Mission Beach Giant Dipper - Rare ACE ERT (1987)

This video captures the one of the rarest ERT events in American Coaster Enthusiast history. ERT stands for Exclusive Ride Time. In 1987 ACE Con X was held in California. A side trip to San Diego was included in the schedule. The Mission Beach Giant Dipper had been closed for eleven years and was under restoration. This classic 1925 Prior and Church coaster had almost burned to the ground twice in 1981, yet thanks to efforts of the Save The Coaster Committee, it was destined to operate again in 1990. Three years prior to reopening, someone at the 1987 convention got the brilliant idea to roll an old two-car train from the station to the chain lift. The party was on! Watch this video and it becomes evident that riding rules did NOT exist! That night also featured the first lighting of the roller coaster in eleven years, capped off with the crazy night of ERT. Next day featured more ERT (POV video included) and a no-rules track walk was allowed. The rebuilding of Belmont Park is clearly seen from above on my track walk. If you enjoy this video, I have plenty more on my KZbin channel. Click on my name above to have a look. Subscribers welcome!
Partial list of ACE members in this video:
Betsy Abrams
Joan Burleigh
Mike Chew
Timothy Cole
Matt Crowther
Otto Dobnick
Mark Fluharty
Randy Geisler
Paul Greenwald
Paul Merriam
Joe Riznar
Ric Turner
Ken Ziff

[@grapiken7766]

I'm glad this beautiful coaster was saved. There's not enough wooden coasters in the world.

[@darthstarkiller1912]

+Gra Piken Not enough classic wooden coasters at least. ;)

[@riparianlife97701]

I stared at that ride for 14 years waiting for it to re-open. If you're one of the people responsible for its salvation, thank you! This video is a rare gem. Thanks so much for posting it.

[@sddweller]

Docktor Jim You're welcome :)

[@timothycole5266]

You're welcome!

[@kurtbrigandi]

It would have been really nice if they went through with putting the original trains on the ride. Morgan forced them to use his trains instead of finishing restoration of the Prior and Church trains. They neuter the ride, the original’s were a lot heaver and made for a faster paced ride.

[@riparianlife97701]

This is gold!

[@jones2tl]

Incredible!

[@TheCoasterLisa]

Love this video. Finally rode it in 2013 and thought the afternoon rides were much slower than at night. The little beast woke up once the tracer lights came on and gave quite a fun ride with plenty of air. I couldn't stop riding it. And the locals and other tourists were so much fun to enjoy the experience. People truly love this historic gem. Thank you for all of your determination, endurance, hard work, commitment, and passion in help restoring this coaster. ~ A grateful ACE member

[@maha77]

What a great video, I lived in PB at the time and remember this. What a magical time to be in San Diego, I miss it!

[@coasterbear]

Such a heartwarming film. Thanks for sharing Kim.

[@timothycole5266]

It was crazy dangerous. If you look at the video "Giant Dipper restoration part 1" there is a quick shot of the condition of this very track in the tunnel. After the track was cut into segments for the removal two years later, I kicked over a section and it just literally disintegrated into dust. I don't think I would have let this ride fest happen had I known it was THAT bad. A real miracle nobody was hurt. Also, in between the tracks just coming out of the station house was only a thin layer of oil-soaked plywood. Had anybody busted through that it would have been all over.

[@asylumental]

But nothing happened, and instead you got to have these amazing memories

[@scsstudios]

Woooow. It's really sobering, seeing ALL THOSE PEOPLE pushing it up that hill.... just gives an idea as to how heavy these suckers are @_@

[@timothycole5266]

It was crazy dangerous. If you look at the video "Giant Dipper restoration part 1" there is a quick shot of the condition of this very track in the tunnel. After the track was cut into segments for the removal, I kicked over a section and it just literally disintegrated into dust.

