At the time I did not know why but I was hell bent on riding the Catalina GP. Yes I was out of shape and had not really raced my dirt in the past 10 years but I knew this race would be a piece of history and something that may only happen once in my lifetime. From the So Cal coast to the shores of Catalina Island just over 20 miles but when you get there you would swear you are nowhere near California. This was the first time bikes had raced on the island since 1958.
Why was this a miracle, because the insanity of one man. Vinnie Mandzak had a vision and a passion for motorcycles that was surreal. Although I did not know the man I did take part in his dream. To pull off a feat like this bucked insurmountable odds, loads of paperwork and sweet talking lots of people in every position imaginable. Even after the race there were those lurking in the dark with their hand out trying to dig into Vinnie’s already bleeding pockets.
To my sadness, I just heard that Vinnie had passed away. There is a movie about the making of the event by Todd Huffman that is in the works, yet it had not been completely finished before Mandzak, AKA Cousin Vinnie died. From what I have read, Vinnie was full of life and had a passion for riding and announcing races. It was that passion that allowed him to bring together enough friends and fellow racers to pull off what was thought of as impossible. It’s a bigger feat than trying to run a race at the sites of Saddleback, Indian Dunes, Hopetown, full blow Barstow to Vegas race or the Riverside GP. A Cousin of Vinnie was quoted in Cycle News saying, “Resurrecting the Catalina Grand Prix was the highlight of his (Vinnie’s) life.”
The entire trip for me was almost unbelievable. The only other time I was this awestruck was the time I got to race a Thunder 
bike four-stroke race inside Anaheim Stadium in front of 30,000 people. The feeling of riding into the stadium with the lights on and landing on the island with my gear bag were much the same. Yes it was five years ago but I can still think back and remember most of the entire weekend. Bikes being shipped over in containers, pits on the grounds where Wrigley field once stood for Dodger spring training to racing around parts of the island with the ocean lurking back kept you reminded where you were. Add a group of good friends, hundreds of fellow riders on the island and the residents greeting us with open arms, you could have asked for a better weekend. My top three finish in my class didn’t hurt either.
The entire race was a grouping of whos who from the world of off-road and motocross from the past and the present. It was Malcolm Smith’s final race, where were a few vet from the original event attending, Travis Pastrana, Danny LaPorte, Rick Johnson, Kurt Caselli and from there the list is too long to keep going.
So what motivates a man like Vinnie to do so much work is still amazing. He and his race on Catalina in 2010, the first and probably only since 1958, is and will forever be a part of racing history. I wanted to think Vinnie again for making that weekend one of my most memorable weekends I had ever been riding a dirt bike. Thanks.
To remember Vinnie and his life, all racers are invited to his memorial, St. James Church 415 Vincent Street Redondo Beach, California, July 9 at 3pm, reception following at La Venta Inn 796 Via Del Monte Palos Verdes, California
