Mint 400 Announces Military Vehicle Class

The Mint 400 is adding an all-new dedicated Military Vehicle Class for the 2021 Mint 400, race organizers announced. The class will allow manufacturers and owners of historic and modern military vehicles to compete and showcase their vehicle platforms at the Mint 400, which is scheduled for Dec. 1-5 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The new class was created during planning for the second annual Mint 400 Military Challenge, which raised over $100,000 in financial support for veterans and active-duty military in its first year, according to race organizers.

“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,” said Mint 400 Co-Owner and CEO, Matt Martelli. “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 The Mint 400 is the perfect proving ground to showcase these vehicles, which are used by our military to defend our freedom.”

Last year, several military vehicles competed at The Mint 400 as part of the Military Challenge, including Green Berets with the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) who raced their General Dynamics Ground Mobility Vehicle 1.1s, as well as the Warfighter Made organization, who entered both their Flyer 22 Vintage Military Light Strike Vehicle (LSV) and a 1988 AM General M998 High Mobility Multi Wheeled Vehicle (Humvee). Race organizers are currently working on class rules for 2021.

By A.J. Hecht

A.J. Hecht is the managing editor of THE SHOP and host of the In Gear with THE SHOP podcast. Have an idea, a tip, or a question you’d like to see answered? Contact A.J. at ahecht@cahabamedia.com.