Search found 46 matches

by segerken
Tue Aug 23, 2005 7:34 pm
Forum: Santa Clara
Topic: The VIP
Replies: 1
Views: 5391

The VIP

As I’ve said in earlier posting, I worked at the SC park from 1976-1980. In parts or all of the summers of 1978, 1979, and 1980 I worked on Logger’s Run. One year, either 1978 or 1979, while I was up at the 2nd lift position (the second lift is the conveyor belt that took the log up to the high part...
by segerken
Fri Aug 12, 2005 12:38 pm
Forum: Rides
Topic: Turn of the Century - Demon make-over
Replies: 18
Views: 32316

The problem they were trying to fix was the axels snapping because of fatigue. They were not breaking each time the train went around the track. In fact, it took several months for the first axel to break. By measuring the stress on the axel as the train went around the track, they could determine i...
by segerken
Mon Aug 08, 2005 6:32 pm
Forum: Santa Clara
Topic: The Logger's Run accident
Replies: 15
Views: 105798

The Logger's Run accident

For several days in ’78 or ’79, I can’t remember which year, the chute on Logger’s Run shutting down 1 or 2 times per hour. The operator up there would look down to see if everything was clear and then start them back up. One afternoon while working the unloading position in the station I saw a log ...
by segerken
Sat Aug 06, 2005 8:07 pm
Forum: Games, Merchandise, Food, and more
Topic: Attendence
Replies: 10
Views: 33036

Those turnstiles were fun. One night I was a substitute lead on Loggers run when one of the turnstiles malfunction. The combined total from both turnstiles showed that we had something like 10,000 riders one hour. Not bad for a ride that had a capacity of 1,500 people. That night when our supervisor...
by segerken
Sat Aug 06, 2005 7:58 pm
Forum: Remembering Marriott's GREAT AMERICA
Topic: Opening Day Souveneirs
Replies: 9
Views: 12556

On opening day at Santa Clara they gave frisbees with the logo and the opening day date on it. I don't know if they gave one to every guest or just to the first X number of guests.

I've got one in a box some where.
by segerken
Fri Aug 05, 2005 7:23 pm
Forum: Santa Clara
Topic: Funny questions asked by guests
Replies: 15
Views: 51078

Funny questions asked by guests

Steven asked in another thread about funny questions that people have been asked by guests. So, I thought it would be interesting in starting a new thread on this topic. One time a guest asked me if the parade was out in the parking lot. I gave a polite answer, but I really wanted to say, “Yes, ever...
by segerken
Thu Aug 04, 2005 7:15 pm
Forum: Santa Clara
Topic: The bomb
Replies: 11
Views: 34842

The bomb

The first year Santa Clara was open I was a sweeper on the evening shift. Mostly in County Fair 2 section which ran from and included the games area to the Yukon Territory. During the first year the park received a lot of bomb threats. At first the Santa Clara PD was responding to the bomb threats. ...
by segerken
Tue Aug 02, 2005 8:45 pm
Forum: Santa Clara
Topic: Logger’s Run Raid
Replies: 5
Views: 9619

Logger’s Run Raid

I was an operator during the 2nd shift on the Santa Clara Logger’s Run part of of the summers of ‘78, ‘79, and ‘’80. During the summer of ‘’79 our ride was raided by the park security. There is a stream under the queue just before the queue went down the stairs into the station. While people wait in...
by segerken
Tue Aug 02, 2005 6:16 pm
Forum: Games, Merchandise, Food, and more
Topic: Behind the Scenes
Replies: 6
Views: 32130

Tanya wrote:The rides office was the upstairs of the fire station.
In '76 and maybe '77 the fire station did not exist and the rides office was in the main administration building in SC.
by segerken
Tue Aug 02, 2005 6:04 pm
Forum: Remembering Marriott's GREAT AMERICA
Topic: 1-27-76 Job Seekers Create Traffic Jam
Replies: 1
Views: 4592

That picture is funny. Three months later I just walked into Personnel and got a job. A couple of days later a friend of mine just walked into Personnel and got a job. Glad I didn't wait in line on this January day.
by segerken
Mon Aug 01, 2005 3:15 pm
Forum: Rides
Topic: You're Going to Get Wet, Probably Soaked...
Replies: 16
Views: 25258

Not all guests were prepared to get wet. I worked on the SC Log ride in the late 70's. One day while working the unloading position a log came in with a woman wearing some sort of white outfit with nothing on underneath. Being wet, her outfit was completly see through. As they were going up the step...
by segerken
Tue Jul 26, 2005 12:50 pm
Forum: Remembering Marriott's GREAT AMERICA
Topic: How Did You Do It ?
Replies: 5
Views: 23569

Re: How Did You Do It ?

I worked at the Santa Clara Park from 1976-1980 and for two anf a half of the years I worked on Loggers Run. How did you do your job? I never worked at MGA, but often wondered how a ride operator could do the same thing, over and over and over and over again. How could I do it over and over again? I...
by segerken
Tue Jul 26, 2005 9:09 am
Forum: Rides
Topic: Turn of the Century - Demon make-over
Replies: 18
Views: 32316

Segerken, Thanks for the clarification. It does makes sense. I do remember them mentioning it happened coming out of the corkscrew element. I always assumed it was the hills because they were the most intense part of the Turn of the Century. I don't know why. My guess would what Steven said. It was...
by segerken
Mon Jul 25, 2005 6:20 pm
Forum: Rides
Topic: Turn of the Century - Demon make-over
Replies: 18
Views: 32316

Re: Turn of the Century - Demon make-over

The front wheels would come loose and stop. This happened twice during it's short span of existence. Shortly thereafter, the two hills were replaced with two loops and re-themed the Demon. I always thought it was to correct a design flaw. The reason for the wheels falling off had nothing to do with...
by segerken
Wed Jul 20, 2005 10:54 am
Forum: Remembering Marriott's GREAT AMERICA
Topic: santa clara scrapped ride pile
Replies: 16
Views: 24589

Prior to dismantling the Yankee Clipper, I do not remember seeing parts of rides in the parking lot there. I remember seeing the Clipper there and then disappearing within a few months. I don't remember seeing any other ride parts, other then the Stealth parts as they were assembly this ride.