The fifth annual General Tire National Off-Road Racing Association (NORRA) Mexican 1000 takes place in mid-May, but many off-road enthusiasts may have January 1 marked on their calendars. That’s the day that registration for the “Happiest Race on Earth” opens.
Online registration for the event opens at noon on New Year’s Day, and it’s a sure bet that there will be no shortage of applicants. Open to vintage off-road vehicles and motorcycles, rally cars, and a limited number of modern off-road racers, the four-day rally is run in the spirit of the Baja 1000 of the 1970s. with speed-timed stages and freeway transit sections interspersed throughout the thousand-mile course.
Early registration has its privileges, including the ability to select racing numbers, special starting positions and VIP hotel reservations.
“New Year’s Day is really like Christmas morning for the entire NORRA crew,” said NORRA President Mike Pearlman. “Last January we accepted nearly 80 entries for the 2013 rally at the dawn of a new year, and we expect to exceed that number next Wednesday. We also felt strongly that we will be hosting more than 200 vehicles at next year’s rally.”
Improving the event for 2014 are a host city in Ensenada, Mexico, and a split format that puts a greater time separation between motorcycle and four-wheel racing classes, to improve participant safety. The Additional hospitality events have also been added to the schedule.
