My Wife and I are looking at potentially returning to Vegas to celebrate our 5 year anniversary and if we do, I'd like to line it up with the Mint 400 desert race. Anybody attended this event before? Got any good tips? I've been to Vegas before (its where we got married). Looking mostly for tips related to the race and spectating and the many "celebrations" that surround the event.
I have not....coincidentally the Mint 400 is about the only reason I'd ever choose to go back to Vegas.
As your attorney, I advise you to rent a very fast car with no top
Asphalt_Gundam said:I have not....coincidentally the Mint 400 is about the only reason I'd ever choose to go back to Vegas.
Same here!
johndej said:As your attorney, I advise you to rent a very fast car with no top
Lol!
So I happen to be local and have attended many a Mint 400 since 1978 onwards. With that said I've only done a couple of Primm events.
The days of camping in the remote desert and watching are long gone. These days there are two spectator spots
1. Start Finish: this has more of a stadium truck race vibe but the facilities around it are a lot nicer and you typically don't come away covered in silt.
2. Jean Spectator area: this has more of a traditional desert race feel. The vehicles run through an old gravel pit and it's a bit more remote.
Tech inspection on Fremont Street is always fun and it's free. I think Primm is $15, parking is free but pony up the $50 for the parking pass so you don't have to park far away. I think the $50 also gets you access to Jean, but check the website.
The event is fun. Trophy Trucks are really cool and there's nothing like them; I liken them to the off-road versions of sprint cars.
There are lots of cool things to do in Vegas that don't involve going into casinos or other touristy stuff. We have loads of great roads and trails here as well as some damn good restaurants (mom & pop ones not the celebrity chef ones).
Vegas is a great town if you avoid the strip...................note I'm very counter culture.
Might as well find a vehicle and run with HooptieX. They ran the last Mint 400 and are going back.
Simple rules, run what you brung.
I ran my Kia Forte still with child car seats when they were near DFW.
In reply to Tom1200 :
Thanks! That's exactly what I'm looking for. Got any good "alternative" Vegas suggestions? We like exploring abandoned places and buildings if there are any good ones around.
In reply to NoBrakesRacing :
I ran with Hooptiex when they came to FL this year, good times! But not likely to happen at the Mint unless I can find a local to rent me a seat for a couple runs.
No info on the Mint and I don't know your food style, but my last time in Vegas I ate at Sparrow & Wolf and would go again if I had the chance. Not cheap but DAMN was it delicious and possibly the most visually stunning meal I have ever had.
In reply to Lof8 - Andy :
So depending how long you're planning on being here:
Rhyolite ghost town is 2hrs north of Vegas.
The town of St Thomas (outside over Overton) is about an hour and twenty minutes from Vegas. The town was covered up by Lake Mead when they built Hoover Dam, with the drought the buildings are exposed again.
Nelson Ghost Town is about 45 minutes south of Las Vegas on the road down to Laughlin.
The Pioneer Saloon in Goodsprings is fun and it's straight up the hill from Jean but it may be crowded that weekend; that's only 45 minutes from town.
The drive on North Shore Road from Henderson toward Overton and Logandale is nice; you can also cut back to town through the Valley of Fire.
I'll think of more later.
johndej said:As your attorney, I advise you to rent a very fast car with no top
Hey! Quit stealing my lines!
In reply to NoBrakesRacing :
I didn't need to see this. A desert race is among the things I want to see. Entering the Renegade good be the best/worst way to do it.
Steer clear of the ether
Tom1200 said:1. Start Finish: this has more of a stadium truck race vibe but the facilities around it are a lot nicer and you typically don't come away covered in silt.
We did a race based out of Primm (SNORE Battle at Primm) in February 2011. I think the Start / Finish stadium-ish is the same thing Tom refers to. We were prepared, car wise, for everything except the weather. It turned out to be cloudy and drizzly, after some rain in the days before, the whole weekend. So the course and pit area were wet slick caliche type mud. We had fun but dealt with the dried mud for a while afterwards.
The weather seems to have changed some since then so no idea if things are similar now.
Update: flights, hotels, and rental cars have been booked. I ordered parking passes for both Primm and Jean for Saturday (One full day of race spectating should be enough for both of us).
Wednesday - arrival to town, attend vehicle parade
Thursday - Check out the "off-road festival" on Fremont, find a Vegas show?
Friday - explore abandoned stuff outside/around Vegas, take rental car around the HooptieX track(?)
Saturday - Grid walk, race start at Primm, move to Jean to watch in the afternoon
Sunday - ??, depart home late at night
Appleseed said:
SI sent him to cover the Mint 400 in '72? They were looking for a 1 page writeup. Instead, they got 'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas'. Perhaps his magnum opus...even though SI rejected it.
I actually raced the Mint the last few years, on a bike. It's a bit different as a racer than a spectator though; no time to really do the usual Vegas stuff. The parade is definitely cool to see, just hang out in the middle of the strip somewhere and you'll see everyone go by. The off road festival is cool and I'd say check that out in the early afternoon because all the racers have to go through the festival area to get to tech, so you get some up close time with the race rigs. Primm is a good spot to watch, especially because they have the TVs and stuff there and there is a decent 'midway' with stuff to check out. There is a livestream you can watch too, if you have service. I've not been to Jean but racing through there the last few years would be hit or miss as to how much you'll actually be able to see. Definitely catch the start in Primm, and if you can time it to catch the winner, it can be cool to see the finish there as well. There's a podium set up and they do the usual racer interview thing. The racing at night is pretty wild to see with the crazy lights on the bikes and trucks out in the desert.
My race bike:
Registration, which is in the middle of the off road festival:
This was my spot in the moto main pits. All the rigs in the distance are the truck/buggy main pits. It's pretty wild how much goes into it, and how many people are there.
Lof8 - Andy said:Update: flights, hotels, and rental cars have been booked. I ordered parking passes for both Primm and Jean for Saturday (One full day of race spectating should be enough for both of us).
Wednesday - arrival to town, attend vehicle parade
Thursday - Check out the "off-road festival" on Fremont, find a Vegas show?
Friday - explore abandoned stuff outside/around Vegas, take rental car around the HooptieX track(?)
Saturday - Grid walk, race start at Primm, move to Jean to watch in the afternoon
Sunday - ??, depart home late at night
If you want a close in spot, you can also go to the Valley of Fire. The hike to Mouse's tank is pretty cool.
If you need any restaurant recommendations let me know.
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