November 8, 1973
El Paso Times -
The route of the New Year’s Day Sun Carnival Parade will be changed for the first time since the parade’s inception in 1935; it has been announced by Herb Klapmeyer, Sun Carnival vice president.
The change involves a complete reversal of direction and the elimination of two sharp turns. According to Klapmeyer the new route calls for a starting point at Copia and Montana and movement westward on Montana to Kansas where the units will disband. The parade formerly stated Downtown at Texas and Campbell, moved up Texas to Mesa, up Mesa to Montana and then east on Montana to San Marcial.
“The old route has two 90 degree turns, one at Texas and Mesa and one at Mesa and Montana,” said Klapmeyer. “The floats have been getting longer each year and have been experiencing some difficulty negotiating these turns.”
Klapmeyer said Montana has a slight uphill grade when moving from west to east. This, coupled with the slow speed of the units, has often caused the gasoline engines that power the floats to overheat. The downhill route is expected to put less strain on the floats.
“The parade committee has been considering a change of this type for some time,” Klapmeyer said. “I think the fact that the Aniversario parade last summer went so smoothly influenced our decision greatly.” The Aniversario Del Paso ’73 march also moved west on Montana.
Photo gallery: Sun Carnival / Sun Bowl Parade
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