Catalina Island (California) Grand Prix Slated for 2010 Return [video]

The Catalina Grand Prix was last run in 1958 on Santa Catalina Island, an island community situated approximately 22 miles south-southwest of greater Los Angeles.

Efforts by the AMA, AMA District 37, Big6 (a smaller collection of clubs within the D-37 region) and promotional company My Cuz Vinnie Promotions LLC, have secured December 3-5, 2010 as dates for the event, with a 100-mile professional race held on the 5th.

In 2008 vintage motorcycles were displayed on Crescent Ave. to mark the 50th Anniversary of the last Grand Prix.

Racing on Santa Catalina Island began in 1951 with 1958 as the last year professional racing was conducted on the island. The Grand Prix was considered an influential event in terms of bike sales following the race.

Check out the footage after the jump.

According to Jeannine Pedersen, curator of the Catalina Island Museum, the GP was modeled after the Isle of Man TT. The GP was (and is expected to be again this year) largely an off-road race, but various sections of the course consisted of paved streets on the island.

As you’ll see in the below videos, major manufacturers, like Yamaha, made serious efforts to win on Catalina.

If all goes as planned, the return of the Catalina Grand Prix in 2010 could prove an historic event, as significant as the original GP.

Few details other than race dates are known, but we’ll endeavor to keep you up to date, as we’re awaiting responses from race organizers.

Enjoy these great videos of racing days gone by!

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By Pete Brissette