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Canadian Chopper Challenge Returns For Second Season

June 13, 2007 - Canadian Football League (CFL) News Release


Toronto, ON - CFL football fans and connoisseurs of custom motorcycles from across Canada will have the opportunity to witness the creation of one of the most unique sports-themed custom motorcycles this fall, as WhistleStop Productions today announced the return of the Canadian Chopper Challenge presented by Castrol. This one-hour original production returns for a second season and will enjoy a primetime premiere on TSN and TSN HD in November as excitement builds toward the 95th Grey Cup game hosted in Toronto on November 25, 2007.

This latest version - Canadian Chopper Challenge: Grey Cup Edition - will see the original challenge winner, Bob McKay, return to build a one-of-a-kind rolling work of art dedicated to the history of the Grey Cup. McKay will have only 12 weeks and a limited budget to create his Grey Cup themed machine and deliver it to Grey Cup organizers by September 1. He will begin the challenge on June 1, under the watchful eyes of WhistleStop Productions, the organizers of the Canadian Chopper Challenge, who will document the entire building process in High Definition. The bike will then be on display as part of this November's Grey Cup festivities in Toronto.

"Inviting one of Canada's top custom bike builders to create a one of a kind set of wheels for the 2007 Grey Cup Festival, what could be more exciting?" said Brad Watters, General Manager of the 2007 Grey Cup. "Bob McKay builds incredible motorcycles and we're all stoked to see the Grey Cup tribute rolling out onto the field!"

During the original Canadian Chopper Challenge: NHL Edition, four of Canada's top custom motorcycle builders were invited to compete by building Canada's ultimate hockey tribute chopper. Each builder was given a limited parts budget and only 12 weeks to build their hockey dream machine. The competitors and their finished machines were then brought to the TSN studios, where McKay's winning chopper, ‘Ice Time', was selected by a panel of former NHL'ers.

‘Ice Time' is a low slammed, V-Twin custom with a super fat rear slick and goalie pad saddle. It pays tribute to the history of the NHL and the bike's artwork sports images from the early days of the game, including Foster Hewitt's first broadcast and Cyclone Taylor's skates, to the development of the Zamboni and the goalie mask.

"The success of the original Canadian Chopper Challenge has paved the way for this second series," said Stewart Johnston, Vice-President, Programming, TSN. "The last Chopper Challenge was very well received by our viewers."

Once McKay's custom creation is complete, it will be put on display at Rogers Centre during all remaining 2007 Toronto Argonauts home games. The bike will also be available for public viewing at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre once it opens as the official headquarters for the 2007 Grey Cup on Thursday, November 21. As part of the festival celebrations, the chopper will be auctioned off with all proceeds benefiting the Grey Cup 2007 Legacy Project. More details about this project will be announced in the months to come. It will then be showcased on an international stage when it is driven onto the field during the halftime show of the Grey Cup Championship by a yet-to-be-named special guest.

Canadian Chopper Challenge: Grey Cup Edition is being presented by Castrol and will once again be sponsored by Parts Canada. Following the 2007 Grey Cup in Toronto, McKay's chopper will be raffled off with proceeds going to the Grey Cup's official charity.

"The Castrol brand is a natural fit for those who love both professional football and custom motorcycles. As the official oil of the CFL, our consumers are into the CFL in a big way and custom motorcycles are just a perfect fit for us all the way around," said Anthony Stadelman, Director of Marketing for Castrol products in Canada. "Combine that with Castrol's opportunity to partner with Parts Canada, the largest motorcycle parts and accessories aftermarket supplier in Canada, and we just couldn't wait to give Bob the green light to start building. I just know our customers as well as the viewers who watch on TSN will be blown away by the finished product!"

Before its new owner can fire her up, the Grey Cup chopper will embark on a three month promotional tour. Following the Grey Cup, Parts Canada will take the chopper on a six city, cross Canada tour, where it will be displayed at all of the National Motorcycle Consumer shows.

An annual tradition celebrated by Canadians from coast-to-coast since 1909, the Grey Cup is Canada's largest professional sporting event. In addition to the thousands filling Rogers Centre on Sunday, November 25, the Grey Cup will be watched by millions of fans across Canada on CBC and RDS and in more than 160 countries around the globe. Toronto last hosted the Grey Cup in 1992 when Calgary defeated Winnipeg 24-10.

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