From Royal Marines abseiling down Valhalla to Russian Cosmonauts ‘testing’ Spin Doctor before it was ‘cleared for launch’, publicity events during the final years of Geoffrey Thompson‘s leadership at Blackpool Pleasure Beach, were always guaranteed to impress.
One of the most surreal events, took place on 24th July 2003, as Formula One driver Ralph Firman took to the skies in a F1 car, bolted to a Big One chassis. The car completed the entire course, to the astonishment of onlookers lucky enough to witness the spectacle.
The event was part of a tie in with the now defunct Jordan Grand Prix team, who loosely sponsored the revamped Grand Prix ride at the park, with the cars being ‘upgraded’ from the original 1960s gas guzzlers, to new electrically powered cars.
You can see video of the event below, courtesy of Coaster Touring
