Tag Archives: 26 June

26 June 1927

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The Cyclone roller coaster opens on Coney Island.

The Cyclone roller coaster, located on Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York, is one of the most notable and iconic roller coasters in the world. The Cyclone was built in 1927, making it one of the oldest operating roller coasters in the United States. It is considered a national landmark and holds a special place in the history of amusement park attractions.

The Cyclone is renowned for its intense and thrilling ride experience. It features a wooden track, steep drops, sharp turns, and high speeds, providing riders with an exhilarating and heart-pounding experience. The Cyclone has gained immense popularity and has been enjoyed by millions of riders over the years. It has been featured in numerous films, television shows, and documentaries, further enhancing its fame. Despite being nearly a century old, the Cyclone has undergone extensive restoration and preservation efforts to maintain its original design and character. The roller coaster has been carefully maintained to ensure the safety and enjoyment of riders while preserving its historical significance.

The Cyclone has become an enduring symbol of Coney Island and a cherished part of New York City’s cultural heritage. It represents the rich history of amusement parks and the nostalgia associated with traditional wooden roller coasters.

26 June 1927

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The Cyclone roller coaster opens on Coney Island, NY.

The Coney Island Cyclone is a historic wooden roller coaster that opened on June 26, 1927, in the Coney Island section of Brooklyn, New York City. On June 18, 1975, Dewey and Jerome Albert – owners of Astroland Park – entered into an agreement with New York City to operate the ride. Despite original plans by the city to scrap the ride in the early 1970s, the roller coaster was refurbished in the 1974 off-season and reopened on July 3, 1975. Astroland Park continued to invest millions over the years in the upkeep of the Cyclone. After Astroland closed in 2008, Carol Hill Albert, president of Cyclone Coasters, continued to operate it under a lease agreement with the city. In 2011, Luna Park took over operation of the Cyclone. It was declared a New York City landmark on July 12, 1988, and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 26, 1991.

When it opened on June 26, 1927, a ride cost only twenty-five cents, about $3.50 when adjusted for inflation in 2012 compared to the actual $9 per ride for the 2015 Season.

In 1978, the Cyclone was featured in the film version of The Wiz as the home of its version of the Tinman, and its size compared with the rest of Ozraised to enormous proportions.

26 June 1906

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The first ever Grand Prix motor racing event held.

french-grand-prix-0010

The series we now know as Formula One traces its roots back to 1906. Before the term, Formula One, was coined in 1950, essentially the same sequence of events were called the Grand Prix Series. But those words became bandied about so much that different ones were needed to describe the contest for the World Driving Championship. Nevertheless, each country’s race is still called a Grand Prix.

The very first Grand Prix took place on June 26 and 27, 1906. The venue was public roads in the vicinity of Le Mans, France near the Sarthe River, so it became known as the Sarthe Circuit. Previously, the only series that could be called international was the Gordon Bennett, established by James Gordon Bennett, Jr., owner of the New York Herald. . Entrants came from a number of European countries that had national teams. Each country could enter only three cars and they had to be made in that country. There were no mechanical or physical limitations placed on the cars.

At that time, France had quite a number of car makers and they objected to being allowed only three entries from each country. To top it off, the Germans got six because Mercedes had an additional factory in Austria. The new series—Grand Prix—had no such requirement. The cars, however, had to adhere to a formula. At the 1906, the cars couldn’t weigh more than 1,000 kilograms. Other than that, there were no other limitations.

Course map of the first Grand PrixThis first Grand Prix was organized by the Automobile Club of France (ACF) at the urging of French automakers. The city fathers of Le Mans and local hotels provided the necessary funding and persuaded the ACF to hold the race near the city. The course was laid out by the Automobile Club de la Sarthe over 64.11 miles of local roads. The route was roughly triangular with each leg approximately 20 miles long. Sharp corners were at the apexes of the triangle.