Russ Foster. "The cloud formations and the beautiful sky are almost something out of a painting. At other times it can be terribly dusty and miserable."
Mood lighting —
"Smith Creek is a starkly beautiful place," says Russ Foster. "The cloud formations and the beautiful sky are almost something out of a painting. At other times it can be terribly dusty and miserable."
Bob Martin/Getty Images/File