NORRA - National Off-Road Racing Association
Encyclopedia
The National Off-Road Racing Association (usually abbreviated NORRA) is a desert off-road racing
association.
and Don Francisco . At the time it was the first racing sanctioning body
devoted solely to off-road racing
. The first event, the Mexican 1000 (1967), began in Tijuana
, went through Ensenada, and finished in La Paz
. NORRA ran this race for nearly a decade. This first event laid the groundwork of vehicle classes and rules that shaped off-road racing in Baja for the next 40 years. The involvement of the Mexican government and other issues eventually transitioned the event to become became the Baja 1000
race and NORRA was dormant for several decades.
In 2010, NORRA was reborn and returned to the Baja peninsula
. The race again was called the Mexican 1000, although with a different flavor and structure. The race was now run in a rally style, with racing sections and transit sections, and is focused on historic desert racing vehicles. Racing vehicles must be motorcycles and automobiles from prior to 1998. NORRA is also adding an "alternative fuel" racing class including diesel, electric, ethanol, propane, etc.
A small section of the Mexican 1000 was featured in the seminal motorcycling film On Any Sunday
. There famous rider Malcolm Smith
is shown racing through Baja desert. An early NORRA sticker can be seen on Smith's helmet at 1:29 into the film.
Off-road racing
Off-road racing is a format of racing where various classes of specially modified vehicles compete in races through off-road environments.-North America:...
association.
History
It was founded in 1966 by Ed PearlmanEd Pearlman
Ed Pearlman is a cofounder of the National Off-Road Racing Association , the first exclusively off-road racing organization, and its first president. The inaugurating event of NORRA was "Mexican 1000 Rally", which has become the Baja 1000...
and Don Francisco . At the time it was the first racing sanctioning body
Sport governing body
A sport governing body is a sports organization that has a regulatory or sanctioning function. Sport governing bodies come in various forms, and have a variety of regulatory functions. Examples of this can include disciplinary action for rule infractions and deciding on rule changes in the sport...
devoted solely to off-road racing
Off-road racing
Off-road racing is a format of racing where various classes of specially modified vehicles compete in races through off-road environments.-North America:...
. The first event, the Mexican 1000 (1967), began in Tijuana
Tijuana
Tijuana is the largest city on the Baja California Peninsula and center of the Tijuana metropolitan area, part of the international San Diego–Tijuana metropolitan area. An industrial and financial center of Mexico, Tijuana exerts a strong influence on economics, education, culture, art, and politics...
, went through Ensenada, and finished in La Paz
La Paz
Nuestra Señora de La Paz is the administrative capital of Bolivia, as well as the departmental capital of the La Paz Department, and the second largest city in the country after Santa Cruz de la Sierra...
. NORRA ran this race for nearly a decade. This first event laid the groundwork of vehicle classes and rules that shaped off-road racing in Baja for the next 40 years. The involvement of the Mexican government and other issues eventually transitioned the event to become became the Baja 1000
Baja 1000
SCORE Baja 1000 is an off-road race that takes place on Mexico's Baja California Peninsula in November. The Baja 1000 is part of the SCORE Championship Desert Racing Series that include the Baja 500, San Felipe 250 and the new San Felipe Challenge of Champions in place of the Primm 300 which had...
race and NORRA was dormant for several decades.
In 2010, NORRA was reborn and returned to the Baja peninsula
Baja California Peninsula
The Baja California peninsula , is a peninsula in northwestern Mexico. Its land mass separates the Pacific Ocean from the Gulf of California. The Peninsula extends from Mexicali, Baja California in the north to Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur in the south.The total area of the Baja California...
. The race again was called the Mexican 1000, although with a different flavor and structure. The race was now run in a rally style, with racing sections and transit sections, and is focused on historic desert racing vehicles. Racing vehicles must be motorcycles and automobiles from prior to 1998. NORRA is also adding an "alternative fuel" racing class including diesel, electric, ethanol, propane, etc.
A small section of the Mexican 1000 was featured in the seminal motorcycling film On Any Sunday
On Any Sunday
On Any Sunday is a 1971 American documentary feature about motorcycle sport, directed by Bruce Brown. It was nominated for a 1972 Academy Award for Documentary Feature....
. There famous rider Malcolm Smith
Malcolm Smith (motorcyclist)
Malcolm Smith is a Hall of Fame American off-road racer.-Career:Smith first raced in 1956 atop a 1949 Matchless 500cc motorcycle. Later, he was associated with Husqvarna motorcycles. His renown grew as he won races in the 1960s and 1970s...
is shown racing through Baja desert. An early NORRA sticker can be seen on Smith's helmet at 1:29 into the film.