Parents nervous about safety at York Fair
Posted
Tuesday marked the one-year anniversary of Matthew Allen Potter's death at the York, PA Fair. The seven-year old died some time after the coaster came to a sudden stop when he sustained fatal injuries. It was later ruled an accident. It also was Student Day at the fair. Students got into the fair free, and some schools closed early or for the whole day. For some families, it is an annual tradition to go to the fair on Student Day and buy all-day ride bracelets for their children.
Read more from the York Daily Record.
Anyway, when my wife and I went to the fair on Monday evening (see TR), we noticed that the fair was not all that busy and that it didn't seem to be as "full" of stands as last time. However, we also noticed that the rides seemed just as busy as before. Sling Shot can hold 12 people and on my first ride I took the 12th seat. Wild Claw (afterburner) was just as busy as last year. The bumper cars (which I passed on) had their normal little line. The new (for the fair) Tango seemed to be pretty busy all night.
Truthfully, and I don't mean to slam any park here, but looking at the rides that Reithoffer sets up at the fair, I have less of a problem with them than I do at the closest amusement park... Williamsgrove.
The odd thing is, the story about last years accident was not very well publicized here even though it was local. I don't think that the media was going easy on the Fair though... I think the events of September 11 took over (and rightly so). *** This post was edited by SLFAKE on 9/12/2002. ***
Well, while not related to the story, yes, Tango is up and running.
The article I think makes mention to a light panel coming lose on Flip-n-Out. When we passed by there the first time on Monday night, there were indeed people working on Flip-n-Out. However when we returned about a half hour later it was back up and running. I do like how the paper makes mention that "no one was injured"... almost like this was a major accident. The real news is that, when the operator saw that there was a lose panel, the ride was in fact stopped and repaired and then passed "inspection" to operate... but what is emphasized is that in this "accident" no one was injured. This is an incident that could have happened at any fair or park... and I do mean any park... certainly not an accident.
Pesonally, I chose not to ride Flip-n-Out... not because of this or any fear, but simply because I am not very fond of that ride.
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Kind of hard to take a post as objective if a park or coaster name is part of the "user name"
What kind of ride is the Flip-n-Out? Sounds like the media latched onto some perceived "fault" for a story.
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--Greg
"Now all I want is to find a way home, to warn Earth -- look upward, and share the wonders I see..."
My page
*** This post was edited by GregLeg on 9/12/2002. ***
At first glance it looks like a Huss Top Spin. However, there is no "bar" or "axel" that connects the "hubs" on each side. The reason is because, while the arms of a Top Spin stay parallel with each other and the "seats" spin around bwteen them, the arms of Flip-N-Out do not stay Parallel. While one arm is "up" the other may be "down". The seats, while spinning around like a Top Spin, are also at some very severe angles between the arms.
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Kind of hard to take a post as objective if a park or coaster name is part of the "user name"
*** This post was edited by SLFAKE on 9/12/2002. ***
Soriani & Moser was, a few years ago, split up (something about there not being enough Vice President positions to go around or something...) into Moser Rides and Soriani & Moser. At about that time, Soriani was bought out by Zamperla. So Moser Rides still exists as a separate entity, but Soriani & Moser is now part of Zamperla.
At least I think it's something like that...!
--Dave Althoff, Jr.
WOW!!!!!
It happened a year ago and I'm sure that if the fair didn't think that the rides were safe they wouldn't run them. And accidents do happen but come on, you gotta live alittle.
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www.morefunonline.tv
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Kind of hard to take a post as objective if a park or coaster name is part of the "user name"
I can tell you first hand that they're as good as it gets. Their rides are well maintained and very safe. I've actually worked with the show on occasion and still have a few good friends I'm in contact with. Matter of fact, I'm going to see them this weekend and up in Bloomsburg in 2 weeks.
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Just when you think you have all the answers, I change the questions
"...wind it up and it runs 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 days."
Hehe, that is the cheesy jingle that they play on the radio. Personally, I have avoided the fair for the past two years simply because it is the same dang thing year after year. Besides that, I am easily annoyed by York County's white trash. I was about to slit my wrists while working at my Dad's auction house today. (I got laid off so I am doing anything to make extra cash.)
Anyway, SLFAKE, I take it you are from York. Me too. I wonder how many other peoples on this board are from this great little county?
1) "If you remember the closing of the Colinsville Discount Center [York Countians will know what I mean] and you complained ' Now we're losing our Mall'... you Might be a Redneck"
2) "If you are walking around the fair and looking at the other people there and turn to your mother and say 'Shoot, Mama, we aint so weird after all'... You Might be a Redneck."
It was quite scary. Granted, the Redneck factor is always present at the local Jefferson Carnival and Dover Fair... but you just notice it so much more at the York Fair because it is so much more on a grand scale.
(And don't get on me, I can say that stuff. I'm from York County... lived here all my life, though not in the same part of the county... to some of the locals, that means "you moved far away, didn't ya?")
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Kind of hard to take a post as objective if a park or coaster name is part of the "user name"
*** This post was edited by SLFAKE on 9/13/2002. ***
*** This post was edited by SLFAKE on 9/13/2002. ***
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