A dedicated Disneyland enthusiast has marked his 15,000th spin on an auto-racing attraction inspired by the animated film Cars. Jon Alan Hale, a television technician from Brea, California, reached the milestone on Monday at Disney California Adventure's Radiator Springs Racers.
Hale was eager to try the ride, which debuted in 2012, after gastric bypass and knee replacement surgeries in 2010 and 2011. He quickly became fascinated, meticulously tracking his car's color, lane, and race outcome in a notebook.
“I fell in love with the ride,” he stated, adding that his dedication led him to carry a sign for every hundredth ride. He recalled Disneyland workers applauding his 1,000th spin.
On Monday, Hale took the ride with friends who work at the theme park while wearing a “Cars” themed cap and holding a 15,000 sign.
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.”
