SANTA ANA, Calif. – For a Disneyland aficionado celebrating his 15,000th journey on the auto-racing ride inspired by the movie “Cars,” the thrill lies in the experience, not the victory.
The magic is in the ride itself.
Jon Alan Hale, who became captivated by the Radiator Springs Racers attraction at Disney California Adventure, embarked on this journey after undergoing significant health transformations, including gastric bypass and knee replacement surgeries in 2010 and 2011. The ride, which welcomed visitors in 2012, soon became an obsession for Hale, who meticulously recorded each spin in a notebook, noting details such as car color, lane, and the outcome of the race.
“I fell in love with the ride,” shared Hale, a television technician hailing from Brea, California.
To commemorate his milestones, Hale began carrying a sign for every hundredth ride, a tradition that earned him applause from Disneyland staff when he hit the 1,000 mark.
On Monday, with a group of friends employed at the theme park, Hale rode yet again, sporting a “Cars” themed hat and proudly displaying a sign marking his 15,000th ride.
Hale said he’s visited the Anaheim, California, resort known as the “Happiest Place on Earth” more than 1,100 times. He said he’s taken the ride on average 13 times each visit, largely thanks to the fast-moving line for single riders.
He said he doesn’t tire of it, especially since he never knows which car is going to pull ahead and win.
“You don’t know who is going to win the race,” Hale said. “There is no pattern of who wins or loses.”
Hale said there’s no formal record for riding the attraction inspired by the 2006 Pixar film released by Walt Disney Pictures. He said Disneyland officials said they don’t have one and Guinness World Records said they don’t track it either. Disneyland officials did not immediately comment on Hale’s ride Monday.
But on his quest, Hale said he’s come away with more than just a number. He’s gotten to know people at the park and become friends with some of the workers.
“It’s like family,” Hale said. “Everybody recognized me, they’re rooting for me.”
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