NORRA SETS ANOTHER REGISTRATION RECORD FOR 2013 GENERAL TIRE NORRA MEXICAN 1000 RALLY

UTV Weekly | April 8, 2013

General Tire’s NORRA Mexican 1000 circa 2013
will be the biggest in recent history.

— 130 Preregistered Teams Comprised of Legendary Names and A Wide Variety of Historic and Unique Machinery —

With the fourth annual running of the General Tire NORRA Mexican 1000 now exactly a month away, National Off-Road Racing Association (NORRA) event officials today announced that 130 official entries have been received for the 2013 running of the vintage-themed, on and off-road rally since registration opened at noon Pacific Standard Time on New Year’s Day. That mark eclipses 2012’s final list of 95 official starters by more than 39 percent. Given the growing interest both nationally and across the globe, NORRA predicts that more than 160 entries will take the green flag on April 28 at the Mexicali, Baja starting line – a vibrant and healthy boost of 68 percent in just 12 months.

After just one week of registration, the NORRA offices had received a record 80 preregistered entries. The 2013 Mexican 1000 rally is scheduled from April 27 – May 1, and will once again span 1,200-plus miles and traverse the entire Baja peninsula from Mexicali near the U.S. border to San Jose Del Cabo at land’s end.

The famous “Bel-Ray Bullet” Funco-VW will return in 2013
driven by Bud and Buddy Feldkamp.

The entry list for 2013 includes last year’s overall vintage champion Michael Gaughan, two time overall vintage champions Bob Gordon/Frank Arciero Jr., as well as such iconic off-road names as Malcolm Smith, Walker Evans, Mark McMillin, Jerry Herbst, Dave Westhem, Randy Salmont, Bud Feldkamp, Mark Post, Jim Smith, Brian Collins, Randy Wilson, Nick Baldwin, Mark Stahl, Stuart Chase, Don Adams, Morley Williams, Cameron Thieriot, Andy DeVercelly and many more. Additional entries from General Tire NORRA Mexican 1000 veterans include Butch Jensen, Jim Riley, Rick Johnson, Boyd Jaynes, Dave Sykes, Jeff Furrier and a long list of other rally enthusiasts.

Competition between many of the General Tire Mexican 1000’s various classes is also heating up, especially in the Vintage Production Sedan, Vintage Open Truck and nearly all of the motorcycle categories.

According to industry observers, the rally’s well-earned reputation as one of the world’s most enjoyable and accessible motorsports adventures has sparked the enthusiastic response by veteran and rookie racers looking to enjoy the Mexican 1000’s quest in being “The Happiest Race on Earth.” So too has the notion of a vintage off-road, rally and hot-rod style machinery finding a new, second life after being prepared to participate in the four-day adventure.

Motorcycles and riders of all ages will take part in this year’s “Happiest Race on Earth”.

“I speak for the entire NORRA organization when I express our thanks and gratitude to our growing list of Mexican 1000 participants coming to Mexicali in just four weeks”, stated event co-founder Mike Pearlman. “At this point, we are well on our way in meeting this year’s goal of hosting 150 or more teams at our upcoming General Tire NORRA Mexican 1000.”

Although the spotlight will remain squarely on vintage machinery, NORRA is also hosting a limited number of modern prerunners, rugged 4x4s and motorcycles of all types and ages. NORRA has also recently added a special Charity Poker Run to allow more access to the event via a non-competitive Poker Run on the same course and dates as the Mexican 1000 rally.

A seaside fireworks display at Javier’s beach in San Jose Del Cabo (at the Cabo Azul Resort) will celebrate the finale of this year’s General Tire NORRA Mexican 10000.

According to Pearlman, there will be several major announcements being prepared over the course of the coming weeks. Many of these will revolve around enhancements to the rally’s hospitality and growth in media coverage.

ABOUT NORRA
Dubbed the “Happiest Race on Earth,” the unique off-road rally was co-created by promoter Mike Pearlman in 2010. Each day of the rally consists of special stages (unlimited speed timed stages in the dirt) linked together by controlled speed liaison / transit sections (highway). The one-of-a-kind, once-a-year, four-day rally includes vintage off-road vehicles and motorcycles, rally cars, a limited group of modern desert racecars and classes for prerunner trucks and buggies. Pearlman’s late father Ed and others established the first running of the NORRA Mexican 1000 off-road rally in November of 1967, which eventually became internationally recognized and evolved into the Baja 1000 in the mid-1970s.

The NORRA Mexican 1000 is supported by General Tire, American Racing Wheel, South Point Casino, Walker Evans Racing, Azunia Tequila, KC HiLites and Mastercraft/Impact Safety.

For more information visit: MEXICAN1000.com