The Mint 400 Race

In 1968, Norm Johnson had an idea.

 As public relations director for the Mint Hotel in Las Vegas, he created the first “Del Webb Mint 400 Desert Rally." Over the next two decades, the Southern Nevada race would become one of the top off-road races in the world.

“It’s been 36 years since I created the Mint 400 Desert Race,” said Norm Johnson, 71. “The race was declared a classic race in its first year. It became one of the most famous off-road races in history. It’s amazing to see how much the sport has grown since then.“

The 1969 race drew 188 entries including Mickey Thompson (who would go on to create S.C.O.R.E,. which promotes the Baja 1000), Indy 500 champs Bob and Al Unser, even tv stars like James Garner and Lee Majors. The next decade of the Mint brought the best racers in the world side by side with film and television stars, and guys like US Astronaut Gordon Cooper. In 1975 the Mint 400 attracted an astonishing 354 cars and 51 bikes competing for a piece of the $100,000 guaranteed purse.

Then, in 1988…. the Mint 400 disappeared.

SNORE (Southern Nevada Off-Road Enthusiasts) is proud to announce the return of the historic Mint 400 Off-Road Race! SNORE is the oldest off-road racing sanctioning body in the history of the United States and has been in existence in Nevada for 38 years. SNORE is a non-profit, completely volunteer only run organization. We have secured the trademark, copyright and registration rights to The Mint 400 name to preserve its history and with that, we have decided to host this epic event once again in the Southern Nevada desert!