Team OTSFF/MOTUL set to take on The Mint 400

(Brampton, ON – March 8, 2018)   Andre Laurin’s Team OTSFF/MOTUL is ready to take on one of the world’s largest and most challenging off-road races this weekend in Las Vegas, Nevada. After months of prepping the purpose-built 6100 Spec Trophy class truck, Laurin and his team, which includes navigator Kerry King and constructor/team manager Adam Fitza, are anxiously anticipating the start of the “Great American Off-Road Race” on Saturday 03/10/1028.

“I am very happy with the new 6100 truck. I had the pleasure to drive and test it in Barstow and it performed flawlessly! I am excited to see how we stack up against the other forty competitors in the Spec Trophy class this weekend. All the long nights and hours building this truck the past few months have paid off,” Fitza said.

Laurin, a championship winning motocross, arenacross and snowcross team owner, and part time four-wheel competitor, has participated in selected Best in the Desert off-road racing events for the past two years. The Mint 400 will be his first go at this iconic race, as well as entering a truck in the 6100 Spec Trophy class.

“I’m extremely excited to be behind the wheel of the Fitza-built Terra Dynamics truck at such a prestigious event as the Mint 400. For me, this is huge! After all the years of being behind the wheel of racing cars and speedboats, the 6100 Spec Trophy class truck is one of the most unique racing machines I’ve ever had the privilege of driving,” OTSFF’s Laurin said.

The Mint 400 was originally staged in 1967 by Norm Johnson to promote and publicize Dell Webb’s Las Vegas-based Mint Hotel and Casino. It was planned as a one-off event between two-dune buggies through 600 miles of desert from Las Vegas, Nevada to Lake Tahoe, California. But the success of the event led to a second edition, which was reconfigured into a 400-mile loop through the Las Vegas desert. Dozens of drivers took part this time. Subsequent runnings of what became known as the Great American Off-Road Race attracted well-known drivers such as Parnelli Jones, Al Unser, Rick Mears, Roger Ward, Mickey Thompson and Bill Muncey. These luminaries, and other big names, added to the Mint’s growing stature. The participation of Hollywood stars like Steve McQueen, James Garner and Patrick Dempsey infused glamour.

The Mint 400 became one of the spectacle events Las Vegas is renowned for, right up until its last race in 1988 when it was shelved, after the sale of Webb’s hotel and casino. Twenty years later, however, The Mint was resurrected and today it’s bigger than ever. The number of entries now totals in the hundreds, making The Mint 400 one of the largest off-road races in the world. The 2018 edition, celebrating The Mint 400’s 50th Anniversary, takes place in Las Vegas from March 7th thru March 11th.

Team OTSFF/MOTUL would like to thank all of the individuals and sponsors who have extended their invaluable support to make our participation in The Mint 400 possible.