Grand Prix Raceway, November 1973
I've been doing my "Anything Goes Saturdays" for years, but I often have a hard time figuring out what to share this one day per week. Sometimes I just don't have anything that I think is that great in my folder of scans, or else I have some good stuff, but I want to mix things up as much as possible.
Today, I found a series of five photos from The Magic Kingdom's "Grand Prix Raceway" - the Florida version of the Autopia. I almost always enjoy images of this attraction, so I'm hoping you do too.
First up is this picture of a lady buckling up (safety first!) before her record-setting circuit around the Grand Prix Raceway track. She has this secret push-button quantum thingy that disables the governor of the engine so that she can go nearly 50 miles an hour!
Were drivers supposed to obey that racing signal (or whatever those lights are called)? If so, I am all for it - it adds an air of authenticity.
I think this was taken from the bridge over the track, as seen in the previous photo. There's the American Flag, and the Goodyear flag - Goodyear sponsored the attraction from opening day thru... well, I couldn't really find a date when their sponsorship ended. Possibly up until 1994 when the ride changed its name to the Tomorrowland Indy Speedway. The other flags appear to be just solid colors or simple patterns, not flags of other nations.
One thing I enjoy about the GPR is the variety of paint styles. Racing stripes, flames, even lightning bolts. But no polka dots, because of THE CONSPIRACY.
We were only able to keep up with this woman by drafting (exploiting the slipstream created by her automobile).
I realize that the GPR differed from the Autopia because it was based on the concept of a race, while the Anaheim attraction was supposed to be a trip along the miracle of the highway system. But still, a little more landscaping and just stuff to look at might have been a nice idea. How about some Gummi Bears, for instance? Or all of the U.S. Presidents cheering us on?
Well, we were the fastest ever, but we were disqualified because we used our vehicles built-in flame throwers, oil-slick dispersers, thumbtack droppers, and smokescreens. If they don't want us to use them, why do they put them in the vehicles??
I hope you have enjoyed your ride on the Grand Prix Raceway.
23 comments:
Major-
I had no idea Miss. Red was the speedster type. She looks so innocent in the first image, with that giant grin on her face.
My sources indicate Goodyear sponsored the attraction up thru 1999, when sponsorship shifted to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway thru 2008.
Happy Motoring, Major.
What a fun trip around the speedway. Fortunately, we didn't have a run in with the Mammoth Car!
Yikes, we had a 4.6 earthquake, just 40 minutes ago! The epicenter was only 4 miles from me. Did anyone else here in Southern California feel it?
Speaking of the Grand Prix Raceway scenery, I always thought of as a whole lot of concrete with some grass and bushes filling what wasn't paved over. Not much in the way of scenery when comparing it to the Autopia at Disneyland. Still I like it when Disney does something different at another magic kingdom theme park. Keeps it interesting and unique.
Always love 1970's Walt Disney World. Thanks, Major.
Yup!! Felt the quake here too! I’m between Irvine and Laguna Beach.
The Grand Prix Raceway - was proposed by WED while searching for sponsors. GOODYEAR agreed to sponsor the Florida PeopleMover prior to the decision of the Linear Induction Motors ....the original PeopleMover was originally targeted for completion between 1972 and 1974. So Disney suggested to Goodyear to do a short term sponsorship of “Autopia” until the PeopleMover was ready. This worked well for both Disney and Goodyear : for Disney it gave them much needed money for Tomorrowland and it satisfied Goodyear’s wish of being a part of the opening publicity and the attention the Florida sponsors would be getting.
The Grand Prix Raceway featured a special sound system around the race track to give the impression that the cars were accelerating at formula racecar speeds and taking corners at great speeds. The attraction also sent cars out in “packs” and were sent off with a tru-to-life rally and a checkered flag start.
In 1976 Grand Prix Raceway was overhauled with new graphics and all new car color schemes including the “lime green” and the “sherbet orange” colors. The graphics on the cars also were modernized.
