SPECIAL TO THE PVT Las Vegas resident Brian Collins, who competed in the original Mint 400, will drive his powerful Trophy Truck in the new Mint 400 March 27-30. Advertisement

There is a revival of sorts underway in Las Vegas, where off-road racing enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting the return of the Mint 400 March 27-30.

The old Mint 400 drew crowds of more than 100,000 fans each year from 1968 through 1988 in Southern Nevada and the 2008 event has more than 300 entries that will tackle 96-mile laps with a start-finish line north of Jean off the Las Vegas Boulevard frontage road.

Presented by the Southern Nevada Off-Road Enthusiasts (SNORE), the Mint 400 will kick off with a drawing for starting positions Wednesday at the El Cortez Hotel and Casino beginning at 7 p.m.

Registration will be March 27 from 9:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. at the El Cortez. Tech inspection will be from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. with the Mint 400 Fan Fest street party highlighted with music, autograph sessions, food bars and vintage vehicle displays from 7:30-10:30 p.m. on Fremont Street East.

The race will begin at 7 a.m. March 29 and will be run on a 16-hour time limit.

The awards ceremony March 30 has been scheduled at Terrible's Primm Valley Casino Resorts.

At its peak, the Mint 400 drew 538 entries in 1983. The event was first run at the old Mint Gun Club before finally concluding on the grounds of what is now Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The 1984 event drew more than 100,000 fans.

K.J. Howe was the race director of the event from 1973-85. He also competed in the race in a Class 2 Unlimited entry with his son Scott, brother, Sandy and Mint Hotel head Andrew Zorne.

"The Mint 400 became one of those must-attend events in Las Vegas especially during the 1970s," said Howe, adding that the idea for the event was the brainchild of Mint publicist Norm Johnson who enlisted the assistance of race promoter Mel Larson in the late-1960s. Because the technical and safety inspection was held on Fremont Street prior to the race, the Mint 400 garnered incredible publicity for the hotel and the city of Las Vegas.

Howe sees great possibilities with the return of the Mint 400.

"The present organizers of the new Mint 400 are very experienced in producing off-road races," he said of SNORE. "As a matter of fact, SNORE provided the manpower and technical expertise for me and my staff since their members manned the checkpoints, conducted technical and safety inspections, provided timing and worked with the Sheriff's Jeep Posse. I relied on the membership heavily. They learned and I learned how to conduct an off-road race properly and effectively."

Howe said key members of SNORE then included Walt Lott, Denny Selleck and Tom Camp, among others. He also lauded the efforts of current SNORE president Don Wall and the SNORE staff for not only reviving the Mint 400 but also instilling a huge boost for off-road racing at the same time.

The old Mint 400 also included the Mint 400 Girls, who featured Vanna White (now of Wheel of Fortune), Linda Carter (Wonder Woman), Tracy Vacarro (a Playboy Playmate who was married to Los Angeles Rams player and television star Fred Dryer), Los Angeles Rams cheerleader Debbie Holder; and Las Vegas members Merle Jensen, and Rose Dixon, among others. The contest drew entries from around the world.

The Mint 400 stopped soon after the hotel was sold by Del Webb in the late-1980s. The revival is certain to draw big attention.

The 2008 Mint 400 has an impressive list of entrants, including Trophy Truck drivers Las Vegan B.J. Baldwin, who won the SCORE Trophy Truck championship in 2007; B.J.'s father and casino executive Bobby Baldwin; ESPN commentator Cameron Steele and Las Vegas standout Brian Collins .

"My mom used to take us out and we'd sit in the desert for two days," said the 45-year-old Collins, who ran the old Mint 400 in a Class 11 Volkswagen. "I think the new Mint 400 is really exciting. It has always been amazing to me how people who knew nothing about the Mint 400 still attended the race."

Class 1-2 1600 already has more than 50 entries, while Class 10 has nearly 30 entries. The event will have a total 14 different classes.

Further information is on the Web site, www.snoreracing.net, www.themint400.com, or by calling Kenny Freeman at 702-736-6355.