a Legend becomes Grand Marshall
Rod Hall Named Grand Marshal of
2014 General Tire NORRA Mexican
1000
(Agua Dulce, Calif.): In celebration of his lifelong
love affair with off-road motorsports, the Baja peninsula and an entire industry he helped to foster,
racing legend Rod Hall was today named by the
National Off Road Racing Association (NORRA) as
“Grand Marshal” for the 2014 General Tire NORRA
Mexican 1000. Scheduled for May 10 – 14, this
unique, vintage-flavored off-road event will cover
1,300+ miles over four days starting in Ensenada,
Mexicali, Baja, Mexico and finishing in the worldclass resort destination of San Jose Del Cabo.
A winner both on and off the track, Rod Hall has
always exemplified the rugged individualism and
“can-do” attitude that have been hallmarks of
off-road racing since its inception. While Hall has
raced in every Baja 1000 since the inaugural event
in 1967, 2014 will mark his first appearance at the
NORRA Mexican 1000 rally.
Now preparing for the fifth annual running of
an event known as “The Happiest Race on Earth,”
NORRA has enjoyed a rich history of honoring a
special off-road icon at each of its General Tire
Mexican 1000 rallies. Racing legend Parnelli Jones,
overall victor in the NORRA Mexican 1000s of 1971
and 1972, served as Grand Marshal at the inaugural 2010 event. Baja record setter and fiberglass dune buggy inventor Bruce Meyers was next, followed in 2012 by
motorsports television personality and Baja enthusiast Dave Despain. Last year’s honoree was five-time overall Baja
1000 champion and Mexican 1000 rally veteran Mark McMillin.
As part of his Grand Marshal duties, the always-amiable Hall will make a special appearance at the “Welcome Fiesta
and Driver’s Meeting” in Ensenada’s historic Riviera Cultural Center the night before competition begins. He will also
be attending daily post-rally celebrations in several of the event’s overnights stops. This will include the highly-anticipated South Point Hotel Casino “Rally Awards and Celebration” in the seaside town of San Jose Del Cabo.
Driving a Bill Stoppe-prepared Ford Bronco with partner Larry Minor, Rod Hall claimed the overall victory at the
1969 NORRA Mexican 1000. Their performance remains the only time in Baja racing history that a 4-wheel drive
vehicle has taken top honors.
“Well, first of all it’s really an honor to be named as the Grand Marshal for the fifth annual rebirth of the NORRA Mexican 1000 rally,” explained Hall from his Reno, Nevada home. “Going back to Baja without the pressures of racing but
with the excitement of seeing all these guys and their unique machines will be great. You get to an age where pulling
on the old driving suit isn’t as important as it once was. I am just tickled to go down there with NORRA and hang out
for a week just being Rod Hall.”
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April 2014