Michigan state fair to have worlds largest portable rollercoaster.

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Acoustic Viscosity said:
How bad can it be, honestly?

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Really bad. You sit on the floors of the cars and negotiate a bunch of jerky transitions while surrounded by restraints seemingly made of stone. I've never been tossed into a rock tumbler but I imagine a ride on an RC-48 is pretty close...

This information was passed onto me from Brandon Driscoll, an ACE regional Rep.

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Rare coaster coming to Oklahoma City and Raleigh, NC Fairs!The Pinfari RC-48 coaster that just finished its run at the Michigan State Fair will be running next in Oklahoma City, and then Raleigh. I (Brandon Driscoll) rode the coaster at the Michigan State Fair, and then discussed its history with one of the carnies (while riding the Zipper with said carny - since no single riders were allowed).

I looked on roller coaster database, and saw that there is only one RC-48 listed, which ran in Wildwood, NJ from 2000-2004. The carny said that their (Wade Amusements) RC-48 was purchased from "New Jersey or New York somewhere" and that it had been in storage for a few years; BINGO - a match!

The ride is a little rough during transitions, no air-time to speak of, but some nice positive Gs (especially the fourth hill/ diving spiral), and its rarity makes it worth a visit if you are nearby. Just as a warning, the carny also told me that Wade Amusements will be at a fair in Knoxville, TN, but the coaster will not be there. Wade has "three units of rides," and the rides at a certain fair depend upon which Wade unit is there. If you see a fair advertising rides from Wade Amusements, call to make sure that the RC-48 is included in the ride unit at that fair.

I actually enjoyed this coaster. Not as ruff as most make it out to be. The harness was not a great thing, but the ride was no where near ruff.

As for the rest of the fair.....what a waist of money/ time. $25 for a wrist band x 3= $75. $10 per person to get in, and $7 to park. What a waist. My daughter was not even able to get onto many of the rides she is able to ride any where else due to a silly height requrement for most of the rides. For example....She loves the giant slide and has been on it thousends of times at many fairs. The height requrement has always been 36' tall with an adult.....here it was 42'. Funny thing to mention is that you only had to be 36' tall to get on the gravitron.

Then a ride operator told me I could not even ride the carousel with her.

Next year we will not be going.

wow a height requirement of 36 feet and 42 feet? ;)

What are they feeding those kids in Michigan. ;)

I didn't know Spinal Tap's stage prop designer posted here. :)

Last Tuesday I made a quick visit to the State Fair of Oklahoma mainly to ride the RC-48 coaster. I rode the coaster eight times in a variety of seat locations. It was a good ride. The frequent transitions gave the feeling of intensity. The OTSR's weren't a problem for me (5'10"). In the back seat of each car I did have to be careful about hitting my knees on the back of the front seat.While the RC-48 is certainly not the world's largest portable roller coaster it is a good sized ride to move. It is transported on seven semi trailers (The Zykons took three or four trailers). At least one or two of its moves cost well over $20,000. After Oklahoma it will be at the fair in Raleigh, NC.

Rye.D.Ziner said:
Must be Dorney's Lazer recently sold

Lazer went to Germany and was rethemed as "Test Track"

That's right! somebody had some pix kicking around here somewhere.

While the subject of the Michigan state fair has been brought back up, I have to mention that 2009 is the last year for the Michigan state fair.