Thrills of Driving Own Car on Auto Roller Coaster (Jul, 1929)
Thrills of Driving Own Car on Auto Roller Coaster
THE surface of this elevated roadway shown above is perfectly smooth—-smooth, but not level. A succession of dips and rises that range in depth from five to ten feet afford motorists, running their cars over the course, all the thrills and pleasures of a roller coaster.
Recently opened in Los Angeles, the new “road ‘ is operated in conjunction with an amusement park. People drive their cars into the entrance, purchase a ticket that entitles them to ride once around the “wavy load” and begin their journey.
The road is constructed entirely of wood. Its circumference measures 2,243 feet, and a railing protects cars from skidding off the edges.
It is wide enough to allow two cars to pass easily, but only one-way traffic is permitted. Drivers are instructed to follow the white guide lines painted on the surface of the roadway.
Regulations are also placed on the speed at which a car may be driven over the coaster. Although the curves are banked to make it practically impossible to turn over when rounding them at a fast rate of speed, the dips and rises will throw a car out of control if driven too fast.
I’d love to try it on a bike.
He could just drive up 14th Street S.W. in Calgary and get the same thrill.
Can you even begin to imagine the legal consequences for the operator of the “amusement” today? Of course they’s deserve it considering what a hare brained idea this was in the first place. Wonder how long it lasted, and how soon before someone was seriouslly injured?
Look at the car in the first picture, its the “Archies.” This is a good idea, what could go wrong with an elevated all wooden structure for speeding vehicles?
Jeez, everybody calm down! It was driving on rolling hills. Here is some video of the attraction.
I also posted a photo here
Also, there are race tracks today where folks can get driving training in real race cars. It’s a bit expensive, much like taking flying lessons, but the cars themselves are as expensive as an airplane.
I drove Laguna Seca in a Hyundai once. No charge, thanks to a local Porsche club renting it for the evening (and taking a supper break.)
At the top of the famous “corkscrew”, I came to a dead stop. Bwak bwak bwak!
Toronto: Thanks for catching that. Also, since the airline industry complained in 2002 that Air Marshal’s were dressing “too casual” a dress code was instituted that made them stand out from the regular passengers.
Weeeeeeee, we’re wrecking our suspension!
Hirudinea: Not hardly.
This isn’t the only one. Do a google search for “automobile roller coaster” and you’ll see there was one in Chicago, and another in Camden, NJ.
@Charlene : I couldn’t agree more.
I never knew there was a fellow Calgarian on this blog !
Probaby more than one
I just wonder, how fast a Group B rally car from the 80′s could go around that coaster…. Like for example Lancia Delta S4, which accelerated 0-60mph in 2.3 seconds on a gravel road.