Old Rare Rides

I was lucky to ride the Turbo at least five times in my life. Their is no other ride like it. The best part was when the round capsule would twist and you're face down looking at the grass/dirt speeding by.

There is nothing as good as a good whip, but the forceless ones are very boring.

If you want a great one - go to Rye Playland.

Side-Slamming Action!

I'm certain that DelGrosso's goes clockwise, Bear. Now you know!

On www.rmmridemodels.com site, there is a "vintage" ride shown as the Zig Zag. Does anyone know if that ride is still travelling? THAT is possibly/probably the last Bisch-Rocco (Flying Scooters fame) Flying Disc ride.

This ride has special meaning to me. I believe it is the one from Playland (Willow Springs, IL), which closed 30 years ago. I was told it was turned into a travelling ride, but noone could tell me where it was. I am tracking Playland's rides and history for an anniversary story later this year.

You all talk about your Whips. THIS thing had a fierce whip sensation every other rotation! Man, I miss it!

The Zig Zag would show up around central Ohio in the early - mid 70's. I remember riding it at the Franklin County Fair when I was in high school. Not sure it would have been the model that operated at Playland, but it was called Zig Zag, and it probably would have been owned or booked on by Gooding.

I saw another one in the mid 70's when we snuck into the abandoned Buckeye Lake Park for a sneak around. (which is an activity I don't recommend- we almost got shot) It was obviously a portable ride and was one of the only rides standing there.

I never knew the Zig Zag was really a Bisch-Rocco Flying Disc, so thanks for that info. It always reminded me of the Tempest in the loading, as the ride made two stops, one for each arm. Another weird thing is that you went up the little stairs then turned to walk down the actual sweep of the ride to get to the seats. They also had to park it just so, as the stairs needed to be somewhere over the ramp so the riders could enter and exit safely and comfortably.

And you're right, CastleKing, the forces were strong- the sweeps went the same direction as the main arm, so it delivered the same outward forces as what you feel on, say, Eli's Cycloid.

After mentioning this a few days ago, just wanted to confirm that Morey's Piers does have a Waltzer, it is on Mariner's Landing Pier, the pier with Sea Serpent.

http://www.moreyspiers.com/ride_search_results.php

Also another fun rare ride is the haunted swing, predecessor to the Vekoma Madhouse. There is one of the only original ones left at Dutch Wonderland, the Dutch Wonderhouse.

Dizzy Lizzy's at Idlewild is also a good haunted swing.

That Waltzer at Moreys looks a little Tilt a Whirl-ish, but I'd be willing to give it a go. Thanks, KnoebelsGrandCarousel.

The Maelstrom at Moreys is one sick ride. I thought my brains were gonna come out my nose. Not only that. It lasted about twice as long as I thought a ride cycle should be. LOL FUN

Well, I happened to stumble across Swampfoxer's Youtube site again and he does have Turbo footage. It's 1:04 into the video of The Big Beast at Edgewater Park in Detroit. It's not just a quick glimpse either, it's 15 seconds worth of footage. Find it here.

Tom