Sierra Madre’s Entry to Rose Parade Breaks Down Mid-Parade
By Bill Peters
Published: Saturday, January 2nd, 2010
Association could face a fine of $1,000 or more…
The City of Sierra Madre’s proud all-citizen-volunteer float was awarded the Governor’s Trophy for its entry, “California Girls” in the 2010 Tournament of Roses parade in Pasadena, Ca. on New Years Day. In spite of the fact that the colorful float received applause all along the parade route, the float developed brake problems that halted the parade for over 10 minutes.
It all started, according to Sierra Madre Rose Float Association Construction Committee chair, Dick Sappington, when the front braking system began to seize up early on.
“We knew there was minor difficulty as we came down the hill,” Sappington said, referring to the incline of Colorado Blvd. after turning the corner at Orange Grove Blvd. and Colorado. The right front brake began to act up. There never was any danger of brake failure, Sappington noted, since this float, and all parade floats, are required to have a duplicate system on the rear wheels of the float body for safety.
About half way through the parade trouble began ahead of the Sierra Madre float when the City of Torrance entry broke down and needed to be towed. At that time, the entire procession came to a complete halt for 20 minutes. The delay was exacerbated because the Torrance float was not equipped to be towed.
Due to the delay ahead, at 9:55 a.m., the Sierra Madre float was stalled at the corner of Oak Knoll Ave. and Colorado Blvd. as it waited for the disabled float to be removed. Finally, at 10:15 a.m. the floats and marching bands in front of them began to move. The “California Girl” music, which had played incessantly during the halt, came to a stop as the driver attempted to re-start the engine. The engine balked. In a roar, the float started-up belching lots of black smoke out the tail-pipe. Finally, it began to move eastward to the approving applause of parade on-lookers. But, moments later, the balky right front brake began to give trouble as the float approached Hudson Ave. The brake seized up and “California Girls” stopped in its tracks. After several attempts to free the brake system the float was unceremoniously moved to the side of the boulevard and on-coming traffic of bands and floats moved cautiously around them following a 10-minute hiatus on top of the previous 20 minute stall. Sappington, who was with the team supervising the float, used his intimate knowledge of the installed systems. He went under the float and accomplished some quick fixing that allowed the float to re-take a position in the parade.
With the brakes in order, about 15 minutes after the second stop, the float re-joined the procession. What started as entry #64 (and the 30th of 42 floats) dropped back a few numbers. The “California Girls” melody began once again bringing its joy back to the parade. Sierra Madre float Princesses waved and the Derby Dolls skated around the floral tribute to California lifestyle as the float continued its happy and successful march to the end of the parade route.
According to Tournament of Roses rules, the Association could face a fine starting at $1,000 for delaying the parade. A hearing will be held in March to determine the nature of the float failure. Additional money could be sought if Tournament officials believe the float breakdown could have been avoided, though how much more or to what dollar limit was not revealed. Sappington said he thought that the hearing would find that an innocent malfunction had occurred as might with any engine or system, although he anticipates that the Association will be assessed the base penalty of $1,000.
In spite of the difficulties it was, nevertheless, a successful day for the Sierra Madre Float Association. The float gained the Governor’s Trophy which is awarded for the best depiction of life in California. This marks the fourth consecutive award and the seventh major award since 1917 when Sierra Madre first entered a float in the Tournament of Roses parade.
By Bill Peters
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