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LAS VEGAS SUN STORY:
Freshly minted desert race
Organizers hope to restore luster to a classic of yesteryear, the Mint 400 off-road race
LAS VEGAS SUN FILE
The Mint 400, which is being revived this week after a 20-year hiatus, started at the old Fremont Street casino of the same name in 1968. Billed as “The Great American Desert Race,” it ran for more than 20 years and served as the backdrop for Hunter S. Thompson’s novel “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.”
Tuesday, March 25, 2008 | 2 a.m.
Sun Archives
- After 20 years, desert race returns (02-18-2008)
Beyond the Sun
- LIVE Mint 400
- Who Won: Past and present look at Las Vegas' Mint 400(03-11-2008)
One attraction will not be revived
Not every aspect of the original Mint 400 is being revived by Southern Nevada Off-Road Enthusiasts, the volunteer off-road racing group that is putting on this weekend’s event.
The original incarnation of the Mint 400 included the “Mint 400 Girls,” a group of attractive young women employed to promote the race. An annual contest held to select the winners, the brainchild of former Mint Hotel and Casino executive KJ Howe, was among the most popular prerace events and drew entries from around the world.
Among the notable personalities who served as Mint 400 Girls were Vanna White of “Wheel of Fortune” fame, “Wonder Woman” Lynda Carter and former Playboy Playmate and actress Linda Vacarro.
This year’s race will not feature any such contest but SNORE officials said they may have one for future races.
The LIVE MINT 400 is the Exclusive Webcast of the desert, off-road race event.
Norm Johnson Founded the Original event and is now the Chief of internet operations for the live coverage online at BajaRacingNews.com and directing this year’s event coverage.
Norm Johnson Founded the Original event and is now the Chief of internet operations for the live coverage online at BajaRacingNews.com and directing this year’s event coverage.
Tech inspection for the Mint 400 in 1968 was held on Fremont Street. The prerace event drew thousands each year, but race organizers this year were not granted permission to use the same space, which is now covered by the Fremont Street canopy.
“In some circles, the ‘Mint 400’ is a far, far better thing than the Super Bowl, the Kentucky Derby and the Lower Oakland Roller Derby Finals all rolled into one.”
— Hunter S. Thompson, “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas”
With apologies to the Baja 1000, now considered the granddaddy of off-road races, the Mint 400 quite possibly is the most famous desert race in the world. At least it was, during its run from 1968 to 1988.
In addition to serving as the backdrop for Hunter S. Thompson’s groundbreaking novel “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas,” the Mint 400 was the event for serious racers from all disciplines as well as actors, entertainers and even astronauts. During its heyday, the race attracted Indianapolis 500 winners such as Parnelli Jones, Al Unser Sr. and Rick Mears, off-road racing pioneers Mickey Thompson, Walker Evans and Ivan Stewart, actors James Garner and Steve McQueen and astronaut Gordon Cooper.
The brainchild of Norm Johnson, the publicity director of Del Webb’s Mint Hotel and Ca
