OC Man Celebrates 15,000th Disneyland Ride

ORANGE COUNTY, CA — A Brea man has just reached new heights, after Jon Alan Hale celebrated his 15,000th trip on an auto-racing ride inspired by the animated film "Cars" at Disney California Adventure Monday, ABC7 reported.

The Orange County-based television technician told the news outlet that he found himself "hooked" on the ride after undergoing gastric bypass and knee replacement surgeries in 2010 and 2011.

Hale told ABC7 that he began tracking his races in a notebook, keeping note of his car's color, lane and whether he wins or loses.

“I fell in love with the ride,” said the television technician from Brea, California.

Hale said he started carrying a sign to mark every hundredth ride, and remembered how Disneyland workers clapped when he reached 1,000.

On Monday, Hale took the ride with friends who work at the theme park while wearing a “Cars” themed cap and holding a 15,000 sign.

Hale said he's visited the Anaheim, California, resort known as the “Happiest Place on Earth” more than 1,100 times. He said he's taken the ride on average 13 times each visit, largely thanks to the fast-moving line for single riders.

He said he doesn't tire of it, especially since he never knows which car is going to pull ahead and win.

“You don't know who is going to win the race,” Hale said. “There is no pattern of who wins or loses.”

Hale said there's no formal record for riding the attraction inspired by the 2006 Pixar film released by Walt Disney Pictures. He said Disneyland officials said they don't have one and Guinness World Records said they don't track it either. Disneyland officials did not immediately comment on Hale's ride Monday.

But on his quest, Hale said he's come away with more than just a number. He's gotten to know people at the park and become friends with some of the workers.

“It's like family,” Hale said. “Everybody recognized me, they're rooting for me.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.