The Mint 400

Kinja'd!!! "Roundbadge" (Roundbadge)
03/07/2018 at 21:10 • Filed to: mint 400, Las Vegas

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We started planning this trip to Las Vegas in late 2017, but we settled on the date in January. Wondering what else might be going on that week, I discovered that the 50th Mint 400 would be run this weekend. Giddily, I informed the love of my life, whose birthday the trip would be celebrating, that we had an additional objective for the week.

We wouldn’t be around for the race itself as our flight leaves Friday morning, but we would get to see the parade. That was today.

As a word of warning, I’m not known for my photography skills.

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Seeing the northbound lanes of Las Vegas Blvd completely devoid of traffic is an almost surreal experience.

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The above pic is the actual start of the parade. Traveling behind that old blue International heavy truck above was...something I’m ashamed to say I can’t identify, and also something I didn’t get a better picture of. Kamaz? Tatra? Reasonably certain it wasn’t a Pinzgauer.

The procession began at 3PM. Shortly before that was when people started asking what was going on. Seemed like it was only the police, us and the guy next to us with his son who knew what was up.

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I just picked a spot and started snapping as many pictures as I could. The old Samsung camera kept up pretty well.

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Worst picture ever of a Diesel Brother...

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...and the rig they built.

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Ze Germans were well represented. There was even a 912 set up for desert racing, but it took too long for me to get the camera ready before it was gone.

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These guys were bringing up the rear of the parade, and were completely swallowed up by the backed-up Vegas traffic. These may have been my favorite vehicles of the parade. Dat Hardbody and Miata...

I do have more pics, but posting from the phone sucks. I’ll upload more later.


DISCUSSION (4)


Kinja'd!!! Matt Nichelson > Roundbadge
03/07/2018 at 23:11

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If you get a chance to go before you leave, you should try Komex Fusion. Great little hole in the wall place. The food is as it sounds, a mixture of Korean and Mexican. They have some excellent bulgogi.


Kinja'd!!! Stef Schrader > Roundbadge
03/08/2018 at 07:19

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I do totally need a Class 11 Beetle.


Kinja'd!!! Fl1ngstam > Roundbadge
03/08/2018 at 08:32

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The first truck you couldn’t identify looks like a Stewart and Stevenson M1078 LMTV/FMTV, a military truck based on a European design, hence unlike most commercial vehicles you’re likely to see.


Kinja'd!!! Roundbadge > Fl1ngstam
03/08/2018 at 12:43

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GF has a better pic of it I’ll put up soon.