The Fourth of July brings to mind all kinds of fun traditions: fireworks, hot dogs, parades, and, of course, launching cars off cliffs. Yep, you read that right. A small town in Alaska celebrates Independence Day every year by sending cars off a cliff while hundreds of onlookers stand below and wait for them to smash at the bottom. What’s more American than watching empty cars crash
into oblivion? Jerry
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, looked into this wacky tradition. Read on for all the jaw-dropping details.The Alaskan town that sends cars off a cliff fun
The Glacier View River Retreat in Glacier View, Alaska—a small town outside of Anchorage—started this tradition in 2005. The original idea came from local resident Arnie Hrncir. In 2003, Hrncir’s wife hit a moose with their Volvo, and after finally giving up on trying to fix the car, the Hrncirs did what made sense to any frustrated car owner in Alaska—they launched the car off a cliff.
According to Car and Driver,
in the years since then, the tradition has taken hold and become what Hrncir calls “F Day.” Hrncir tells Car and Driver that "F Day means it's freedom, faith, family, food, and fun. We're having a birthday party [for the U.S.]." The hours-long event emphasizes military veterans and their contributions. There are also food trucks, vendors, American flags, plus lots of daylight for most of the night in the “Land of the Midnight Sun.”
An exciting July 4th tradition
So, how do they do it? Hrncir explained to Car and Driver that they have two different launch tracks: one that uses a railroad track attached to the cars’ steering wheel, and another method that involves tying the wheel into a straight position and jamming the acceleration with a piece of lumber.
The cars are launched off a cliff and crumple down below, where hundreds of people are watching and cheering, separated from the cliff by a small lake.
The rail launch is more of a straight-line launch off the cliff, and the tied-steering wheel launch is more of a freewheeling launch as it approaches the cliff. The cars mostly go where they are supposed to, but sometimes careen off in the wrong direction, and once there was a mid-air collision between two vehicles!
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What cars get launched?
The cars are donated or picked up for low prices at auctions. They have launched vans, sedans, a stretch limo, and a snow machine (also known as a snowmobile to non-Alaskans). The organizers aren’t picky and the event isn’t very pre-planned.
Whatever cars show up get launched while the onlookers wave flags and cheer for the cars that get the most air and the biggest crashes. According to Roadtrippers
, one person even put the ashes of a loved one in one of the cars to fulfill his dying wish to be launched off a cliff on the 4th of July. Anything goes in small-town Alaska! This year they launched 13 cars, all with different paint jobs. Most were decorated with detailed red, white and blue color themes, while some were professionally designed and painted by a customization shop. Others had funny images, and some were decorated by people in the community, including residents of a rehabilitation home.
After all the carnage, the damaged and smashed cars at the bottom of the cliff are loaded up on big 18-wheeler trucks and hauled off to be recycled. So, if you’re looking for a different Fourth of July tradition, head up towards Anchorage next year and watch it for yourself!
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Car insurance for your Alaskan adventure
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