Catalina Island grand prix was held on a weekend of May from 1951 to 1958. It was one of the premier motorcycle races in the U.S. Once a year boats loaded with bikes crossed the channel to the small island off the California coast.
Catalina island is 22 miles (35 km) long and 8 miles (13 km) across at its greatest width. The island is located about 22 miles (35 km) south-southwest of LA.
The races were divided in two classes: 60 miles Lightweight class (up to 250cc) on Saturday and 100 miles with larger capacity bike on Sunday. The 6 mile course was made for lightweight class and it was stretched to 10 miles for the Sunday event. It was basically a mountain course that combined road sections, fire roads and single track trails. The races for scramblers!! There were various classes depending on displacement of bike's motor, just like Isle of Man. In fact, Catalina island GP was modeled after the Isle of Man road race. Racers raced for fame and own personal accomplishment since the race paid nothing for winners other than trophies.
Yamaha's promotional films on Catalina race
I don't know why they quit doing this annual race. Some suspects that the race was never popular among the locals. Generally speaking, locals never enjoy big events on their neighborhood; congests your typical daily commute, annoying tourists, and more eager cops. If you don't have business that tourists could use, big events are always pain for locals, but Catalina GP seemed even more so in the way. It was also the time of infamous images of bikers was rising, thanks to the fabricated picture of the Hollister riot and the douchebag character that Marlon Brando played in the movie "The Wild One", which seemed to pump many bad boy biker wannabes. It did not help when Lee Marvin, who was also in the movie as a biker gang came to the race on the final year and was too drunk to start the bike, then tried to commandeer the steamer on the way back to LA. The ferry captain ended up pulling a gun on him, turning the actor over to Harbor police.
Today, they don't even allow motorcycles on ferry any longer. The island is 90% natural reserve, closed to vehicles altogether, I hear.
Motorcycle enthusiasts like us seem to think that we need to bring back the our own Isle of Man. Or economical hardship made islanders to think they need more business out of tourists The Avalon City Council unanimously approved a request by AMA District 37 Motorcycle Club to host a Catalina Island Grand Prix. I have no other details as to what rules it will run under, or what classes, or anything. The Avalon Mayor, Kennedy said the event could have a short shelf life on Catalina. "This is a one time permit," he said. "The success or failure of this event is going to dictate whether anything like this happens again on Catalina."
Sure like to have motorcycle city street road races somewhere in my neighborhood.... Not in the town I live, though. ( I don't want to be the local) I truly hate crowded places. Those places tend have more douches. We got plenty already.
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