Brabec, Norman Top The
Return Of The Mint 400
IN
THE
WIND
P32
(Left) Though Ricky Brabec
(shown) and Kendall Norman won
the first motorcycle category at
the Mint 400 in 43 years, it was
by no means a runaway. (Right)
About 20 miles into the race,
the top four were this close and
moving away from the rest of the
pack. PHOTOS: MARK KARIYA
F
or the first time since 1976,
the legendary BF Goodrich
Tires Mint 400 desert race
included motorcycles and the
revived race, held over the March
9-10 weekend, provided a stun-
ning show befitting a Las Vegas
production.
From the technical inspection/
contingency row near Fremont
Street in downtown Las Vegas to
persuading J.N. Roberts (winner
of the first Mint in 1967 teamed
with world-class motocrosser
Gunnar Lindstrom of Sweden on
a Husqvarna) to be Grand Mar-
shal and wave the green flag, the
Mint—round two of Best in the
Desert's American Off-road Rac-
ing Series—offered unmatched
atmosphere.
As for the racing itself, it
couldn't have been much better.
Rain earlier in the week helped
minimize dust in most areas of
the 80-mile loop that included
many parts of previous races
like the Whiskey Pete's Hare &
Hound World Championship, the
Las Vegas 400 and the Hender-
son 250 as well as local MRAN
events.
And with less dust to contend
with, it allowed for closer racing,
the three-way battle for the lead