The Mint 400 is an annual American desert off-road race which takes place near Las Vegas, Nevada. It was resumed in 2008 after a 20-year hiatus.
The race was for both motorcycles, until 1977, and four-wheel vehicles (buggies, cars and trucks) sponsored by Del Webb's Mint Hotel and Casino."The Mint 400" , Las Vegas Sun, Retrieved January 7, 2007 Webb, a real estate developer and friend of Howard Hughes, was owner of the Mint Hotel in downtown Las Vegas. It became known as The Great American Desert Race.
History
Norm Johnson created "The Mint '400' Del Webb Desert Rally" in 1968 in his role as promotions director of The Mint Hotel & Casino. The first race sent 101 vehicles across roughly of desert, started and ended at The Mint Hotel in Las Vegas with pit-stops at Ash Meadows, Beatty and Lathrop Wells.
The future of the Mint 400 race came into question in 1988 following the sale of Del Webb's Mint Hotel & Casino to Jack Binion, owner of the Horseshoe Club. However, as a testament to the race itself, the prestige and importance of the event created by veteran race director K. J. Howe and the Mint management team and the financial benefit this promotion brought to the City of Las Vegas, under new ownership the annual Mint 400 Off Road Race continued to be run in 1988 and 1989.
New owner Binion felt the race and its ancillary activities along Fremont Street had a negative impact on his casinos. So, the race was no longer held after the 1988 Mint 400.
The Mint was not held for nearly twenty years, then was restarted by long-time sponsor General Tire with help from the Southern Nevada Off-Road Enthusiasts. The race resumed on March 29, 2008. The race was preceded by inspections of the vehicles on Fremont Street in the Fremont East district. SNORE eventually sold the franchise to The Martelli Brothers for the 2011 edition.
In 2012, the Martelli Brothers partnered with off-road industry veteran Casey Folks, owner of the largest off-road desert racing organization in the world, the Best in the Desert Racing Association. The Mint was added to the Best in the Desert championship schedule, and a new race loop was carved out for the contest. The number of entries swelled to an astounding three hundred and twenty three race teams, making the Mint 400 one of the largest off-road races in the world.
2012 also saw the introduction of the Method Race Wheels Pit Crew Challenge, an event in which sixteen pit crews from the top unlimited truck teams competed in a head-to-head battle to decide who had the best crew. Each of the three-man teams were given one jack, one impact gun, and one spare tire. The team who completed two tire changes the fastest, advanced to the next round. Over 10,000 spectators on Fremont Street, showed up to cheer on the teams. After several close and heated rounds the General Tire/THR team – which included drivers Mikey Childress, Rick Johnson, and crew member James Walker – out-pitted the field to win.
The Martelli Brothers parted ways with Best in the Desert for the 2020 edition, and created the Unlimited Off-Road Racing series in 2023, which also features the Parker 400 and California 300.
