FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
| EMAIL: |  |
September 30, 2022
The Latest From NORRA
The Yokohama The NORRA 500 Presented By Method Race Wheels Begins!
Good Vibes. Good Times! Underway In Ensenada.
TECH & CONTINGENCY
PHOTOS BY BINK DESIGNS
AGUA DULCE, CALIF. - The Good Vibes; Good Times got underway in beautiful Ensenada Baja Mexico at the 2022 Yokohama NORRA Baja 500 Presented By Method Race Wheels. The Riviera Hotel was loaded with happy smiling people, great food, cool cars, and the sound of horsepower. After months of anticipation, teams were able to make their final preparations during tech inspection before hitting the dirt on Friday. Monster Energy, The Fab School, PCI, CN&CH Offroad Fanatics, Jordan Race Works, Satélite Del Norte, Yokohama, Rugged Radios, Guerreo NORRA Swag, Stella Anube, Bilstein and Maxima Racing Oils were all set up along Rotario Ave to support the competitors. The party atmosphere was well underway despite the important work taking place. Registration was followed by tech inspection of the vehicles; both for the racers, and the safari participants. Stella Trackers were installed, and Roadbook Navigation/GPS Training Sessions were held.
You could not find a more varied group of entrants anywhere else. There were iconic cars that pioneered the sport while making their drivers famous. There were beautiful examples of state of the art technology. There were several unique vehicles competing like the Go Westy VW Vanagon camper vans in the RV class, Robert Blanton’s 1994 AM General HUMVEE; complete with shark teeth graphics, or Jeff Gamroth’s 89 Safari style Porsche 911. If you love just looking at race cars, it was sensory overload. The many fans of all ages that mingled with the cars and their drivers were getting a real treat.
The Vintage Classic Car Round-Up had some vehicles that were built and raced nearly 60 years ago. This year’s Round-Up was entirely composed of vehicles that were racing in the event. They will be putting on a show for the entire event. Sol Saltzman was unable to make the race at the last minute so he asked his friend Rich Minga to drive his 1972 Funco SS1. Rich knows how much fun it is so he invited his friends; Craig Stewart, and Ryan Thomas. The thrill will be huge for Craig Stewart as his father Ivan “The Ironman” Stewart competed in the very same Modern Motors car. Many competitors would be grasping the same steering wheel as their mentors, Idols, or heroes had in the past. It’s part of what makes NORRA so special.
Of course, the minute most people cross the border, tacos are on the agenda. NORRA arranged for Chef Drew Deckman to prepare delicious food for everyone. The Cerveceria Transpeninsular beer was flowing as well as some tequila; all part of the McMillin Racing Welcome Fiesta. NORRA’s Live Feed crew was bringing the events happening during contingency to people around the world. Hosts Sean Sermini and Kevin Johnson had guests like Mark McMillin, and PJ Jones who joined the show.
Even NORRA’s own Mike Pearlman and Valerie Douglass dropped in to show off the incredibly cool pink metal flake NORRA decals that were on sale. Proceeds from the decals are going to Grupo Reto de Ensenada so they can continue the vital work they do combating cancer. Grupo Reto de Ensenada has been providing a whole range of support and services to cancer patients and their families since 1996. September is breast cancer awareness month. NORRA competitors, and the fans were grabbing stacks of decals to support the effort. After all that, plus the METHOD Race Wheels Happy Hour and the Mandatory Drivers Meeting at the Riviera Convention Center from 6-7pm everyone was finally ready to call it a day; or not. We’ll see who’s ready to go in the morning for the first day of racing. NORRA strives to make sure everyone has the greatest adventure, and most fun possible. The memories created today will be the stories told around the campfire for years to come. NORRA Honors the Past while Forging the Future. Go to www.norra.com to find out everything about NORRA events in Baja. Don’t miss out on the fun!
"The Happiest Race On Earth!"
&
### Good Vibes. Good Times! ###
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, five-day rally includes vintage off-road vehicles and motorcycles, as well as modern pre-runners, trucks, buggies, UTVs, bikes and desert Rally Raid cars.
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-1970’s.
NORRA enjoys corporate partnerships with Yokohama Tire, Method Race Wheels, Bilstein Shock Absorbers, STEEL-IT, Rugged Radios, Adler Motorsports, McMillin Racing, Maxima Racing Oils, Multitool USA, Satélite del Norte, Biltwell, Cerveceria Transpeninsular, PCI Race Radios, Schampa, Optima Batteries, K&N, Horsepower Ranch, Baja Bush Pilots, The Fab School, Mag7 Pits, the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame (ORMHOF), B3KREATIV, and many more.
