Bumper Car ID Help Needed

I happened to stop by the little carnival in my local mall's parking lot and noticed they had some bumper cars. I have a hard time ever passing up bumper cars and noticed that they were different from everything I had seen. Needless to say I grabbed the camera and took a few photos in hopes that someone could help me identify them. they were travelling with the 'Carol Stream Amusements' operator out of Florida and actually hit fairly well despite the fact that there were too many on such a small floor in my opinion. Anyways here are the photos and I appreciate any help in advance:

http://jophish17.smugmug.com/gallery/1416235/

- JR -

They look like their from Lusse.

Indeed, They apear to be Lusse. Unquestionably the best kind of scooters I've ever ridden.

Did you by chance catch the name of the Carny operation? I didn't know there was a traveling version out there. Lusse are very rare.

Chuck

WOW...killer looking bumper cars!

I thought the body styling looked like Lusse's as well but they didn't feel like metal, more of a fiberglass or something. Perhaps they used this for their portables? anyways they were also in great condition and the operator was "Carol Stream Amusements" (http://www.carnival-rides.com/) - I've already mailed them about the subject. Kinda odd that there was no indication anywhere on the cars or the trailer or anything...

Could they be Dodgem Corp. cars?

Great find though, I love vintage rides and old-style bumper cars are a rare treat.

I'm going to go with Millrace and guess that these are Dodgem cars, not Lusse. The early Dodgem and Lusse share the same basic shape, but there were differences. Here's a vintage dodgem car:

http://jimvid.smugmug.com/gallery/1408198/1/66692775

They look like Knott's Berry Farm's old bumper cars if my memory serves me correctly. The new ones don't hold a candle in terms of styling. They seem to lack power too...but that could simply be how they are operated.

Hey jimvid-

That's a great brochure from Enchanted Forest. I was glad to see that picture of the Surf, a ride I've been intrigued by for a while. Did it get moved too, or is it lost? I believe it was the only one of that ride ever made.

Thanks,

Mac

Mac,

I'm am under the impression that the Surf ride was a one-off Watkins spectacular (I've also seen the ride credited to GoForth). It was definitely trailer mounted so I'm under the impression that it came to the Enchanted Forest from the carnival circuit at some point in the 1970's.

Norton auctioned off the rides in 1991 so perhaps that could assist you to as what became of the ride - it obviously hasn't been resurrected anywhere as I'm pretty sure someone would've mentioned it - IMHO, it was a specatuclar ride!

Glad you enjoyed.

Jim

Gotta love those swinging gyms. :)