Blackpool Pleasure Beach classic ride closure: Grand Prix Final Lap 🏎️🎢🗼 

Another childhood memory scrapped terrible from the pleasure beach

What a shame, what a great vintage ride.

The whole event seemed like the ride was opening instead of closing, flag girls and champagne! All in all The Grand Prix ride looked pretty sad. 🏁

Memories, went on it when young, took our son on it and also our grandchildren. Young kids love it. The Parks just become a rollercoaster enthusiast place. Not for families anymore. Always looks empty to me nowadays even when the prom, piers, town centre etc is packed. Suppose they've got to move with the times but it all seems to be going one way. Great video Stephen, cheers.

That chap from the West Midlands Darren is absolutely spot on. Why doesnt someone come and let folks know what is happening. Good customer service. ❤Hi to your brother.

I've not been on that ride for many a year, but the sights, sounds and smells are unforgettable. It's another sad loss 😢

Used to go on it many years ago absolutely brilliant ❤

£50 pounds a totall rip off used to love going into the park for walk even if I didn’t go on any rides.

I went on the Turnpike many times when I was younger and thoroughly enjoyed it. Blackpool’s motto is Progress but leave me in the past.

I used to love going on the turnpike back in the day (early 70s) lol you could pay separately on each ride in them days

Like you I remember them with combustion (petrol ?) engines. Another piece of heritage lost. So sad😢. Pleasure Beach is definitely not as much fun these days, definitely less variety for families. Bring back the monorail😂

Can remember me and my brother riding this in the 70s just after midnight on a Saturday night. Those were the days.

I remember going on this as a kid, It was brilliant fun. I also remember each car having a petrol engine. Another childhood memory gone 😞

I remember when my parents took me to pleasure Beach when I was about 13 or 14 in the 80s and went on this with my Dad. This is one ride which really amazed me that I could be so young and get a taste of driving (better than dodgems) before I could do it for real at 17. How sad they want to remove it, such a unique interactive ride for younger people even with the rail, it was such fun and very happy memories.

Another ride bites the dust so sad most of old rides now gone only matter time before pleasure beach closes esp when new indoor opens on 2030 ths the final nail in coffin for pb

Hi Stephen. That was fun watching you drive that car. It’s a shame that they closed it. I’ve been on it many years ago with my father. really enjoyed it. used to go to the pleasure beach every time I was in Blackpool until we had to pay to go in. haven’t been in since. nothing is as good as it used to be. This stops people from going there. Thanks again for this great video clip. Oh my goodness! 😄😄👍❤️

Very good. You looked like you enjoyed you ride in the car with a mind of its own. Shame it rained.Well done.

I remember driving the cars back in the late 1960's they were very noisey but great fun to drive. Yes the ark scared me too with the up and down movement in the dark

I was glad to be there for the final ride, I more or less lived on this ride in the late 80s early 90s. Another piece of history gone.

This video brought back some great memories, that was mine and my brothers favourite ride when we were kids. There would have been no chance of us getting on it one last time as I am 6'3 and he is 6'7.

I have really fond memories of this ride with my kids. I also remember the patrol cars here too. Well done on the video. A end of a era and a fantastic tribute fom you. Well done😊😊

Great video. Was a wonderful ride.. RIP :)

Hi Stephen. Just watched your video on the grand Prix. Pleasure beach. Thought you did very well driving the car. They're a bit cramped inside. They're taking away all the best rides, don't know what there thinking is. I remember when the ride opened. There were no central rail and they went really fast. They had to put the central rail in after an accident when a car went off the bridge and landed upside down on the track below. Can't remember if the injuries the person received. Anyway, will have to see what replaces it. Thank you Stephen for bringing all the memories to us oldies who can't get there anymore. Looks like you had a great time, apart from the weather. Keep on filming. 👍😍.

Great video as always Stephen. I'm really sad to see this ride go. I have some happy childhood memories from the late 70's going on this ride with my Dad and I have took my own son on it in recent years, so hopefully he will have some happy memories of it in the future too. A cracking video, documenting this iconic ride. Keep on walking on the wild side.

