Grand Marshal Mary McGee has flagged off the NORRA 500 this weekend. Mary has an incredible racing pedigree on two wheels and four. She began racing in 1960, and was a pioneer in NORRA events; racing the very first Mexican 1000 in 1967! To honor her accomplishments, NORRA is creating the Mary McGee trophy for the highest placing female racer at the NORRA 500 and Mexican 1000.
A member of the AMA Hall of Fame, Mary became the first woman to road race and hold a FIM license in the United States. She also regularly competed in Motocross, and district 37 desert events when she wasn’t racing in Baja. Mary became the first woman to finish the Mexican 1000 in 1968, and in 1975, she rode a 250 Husqvarna solo in the Baja 500, passing 17, two-man teams. Mary has always said that the hardest thing she ever did was racing in Baja.
"It was very barren, no electricity, no doctors, no phone.” When she got a call from three-time motocross world champion Rolf Tibblin, who asked if she would ride the Baja 500 solo in ’75, she replied, “I can’t do that, Rolf.” Rolf responded in his Swedish accent “You will do it Mary,” So she accepted the challenge. “We all get one life,” says Mary. “But you are not living if you aren’t having fun.”
No other racing event pays tribute to the history of offroad racing while also providing the memories and campfire stories that will be told by future generations. The NORRA 500’s 2-day loop race format is intended to reduce complicated planning and logistics. Each evening the NORRA team will offer locally inspired hospitality starting with happy hour events, and concluding with dinner. If you have always wanted to bring your family, and friends to see what NORRA is all about, or want to get your feet wet racing in Baja, this is the event for you!
Go to www.norra.com