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NORRA Releases Dates for 2015 Mexican 1000
September 15, 2014
NORRA Releases Dates For 2015 General Tire NORRA Mexican 1000
-- "The Happiest Race On Earth" To Refocus on Vintage Classes --
(Agua Dolce, Calif.): With off-road desert racing’s summer hibernation now up shifting into the frantic pace of fall, the National Off-Road Racing
Association (NORRA) today announced the official dates for its 6th Annual General Tire NORRA Mexican 1000 rally. Working in association with local and
state officials, the vintage-themed event – known affectionately as “The Happiest Race on Earth” is scheduled to take place from Sunday, April 26
through Wednesday, April 29, 2015.
Once again, a diverse field of over 200 trucks, sedans, buggies and motorcycles are expected to take on a 1,300-plus mile, four-day on and off-road
rally from the starting line in Ensenada, Baja, Mexico to the white sand beaches of the resort destination of San Jose Del Cabo at land’s end.
Classic race cars like this class-winning "Rippin' Rooster" Chevy sedan are huge part of the NORRA Mexican 1000 success story. For 2015 Event
officials will put a renewed emphasis on balancing the needs of its vintage classes with the rally's growing popularity.
In keeping with a popular NORRA tradition, online registration for all participants in the 2015 Mexican 1000 will once again commence precisely at
12:00pm (noon, PST) on New Year’s Day, January 1st. As is the case every year, early entrants are guaranteed "first in, first out" starting positions
within their category on Day 1 and "first come, first served" room reservation guarantees from NORRA at the Day 1 overnight stop in Bay of Los Angeles
(four wheel vehicles only).
While NORRA hosted its Mexican 500 “La Carrera Del Norte” last October, rally organizers have decided to concentrate its current efforts in
fine-tuning its Mexican 1000 rally experience for competitors, sponsors and media guests at this time. As an example, in 2014 the Mexican 1000 dates
were two weeks later in May, but customers were concerned about competing during a very special time for families.
“Admittedly, there were several tangible benefits to running our marque event later in the year, but we became aware that those dates coincided with
Mother’s Day weekend,” explained NORRA President Mike Pearlman. “First and foremost to NORRA’s business philosophy is customer service, so our
competitors concerns were not just heard, but addressed. Finding a date that works for everybody every year is almost impossible today, but this seems
to be the best solution for 2015 and beyond.”
Like it has since 2012, next year the General Tire Mexican 1000 will once again finish in the picturesque downtown plaza of San Jose del Cabo. The
rally will again conclude mid-week with a huge seaside award's presentation on white sands of southern Baja.
NORRA is also looking to refine and enhance its unique multiple course, multiple city format that was first instituted earlier this year to provide a
greater margin of safety for the rally’s two and four-wheel classes. Trying to maintain a careful balance of managed growth without losing the very
essence of what has become the cornerstone to the event’s remarkable growth, rally organizers are recommitting themselves to the Mexican 1000s many
vintage vehicles and motorcycles next year.
“In many ways, organizing the Mexican 1000 is navigating unchartered territory in terms of long distance desert competition,” Pearlman added. “First
and foremost, it’s all supposed to be about fun, camaraderie and enjoying Baja’s incredible peninsula -- and not a grueling marathon. This year we
discovered some important lessons about the limits our vintage-based classes can overcome. NORRA is 100 percent dedicated to correcting these issues
in the future.”
NORRA is expected to announce more schedule and course details in the coming weeks as it prepares for its annual attendance at the Lucas Oil Off-Road
Expo and the SEMA show in Las Vegas.
In addition to General Tire, NORRA is also supported by General Tire, American Racing Wheel, Azunia Tequila, South Point Hotel and Casino, Walker
Evans Racing, Bilstein Shocks, KC HiLites and MasterCraft Safety.
# # #
ABOUT NORRA
Beginning in 2010, the National Off Road Racing Association (NORRA) began promoting a rebirth of the NORRA Mexican 1000 rally. The unique off-road
rally was co-created by promoter Mike Pearlman to consist 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 General Tire NORRA Mexican 1000 is supported by General Tire, American Racing Wheel, South Point Hotel Casino, Walker Evans Racing, Azunia
Tequila, KC HiLites, Bilstein Shock Absorbers and Mastercraft/Impact Safety.
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