Recently Walt Disney World replaced their original racecar fleet with “newer” 1983 models sent from the removed GRAND CIRCUIT RACEWAY from Tokyo Disneyland.
NANOOK: Indianapolis Motor Speedway was a real race car experience guest could pay for as part of the Disney Sports complex . It was highly expensive.
GRAND PRIX RACEWAY did become the TOMORROWLAND SPEEDWAY and was re-themed to guests competing with some of the top race car drivers from around the Galaxy. Throughout the racetrack drivers could hear the race announcers commentary like “car 42’s tentacles have lost control of his steering and is starting to spin out!!
This past Christmas 2019 featured a all new futuristic holiday overlay of Tomorrowland Speedway.
There has been recent proposals of replacing the automobiles and Speedway with a Hydro-Racer attraction ( on water) some of the concept art for the TRON attraction under construction left the new water vehicles in as a teaser - but people missed it. LOOK CAREFULLY!!!
Correction: the Tomorrowland attraction did go under the name “Tomorrowland Indy Speedway” .
Grand Prix Speedway
Tomorrowland Indy Speedway
Ruth Buzzy’s Wacky Raceway
Tomorrowland Speedway
Mike, now that WDW has Tokyo DL's cars, do the vehicles stop automatically, if you get to close to the car in front of you? Or have WDW's cars always done that, just as Tokyo DL's cars did?
CHRIS : the original WDW cars never had the “ auto no-bump” feature. That was added to the Tokyo cars at some point. I’m not sure if the Tokyo cars now in Florida still have that function. I have a feeling the US park was too cheap to continue that .....and I’ve heard nobody mention it - I think they would if it was working.
The Florida flag is to the right of the American flag, and all of the other flags are signal flags used in auto racing.
TM!, no Mammoth Car, but the Car Acrobatic Team was right behind us.
Mike, thanks for all of the background info. Everybody seems to forget the Ruth Buzzy's Wacky Raceway days. Didn't Goodyear also get a VIP lounge at the Speedway as part of the sponsorship deal?
The last time I went on this was Christmas 2015 and my wife "drove." I was amazed at how much laughting occured, and I can assure you, there was no "auto braking."
In the last picture, the big window on the station building is where the Goodyear lounge was, Chuck. I really like the "Goodyear" spoiler on the car in that pic, too.
The Mammoth Car! One of the things that haunted me as a little kid!
I rode this in 2014 and was very excited to do so, as Kennywood got rid of their Turnpike ride in 2009, and it had been a favorite of five-year-old me. However, I didn't like MK's as much because unlike Kennywood's electric cars, holding the gas pedal down took a lot out of me.
Thanks for this fun series of pics, Major.
Mike Cozart,
"Indianapolis Motor Speedway was a real race car experience guest could pay for as part of the Disney Sports complex . It was highly expensive."
I am assuming you are referring to the now defunct/razed 1 mile speedway that was built there in the mid 90s. I drove there once in 2007 when Richard Petty had his business going at that track. Yes, it was quite pricey, but boy oh boy, it was a blast. Weird. I still remember how good it felt to get a real Hurst shifter in my hand again, and I still have the paperwork on how fast my speed was and all that stuff stashed away. I even managed to talk my wife into going on one of their ride-along cars. Got a picture or 2 of her getting the suit and crash helmet on waiting to ride. Good times.
Nice set of pics today Major. Thanks.
W
WDW's raceway definitely had a different vibe than Disneyland's Autopia. Grand Prix racing must have been popular then with the movie in 1966 and then the Love Bug a big success in 1968. Can you imagine if they had a crowd of Herbie's speeding around? Personally, I'm more the touring type than hitting that big track.
I never understood the connections to the Future but the raceway looked fun. I like the design of the overpass. There's also a Skyway pylon hiding among all those racing flags, and you can just see the edge of the transfer station.
Andrew, I'm glad I got to ride the Kennywood Turnpike. I was amazed they removed it. I thought Kennywood took care of their classic attractions which which was the big draw for me. At least they still have the Auto Race.
