Lone Ranger Road Faces Resurfacing

It was an idea worthy of Tonto; what could enhance the American driving experience more than grooves cut into the tarmac that produce a vague approximation of the “Cavalry Charge” from Rossini’s William Tell Overture (otherwise known as the theme from The Lone Ranger) when tyres roll over them?

On a stretch of road near Lancaster, California advertisers made this scheme a reality – one that local residents have been living with ever since. The sound is produced using an analogous method to that of a vinyl record-player’s stylus, but the amplification has proved too much for people living in the area, who have successfully requested that the grooves be removed in a resurfacing operation.

The sound of “A fiery horse with the speed of light,” can be sampled on the BBC’s website before “a cloud of dust, and a hearty ‘Hi-yo, Silver, away!”” from road-workers sees the audio spectacle trot over the Western horizon into the setting sun one last time.