Last week marked another year of one of the most popular US races of the year, The Mint 400.  This was my first year attending the Mint, but because of the history, I knew it would be a good one to attend.  I started my trek out to the race with my good friend, AJ.  We couldn't make it out to Las Vegas until Friday night so we had to miss tech down Fremont Street, which was one event I was looking towards.  Saturday morning started early for us as we woke up at 5 am to head over to Start/Finish.  After waiting in the long line to exit I-15, we knew it was going to be an exciting race. I circled around Start/Finish as the SNORE Volunteers helped us find the guy to get our media passes.  From there, we headed down to Pit C. I figured I could cover the most course in a smaller area.  Once we arrived to Pit C, we packed our backpacks and started to walk down course.  About half of a mile down, we came up on some triple downs.  I wanted to see what the cars would do while going through there on their first lap.  First to arrive was Roger Norman in the #8 Trophy Truck.  I first stood on the sunny side of the coarse to give me the best lighting, until Norman took the turn a bit wide dropping into the hole.


I loved the shot it gave me, but realized that it wasn't the safest option so I went to the inside.  By doing that, it caused me to shoot in to the sun, so on the close up shots, I had to use the flash to help fill in the shadow of the car.  It gave me some more unique shots. 

The Mint 400 has been known  to be one of the roughest courses.  It has proven itself every year and this year was no different.  It not only was rough on the race vehicles, but was rough on cameras too.  My camera decided to DNF after about half of the cars came through on their first laps.  I attempted to get it going again but it finally gave up.  While I was trying to get it going, Driver Steve Hengeveld, new to the Trophylite class, but not new to off road.  About 50 feet down the course, he blew apart his 3rd member case.  We talked to him a little bit while they looked the truck over.  Steve and his co-driver finally got the truck running again and took off.  Sharing driving duties with his brother, they finished the race, with only 20 miles of testing beforehand.

After Steve took off, my camera broken and it nearing lunch time,  we decided to get going back home before we hit traffic on the way home.  SNORE has proven themselves to me time and time again, that they put on a well thought out race, thinking of the racers.  I will be trying to make it to more SNORE races throughout the year.  I apologize to those whose photos I didn't capture, it was beyond my control.  Click the link below to view my gallery.  All purchases will be going towards my new camera purchase since mine is beyond repairs.

2010 SNORE Mint 400 Gallery