It's been smoother sailing for NORRA since then, with the organization providing enthusiasts of vintage off-road a place to gather, reminisce, and make new memories as they travel down the Baja Peninsula in rally stage style at the NORRA Mexican 500 and Mexican 1000. Mike made sure that NORRA lived up to its billing as the “Happiest Race on Earth” with well-organized rallies highlighted by parties and events at nearly every stop. The NORRA Mexican 1000 cumulates in an incredible beachfront awards ceremony and party on the beach in Cabo San Lucas, complete with fireworks.
The modern era of NORRA brought back by Mike Pearlman created a resurgence of interest in vintage off-road vehicles. Mike developed the first rule book for vintage off-road vehicles, which is still in use. Mike added a “Baja Safari” adventure class to NORRA, providing a fun and safe way for new participants to enjoy the NORRA experience. Recently, due to health issues, Mike has handed the reins of NORRA over to ORMHOF inductee Robby Gordon.
Mike has lived off-road his entire life. In fact, he is widely credited with coming up with the term “off-road”, and he still owns – and drives – the Land Cruiser his father Ed bought brand new in 1966 to try and break the record and be the fastest down the Baja peninsula.
With a fresh V8 engine and a set of Armstrong farm implement tires purchased from Dick Cepek, the Land Cruiser was transformed into “El Toro Verde”, the Green Bull. Mike’s dad set off down the Baja Peninsula in the Land Cruiser with Cepek as co-driver. The duo had plenty of time to think on the run, coming up with the idea for Dick Cepek’s off-road business, and plans for the first Baja 1000.
"They needed a rule-book," Mike said. "They called the organizer of the National Road Race Association (NRRA) for help, and those guys said they ought to come up with a name first." Several names were proposed like Dirt Road Racing and Fire Road Racing, but it was Mike who said to his dad, “They aren't racing on roads, they are racing off the road.” Ed replied ok, let's call it off road racing. We’ll add an “O” for “Off”. That's how the name off road racing was created, and the National Off Road Racing Association (NORRA) was born. NORRA ran the Mexican 1000 in Baja until it was briefly taken over by a local promotor in 1973, then became the Mickey Thompson-run SCORE Baja 1000 in 1975.
Mike had a front row seat for the development of the sport of off-road. He took part in the early record runs and competed in the 1968 NORRA Mexican 1000 in a Meyers Manx. He attended and staffed every early-era NORRA event and was the first official NORRA photographer starting with the inaugural event in 1967. Mike also competed in the Pike’s Peak Hill Climb on a vintage Triumph, earning four trophies over the years.
“Without Mike and his father off-road might never have existed,” wrote ORMHOF inductees Lynn Chenowth, and Johnny Johnson (who has since passed away), “We are grateful for Mike’s lifelong commitment to off-road.”
