My dad was a ride mechanic at knotts berry farm , he named one of the cars on this ride after me. I still have the pie plate with the name from the back of the ride vehicle. I looked up this video to show my son what the heck I was talking about when I came across the name plate haha. This was definitely a favorite ride of mine as a kid.
That's such a cool story. Its always been my dream since I was a kid to be a Knott's Berry Farm ride mechanic . Maybe someday soon I will live that dream up.
These were a lot of fun for the ~8 year old me. Unfortunately the ride effects (lights / smoke / sounds) didn't last too long after opening, and I had forgotten about these until National Coasters mentioned them.
Man they do run a whole lot slower than I remember; as a kid I felt like we were flying! Nevertheless an awesome trip down memory lane....specifically our elementary school graduation class trip. Thanks!
I remember this from when I was a kid; it was still a motorcycle theme. This ride is still the scariest roller coaster I've ever done (and I'm quite an aficionado). Both my brother and I remember desperately trying not to fall off as those were the days when you simply held on and were responsible for your own safety.
How cool would it be if Knott's had somebody engineer an updated version of this ride? Reopening the Wacky Soap Box Racers with some of the original designs and artwork but better track system and cars? Keeping the same twists and turns but tighter and faster? But safer? People would flock to ride those....
I loved this ride! so sad when I went back one year and it had been taken out. Knott's has removed some other rides that I loved too like the octopus one.
This ride was so much more enjoyable with the theming when it first opened. I remember the doors you would crash through the sewer pipes were full of smoke!
@@1ROCKET- i wouldn’t know. I visited LA as a kid in the 90s a couple of times and always went here. One time in the late 90s, I found they were gone and when I moved to LA in the late 2000’s, I haven’t been there since then. Not a rollercoaster guy really but I did have a good time with this ride and Jaguar and Boomerang and the greased lightning spinning cars.
@@alonzotanner1226 In a sense I’m jealous, you got to experience Knott’s during that time. I was born in 2003 so I never got the chance to experience any of those
@@1ROCKET- yea I was born in 85. Came up in Harlem New York but my mom has a couple of cousins who lived in Inglewood for decades so my folks would take all of us on trips there in the summer sometimes. After I graduated college I moved to LA myself and by then I was already in my early 20s and not even for dates I never went to amusement parks. Talkin with you now tho I just might start going again. I’m jealous of you too though. You’re only 18 I would give a lot to be 18 again rather than 35. However when I was your age it was much simpler times.
@@1ROCKET- I’m jealous of you man. You’re only what, 18? I’d give anything to be 18 again. I’m twice your age now. I’d love to trade places believe me.
This ride was so fucking awesome!! I was just reminiscing with my buddy bout this and Whirlpool...so glad I got to ride these great rides when they were still around!
looks like by 1994 they had removed all the fun scenery and the doors you would crash thru. check out the knots berry commercial from 1980 to see what i mean. i was there in 1980 when i was 9 from nyc!
Agreed! I thought I was going crazy, because I remembered it being so much better than what this video shows. There were a ton of doors that blasted open when your cart slammed into them, which really made the whole thing super exciting. I wonder if it was a safety concern. But safety concern or not, it looks like they got rid of ALL the extra themeing by '94.
probably got rid of all the cool stuff to cut back on maintenance costs. The more moving parts something has, the more points of failure, which means it breaks down more, meaning it costs more money. All about that cash.
The Cork Screw is still around. Silverwood bought it and it's still running there! There is a placard paying homage to the iconic ride and the history behind it. I totally agree, the Soap Box Racer was one of my favorites!
when this ride was new it was well themed and really fun.. all through the 80's they chipped away at it and by the time this video was made there was nothing left .
When this track first opened the riders were actually on motorcycles. You sat upright on a cycle seat and had to hold on for dear life to the handle bars. The ride was fast and the turn could catch the first time rider off guard. There was a seat belt but it was hard to imagine that would have kept the rider on if they lost their grip. Those did not last too long and then the replaced the cars with the Soapbox variety as shown in the video.