Hey Stephen great video. One of my fave rides the Grand Prix when I was a kid. The thought of driving a real petrol car felt amazing a a lad of single and double figures. The smell of the 2 stroke engines and the noice of the cars as you waited on the bridge over the track in the queue really used to build the anticipation. I got to take my own daughters on the ride a few years ago on a visit so thst was good to take them on a ride I loved as a kid. Sadly in later years the cars became electric. I particularly liked this ride at night as the track seemed quite dark and far away from the station when you went around it. It will be missed by me tbh.

I think the reason it’s closing is because people have become taller and can’t comfortably fit into the cars anymore. Interesting though, although the scantily clad females were so yesteryear. Yes, things move onwards and change for the better, which is definitely a good thing in my experience. Thanks for filming this, I didn’t really go to the pleasure beach much when I was growing up.

My son Martin had his last ride too. Great video Stephen, and great memories. A great ride and so sad to see it go. Awesome video!!

When I worked at the Pleasure Beach in 1969 that ride was called the Turnpike

Great video! I too remember it as Turnpike and petrol cars!

Thanks for the vidio sad to see that ride go was a good one but small cars 🚗 hope you enjoyed 😊

They used to be proper petrol engines when I was a kid,that centre rail was just a guide,they have been electric powered for some years now,and pick the poelwer up from that central rail,loved these as a kid in the 70s...shame to see them go..

Great video , shame seeing the ride going for the last time , lots of fun years ago on there.

Needed 'L' plates on that car Stephen 🤣

Good Evening Stephen and to Your Lovely Brother. It is very Sad to see such a Nostalgic Childhood Ride close, and at least people were given the chance to come along to Blackpool Pleasure Beach, and go on the Grand Prix Ride. So Lovely to see the Tree Lovelies waving the Grand Prix Chequered Flags. You did very Well at trying to Drive that Vintage Racing Car around the Specially Built Track Stephen. You and Your Lovely must have had a Great time going on the Iconic Roller Coaster Ride again. I mean, for £ 50 pound, You and Your Lovely Brother should have been given a Bottle of Prosecco and they should have laid on a Buffet for there Guests at least. That Is a lot of Money, in this day and age. Thank you Stephen.

Thanks for sharing Stephen😊

I was in the Plesure Beach last Sunday with the family and never new or seen any notice that it was closing when my kids were young they loved the ride so sad 😢😢😢

I remember when it was called "Turnpike" and the cars were petrol driven in the 70's. And you controlled the speed with foot pedals.Loved the petrol smell ond and the noisy engines.

I worked on this ride years ago had an accident but at least am still alive am pleased it's shut for the better

Not the same without the noisy engines. They used to break down on a regular basis too.

Really enjoyed the video and this brought back some wonderful memories of going on this ride at the Pleasure Beach. I have just lost my Mum, and we always had our holidays in Blackpool. It will always remain close to my heart Blackpool, because that is where my wonderful parents took us on holiday when we were kids. Sometimes in life, all you have left are your memories.

it was happy days for me when I worked at Blackpool pleasure beach then 1996 a ride operator 1997 games attendant and 1998 as a mobile toilet cleaner and ride operator and I done kitchen porter work at the casino building paradise kitchen anyway the old woman Thompson and her son was around then her daughter Amanda Thompson was an ice skater then she runs the park now all the best from peter Monaghan to the pleasure beach at Blackpool South shore.

Great video. I remember going on that ride when I was a kid, my Dad did the driving and they were petrol cars back then. It would be good to visit the pleasure beach again but it's the cost of paying for entry just to walk round and see how it's changed since the family holidays of the late 70s and early 80s.

very sad day its a childhood memory for me just like the wild mouse which they threw in the bin i will never visit pleasure beach again they have destroyed it

I've been in that pasaje de terror a good few years ago, I think that's the one that you get chased by zombies at the end and you find yourself in the middle of a cafe or a pub! I wonder if it's still the same now xx

I went on that ride a few times and loved it ❤

Another great upload mate was on this 1980 with my younger brother a classic being disgarded to the memories I havnt been in the pleasure beach for 20 years and I visit Blackpool every September I believe you now have to pay full price just to get in even if your not going on any rides £50 . I yearn for the days of pay as you go lol and you could walk about have a beer and a hot dog and watch the rides at night with all the lights alas that will never happen again . Always look forward to you videos brightens my week 👍

My theory on the weather is that everything is 2 months later so April showers are in June these days and the sunshine is nowadays august september. As for the pleasure beach I used to like the funhouse but was never into the thrill rides

Evenin there’s quite a few people there we all take our beautiful places we live in for granted is the laughin clown still in there? 😂😂 so funny 😂😂 I bet that was uncomfortable 😂😂 nice to see a member of your family a great video 😂 till the next one 😊

The railway is most likely on the list of things to get rid of as well. If they do get rid of that the locomotives, carriages, wagons and track will find a home with enthusiast groups. Its sad to see this ride go it could have been updated possibly.