Nanook, “Red” goes to WDW specifically to ride the Grand Prix Raceway - it helps her get the “need for speed” out of her system! Thanks for the info about when Goodyear’s sponsorship ended.
TokyoMagic!, “Mammoth Car”?? I absolutely felt the earthquake! It was a rumble (more of a sound almost), then a pretty good shake. You must have really felt it!
K. Martinez, I’ve always wondered why they didn’t make the scenery prettier? I know it’s supposed to be a “raceway”, but even so, it feels minimal and kind of “Six Flags”. I expect Disney to do something above and beyond. Or I used to!
Mike Cozart, thanks for the info about Goodyear in regards to the early sponsorship of the Grand Prix Raceway (hereafter referred to as the GPR). I’d also never heard about the special sound system - was the system on each vehicle? Or did they have hidden speakers at various points along the track? I could see them adding revving noises when there was a straightaway, and “rev down” noises on the curves. Lime green and sherbet orange, my favorites (really!) No purple though (“Shasta grape soda purple”?). So Tokyo removed their Autopia, apparently. Interesting.
Mike Cozart, a real racecar experience, how in the world did they make that safe for guests? Real racecars are dangerous! When in the world did they do this?? And a holiday makeover of the Tomorrowland Speedway, weird! I hate to say it, but hydro-racers sound lame to me.
Mike Cozart, 5000 extra points for the mention of Ruth Buzzi!
TokyoMagic!, the vehicles actually *explode* when you get too close to another one.
Mike Cozart, I never heard about the “anti-bump” feature! Yet another piece of trivia to add to the list.
Chuck, don’t forget the Goodyear flag! I’m surprised it doesn’t appear to be any lower than the U.S. flag or the Florida flag.
stu29573, now I need to know why there was so much laughing! Did you have lots of knock-knock jokes? Maybe from Dixie Riddle Cups?
Andrew, what was the Goodyear Lounge used for? VIPs? I’ll have to look to see what those Tokyo Disneyland vehicles look like; I’m not crazy about the Anaheim vehicles that were added in 2000.
Warren Nielsen, jeez, I know nothing about Richard Petty having any involvement at WDW. I guess I don’t know much about the Florida park at all! No surprise there, I guess. I still think the idea of letting regular guests get behind the wheel of a racecar seems really risky, I’m shocked that they did it!
Omnispace, I kind of agree, the Grand Prix theme might have been fashionable when the Magic Kingdom opened, but I prefer the more laid back and pretty Disneyland Autopia. You’ll go through wooded areas, splash through streams, and see grassy meadows. Since Disneyland’s Autopia was originally kind a tribute to the new and impressive highway system that criss-crossed the USA, I can see how it might fit into Tomorrowland, but these days it definitely doesn’t feel very much like “the future”.
Hop all my California peeps are doing OK after the quake!
“Red” bears a striking resemblance to my Grandma. If they’re anything alike, she specifically chose that cat because like Jack Benny, she would never admit to being older than 39.
Major, the WDW Speedway WAS dangerous. It closed in 2015, due to a fatal accident, from what I heard.
Man, my last comment looks like it was typed by archy the cockroach.
@ Lou & Sue-
Tragically, you are correct. SEE HERE. "With safety as our most important priority, we will continue to review our operations and safety procedures". Evidently, only as far as press releases are concerned. Perhaps a simple dose of 'common sense' is what was needed, rather than the typical hyperbolic dribble touting "safety as our #1 concern"; or whatever. ('As if' when profits are involved...!)
Melissa, luckily this was one of those shakers that didn’t do much, other than frazzle some nerves! But thank you for your good wishes.
Lou and Sue, oh my gosh!! Terrible!
Melissa, oh it’s OK, it actually looks like it was typed by ME.
Nanook, oh man. A father with a small child. Can you imagine? And the fact that it probably would have not been a fatal accident if they’d run the cars clockwise around the track makes it even worse.
MAJOR, everyone :
The Grand Prix Raceway sound system was hidden along the track layout and within the loading “START” terminal. The sounds were special recorded in Seabring Florida with real formula one race cars.