I grew up across the street from Knott's Berry Farm in the 70's behind the Buena Park Mall this ride was the best ride to me 2 is the log ride seen this video gives me soo many great memories
By this time basically everything of any type of effect had been removed from the ride. They all deteriorated in the weather and simply weren't replaced. It was a shell of itself.
@@spectroman71 Did leaning ever help? lol. I remember as a kid to "LEAN!!" to make it go faster to try and win :D I saw the dudes in this video do it as well
Oh man I remember this ride. It was located in the far back north/west section of Knott’s park. I use to love this ride 2nd only to Timber Mountain Log Ride. ❤❤❤
This was my favorite ride in the park. I was so pissed when they demolished it in favor of that horrible Wind Jammer coaster! Xcellerator is better than WJ, but it's still no WSBR!
I remember this ride from when I was younger up until my 8th grade year when my Jr High went there it was awesome. My stepmom God Rest Her Soul both in 7th & 8th grade would give me her whole disability check to go when the school went. She even did that for my 8th grade trip to Magic Mountain.
I remember when it was the motorcycle chase ride ! My hands would be so sweaty because those leather straps that held you in really didn’t .. you would hold on for dear life . Crazy late 70’s
I was a little kid when I went on these & have very faint memories of it, along with the parachute ride & the indoor scrambled egg ride "Whirlpool". I still love Knott's Berry Farm for Ghost Rider & Silver Bullet, but I miss these rides too.
Went to this park second day of the 92 riots. There was maybe 300 people all day! Best day at an amusement park we ever had. Log ride no need to exit and get in line if we wanted they just waved us through.
@PHAEDRIDER Yeah, I remember the commercial promoting this ride when I was a pre-teen, in the summer of 1980. Everybody wanted to go to KBF that summer to ride it. It was a very popular and fun ride, don't know why they replaced it with that Windjammer junk. But I do like Xcelerator though, lol!!
Yeah I remember being 12-13 or so in the late 70s and going to the little cars with the guard rails on the other side of the parking lot. Miss the trolley cars too.
I loved this ride when I was a kid I miss it. Surprisingly anyone that works at knotts now if I bring it up they don't remember it and it's just sad this ride was awesome
wow, i loved this ride, im 30 it was my favorite ride as a kid, i wish they would bring it back and take out xcellorator, well keep that just move it lol, but i know they had problems with the manufacturer and were having trouble finding parts for it to replace when time came to do so.
Does anybody remember Jungle Island the donkey rides the train rides the carousel and where you can feed the ducks in the pond and ride the wooden horse that shoots water out of its mouth it's next it used to be next to Liberty Hall where Soak City is now
I rode this with my parents when I like 8 or 9, along with the Wave Swinger and the Tampico Tumbler, and all three scared the crap outta me. I was a sensitive kid. Looks pretty tame now, watching this video as an adult.
All the effects were off by then.. there used to be announcers at the corners after drops. Both ground drops were into fog. The last area was full of fog and would blow up when you entered it.
I remember when XK1 came out at Knott's. My cousin and I rode it several times, he turned the plane upside down and wouldn't turn it right side up until the end of the ride. The next day on the news they closed it because the safety harness failed. I don't know if they removed the ride or not. I never went back on it.
Henry Mancini's "Shades of Sennett" from the first Pink Panther flick, 1964 with Peter Sellers and Hnery Mancini, but oddly NEVER used in the United Artist-DePatie-Freleng-Mirisch-Geoffrey cartoons as was the theme, was used in this ride!!!!
Blackpool pleasure beach has one of these called Steeplechase (based on the Coney Island ride) but you sit on horses instead, like the motorcycles that was on this ride.
This use to be a bike ride (using the same rail system here) and it was ten times scarier because the only thing securing you was a leather seatbelt. I remember the sensation of falling off the bike because their one-size fits all belt was so loose.
I will never understand why they took these out, so what if they were dangerous, Everything they've placed in that location so far hasn't lasted more than a few years.
wtf...i grew up in cali and went to knotts berry farm often. i lived there back in 1994 and know that i went there when this was open. but somehow...i dont remember this ride at all!