Pleasure beach used to be good, but £50 is a rip off in this financial climate. We used to walk round and watch, whilst the children went on rides with there daddy.😊

That ride looks very reminiscent of Disneyland’s Autopia (circa 1955). Sad to see it go.

by proper petrol cars he means they had lawnmower engines and drove at around 3mph and if they stalled, a guy came running out to start your engine with a hand pull cord.

Great set up and a great send off for the ride 🏁👏

Lovely to see you having fun with your brother

I remember in the 70s it was more a young man's ride, but when they changed the cars they looked more child friendly, so young families started going on it, but originally it wasn't for children, good vlog

The steering has been knackered on that ride for years. I remember the petrol cars . And it used to be a longer layout. Think it got shortened when they built avalanche

I drove the petrol cars that were amazing, Brilliant!

Thank you for sharing , Glad you got to go on the ride and must have been very uncomfortable for you as well, Thank you once again Steve for all your great videos take care.

😂😂😂😂 great funny vlog Stephen my brother always used to ride this as a kid and the first time I went on it was a couple of years ago for the first time at 48 years of age I absolutely loved this ride and then obviously it Closed.am 5 foot 8 and I struggled getting in and out of the car so god knows how you felt, ty for sharing it was fun to watch

Last year visiting BPPB near the entrance casually walking over the grill and the water fountain start I got absolutely drenched, more soaked walking through that then the time on Valhalla 😂

Your reaction to the ride Stephen was priceless , it was so funny watching you trying to drive the car , it must of been so uncomfortable for you. Another great video from you and a nice documentation of this classic ride. 👍😊

Took my son to the Pleasure Beach for the first time the other week and we had a fantastic day. Rides were amazing, the park looked immaculate, the staff were very helpful and friendly and even the food was good. A far cry from when my dad in the late 70's used to get discounted books of tickets from his works and there were gangs of marauding lads causing mayhem and surly ride operators. The Pleasure Beach evolves, it changes, it modernises....but yes, this ride will always be the Turnpike to me also!

Well done Stephen looks like you had a good time

At least this ride's closure was announced. I remember the removal of my own personal favourite The Wild Mouse, no fanfare, supposedly closed for maintenance but unceremoniously ripped out. Unfortunately The Pleasure Beach has massively changed since my days & not for the better. Extremely expensive with huge queues meaning very little chance of doing all the rides in a day. Used to be far better when paying for each individual attraction, but greed rules nowadays.

When you said £50 a ticket, then you said Fleetwood Mac are playing. I thought wow bargain 🤣 I never have went on the Grand Prix at BP. Not sure why not,. It looks very slow. Fantastic video Stephen.

What a shame, I loved that in the 70's. No doubt they'll replace it with another new and utterly charmless and soulless ride. What a real shame to lose this. Another piece of history gone

I always wanted to go on that ride and never had the chance.

It seems so expensive at the pleasure beach now, it needs to find direction. Enjoyed your video though and glad you got to ride it one last time😎

There used to be an amusement arcade in Bridlington (North end) back in the 70s' called Thompsons. I wonder if it was owned by the same family.

Loved the Pleasure Beach, was a season ticket holder along with my kids until the whole place started to slip and nobody seemingly making a serious effort to stop it. This event seems an underwhelming and absolute rip off - just randomly thrown together. The two cars there are even an advert for another company so likely a freebie for PB. Sad to see PB continue to slide with several rides 'standing but not operating'. Amanda Thompson seems like Veruca Salt would have been, had she won the chocolate factory instead of Charlie Bucket... Interesting video though Steve, thanks for posting.

