Amador County – The National Off Road Racing Association announced the date for the 2012 Mexican 1000 Rally race will be April 28 to May 2.

National Off Road Racing Association, co-founded by Ed Pearlman, father of TSPN TV Vice President Sue Slivick ran the races in the formative years, before Mexico nationalized the races and took them over.

The Mexican 1000 race across the deserts of Baja California, Mexico began in 1967, and eventually became internationally recognized and evolved into the Baja 1000 in the mid 1970s.

Sue’s brother, Michael Pearlman restarted the Mexican 1000 race in 2010, and has been holding it yearly since then. Pearlman in a release in December said after months of careful planning and cooperative efforts with Mexican officials and several potential corporate partners, National Off Road Racing Association Race was changed from the race’s original dates to avoid a conflict with another off-road race promoter, over the Rally’s original May 5-9 date.

Dubbed the “Happiest Race on Earth,” Pearlman said the unique off-road rally is a one-of-a-kind, once-a-year, four day rally that includes vintage off-road vehicles and motorcycles, rally cars, a limited number of modern desert racecars and classes for pre-runner trucks and buggies.

Pearlman said the 2012 Mexican 1000 will start on a weekend, instead of mid-week, to allow more spectator interaction and provide participants the chance to enjoy the rally within a full calendar week. It begins with a technical inspection and car show at the historic bull ring in downtown Mexicali, Saturday, April 28. The first stage of the rally departs Mexicali on Sunday, April 29 and it’s planned to end May 2 in San Jose del Cabo.

Registration for the Mexican 1000 opened New Year’s Day, when a new website was unveiled. Pearlman said he was happy to finally nail down this year’s dates, while accommodating Casey Folks and his “Best-In-The-Desert” organization’s new sanctioning of next year’s General Tire Mint 400. He said “while our two events are very different, we not only have competitors that wish to compete in both, but we want to continue our positive relationship with Best In The Desert.”

Registration will be open to all automobiles and motorcycles that meet basic safety standards outlined in the new National Off Road Racing Association rulebook, available at Mexican1000.com.

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.