We might have a vhs camera copy of this from the mids 1980s, the big problem is we did not do a good job keep track of what is on the tapes. We got a video camera in 1984 and since then we have over 600+ Vhs tapes, lots of them not marked, but if i find a copy of it I'll post, Luke
I wish Knott’s bought more land so they can add this back. Same as boomerang. The parking lot takes too much potential space so it should be stacked up to be 3-6 stories high. The parking near ghost rider is okay but near hotel should be stacked instead of ordered pairs. Like hotels with stacked parking. They should add soap box racers, boomerang, and wind seeker. Even tho wind seeker was mechanical problems. It was awesome ride. And they should add corkscrew back. And they should bring back perilous plunge.
List of rides should be added back if Knott’s bought allot land or removed parking lot and stacked them instead of using too much space: Corkscrew Boomerang Windseeker SOAP BOX RACERS Perilous plunge
My dad was a ride mechanic at knotts berry farm , he named one of the cars on this ride after me. I still have the pie plate with the name from the back of the ride vehicle. I looked up this video to show my son what the heck I was talking about when I came across the name plate haha. This was definitely a favorite ride of mine as a kid.
That's very cool
That's such a cool story. Its always been my dream since I was a kid to be a Knott's Berry Farm ride mechanic . Maybe someday soon I will live that dream up.
That's awesome!!!
Was it the slow one?
I miss knotts in the 90s. What a time to be alive!
Its better now but killing this ride is the biggest mistake but at least xceleator the ride that took wind jammer surf racers was great
These were a lot of fun for the ~8 year old me. Unfortunately the ride effects (lights / smoke / sounds) didn't last too long after opening, and I had forgotten about these until National Coasters mentioned them.
They should have kept this ride. What a one-of-a-kind experience that made Knott's so unique.
This was a GREAT ride. The whole "Roaring 20's" theme at Knott's Berry Farm BITD was awesome.
Yes, it was! I think they need to revive the whole area back to the Roaring 20s. Keep Knott's back in the running for a heavy theme park experience!
I really miss this ride. Good memories
jody grody me too!
It's back!
@@Orbits_Loonano it not
Man they do run a whole lot slower than I remember; as a kid I felt like we were flying! Nevertheless an awesome trip down memory lane....specifically our elementary school graduation class trip. Thanks!
Exactly what I thought lol
It is probably just the camera making it look slower
It is probably just the camera making it look slower
I remember this from when I was a kid; it was still a motorcycle theme. This ride is still the scariest roller coaster I've ever done (and I'm quite an aficionado). Both my brother and I remember desperately trying not to fall off as those were the days when you simply held on and were responsible for your own safety.
What a wonderful blast from the past. This ride was awesome.
How cool would it be if Knott's had somebody engineer an updated version of this ride? Reopening the Wacky Soap Box Racers with some of the original designs and artwork but better track system and cars? Keeping the same twists and turns but tighter and faster? But safer? People would flock to ride those....
+Jason Owen Dude, that would be GREAT.
I loved this ride! so sad when I went back one year and it had been taken out. Knott's has removed some other rides that I loved too like the octopus one.
love2sing20101
Mannnn, that sounds like a disappointment and a complete drag.
Jason Vegan Sadly it's been taken out by windjammer, which has since been taken out by xcelerator
That could've taken place of Perilous Plunge instead of those 3 rides
This ride was so much fun. My family went to Knotts when I was a kid in the 80's and we just kept racing over and over again. So fun!
Totally forgot about this ride. Thanks CZcams for the recommendation and thanks for uploading this.
I would give anything just for one more ride on this. I love and miss this ride; it was so much fun.
This just made me so happy 😁 Glad I came across it. Miss these days. Being 40 is lame
This ride was so much more enjoyable with the theming when it first opened. I remember the doors you would crash through the sewer pipes were full of smoke!
Such memories! I remember riding it, thinking that leaning into the turns would make a crap load of difference. Such fun.
I went to Knott's Berry Farm with my family in 1981, and we rode this ride!
