When We Were Young With Our Corvettes - Chapter 11
POP opened in 1958 as a nautical-theme amusement park (with Emmett Kelly) intended to compete with Disneyland in Anaheim which had opened 3 years earlier. It was much more accessible with a good portion of it built on a long pier out into the Pacific Ocean which provided outstanding views. In the beginning, POP was hugely popular but later lost its luster and closed in 1967, then was demolished in 1974.
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POP opened in 1958 as a nautical-theme amusement park (with Emmett Kelly) intended to compete with Disneyland in Anaheim which had opened 3 years earlier. It was much more accessible with a good portion of it built on a long pier out into the Pacific Ocean which provided outstanding views. In the beginning, POP was hugely popular but later lost its luster and closed in 1967, then was demolished in 1974.
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Re: When We Were Young With Our Corvettes - Chapter 11
Bill, keep them coming. These stories are great!! -
Re: When We Were Young With Our Corvettes - Chapter 11
Great story Bill . That program was responsible for getting me into Corvettes. I was a young, impressionable boy when that show aired. The lure of the open road in a Corvette was too much for me to ignore. Back in 2000 I was able to jump in my Vette and drive across country all by myself, from Mass to California. Did most of the remaining stretches of Route 66 between Oklahoma and California. Drove 7,400 miles in about 3 weeks. Great time
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Re: When We Were Young With Our Corvettes - Chapter 11
Paul:
I'd love to take that trip again today. Went out on Route 66 in 1961 when few interstates existed and it was virtually interrupted in the western segment. Three of us switched driving. One of my friend's Dad owned a grocery store, The back seat was filled with "provisions". Stopped at most of the scenic places. Woke up one morning in Albuquerque to a different colored world. First time I'd seen the western desert. A trip of a lifetime.
BillComment
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Re: When We Were Young With Our Corvettes - Chapter 11
Bill,
I love your stories. It makes me wish that I had been young, living in California in the sixties. My first ride in a Corvette is what got me hooked. My uncle had the '66 427 / 425 that I inherited. He took me for a ride when I was maybe 13. That would have been 1977 or so. He stomped it going up a hill. It seemed like the speedometer went from 30 to 70 instantly. It really pushed me back in the seat. I was thrilled. I made sure he knew I wanted the car every time I saw him after that.
JoeComment
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Re: When We Were Young With Our Corvettes - Chapter 11
Bill,
Was the Ocean Sky Ride a roller coaster that was made of wood and went out over the ocean?
WayneComment
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Re: When We Were Young With Our Corvettes - Chapter 11
"DITTO" Bill.
In December 1964 Christmas vacation in senior year of college at the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania I had the three week normal break. Loaded up the 64 Malibu 283/220hp, 4 speed with 3:08 economy gears and headed west to San Francisco. Dropped off two fellows in Ohio and Indiana the first day, and then I and another friend from Philly completed the round trip together.
The weather in Kansas was almost blizzard, so we were advised to head south, which we did. It was raining and snowing into New Mexico and dark. We had dinner in Alburquerque and drove on to Amboy, CA and found a motel at midnight. Woke up the next morning and was amazed.
We had never seen the open sunny desert before. Continued on thru Palm Springs and past the orange groves in San Bernardino and on to Hwy 101 north to San Francisco. Only 12 million people in California in those days vs the 34 million today.
That old Chevelle gave 22 mpg on that trip. Over 5300 miles. The car grew into a 65 SS L-79 model before I moved to California in 1966.
What a beautiful country we have. And driving across this land, even today is one of the great adventures of all time. I was very lucky to have experienced Route 66 when it was the only way to go.Over 80 Corvettes of fun ! Love Rochester Fuel Injection 57-65 cars. Love CORVETTE RACE CARS
Co-Founder REGISTRY OF CORVETTE RACE CARS.COMComment
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Re: When We Were Young With Our Corvettes - Chapter 11
Jim;
You are so "right" about cross-country car trips back then through little towns with no traffic lights and friendly people you meet along the route. Easy to forget the flat tires, the boiling radiators, keeping all the windows down to get a little air....even the carburetor adjustments you needed to make at different elevations along the way....wouldn't make any difference to me, I'd do it again tomorrow.
Wayne, Ocean Sky Ride attached.
Thanks,
BillComment
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Re: When We Were Young With Our Corvettes - Chapter 11
I lived in LA in 67 and I remember riding that roller coaster. I don't recall the sky ride. The roller coaster had big wide seats. If skinny I'd bet you could get a bunch of people in. It was kind of scary if I recall.Jim;
You are so "right" about cross-country car trips back then through little towns with no traffic lights and friendly people you meet along the route. Easy to forget the flat tires, the boiling radiators, keeping all the windows down to get a little air....even the carburetor adjustments you needed to make at different elevations along the way....wouldn't make any difference to me, I'd do it again tomorrow.
Wayne, Ocean Sky Ride attached.
Thanks,
Bill
WayneComment
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Re: When We Were Young With Our Corvettes - Chapter 11
Wayne;
Yes, that would be the Sea Serpent Roller Coaster...very scary.
You can also see in the picture the South Sea Island-Tiki Village in the background near the end of the pier.
BillComment
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Re: When We Were Young With Our Corvettes - Chapter 11
Take a look.
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