Who Said Military Vehicle Are Only For Parades? The 2021 Mint 400 Off-Road Race Opened A New Competition Class For Them!
by AutoExpert | 12 April, 2021
Nowadays, military vehicles get to shine during sideshows and parades. Starting this year, they get to compete in a real off-road race at the 2021 Mint 400 off-road desert race where the organizers managed to dedicate for them an exclusive competition class. The class opened for both manufacturers and owners of either historic or modern mil-spec vehicles that have the unique opportunity to race against one another. It's a fair class since the newly electric cars got their own electric vehicle competition class.
Here are the conditions that allow you to register and compete in the racing class dedicated to military vehicles: if you own a machine from U.S. military vehicle makers, including a GM Defense, Flyer Defense, Oshkosh, AM General, and Polaris Defense, you just got the qualification to tackle the rugged off-road desert terrain of the Mint 400. Finally, the military vehicles will get more than just a parade-style exposure ground for military vehicles - the race itself provides a lot of exposure for the military and its program.
It's one of the biggest dreams for the military vehicles' owners and a great opportunity to see in action for the enthusiasts. Not every day you can see a race between the most furious beasts conquering the desert terrains. Last year's exclusive race showed us Green Berets with the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) racing against General Dynamics Ground Mobility Vehicle 1.1s; a Warfighter Made organization racing both Flyer 22 Vintage Military Light Strike Vehicle (LSV) and a 1988 AM General HUMVEE.
According to Matt Martelli, Mint 400 co-owner and chief executive office, statement, "Willys-Overland delivered the prototype Jeep (dubbed the Quad) to the U.S. Army in November of 1940. One could argue that was really the birth of the off-road movement. Within thirty years we were racing down in Baja (1967) and at the Mint (1968), and since then there has been remarkable growth in military vehicle technology. Most of us will never get to see these amazing machines up close, let alone in action—but [t]he Mint 400 is the perfect proving ground to showcase these vehicles, which are used by our military to defend our freedom."
This year, the Mint 400 Military Challenge, is open to all competitors, with this new racing class for military vehicles. Detailed rules for the new military vehicle racing class aren't set yet but will be announced in the next months. Enthusiasts are awaited for the 2021 Mint 400 between December 1st and Decemv\ber 5th, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