This was my favorite ride there, EVER. I hate it when these great rides get torn down just because they want to get closer to what Six Flags is.
I don't mind, it eventually lead to the creation of HangTime which is one of my favorite coasters ever
@@1ROCKET- i wouldn’t know. I visited LA as a kid in the 90s a couple of times and always went here. One time in the late 90s, I found they were gone and when I moved to LA in the late 2000’s, I haven’t been there since then. Not a rollercoaster guy really but I did have a good time with this ride and Jaguar and Boomerang and the greased lightning spinning cars.
@@alonzotanner1226 In a sense I’m jealous, you got to experience Knott’s during that time. I was born in 2003 so I never got the chance to experience any of those
@@1ROCKET- yea I was born in 85. Came up in Harlem New York but my mom has a couple of cousins who lived in Inglewood for decades so my folks would take all of us on trips there in the summer sometimes. After I graduated college I moved to LA myself and by then I was already in my early 20s and not even for dates I never went to amusement parks. Talkin with you now tho I just might start going again. I’m jealous of you too though. You’re only 18 I would give a lot to be 18 again rather than 35. However when I was your age it was much simpler times.
@@1ROCKET- I’m jealous of you man. You’re only what, 18? I’d give anything to be 18 again. I’m twice your age now. I’d love to trade places believe me.
Seeing this makes me feel very old. I was 5 when I rode this. I'm in my 30s now.
This ride was so fucking awesome!! I was just reminiscing with my buddy bout this and Whirlpool...so glad I got to ride these great rides when they were still around!
Loved this ride! Almost teared up thinking about my dad.
looks like by 1994 they had removed all the fun scenery and the doors you would crash thru.
check out the knots berry commercial from 1980 to see
what i mean.
i was there in 1980 when i was 9 from nyc!
Agreed! I thought I was going crazy, because I remembered it being so much better than what this video shows. There were a ton of doors that blasted open when your cart slammed into them, which really made the whole thing super exciting. I wonder if it was a safety concern. But safety concern or not, it looks like they got rid of ALL the extra themeing by '94.
Might've also been taken out due to being difficult to maintain as well.
probably got rid of all the cool stuff to cut back on maintenance costs. The more moving parts something has, the more points of failure, which means it breaks down more, meaning it costs more money. All about that cash.
Start a petition to bring back Soap Box Racer and the Cork Screw
The Cork Screw is still around. Silverwood bought it and it's still running there! There is a placard paying homage to the iconic ride and the history behind it. I totally agree, the Soap Box Racer was one of my favorites!
Knott's bring this ride back and never replace this ride.
I miss this ride
+Cesar Bustos Yeah, I used to (almost endlessly) ride this as a kid. Nostalgia. Damn!
This and Knott's Beary Tales. :,-(
I rode it when it was a motorcycle ride and it was an f-ing ball buster
I remember when this ride was the Motorcycle Chase instead of Soapbox Derby.
long time ago
Loved the Motorcycle Chase!
Hated it, if you were a guy you got your balls busted on it...
One of the most dangerous theme park rides ever! Truly miss it!
Wow! Many thanks for uploading this! Lots of great memories... A shame the park has changed so much in recent years.
Thank you for recording this, this was my favorite ride as a kid, and never knew the name!
when this ride was new it was well themed and really fun.. all through the 80's they chipped away at it and by the time this video was made there was nothing left .
When this track first opened the riders were actually on motorcycles. You sat upright on a cycle seat and had to hold on for dear life to the handle bars. The ride was fast and the turn could catch the first time rider off guard. There was a seat belt but it was hard to imagine that would have kept the rider on if they lost their grip. Those did not last too long and then the replaced the cars with the Soapbox variety as shown in the video.
I loved the motorcycles! They had more of a "danger" feel. I was disappointed when they were replaced, but the soapbox was still fun. Miss both rides.
I grew up across the street from Knott's Berry Farm in the 70's behind the Buena Park Mall this ride was the best ride to me 2 is the log ride seen this video gives me soo many great memories
I remember it being so much faster. Also, wasn't there a barn door of some sort that was closed, until the last second, when you go through it?
