by Norm Johnson Send Me E-mail

As some of you may know this reporter at one time spent over 14 years off-road racing, beginning with the very first Mint 400 event back in the mid-sixties. That particular race was the first major off-road event in Nevada and in the United States. It was my honor to have been the creative force behind the classic race. Then in the seventies I was working as the Public Relations & Promotion Director at the Silverbird Hotel (once known as the Thunderbird and last known as the El Rancho) on the strip.

Sal Fish, he's been the head of SCORE (one of two premiere sanctioning groups) since forever (the late Mickey Thompson was the creative force behind the group). We (the hotel) thought it would be neat to invite the best from off-road racing to compete on a specially designed closed-course out at the old speedway (where the Las Vegas Motor Speedway is now located). It was agreed that only champions (point leaders) and a few selected drivers (former champions, etc) would be invited. It would be a prestigious event. I hired Charley Brown, a local earth-moving contractor and an off-road racer, to design and build the track. We had bleachers hauled in from Arizona for the crowd. Then I really went overboard in my thinking. We needed something special to attract the crowd.

Fish and I were a little apprehensive about getting spectators to pay to watch what they are used to watching for free in the open desert. So I contacted the local Jeep dealer with an idea: if I could get a group of movie stars to compete would American Motors furnish the jeeps? The answer came back from American "Yes!" So, I believe 8 or 9 jeeps were sent to California for off-road champion Walker Evans to convert to off-road racing vehicles. I went to work getting the stars. I can't remember all of them but among the guys and a lady to sign up were the now Governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger, Dick Smothers, James Brolin, Richard Roundtree, Redd Foxx and one beautiful and competitive actress Elkie Summers. I believe Brolin won the special race with Smother's second (or visa versa). From that first event in Nevada, Fish included it in his closed course event at the old Riverside raceway (with other stars).

Why do I bring this bit of trivia up this week? Well, simply because SCORE has returned to the almost exact location of that first Silverbird promotion. The SCORE Las Vegas Terrible's Cup I began yesterday (Thursday) with a media presentation, etc. Today the show gets underway at 1:00 pm with practice on the specially prepared dirt track (where the normal dirt racers compete). There will be Trophy Trucks, Class One single seaters and a good mix of other off-road vehicles competing for a portion of the $55,000 purse and bragging rights. The Grand Marshall of the weekend is Jerry Herbst (a super racing family). Actual competition begins at 7 pm. with heat races (consisting of six or four laps around the nearly 2-mile course). After all the vehicles have raced and the semi-finals are held there will be a big Fireworks Show sponsored by Terrible's Hotel & Casino at about 9:50 pm. Same basic schedule on Saturday. Tickets range from $12 to $22 for a single day or $34 to $39 for a two day package.

The long-awaited official opening of the Toby Keith's "I Love This Bar & Grill" restaurant, inside Harrah's Casino & Hotel on the Strip, to place the other day. We got a chance to meet the guy who is so darn down-to-earth it's ridiculous. Other words he's a good guy. The place features a bar, lounge and restaurant with great food. One of the stars demands (as a request I'm sure) was that the food be of top quality. "I don't want to be sitting somewhere and have someone come up to me and say my food sucks!" Toby told the crowd of media present. "That alone sucks!"

He also wanted them to create something very special that was (and is) truly a southern favorite - a fried bologna sandwich made with thick cut bologna seared with onions and American cheese, served on garlic grilled Texas toast. That is one of Toby's favorites by the way. And we got to taste just about everything and believe me it's all good! And should you still have room (after the ribs or steaks) then you can treat yourself to a delicious sweet potato pecan pie with bourbon ice cream, or a chocolate bread pudding or blackberry cobbler with ice cream. The 262-seat is open from 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and until 3 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. Drop by and take a look and listen to the entertainment. You'll like it!

Well, gang, got to get going. I'm late for the media conference at the speedway.

So, I'm outa here!

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