Also remember Formula One racing was EXTREMELY popular during the late 60’s and 70’s - especially along the Eastern Seaboard so to the Florida audience the Grand Prix Raceway was very popular. In regards to “scenery” along the raceway ; drivers should be focusing on their speed, performance and safety along the track!! Lol! And what better scenery that the backdrop of Walt Disney World’s spectacular Tomorrowland!!?? The SKYWAY with its turn-cable station .....the towering Contemporary Resort .... two visible lakes ..... pine forests .... Cinderella Castle .... and eventually the elevated WEDWAY system and towering Space Mountain!!
The Grand Prix Raceway track has had 3 different layouts since 1971. Part of the reason for a lack of landscaping in the early 70’s along the raceway was because of pending Tomorrowland design and construction : even a WDW RR TOMORROWLAND train station was designed to be built to the left of Space Mountain and parallel to a Raceway “straightaway”. The train station was untimely canceled because of crowd congestion being increased so close to Space Mountain’s entry.
The Grand Prix Raceway did feature a guest viewing grandstand and a enclosed “press box” that was actually a Goodyear VIP lounge as Andrew mentioned. Goodyear’s VIP lounge at Disneyland was located in a space behind the Plaza Inn : it’s doorway - with a stained glass window is visible on the porch between the plaza Inn and Plaza Inn restrooms. The interior still had the goodyear PeopleMover wallpaper until 1992.
The Tokyo Disneyland GRAND CIRCUIT RACEWAY 1983 cars look almost identical to the WDW 1971 Grand Prix Raceway cars with the exception of some more elaborate paint schemes added to them back in the early 2000’s. Also I can guarantee even with the Tokyo cars being newer , that Tokyo kept their cars PRISTINE!! As everything at Tokyo Disneyland looks like it was built yesterday!
Some early publications including the first 1971 attraction poster call it GRAN PRIX RACEWAY ... but was always officially GRAND PRIX RACEWAY.
I agree : the 1999 new Disneyland Autopia cars are UGLY looking - ESPECIALLY the style named “ cute car” - the one reminiscent of a VW convertible . How that design was given the green light is beyond me. The other two body styles are not as bad ..... but not good design either. The Autopia designs for Paris and Hong Kong also have a frumpy , loaf-of-bread look and were a failed attempt on WDI’s part to create a “timeless” auto design.
That track crash at WDW's raceway was a predictable tragedy. The cars were reportedly running in the wrong direction to even out wear on the tires. High-performance tires have treads that have a specific 'forward" direction and you can't rotate them to turn in the opposite direction to even out wear.
With WDW opening in 1971, I thought a 'lunar rover' ride would have been a better fit for Tomorrowland than a race track, despite the popularity of Formula 1 back in the day. In any case, I wish they would move to an electric vehicle (Telsa sponsored?). I'm not asthmatic and I find the constant exhaust smoke unpleasant while walking around that part of the park.
Warren Nielsen -
My husband and I did the "Mario Andretti Racing School" experience at the Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, IL, about 15 years ago. My husband took the 1-hour(?) mandatory class training and then drove an Indy car, while following a professional driver in his separate Indy car. I'm now looking at the photos & certificate on my husband's office wall that shows he drove at "a top speed of 151.87 mph." But I did what your wife did - and rode in an Indy car with a professional - which I LOVED because he drove even faster. If I recall correctly, he drove about 180 mph. I remember things zipping sooo fast past me that everything felt like a dream - I couldn't focus on anything. It WAS fun, and I'd love to do it again! BTW, you didn't say if your wife enjoyed the ride...I hope she did!
Sue
Sue,
She was just OK with it. There may have been a bit of 'look what I did' to it, and I may said something like 'you may never have another opportunity.' I doubt if she would try it again even if she had the chance.
Chicagoland is a longer track and you were in a different type of car than what Petty ran at WDW, so speeds were higher. Sounds like a real blast though.
W
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