Glacier View might not be the main attraction when visiting Alaska, but on the 4th of July, you might want to check it out. Most of the country has a specific way to celebrate holidays. On Halloween, we dress in costumes, on Christmas, we buy a pine tree, and on the 4th of July, we light fireworks. Unfortunately, not all parts of America are dark enough to see fireworks on the 4th of July. Glacier View is one such spot. Residing within the fringes of the arctic circle, the small town doesn’t see much darkness for the summer months. Instead of launching fireworks (which isn’t very impressive in the daytime) they launch old cars off of a 300-foot cliff.
Cars Used
The typical car to launch is a beat-up jalopy. This can range from literally anything. The Glacier View Car launch offers a wide array of broken-down pieces of junk. Do you have an old Ford Escort just sitting in your front yard? Can it still roll? If yes, then perfect. Send that sucker sky-high. Typically, the heavier the car, the further it will go. The basic principles of physics can dictate just how big the slam will be. Last year’s winner went to an early 90’s Nissan Pathfinder which set the record with an air distance of just over 100 feet.
Glacier View History
The event has been held for the past 11 years. Everyone in the town shows up to watch old cars get sent high. At this stage in the game, it’s safe to say that it has become an essential American tradition. With junkyard cars as the staple for the tradition, you bet there isn’t a short supply of vehicles to be on hand. Typically, the launch sends 3-4 vehicles per year. The clean-up crew at the bottom of the hill as to see everything through without damaging the environment.