Yes, there was. I was surprised when I watched this video and didnt see that feature. I went from 81 to 85ish and was born in 74
By this time basically everything of any type of effect had been removed from the ride. They all deteriorated in the weather and simply weren't replaced. It was a shell of itself.
@@spectroman71 Did leaning ever help? lol. I remember as a kid to "LEAN!!" to make it go faster to try and win :D I saw the dudes in this video do it as well
@@megelmoose lol not really but people did it anyway for fun. I think it was more about the weight that determined who would finish first :)
Oh man I remember this ride. It was located in the far back north/west section of Knott’s park. I use to love this ride 2nd only to Timber Mountain Log Ride. ❤❤❤
Can’t imagine how big the camera you used to film this, bravo and thank you for the memories 😢😊
This was my favorite ride in the park. I was so pissed when they demolished it in favor of that horrible Wind Jammer coaster! Xcellerator is better than WJ, but it's still no WSBR!
Windjammer was so wack.
holy shit Batman I loved this ride!!
I have to agree I loved this ride & the parachute too!
The parachutes were classic
I'm 22,i remember going here as a kid.Good times.I actually remember going on this ride
I used to love that ride!
I remember this ride from when I was younger up until my 8th grade year when my Jr High went there it was awesome. My stepmom God Rest Her Soul both in 7th & 8th grade would give me her whole disability check to go when the school went. She even did that for my 8th grade trip to Magic Mountain.
I remember when it was the motorcycle chase ride ! My hands would be so sweaty because those leather straps that held you in really didn’t .. you would hold on for dear life . Crazy late 70’s
I loved this ride!
I was a little kid when I went on these & have very faint memories of it, along with the parachute ride & the indoor scrambled egg ride "Whirlpool".
I still love Knott's Berry Farm for Ghost Rider & Silver Bullet, but I miss these rides too.
I remember this ride. It was soo much fun.
This was the best ride ever.
I grew up down the street from there.....loved that ride.
I forgot all about that ride!! Very cool to see it again!!
We used to lean into the turns as well. I miss this ride!
Went to this park second day of the 92 riots. There was maybe 300 people all day! Best day at an amusement park we ever had. Log ride no need to exit and get in line if we wanted they just waved us through.
Best Ride Ever. That and Huff N Puff
Oh man I loved that ride as a kid.
I did too, as a late teen
Same here. In fact, i literally dont even recognize KBF these days. It is completely different than it was twenty years ago.
Back when Knott's was cool (Joe Cool)
God, this brings back long-forgotten memories.
Wasnt the fast or most thrilling ride but was fun and one of my favorite classic kbf rides
Thank you for this!! :) I loved that ride! :)
My fav of all time, I miss this great ride.
@PHAEDRIDER
Yeah, I remember the commercial promoting this ride when I was a pre-teen, in the summer of 1980. Everybody wanted to go to KBF that summer to ride it. It was a very popular and fun ride, don't know why they replaced it with that Windjammer junk. But I do like Xcelerator though, lol!!
This is great to see after it's been closed for so long. Do you mind if I use some of this for a CZcams video looking at Knotts coasters?
damn! I totally forgot about those little cars you could drive...all that is gone now.
Yeah I remember being 12-13 or so in the late 70s and going to the little cars with the guard rails on the other side of the parking lot.
Miss the trolley cars too.
Remember when Knott's was fun and NOT a wannabe Magic Mountain?
That was my favorite ride.
I remember riding these. For some reason I thought this was at Magic Mountain back in the day, but guess it was Knotts instead!
I miss this ride...
Amazing how a pov exists
OMG I used to love that ride!
Omgosh miss this, was one of the best at Knotts! Needs to be brought back!
This ride should NEVER have left!
This video appears to show WSBR in a declined state from its glory days. It was a really good ride in its heyday.
I loved this ride when I was a kid I miss it. Surprisingly anyone that works at knotts now if I bring it up they don't remember it and it's just sad this ride was awesome
they need to bring this back!I've never been on it!😞
A railroad club I belong too. Owns a couple of the actual soap box wooden cars..
