For the first time in 52 years, Catalina Island off the coast of California will host a Grand Prix motorcycle event. The event at this stage is strictly a one-off and will only be repeated pending its success for the tourism of the island. The original Catalina Grand Prix was held between 1951 and 1958 and involved both on and off-road racing. The event is not quite official yet but there is a website planned to be up and running next month.

The area is a high conservation zone so we expect some difficulties for race organisers in making sure they skip the need to ruin the island’s environment for a one-off race. The request to host the event comes from the AMA District 37 Motorcycle Club and the first steps to getting this approved have been made with the local council voting in favour of the initiative. It seems that the island and its very small population are favourably disposed to the event with the local press saying:

Throughout the 1950s, the Catalina Grand Prix was one of the premier motorcycle races in the United States. Every year, boats loaded with motorcycles crossed the channel from the mainland. The races usually consisted of more than 206 bikers competing in a mad scramble over a 10-mile course that ran through city streets and up into the hills above Avalon, through the golf course and then back into the city streets.

Check out the original race circuit in the picture above, with original footage from 1958 after the jump.

Source | TheKneeslider

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