[@ProChoiceJesus]

Wow, lots of familiar faces here. I remember being invited by the Fluharty's to go to this but I was financially unable. How awesome to hear Helen's usual frantic/excited voice! I still have my "Save The Coaster" shirt and cardboard cut-out. The one beef I have with Giant Dipper is the Morgan trains. If the P&Cs were used it would be truly complete. It's sad to me to see the one restored car sitting in the little museum next door. Still a fantastic ride, though! Maybe the tinker-toy Morgans will wear out/fall apart & they'll have to go with Millennium Flyers or Timberliners someday!

[@erinlisaaulfinger9594]

Hi, I'm Helen's granddaughter--she says hello! She saw your comment but doesn't have an account.

[@ProChoiceJesus]

Erin, thank you! Tell Helen I'm thinking of her with fond memories of cross-country coaster trips in the early 80s! I'm still surprised the family put up with me as a typical, crazy teenager then, but they proved themselves as a gentle, gracious, and FUN second family to be with. Do you belong to Mark or Tracy? My former second sister & brother!

[@PHAEDRIDER]

this really is beautiful !

[@brookestraveltime4533]

Nice video, I love this stuff. I am a member of the European Coaster Club and love the woodies. I have hit the subscribe button to support your channel.

[@gregoryagogo]

So neat!

[@maha77]

I lived in Pacific Beach during this time, I love seeing this footage! I used to ride my bike past that roller coaster every day, I wonder if I can spot myself! I've ridden that roller coaster many times since then, it's my favorite, it really rattles and makes a lot of noise and whips you around.

[@lancecochran1428]

Just rode this a couple weeks ago and it was amazing. I wish there were more wooden coasters in the world

[@asylumental]

Come to Vancouver BC to ride a 100+ year old wooden coaster

[@PHAEDRIDER]

Whaaaaaat🙌???. There was enough left of those cars to build a proper train and we wound up with these crappy plastic rattle buckets?????..I mean, I get that Morgan stepping in had A LOT to do with saving it, but even though I'd never be able to know for sure,I think they rob this ride of a lot of it's potential. That said I am truly grateful it was saved, century fliers or no...

[@Rezqewr]

I grew up riding the "old" "Earthquake," and was sad the years that it was closed. During my High School years when it was shut down, a buddy of mine and I climbed to the top of the lift hill. The wooden walkway alongside the track was in "less than stellar" condition, to say the least, and looking back, we were incredibly lucky that we didn't fall through. I've ridden her several times since the restoration.

[@KimAPedersen]

Rezqewr The Earthquake was amazing with the old cars. No lap bar and you really thought you'd fall out. Wild!

[@Rezqewr]

***** Back in the era of $2.50 admission to Belmont Park, my brother rode that beast 30 times in a single day. During his "run," he carved his initials in the seatback of every car. They were visible right up until they shut the park down in the '70s.

[@timothycole5266]

@@Rezqewr It's a miracle that in all the years it was closed, especially in such a populated area, that nobody fell off.

[@fatderrickhenry798]

I’m there right now and then this comes up while I’m leaving the place

[@timothycole5266]

Robert Maxwell and (I wanna say Robert?) Parker (long black hair with glasses) also appear. You can also catch a glimpse of Helen Fluharty. I'm pretty sure it was Robbie who suggested the idea! Good times.

[@natsumi_tunic]

it looks so...old...

[@texacaligirl9714]

It is it burned down 3 times and was rebuilt

[@CH_343]

hahahahahahaha they were struggling to push that coaster train😂😅

[@KimAPedersen]

It hadn't rolled in years, so it was reeeeeeal sticky, darned heavy too.

[@CH_343]

***** Yeah coaster trains weigh about a ton all depending on the type of coaster car, them things aren't light XD

[@PrinceChaloner]

Too bad you can't ride the roller coaster like that today the government will sue you. lol

[@auggiewhitman7358]

Chaloner The roller coaster is still open...

[@realboltfan]

@@auggiewhitman7358 he meant everyone on it

[@jojovaldez2766]

If.you.have.to.push.the.rollercoaster..whats.in.it.for.you?..a.free.days.worth.of.riding.it?