May I use this footage in a video on Knott's former coasters? I will give you full credit.
Yes you can, Is this just a CZcams video ? That is fine, Thanks for asking, Luke
Rip wacky soap box racers
wow, i loved this ride, im 30 it was my favorite ride as a kid, i wish they would bring it back and take out xcellorator, well keep that just move it lol, but i know they had problems with the manufacturer and were having trouble finding parts for it to replace when time came to do so.
Thanks, a lot, TOGO...
Does anybody remember Jungle Island the donkey rides the train rides the carousel and where you can feed the ducks in the pond and ride the wooden horse that shoots water out of its mouth it's next it used to be next to Liberty Hall where Soak City is now
Very Cool!! Used to be my favorite!!
I rode this with my parents when I like 8 or 9, along with the Wave Swinger and the Tampico Tumbler, and all three scared the crap outta me. I was a sensitive kid. Looks pretty tame now, watching this video as an adult.
All the effects were off by then.. there used to be announcers at the corners after drops. Both ground drops were into fog. The last area was full of fog and would blow up when you entered it.
Was a fun ride
90’s Knots was the best.
woah. i barely remember this ride. lol looks like fun.
We have one of the old karts on our property
I remember when XK1 came out at Knott's. My cousin and I rode it several times, he turned the plane upside down and wouldn't turn it right side up until the end of the ride. The next day on the news they closed it because the safety harness failed. I don't know if they removed the ride or not. I never went back on it.
this ride looks fun. too bad i wasnt alive during the happy days.
I went on it in about 7th grade, when I was steeplechase horses instead of soapbox racers. Felt like a lawsuit waiting to happen
Henry Mancini's "Shades of Sennett" from the first Pink Panther flick, 1964 with Peter Sellers and Hnery Mancini, but oddly NEVER used in the United Artist-DePatie-Freleng-Mirisch-Geoffrey cartoons as was the theme, was used in this ride!!!!
Soap Box Racers was the best!
Blackpool pleasure beach has one of these called Steeplechase (based on the Coney Island ride) but you sit on horses instead, like the motorcycles that was on this ride.
This use to be a bike ride (using the same rail system here) and it was ten times scarier because the only thing securing you was a leather seatbelt. I remember the sensation of falling off the bike because their one-size fits all belt was so loose.
I will never understand why they took these out, so what if they were dangerous, Everything they've placed in that location so far hasn't lasted more than a few years.
wtf...i grew up in cali and went to knotts berry farm often. i lived there back in 1994 and know that i went there when this was open. but somehow...i dont remember this ride at all!
Reminds me of Steeplechase at Blackpool pleasure Beach.
And now it's a hot pink, fifties hot rod themed launched coaster that horribly clashes with the theming.
We might have a vhs camera copy of this from the mids 1980s, the big problem is we did not do a good job keep track of what is on the tapes. We got a video camera in 1984 and since then we have over 600+ Vhs tapes, lots of them not marked, but if i find a copy of it I'll post, Luke
Always get rid of a good thing.
I wish Knott’s bought more land so they can add this back. Same as boomerang. The parking lot takes too much potential space so it should be stacked up to be 3-6 stories high. The parking near ghost rider is okay but near hotel should be stacked instead of ordered pairs. Like hotels with stacked parking. They should add soap box racers, boomerang, and wind seeker. Even tho wind seeker was mechanical problems. It was awesome ride. And they should add corkscrew back. And they should bring back perilous plunge.
List of rides should be added back if Knott’s bought allot land or removed parking lot and stacked them instead of using too much space:
Corkscrew
Boomerang
Windseeker
SOAP BOX RACERS
Perilous plunge
@gymboy9111 Yes. It became Windjammer and eventually Accelerator.
the ride looked dilapidated here, all the cool theming was almost completely stripped out
@Matt Below Xcelerator stands on the area that used to be Wacky Soapbox Racers. Supreme Scream took the area right next to it.