Los Angeles Police Captain Ray Maltez carries the official Southern California Law Enforcement Torch up the Santa Monica Pier with other LAPD Officers and Special Olympics Southern California  Athlete Jason Martinez after Jason's father, LAPD Officer  Gus Martinez,  set a new Guinness World Records® title for "Longest Ride On A Fair Ground / Theme Park Attraction" at Pacific Park on Friday, June 1, 2012.

Los Angeles Police Officer Gus Martinez rides the 130-foot-tall Ferris wheel  at Pacific Park while  attempting  to break the Guinness World Record for the longest Ferris wheel ride of 24 hours and 30 minutes. His is scheduled to ride through 8:30  a.m. Friday . Martinez is trying to raise funds and awareness for the Special Olympics. His son  Jason  has Down syndrome and has won more than 30 gold medals  in Special Olympics swimming competitions. Martinez has been with the Los Angeles Police Department since 1994 and currently holds the rank of Detective, working special crime task force.

Supporters can get involved with a variety of fundraising options available online at http://www.pacpark.com/worldrecord . Once an online donation is confirmed, the supporter can then guess how many rotations the Pacific Wheel will make during the 25-hour world record event.

The supporter who comes closest to the total rotations without going over will receive a free, private one-hour ride on the Pacific Wheel Ferris wheel. The ride will occur during non-operating hours with four guests and include a delicious meal from The Lobster restaurant.

In addition, supporters donating at the website will receive a $10 off coupon for Sports Authority, an SOSC partner proud to be a part of the record-setting event.

Guests can also ride the Ferris wheel in one of the remaining gondolas for $5 during the Park's exclusive after-hours from 8 p.m. to midnight. All proceeds raised during the period will go toward SOSC.

Congratulations to Bob Schlegel and his wife Myrna! They won this giant monkey on the ring toss at Pacific Park on Sunday, May 20, 2012.

Maintenance Manager Jimmy Quaintance installs new LED lights on Inkie at Pacific Park on Thursday, October 27, 2011. The new lights can be programmed to flash different colors and patterns. 

President/CEO of the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce Laurel Rosen, (left) Santa Monica Councilmember Dr. Robert Holbrook (center) and Council Candidate Jean McNeil Wyner (left)  ride on the Ferris wheel during Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce's 'Meet your Candidate' mixer at Pacific Park on Wednesday, October 13, 2010.



Thrillseekers ride the new Pirate Ship at Pacific Park on Monday, July 12, 2010.

In true Olympic spirit, Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier lit up its Ferris wheel with a flame pattern and ignited a stationary torch atop the Ferris wheel hub on Thursday, June 11, 2010. The torch will be lit for four to officially kick-off the Special Olympics Southern California (SOSC) Summer Games.

The Olympic-style torch departed the Malibu Pier to complete one of the last legs of its run aboard a U.S. Coast Guard boat and arrived at the Santa Monica Pier where it was passed to Santa Monica Police Sergeant Mike Bratten and a Special Olympics athlete Kevin Hamilton, 17. The runners proceeded down the Santa Monica Pier with the torch to Pacific Park where Sergeant Bratten transported it to the Ferris wheel’s center hub and ignited a specially designed torch that was lit for the duration of the Summer Games. Following the torch ceremony, the Ferris wheel lighting changed to a flame pattern that will be continuously illuminated throughout the Summer Games being held June 12 and 13 at California State University, Long Beach.

Pacific Park also hosted an official appreciation party for all law enforcement and fire personnel. During that period, each emergency response member that presented their badge or acceptable identification received up to four free tickets for unlimited rides throughout Pacific Park. Also any non-emergency response guests that purchased an unlimited ride pass for $10, Pacific Park donated the net proceeds to SOSC.

“Our goal is to help raise funds and awareness for this year’s Summer Games in a non-traditional manner,” says Jeff Klocke, director of marketing and sales at Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier. “Special Olympics athletes are unique individuals and we can only hope that our display of support can match their passion for the games and commitment to excellence.”

Throughout this year’s Summer Games, Pacific Park will also host a booth to distribute up to 2,000 unlimited ride wristbands as an official “thank you” to coaches who participate in this year’s Summer Games.

“Pacific Park’s overall dedication to Special Olympics Southern California is beyond the scope of simply wanting to lend a helping hand,” said Bill Shumard, President and CEO of Special Olympics Southern California. “From the use of their venue on the Santa Monica Pier to their team’s feet on the ground at the Summer Games, it’s partners like Pacific Park that provide us with the ability to make dreams a reality for so many people with intellectual disabilities.”

In addition, Pacific Park hosted a Media Day with Special Olympics athletes during the torch arrival and emergency personnel appreciation event. Several of the athletes competing in the Summer Games were available for interviews, photographs and one-on-one competitions with media members based on amusement park games relating to their sport.

Athletes and volunteers travel from all over Southern California to participate in the annual Summer Games, which is the largest Special Olympics Southern California sports competition of the year with more than 1,100 athletes competing in aquatics, athletics (track & field), basketball, bocce, golf, and gymnastics. An expected 6,000 people will attend the games throughout the weekend. For more information about the Summer Games, visit www.sosc.org/summergames.