Winners
Motorcycle
Overall four-wheel
Car/Truck Classes Source: Unlimited Truck (4WD) - Four-Wheel Drive Unlimited vehicles with truck or SUV body. Unlimited Truck (2WD) - Two-Wheel Drive Unlimited vehicles with truck or SUV body. Unlimited Truck Legends - Unlimited vehicles with truck or SUV body. Drivers over the age of 50. Class 1 Unlimited - Unlimited Two or Four Wheel Drive Open Wheel Four Wheel Vehicle Class 1 - Unlimited open wheel vehicles Unlimited Truck SPEC - Unlimited chassis and suspension truck or SUV with limited engine. Class 6800 - Unlimited chassis and suspension truck or SUV with limited engine, drive train and tire size. Class 1 SPEC / 6200 - Unlimited 4 wheel, single and two seat vehicles. Limited to IRS. No straight axle suspension. Class 8 - Limited Full Size truck or SUV 4400: Unlimited - Unlimited Ultra4 vehicle. Class 7 - Unlimited chassis Mini or Mid size truck or SUV. Maximum six cylinder engine. Class 10 - Unlimited open wheel vehicles with limited engine. Class 5 Unlimited - Unlimited Baja Bug TrophyLite - Purpose built SPEC race truck, 4 cylinder engine, SPEC suspension, parts and bodies. Class 3000 - Limited two(2) or three(3) seat mini or mid-sized vehicle. Engine is limited to sealed SPEC. Class 12 - Limited Open Wheel Vehicle 1/2 1600 - Limited chassis, limited engine open wheel vehicle. Jeepspeed Trophy - Identical to Jeepspeed Outlaws but with open class specific exceptions. Jeepspeed Outlaws - Jeep or Dodge sport utility vehicles and light trucks with original frame. Class 1450 - Open production full sized or mini truck. Must have production steel body. Class 2000 - Production mini or full-size truck. Production steel body and doors must be used. Class 7S - Limited Mini or Mid size truck or SUV Sportsman Jeepspeed Cup - Jeep and Dodge vehicles that maintain the original appearance and profile. Jeepspeed Challenge - Short wheel base Jeeps with 6 Cylinder and 4 cylinder engines. 5-1600 - Limited Baja Bug Modern Vintage - Race cars 1995 and older. Vintage Open - Race cars 1989 and older. Vintage - Race cars 1982 and older. Class 5500 - Zero one rental car program. Stock Production Truck Mini/Mid - Stock Production Mini or Mid size truck or SUV. Stock Production Truck Full - Stock Production Full size truck or SUV Open Sportsman - Unlimited Vehicle Sportsman Class. Class 9 Challenger - Single and two seat vehicles with a maximum wheelbase of 100". Vehicle parts are based on a Type I VW. Class 11 - Stock Production VW Bug EV Production - Stock Production EV Truck/SUV EV Open Production - Open Production EV Truck/SUV EV Unlimited - Open EV Hybrid Production - Stock Production Hybrid Truck/SUV Hybrid Open Production - Open Production Hybrid Truck/SUV Hybrid Unlimited - Open Hybrid Modern Military - Vintage Military - Hooptie X Modified - Modified Gambler 500/Hooptie X vehicle Hooptie X Stock - Stock Gambler 500/Hooptie X vehicle
Notable entrants Entrants in this event were worldwide and included some well-known names from racing and people from the television and motion picture industry. Indianapolis 500 winners Parnelli Jones, Al Unser, Rick Mears, and Rodger Ward; off-road champions Mickey Thompson, Ivan Stewart, Jack Flannery, Walker Evans; international off-road competitor, Rod Hall; power boat champion Bill Muncey, film and television stars James Garner, Steve McQueen, Larry Wilcox and Patrick Dempsey; comedian Mort Sahl; astronaut Gordon Cooper and rock musician Ted Nugent have competed in the Mint 400. Jay Leno raced with Jerry Zaiden from Camburg Racing, Heavy D & Diesel Dave from the Discovery Channel show. Diesel Brothers competed in the Mint 400 in 2017. Heavy D & Diesel Dave's race in the Mint 400 was featured on the show in the episode from Season 3, "Race Against the Machine"."Buggies roll at night" , dated between March 21 and 23, 1971 Las Vegas Sun , Retrieved January 7, 2007, Warning: PDF file In 2025 WWE wrestler Stone Cold Steve Austin participated in the race as well.
Mint 400 girls K.J. Howe, conceived to add PR value to the race. Former mint 400 girls include while were later Playboy centerfolds. The as a Mint 400 girl.
In 2012, the Miss Mint contest was revived."Miss Mint", Mint 400, Retrieved January 7, 2013
In popular culture Hunter S. Thompson's novel Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas depicts the 1971 race in one of the earliest and best known instances of gonzo journalism. The race is also featured in the 1998 film, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas based on Thompson's book. The 1993 Nissan 400 was featured in the Film Desert Steel.
The Australian alternative rock band Ammonia named their debut album Mint 400 after the desert race as depicted in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.
The 2010 and 2011 Mint 400 were featured on Fuel TV, while the 2012 Mint 400 was aired on Speed.
References
External links