Knoebels Bumper Car Love Thread!

Best bumper cars around. 2 great woodies. Best old time ride through haunted house. And no one else mentioned what a great collection of kiddies rides that are the same rides that were around 50 years ago when I was a kiddie.

Just a great park!

Floor buffer motors? I never would have guessed! Does anyone know how many Skooters the park has in storage for future use? I once heard that the park has enough to keep the ride running for fifty years (or something like that) without ever having to build new parts!

The kiddie rides are pretty cool... don't mis Ole Smokey- a REAL steam train. As millrace says, it even features a station "fly-by" (take that, Thunderhead!)

Actually Rob, I think it was Sean who mentioned the station fly-by. I believe I was busy discussing group pedophilia. :)

Ah yes, how could I forget? That conversation really went all over the place, didn't it?

Either way... cool little ride. One that you'll find only at Knoebels ;)

Knoebels has a huge inventory of parts. I've never seen them but I did hear they supply other parks with parts when they need them.

Is there any word on whether they purchased Dorney's old set? There was talk of them returning at some point but the last I heard was that they were for sale/sold. Knowing Cedar Fair, I couldn't see them making a return.

I heard Knoebels didn't get the ones from Dorney. I actually rode them years ago. I do know that Dick buys them up when he finds them.

I highly doubt they would return to Dorney. They need bumper cats there too. Those gas powered bumper boat kinda things just don't cut it for me. But then again most bumper cars don't likving so close to Knoebels all my life.

After Knoebels Auto Skooters, what bumper cars could possibly compare?

I wonder what happened to Dorney's Skooters? I rode them years ago and have always wished for their return. If Knoebels didn't get them, I'm kinda glad because that means that there is hope for them to be installed somewhere in the future as a ride instead of being sold for parts. I can think of a LOT of parks that could use some good Lusse Skooters!

All parks need Lusse's!

As 'gator mentioned the El Dorado bumper cars at Coney are alot of fun. I'd say they are my second favorites behing Knoebels.

Third would probably be the ones at Dutch Wonderland.

I have yet to ride the Lusse's at Bushkill Park. They were closed the day I visited.

Shame on me for passing on the "bump bump bump yer a** off" ones at Coney each time I go. Next time... I promise!

I heard that Bushkill has Lusse Auto Skooters but also heard that there are only three or four operational. I saw that Keansburg has a few but there looked to be others mixed in as well (in addition to the rotting pile of cars- Lusse cars included- behind the building). Maybe these parks need more floor buffers? ;)

Could be, Rob. I know just about evertime I visit Knoebels there are usually 2 or 3 differant cars out of service each time. I know after some brutal hits a good running car will not pick up and go right away or the steering will become bad. There is always the dreadded shopping cart shuffle too.

It's so hard to get a great car somtimes. One day a car will be a tank and the next day or even a few hours later it will be a dog.

I've never even bothered to think about all the work that bumper cars require, especially hard-hitting ones like Knoebels'. To think of the maintenance that these things need- I mean, they're DESIGNED to get into repeated collisions!

Funny this thread goes to matainance. Tonight Chris put a car out of service. I'm going to wait for him to post to tell everyone about it.

Tonight some lady threatened to rip some of my jewelry out too. Chris heard it and he told me so we went after her as much as possible!

God, this winter is going to suck!

A lady threatened to rip your jewelry out? What the heck did you do to her? Or was she like that before you guys started pounding on her?

I'm curious to hear how Chris managed to put a car out of service. To put one of Knoebels Lusse Auto Skooters out of commission is quite an accomplishment- that's like a ballplayer hitting 50 home runs in a season, right?

At least once a night we get one or two people that HATE us. It's a good thin the ride ops like us.

We actually saw Jack throw one guy off on Friday night for giving Chris an head on collision. He said it was the second hardest hit he ever got besides one I gave him. :) Also on Friday we got stairs from people we were riding with earlier. They kept ganging up on me an pushing me into the wall. So when I got the chance I would level them! :) :) After Chris saw what was going on we would hunt them down like a pack of wolves and tear them to shreds! Lots of fun!

Speaking about Friday someone was playing bumper cars in Knoebels parking lot. A car hit parked cars along the downhill road into the lot. It was a chain reaction, there were 4 or 5 cars involved. One car slid into the next! Talk about ruining your day at the park. It figures it was a day I didn't have my camera too.

*** Edited 8/23/2004 3:47:57 AM UTC by coasterpunk***

While I visit Knoebels at least once or twice during the regular season, the majority of my bumper car time takes place during the PPP, so I'm used to riding with enthusiasts that share my mentality rather than regular patrons who don't understand what bumper cars are all about. I can just begin to imagine the fun that you guys have... how I wish (at times) I lived close to the park like you and Chris!

Talk about a crappy way to end a day at Knoebels- real bumper cars! I remember going to Great Adventure with my cousin when I was young- one day her boyfriend's car overheated on our way out and that definitely put a damper on the great day that we had! And yes, you heard that right... a great day at Great Adventure! ;)

"If you don't want to get hit *as hard as possible*, do NOT get into the BUMPER cars! We suggest you try the Antiques"....
signed,
the management :)