K.J. Howe, Mint Hotel executive and longtime Mint 400 Race
Director, conceived "The Girls of the Mint 400" in 1972 to add
glamour and PR value to the race. Each year the Mint racing
committee chose a contingent of women to reign over the events'
activities. Local media representatives would help select the
final ten from the hundreds of entries received from contestants
from around the US, Canada, Mexico and Europe. The Mint racing
committee would select the final five who became known as the
Mint 400 girls. This group includes Lynda Carter (who portrayed
Wonder Woman in the television series) and Wheel of Fortune's
Vanna White. Mint 400 Girls Tracy Vaccaro and Donna Speir were
Playboy centerfolds and Vickie Reigle graced Playboy's cover
subsequent to their Mint 400 publicity. Lisa Soule, Anita
Merritt, Angela Aames, Lisa Hunter and Suzanne Regard later
appeared in various movies and television series as well as Mint
Hotel and Casino advertising campaigns.
We are going to bring back the Mint Girls and have a few ladies
in mind for the Queen. One who tops my list to approach is
actress Sandra Bullock, whose husband is Jesse James of “West
Coast Choppers” and “Monster Garage,” and also a new, addicted
desert racer and owner/driver of the West Coast Choppers Trophy
Truck. The Mint Girls are an absolute staple to this race and
we will do our best to promote this in a very classy manner.
Photos
of the Mint 400 Girls
