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The Inaugural Yokohama NORRA 500 Is Presented By Method Race Wheels

AGUA DULCE, CALIF. – NORRA celebrates the past, while forging the future. When it comes to forging the future in wheel technology, Method Race Wheels is leading the way. Their strong support and participation in NORRA plays a part in their product development. They prove their designs where it counts; in the dirt! Method Race Wheels look great, but their stronges attributes are the science and technology that goes into their creation. They have developed their own materials and processes that allow light weight with superior strength. Their Flow Forming technique has benefits of both the casting, and forging processes. The wheel begins to take shape as a casting. The cast center is heated and put on a turning die. While the part spins, hydraulically controlled tooling puts pressure on the part to draw the material out into the barrel shape. It allows the rim section to be thin for light weight, while having the strength of a forging.

The flow forming process uses less material but is stronger, and lighter. They then use a proprietary heat treatment that surpasses industry standards. “We are getting material properties out of cast parts that are approaching that of a forging,” says Sean Kleinschuster, Engineering Manager for Method Race Wheels. “Not only do we use computer generated finite element analysis to verify designs, but we do extensive testing in real world conditions like at NORRA events. Our company started out in racing. It’s good for marketing, but we also use it for R&D. The technology we develop with rally racers and the top Trophy Truck teams goes into the same wheels you can buy off the shelf. We don’t have a separate race wheel department. We use the same materials and processes on every wheel we make.” That’s why you will see many sets of Method Race Wheels on cars and trucks competing in the rally. You will also see Method Race Wheels employees joining in on the fun at the NORRA 500 and 1000.

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You can do the same. NORRA is filled with historic and restored vehicles, as well as Motorcycles, ATV’s, and modern race cars, and trucks. If you own a UTV, prerunner, or 4x4 truck, you will fit right in. There are many icons of offroad racing and current professionals who compete in the NORRA series, but “The Happiest race on Earth!” is for everyone who loves the spectacular scenery, food, and rich culture of Baja. The Savvy Safari class runs the same courses the fastest cars run, but at a much more leisurely pace. The safari class is open to offroad vehicles of all types, like Gerald Lee's 2019 Ford Ranger (below).

The Yokohama NORRA 500 presented by Method Race Wheels is simply more of a great thing. The 500 is a family friendly event based in Ensenada, Baja Mexico. Competition will take place over 2 days on a loop course that starts, and ends in Ensenada each day. When you are not on the course, you will be experiencing the best hospitality, food, and beverages that Baja is known for. Those who compete in the NORRA 1000 already know how much fun it will be, but if it’s your first time with NORRA relax. The emphasis is on fun. The NORRA 500 has all the fun and adventure of the NORRA 1000, but you don’t need to figure out the logistics of a thousand mile peninsula run.

GOOD VIBES.   ###   GOOD TIMES!

ABOUT NORRA

Beginning in 2010, the National Off Road Racing Association (NORRA) began promoting a rebirth of the NORRA Mexican 1000 rally. The unique off-road rally was co-created by promoter Mike Pearlman to consist of special stages (unlimited speed timed stages in the dirt) linked together by controlled speed liaison / transit sections (highway). The one-of-a-kind, once-a-year, five-day rally includes vintage off-road vehicles and motorcycles, as well as modern pre-runners, trucks, buggies, UTVs, bikes and desert Rally Raid cars.

Pearlman’s late father Ed and others established the first running of the NORRA Mexican 1000 off-road rally in November of 1967, which eventually became internationally recognized and evolved into the Baja 1000 in the mid-1970's.

NORRA enjoys corporate partnerships with Yokohama Tire, Method Race Wheels, South Point Hotel Casino, K&N, Bilstein Shock Absorbers, STEEL-IT, RIGID, Multitool USA, Timberline, Schampa, Satellite Phone Store.com, PCI Race Radios, Warn, Biltwell, USActionTrax, Joe Hauler, the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame (ORMHOF), B3KREATIV, and many more.

NORRA - National Off Road Racing Association. Home of the Mexican 1000 and the NORRA 500