Pipeline Digital Media’s The Catalina Grand Prix: The Race Returns will chronicle the 2010 return of the Catalina Grand Prix.
Pipeline Digital Media announced its plans to release a film covering the unique Catalina Grand Prix held on Santa Catalina Island off the coast of Southern California back in 2010.
Award-winning motorcycle documentary filmmaker Todd Huffman and his Pipeline Digital Media film production crew chronicled every twist, turn, tumble and wave of the checkered flag in 2010, and the group now has plans to produce a film that documents the race, the likes of which may never happen again. Dubbed The Catalina Grand Prix: The Race Returns the new film already has secured a commitment from Gathr Films in Los Angeles for theatrical distribution. American motocross legend and ESPN announcer, David “The Little Professor” Bailey is serving as narrator for the film. A Kickstarter fundraising campaign is underway to help fuel the project along with industry and non-endemic sponsors who the filmmakers will be adding.
“With PENTON: The John Penton Story wrapped up the time has arrived for us to get the Catalina GP movie project revved up into high-gear,” Huffman said. “Fortunately 90% of the movie has already been shot, and we are now deep into the pre-production phase.”
With miles of 2010 event footage already “in the can”, Huffman is joined again by the Director of Photography for the 2010 event, Kevin Ward (Dust to Glory) for pick-up shots of Catalina Island as well as interviews with a host of motorcycle legends. The long list of celebrities highlighted in the film will include Malcolm Smith, Ricky Johnson, Travis Pastrana, Johnny Campbell, Kendall Norman, Danny LaPorte, Dave Ekins, Chuck “Feets” Minert, Eddie Mulder, Preston Petty and many others. Huffman’s plan is to set-up “a weekend 52 years in the making” with historical highlights from the original ’50s era races in stark contrast to what took place during the 2010 race when Team Honda racer Kendall Norman staged an epic battle for the overall Catalina Grand Prix victory against Team KTM’s blindingly fast star, the late Kurt Caselli.
Contested annually during the 1950s, the Catalina Grand Prix fell victim to political infighting and was halted after 1958. After more than half a century, a visionary part-time race promoter rekindled interest in the race and brought it back to life in 2010. The Catalina Grand Prix: The Race Returns is the story of that event.
“I am so happy to finally have this opportunity to tell the story of what became a once-in-a-lifetime event for so many people–including me!” Huffman said. “This is the type of documentary film project that I know will hold such a special place in the hearts and minds of so many and it will be such an honor to bring it all the way to the checkered flag for them!”
Led by Huffman, the Pipeline Digital Media team will begin editing original race footage and scheduling interview subjects. Shooting will take place through the summer followed by on-going post-production timed for the film’s anticipated December 2015 release date.
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