HENDERSON, Nev. – Norm Johnson, an off-road racing legend, will serve as the grand marshal of the upcoming Henderson’s Terrible 300 desert race festivities, which will be held Dec. 2-5. The race will be held on Saturday, Dec. 4.

As the director of public relations for the Mint Hotel in Las Vegas, Johnson created the first “Del Webb Mint 400 Desert Rally” in 1968. Over the next two decades, the Southern Nevada race would become recognized as one of the top off-road races in the world.

“Serving as the grand marshal is quite an honor for me considering it’s been 36 years since I created the Mint 400 Desert Race,” said Johnson, 71. “The race was declared a classic race in its first year. It became one of the most famous off-road races in history. It’s amazing to see how much the sport has grown since then. It’s also a great honor for Henderson’s Terrible 300 to recognize me as one of the grandfathers of off-road racing.”

The 1969 race attracted a total of 188 entries including Indy 500 champions Bob and Al Unser, television stars James Garner and Lee Majors, comedian Shecky Greene and Mickey Thompson (who would go on to create S.C.O.R.E,. which promotes many of the modern day off-road events, including all the Baja races). Future races attracted many film and television stars and astronaut Gordon Cooper. In 1975 – less than a decade after the race was born – the Mint 400 attracted 354 cars and 51 bikes competing for a piece of the $100,000 guaranteed purse.

A racing enthusiast since the time he was 15, Johnson is still racing in his 70s. In fact, he captured a victory in an open-road race this past May and also has a third place finish this year in his 2000 Camaro.

“The adrenaline rush from racing is like nothing else,” said Johnson, who also worked as a Las Vegas Sun reporter and was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize while covering the Watts Riots for the Copley News Service in 1965. “And racing is always a challenge. And I know the next question you’re going to ask: No, I don't fear death, but I recognize the possibilities of it – I think all racers do.”

Bud Pico, manager of tourism and sales for the Henderson Convention and Visitors Bureau, said honoring Johnson makes perfect sense.

“He is a pioneer who helped make this sport what it is today,” said Pico, who helped bring Terrible 300 race to Henderson. “We feel it’s an honor to have someone like him involved with our growing race.”

Best in the Desert Racing Association will both produce and sanction the Henderson’s Terrible 300, which will feature cars, trucks, buggies, motorcycles and ATV’s. It will be the sixth and deciding race of the Best in the Desert Racing Association’s six-race series in the southwest. The number of entries for the race is expected to reach 200 this year.

The race, which is sponsored by the Henderson Convention and Visitors Bureau, Herbst Gaming and the city of Boulder City, will take place in the Eldorado Valley located between Henderson and Boulder City. There will be two courses – one for motorcycles and ATV’s and one for cars and trucks – running in a figure-eight style. The start-finish line will be positioned off of Nevada Highway 95, near the Railroad Pass exit, so spectators will be able to view both courses at the same time.

The schedule of events includes:

Thursday – Time trials (2-6 p.m.)

Pre-race party drawing at Terrible’s Bowling Alley (6-9 p.m.)

Friday – Pre-fun run (8-11 a.m.)

Tech and contingency on Water Street (4-9 p.m.)

Charity silent auction on Water Street (4-8:30 p.m.)

Concert on Water Street (5-9 p.m.)

Saturday – Race (7 a.m.-5 p.m.)

Race awards at the Henderson Convention Center (7:30-10 p.m.)

Sunday – Best in the Desert year-end awards at the
Henderson Convention Center (9-11 a.m.)

All events are free for spectators.

For more information regarding Henderson’s Terrible 300, visit www.bitd.com.

For more information on the Henderson Convention and Visitors Bureau, call (702) 267-2171, or toll free (877) 775-5252, or visit www.visithenderson.com.