That was hilarious Stevie, comedy gold. Lovely to see Al making an appearance xx

Shame they didn't have an event like this for the Mad Mouse 😢😢

Omg Stephen thanks 4 sharing this ironic last ride on the grand Prix . Can't steer the car lol icon is a wonderful ride . (Can't find the pedal) Next video Stephen does the horror walkthrough lol . Thanks and yes 50 was a bit steep but great to document it xx

Ha Steve you looked like you enjoyed that ride I remember when I last went on the wild mouse 🐁 that was a good old crazy ride

Brings back memories driving them cars 😂 i think u should of been brethalysed driving like that😂😂

Shame to see a great ride go Steven but the show must go on enjoyed you're vlog 👍

If you watch the pleasure beach bbc one series from back in the 90’s you can see when the Pleasure Beach was the place to be, open till about 1am every night and absolutely packed, hardly a soul in there these days and they don’t even stay open late anymore, Geoffrey Thompson would be turning in his grave with what his daughter has done to the place

Fess up! Your driving looked like you'd had more than a glass of champagne 👀😂😂

Not surprised it broken down there electric car's 😂

Such a shame - BPB isn't a 'family' park anymore, its lost a lot of its way since the pay to enter fee was introduced - a lot of family members who don't like rides are essentially wasting their money by asking them to pay to go in now, and, consequently feel barred form enjoying a fun family day out with their kids, so they go elsewhere for the day now. - Should be making drastic changes to how they operate, back to the good old days.

I used to love those car rides when I was little

Interesting comments from Amanda T, BPB / PBR have been clearing out rides for "new attractions" for years, yet fans of the park are still patiently waiting on investment in quality new rides, and even repairs to the current line up, with very little seemingly happening.

Great video that Stephen, right down my street, well done there🙂

Grand prix ride after 65 years u made history on final lap u should buy one cars if go sale u should visit madam two saws and sea life centre if book on line save money great video

Hi Stephen, so sad to see this ride going, took my boys on this through the years then my grandkids, but i get it they have got to make room for new rides😊

Awww, that seems quite sad to me that a ride that's been going for that long has finally come to an end (and i have never been to BPB) Hopefully they will replace it with something that the young and old can enjoy, as one of your other viewers commented, not everyone wants white knuckle roller coaster rides. It is meant to be a family venue after all, much love from me x

At least you went on it one last time Stephen looks like you hardly had any room in the car sad it’s going put nice too see a new attraction there in the future.

SO SAD TO SEE IT GOING, I WAS ON THIS RIDE OVER 50YEARS AGO.

It always had queues that didn’t seem massive, but moved very slowly. It was wonderful when I was 10 but now, with little control over the car except the throttle, it can’t compete with the other rides. Hope it’s replaced by something other than another metal coaster….

Stephen, nice of you to loan the event one of your cars for the girls to dance in front of. Sorry to see it shut down.

Brilliant vlog Stephen you was so funny on the Grand Prix ride lol

😂😂Great video ❤️👍

Visited BPB many times & didn't even know this ride existed 😮 Looks like it's seen better days tbh.

Interesting Steven not been on the pleasure beach for a few years now and it looks different to what it used to be like. Thank you for the experience x

Sad the grand national ride is closing l remember the wild mouse too from years ago that was epic

Didn't get to say hello as it was so busy but it was good to see you there Stephen, I have one or two photos of you both in the car that I will try to send you when I've been through my pics from the night. Was a shame about the weather towards the end of the evening!

Loved that ride it broke down when me and my wife went on it back in the day😂😂😂

Stephen...Liverpool Kev here..I hope you are not offended if I decline your offer to drive me round the 'Nurburgring'....I have told you before that 60 years ago my dad got stuck in the carriage of the Ghost Train at New Brighton while I cried so hard they had to stop the ride...He never forgave me haha..All the best Stephen...disapponted not to see you with the MacMaster on his recent Blackpool trip...as ever Stephen...Take care...Liverpool Kev

I'm sad now, My family loves this ride and it's my favourite.../:(

My first experience of a ride collision was this back in the mid eighties, when it was petrol cars and called Turnpike. One car came racing into the station way too fast and crashed into the empty car in front. Nobody was hurt but the noise it made certainly made several of us jump. It was late in the evening and I think the driver may have had a drink or two. Was never personally much of a fan of the ride but still, it's always sad to see yet another old classic disappear. Still traumatised by the Wild Mouse removal.