October 12, 2024
Rally Recap: Day 1 / Ensenada
There is nothing else like a NORRA contingency and Friday the 11th of October the Good Vibes, Good Times at the NORRA 500 got underway. All the incredible sights and sounds of Ensenada, Baja Mexico were the background when some of the coolest cars on the planet and the characters who race them arrived to the event. Because NORRA Honors the Past while Forging the Future, the vehicles range from the earliest pioneers of the sport to the latest high tech masterpieces.
The earliest car competing is the 1965 Meyers Manx of Jon Steinhilber and Joe Lowery. The historic Manx was built two years before NORRA created sanctioned off road racing and the number 10 Meyers Manx team car of Wilson and Mangels won the inaugural event. If you love the vintage race cars, Mack Johnson’s Classic Car Round-Up was the place to be. A special salute to the VW Beetle is the theme this year. It ties in to the class 11 King of the Beach battle that has a Vintage class 11 category and an Evolution category for the cars built to modern rules. The fastest overall class 11 will be King of the Beach. It’s fascinating to see how tough the pioneers of off road racing were. They were not only tough, but also had an incredible thirst for adventure. NORRA is keeping that same spirit alive.
For those who like the latest technology, the Evolution Era is where you’ll find it. The pair of Rhys Millen Racing Jackals are a prime example as are the 6100 trucks and brand new UTV’s like the Speed Bandits, El Diablo’s and the CanAm Mavericks and Polaris Pro R’s. The drivers competing in the Evolution Era are equally impressive. One of the best looking modern vehicles has to be the 2023 NISMO Frontier of Formula Drift champion Chris Forsberg. His car control fits right into the demands of off road racing. The team started last year with instant success. They finished the truck, drove it to the NORRA 500 with no testing and won their class. They are back with a huge team looking for a repeat of their initial success and even more fun this year.
NORRA has living legends like Grand Marshal Ramon Castro, who is competing in a 1971 Sandwinder buggy and young Max Gordon who set a new record in his Speed UTV during qualifying at Rancho Nelson Friday afternoon. Max is the defending UTV champion at the 500 and eclipsed his number one qualifying time at last year’s event by several seconds this time. He starts first off the line in the Turbo UTV class with Pro2000 class driver Nick McPhee second. Those two will have Robby Gordon and Bruce Yee on their tails. Bruce is in a class 10 car. He will be racing for the class 2000 cash prize of 20 thousand dollars and the K24 Honda class 10 race engine from Lozano Performance worth $9500. He will be a huge threat to the UTV’s in class 2000 on this course.
Contingency is filled with racers who come from all over the world. Some have not seen each other since the last NORRA race and are eager to rekindle their friendships and rivalries. The same is true for the fans. The fans get a chance to meet their favorite drivers, take in the incredible display of race vehicles new and old, and check out the latest offerings by NORRA sponsors Meyers Manx, Speed Energy, Bilstein, STEEL-IT, Raceline Wheels, Nomad, MOBELWAGEN, The Fab School and more. Fans also had a chance to meet Grand Marshal Ramon Castro who is a legendary Baja racer. Some say Mack Johnson was there, but he keeps a low profile trying to stay one step ahead of his past.
If all that was not enough, Michael Squier had a special screening of his Baja Bug movie after the driver’s meeting that was open to the public. The entire day was filled with a celebration of off road racing and our incredible fans have been such a huge part of that over the last 57 years. No other racing offers so much access and participation for the fans. You don’t have to be a millionaire to build and race a vehicle off road. There is a class in NORRA for everyone. In addition to racing, NORRA also has the Meyers Manx Safari Expedition for road legal vehicles.
Over the next couple days, the focus changes to racing. This year’s course has breathtaking scenery, but also fast sections filled with all out speed. Once the green flag drops, the fastest will be charging for the glory of winning their class or going for the overall win and the Aztec Emperor Cuauhtémoc, King of the Beach trophy. You can experience whatever NORRA 500 you like. Some are here for the racing; some are here for the fun. The 500 is easy to race and easy to chase so many teams compete as a reward to their teams who work so hard. They get a chance to enjoy so much more when the engines have been shut down and the preparations for the next day are done.
After experiencing the NORRA 500 just once, you too will be hooked. Everything you need to know about the NORRA 500 and Mexican 1000 can be found at www.norra.com Go to the site and find out for yourself why NORRA has exploded in popularity. You can feel the same excitement those pioneering thrill seekers sought in 1967 when you join NORRA in Baja. NORRA events honor the past, while forging the future. Don’t miss out on the Good Vibes and Good Times at the NORRA 500. Be sure to follow the race on NORRA TV. There is live footage and links to live tracking on the website. Stay tuned!
