October 2, 2024
NORRA 500 Honors Ramón Castro as Grand Marshal
Iconic Baja racer Ramón Castro will be honored as Grand Marshal at the NORRA 500 in Ensenada, Baja Mexico on October 11th through the 13th. The NORRA 500 is a two day rally format racing event that travels from Ensenada to San Quintin on day one of racing and returns to Ensenada on day two. Each day will have a unique course layout. Day one will be mountainous. Day two will determine who earns the King of the Beach trophy.
The NORRA 500 will be celebrating the VW beetle’s huge impact on the sport of off road racing. Amongst Grand Marshal Ramón Castro’s long list of impressive race wins and championships, he was the fastest on a peninsula run racing in a class 11 Volkswagen. In 1989 he drove solo from Ensenada to La Paz in 27 hours and 46 minutes; a record time that stood for years. He has proven his prowess while driving the entire spectrum of vehicles, bone stock class 11’s as well as state of the art unlimited trucks. Ramón has his own racing series, Record Off Road, where he has promoted the sport of off road racing in Baja and helped develop many local racers including Tavo Vildósola and Iván Ramírez.
Ramón claimed first place in the prestigious NORRA 1000, one of the toughest and most iconic off-road races, competing in the classic car category. In 2023, Ramón was crowned champion again in the NORRA 500, confirming that his passion and talent remain undiminished. His overall in the 67’-65’ Pioneer category underscores his ability to dominate both modern and classic vehicles, a testament to his versatility and deep knowledge of the sport, earned over 40 years of experience. At the Mexican 1000 Ramón received the Bilstein Madonna Award. The Madonna award is given to “an individual who wins a championship in a major racing series, displays sportsmanship and positive character traits on and off the track, and possesses an intense desire to win while overcoming adversities.”
Beyond racing, Ramón has been a pillar of the communities where his events take place. Through his own racing series, he has promoted charitable initiatives such as the donation of food, clothing, and equipment to rural areas of Baja California. He has helped build cattle guards, provided fence materials, and delivered equipment to local firefighters and rescue teams. Ramón also organizes holiday drives to distribute toys, clothes, and sweets to children in need, with the support of RECORD racers and their families.
You can meet Ramón at Mack Johnson´s Vintage Classic Car Round-Up (Pioneer, Legends, Challenger, and Vintage Eras) from 12pm-1pm Riviera Convention Cir. (Side Street Club Rotario Ave). At the NORRA 500, people and vehicles from every era of offroad racing participate in the event. The NORRA 500 draws current racing stars, icons of the past, lovers of Baja, and adventure seekers of all types. NORRA events provide a great challenge, great competition, unrivaled celebrations, and the best that Baja has to offer. Make sure you go to www.norra.com to enter the race and find out everything you need to join in on the fun. NORRA Celebrates the Past, while Forging the Future.
Print/Radio/Television Media Contact:
Mike Ingalsbee
NORRA Communcations
Phone: +1 858-400-7440 x5
Social Media Contact:
Val Douglas
