Knoebels Bumper Car Love Thread!

I think this love thread is long over due.

I have been going to Knoebels with (my bumper car partner in crime) Chris Gray every Wendsday, Friday and Sunday since Knoebels opened durring the week rarely missinig one of those days.

We go for bargin nights just to ride them with an occasional ride on the Phoenix or other rides.

Everything about them is awsome. Left Turn Jack's infamous, "One way only, No head on collisions", or when he's trying to talk a kid out of the wall, "Turn the wheel to the left, Your other left, Don't you know your right from your left?"

They also hit like tanks, basicly like getting into a real car wreck at 5mph!

You have you love when you hit someone from behind and they are not expecting a hit and you see them tossed around like a rag doll in the car.

There is also the hits when people see you coming at them and the chringe in horror just before the hit.

I can't leave out the Malachi Crunch, (anyone remember the Happy Days demolition 2 part episode) when one person hits the victim then a second later is hit in the opposite direction by another person.

There is always that one person who you can pick out on the ride and just pound them relentlessly until the end of the ride. Preferably little kids or an older person.

Even better is when you get some really hard hits by the queue and you hear people waiting in line cheering for your car number or laughter or just plain gasps.

One of the best things is to get someone who wants to hit to follow you then head straight for the wall. Bounce into the wall and on the rebound get them before they get you. Thats totally unexpected!

Somtimes Chris and I are laughing so hard after a hit one of us gave someone we can't even drive for a few seconds and were wide open for attack.

So far this year I've been called an evil bastard, mean and a few choice words I won't even mention here after some real brutal hits. *** Edited 8/11/2004 5:07:07 AM UTC by coasterpunk***

The Knoebel's bumper cars are all that and then some. I love them. Sometimes you DO have to back off a bit, but when you're with a group that's into it, holy cow is it fun...

Best...bumper....cars....ever.

Seriuosly. As if the Phoenix and the Phlyers weren't enough, these little machines are awesome. There is truly nothing like the frantic panicked attempts to get away of someone in your sights. Truly something to savor. *** Edited 8/11/2004 4:26:59 AM UTC by ApolloAndy***

Well I've been Knoebels twice now and missed the bumper cars both times. We tried last year at the PPP but the wait just looked too long, especially when you have the Phoenix not so far away. It sounds like I've been missing a lot. Heh Coasterpunk, you willing to give some lessons to a newbie at PPP this year?

While the line may look long at times, it generally moves very well. Definitely don't skip them.

Lessons? Just drive and hit everyone in sight. You'll get the hang of it after two or three minutes ;)

The bumper cars are as important to the Knoebels experience as Phoenix, Twister, the Flyers and the Haunted Mansion. By far, the best bumper cars ever, and certainly one of my favorite rides of any kind. Dare I say I like them more than many coasters I've ridden?

Oh I'm sure I'd get the hang of it pretty quick Rob. What I want is a "lesson" in bringing the pain ;) Coasterpunk seems to have perfected a technique over the years. So which is more fun guys? Having a whole ride cycle filled with experienced bumper car riding maniacs for full blown mayhem or just having a few "ringers" in the cycle that just demolish all of the other unexpecting riders? Anyway, thanks for the interesting thread guys. I had always heard that the Knoebels bumper cars were some of the best out there and now I know why and it's got me intrigued :)

You may dare to say that.

I think I've written in the past that their bumper cars are as fun a flat ride as there is, including Spiderman at IOA. For those who haven't been to Knoebels, they're nothing like your run-of-the-mill theme park cars. They're gorgeous, authentic Art Deco Lusse Scooters that run fast and pack a punch.

Plus, you run them in an oval, as much racing as crashing, which can lead to great fun. The wife and I race for beer and because of these high stakes, on more than one occassion I've managed to talk someone (usually a kid) into smashing into her as I take the lead ...

That's the only reason that I want to get out to Knoebels...is to ride those bumper cars!:)

btw, is there any other bumper cars that have the same cars as Knoebels?

I personally I like riding when there are two or 3 brutal people and there are about 15-20 cars being used instead of all of them. If there are too many it's tough to get the real brutal hits. Late Sunday nights are the best for brutal rides. the parks empties out and employees jump in the cars and it's full blown chaos.

The best hits are when you hit someone up against the center divider and their car's bumper gets hung up on your bumper and neither of you can move.

Some rare information about the bumper cars is that the motors are actually floor buffer motors.

The reason to GO to Knoebels is those bumper cars! Oh yeah, they have coasters there too:)
I've only made it there once, and had heard so much about the bumper cars that I figured it was worth the wait. One ride & I was hooked. Definitely a do not miss. Looking forward to PPP to get into a few crashes again.

Gotta love Lusse Scooters, Dutch wonderlands are great as well.

Unlike PKI's where the Bedrock Bulder Bumpers kiddy cars are faster than the Adult Dodgem.

Best bumpers ever without question. I love spinning others out. You catch them at the turn, slam the rear of their car and watch them spin out. Then they try to get turned around again before someone else slames them. :) :) :)

Everyone talkes about the haunted house and I didn't do it this spring when I was there, I'll have to try it next time.

I honestly didn't get that much out of the haunted house. It was good, but I'd much rather be on Phoenix, the flyer, the bumper cars, HSTC, or any of the other amazing rides at the park.

My favorite bumper cars, period. I wouldn't mind taking a trip to Knoebel's every weekend to ride the woodies and bumper cars, too bad I can't drive yet :).

I've never had an opportunity to make it to Knoebels, regrettably. So I really don't know how good the bumper cars are. For anyone who has been to both Knoebel's and Oak's Park, how do they compare? I'm not trying to make it a vs. thread or anything like that. It's just the Oak's Park has the best bumper cars I've had a chance to ride and I want to know how they compare. From everything I've read, they sound similar.

Here's the best pic I found quickly of the bumper cars at Knoebels. It even has Left Turn Jack in the pic!

I just looked for pic's of the ones at Oak's Park but came up dry!

Chuck, I think I failed to ride the bumper cars at Dutch Wonderland....Jill's just not as big a fan as I am, LOL.

On the other hand, IB's have the greatest SMELL of any bumper cars out there, and they get a BIG thumbs up! :)

The only *other* one that comes to mind right away is El Dorado at Coney, the only place where you might pick up hitchhiking ops...;)

But Knoebel's is still the definiteive classic the most insane, hardcore bumper cars left...so much so that I had to take a pic of the Lusse car in one of the shops at DCA....

I am not really a bumper car person but it's a way to get out your road rage........;-)

I don't believe I have rode the ones at Knoebels but they *looked* very fun.

-Tina

The one amazing thing is Jack is actually warming up to Chris and Myself! Tonight there were 2 kids he didn't like on so he wanted us to get them!