"Start your engines ..."
The Grand Prix (known formerly as the Turnpike) was built in 1960 by Arrow Development, five years after they had built Autopia, an opening day attraction at Disneyland. The ride gave budding racers the opportunity to drive their own vehicles around a lengthy track.
❓Did You Know❓
The cars on the Grand Prix (formerly, the Turnpike) were originally powered by petrol powered Kohler engines. For the 2003 season, the cars were replaced with electrically powered cars.
Over the decades, as development intensified in the vicinity of the attraction, several changes were made to the track, although it maintained its original proportions.
Other changes included the addition of a centre guide rail in the late 1960s, ensuring that the vehicles stayed on course and in 2003, the entire fleet was replaced with electric vehicles.
The ride was decommissioned at the end of the 2023 season, with a final farewell event held in June 2024*.