The Failure Of The Cyclone Racer

On September 15, 1968, the Cyclone Racer rolled to an end. Over 25 million passengers from all over the world had ridden the four-car Cyclone Racer, thrilled by the mile-long ride and by a slow 90 degree ascent to a peak of 100 feet and a hair-raising drop at speeds up to 55 miles per hour. The deaths reported here were caused by people who did not heed the words of the operator. They did not hold tight and they did stand up. There was only one recorded mechanical failure through the years and that accident did not cause any fatalities. In operation since May 30, 1930, the iconic Long Beach attraction was torn down to make room for the Magnolia Street Bridge. It took four months to reduce it to a pile of rubble. Planners speculated the Cyclone