“Dust to Glory” Baja 1000 Film Premieres in April 2005
compiled by connie ellig

After the March 30 world premiere of “Dust to Glory” in Hollywood, the film opens to the public on April 1 in Los Angeles at the Nuart Theater and in New York City at the Union Square Theater. On April 8, the film will be released in 25 theaters in 10 states and Washington, D.C. in cities like Chicago, Boston, Dallas, Houston, San Francisco, Seattle and Portland. Southern California locations include San Diego, Irvine, Long Beach, Santa Monica, Pasadena and Ontario. Beginning April 15, more than 50 additional theaters across the country will start showing the film over the next few weeks, with more locations added daily. IFC Films, which has the North American distribution rights to “Dust to Glory,” is a leading theatrical film distribution company bringing the best of independent and specialized films to theaters.

“I have previewed this breathtaking film and I have lived this magnificent race many times over. Now I’m looking forward to enjoying it many times again as the world begins to experience what SCORE desert racing is all about,” said Sal Fish, President and CEO of the Los Angeles-based SCORE International, the world’s foremost desert racing organization since 1973. “Dana (Brown) has produced a masterpiece that will etch his name permanently in the lore of this special genre of moviemaking.”

As director, editor, writer or cameraman, Dana Brown has worked on over 50 sports related productions. Among his many directing credits are “On Any Sunday Revisited,” “The Endless Summer Revisited” and the recent award-winning surf adventure film, “Step into Liquid.” In 2004 Dana was featured by Vanity Fair as one of the top documentary filmmakers.

“Dust to Glory” is a sprawling, ambitious film that used more than 50 cameras, 4 helicopters, a four-passenger open-wheel desert race car camera vehicle and a crew of 90 to film over 200 hours of action-packed footage at the legendary Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 held in November 2003. That year, more than 200,000 spectators witnessed 270 entrants from nine countries attempt to complete the arduous 808-mile race that started and finished in Ensenada. Only 153 cars, trucks, motorcycles and ATVs survived the challenging course that included mountains, deserts, washes, trails and scenic runs along both coasts of the peninsula.

Among the many racers featured in “Dust to Glory” are celebrities like Chad McQueen, Jesse James, Paul Page and Mario Andretti, who presided as the 2003 Grand Marshall, as well as champion drivers like Robby Gordon, Mike and Robbie Groff, Jimmy Vasser, Michel Jourdain, Jr., Mark Miller, Ryan Arciero, Johnny Campbell, Steve Hengeveld, Parnelli Jones, Malcolm Smith, Ivan “Ironman” Stewart and Mike “Mouse” McCoy, who also served as one of the producers. Steve McQueen and James Garner make cameo appearances in archival footage supplied by Bruce Brown, the famed director of “Endless Summer” and “On Any Sunday,” who is part of the production team and the filmmaker’s father.

For video clips, a theater finder or more information, visit the “Dust to Glory” web site. Group tickets are available at U.S. toll-free (888)349-3714. So jump in, buckle up and hang on for the ride of your lifetime!

For more information about SCORE International and its upcoming 2005 races including the Baja 500 (June 3-5) and the Baja 1000 (November 17-20), visit the official SCORE web site or call SCORE at U.S. tel. (818)225-8402.
 
 

The legendary Mario Andretti presided as Grand Marshall of the 2003 Baja 1000.
Photos by Connie Ellig.

Mario (center) poses with the Tecate Beer girls and guys Mario flagging off the racers Mario & Sal Fish at press conference Sal Fish & San Nicolás Hotel owner Nico Saad with Mario Mario & EnsenadaGazette.com editor Connie Ellig. Photo by Nico Saad.

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