Tumble Bug at PKI. What type of ride was this?

Well I was 18 in 1983 [holy crap I'm old!] and as a budding enthusiast I was only interested in The Bat [which had closed forever about a week earlier], The Beast, all the other coasters, and a few of the flats. I got my first snap on a flier on that trip...it was unintentional and it scared the sh!t outta me! But the Bug? I had no appreciate for historical rides so I passed on it. Back then I passed on a lot of small traditional parks that are no longer with us.

That's why, when someone is asking what else is there to do on their trip from SFNE to SFGAdv I'm trying to convince them to visit Compounce, Quassy, Rye, Coney, Clementon, etc. I don't want them to regret missing missing them later [gawd forbid those parks close].

And no, I didn't head to Spring Con. My only trip this year other than PPP is to Lagoon, Lakeside, and SFEG over a long weekend in August. We're driving...from LA...over 2,500 miles...in 3.5 days! Are we nuts or what? ;)

I have heard about this "snapping". What is it? I've heard that it has something to do with the Flying Eagles ride? Sorry, I know, off topic.

"Snapping" is when you maneuver the Flyer fin so that your tub raises high and then down towards the center of the ride and stalls. Stalling creates slack in one of the cables, and when you "catch up" with the rotation of the ride the slacked cable "snaps" as tention is regained.

I hope that makes sense ;)
*** Edited 4/30/2004 8:11:21 PM UTC by Mamoosh***

I remember my first snap. Twas a wee wittle one...

Back on topic... I'm really looking forward to hitting KW's bug this summer, but not as much PR. :-)

Neuski - make sure you ride KW's bug with a group, not alone.

What if I don't have any friends. :-( *sniffle*

How does a group make it better?

Well, in all honesty, it may depend on the type of friends you stuff your Bug car with. If your friends just sit there and enjoy the ride it'll merely be fun; if you have the type of friends who use laterals, airtime, and angle of the car to their advantage...well, I'm sure you can imagine the mayhem that ensues.

Ahhhh... bug mayhem.

"Of course to detail Skylab's unusual saga at the park would require an entire post in itself. . ."

Do you have the 50 word or less version for an old KI employee? I worked there 1983 and 1984. I loved "bug". I had a girlfriend in rides who worked "scooter, scrambler, bug" as a ride rotation. I don't remember too much about her, and what I do, I would not post here. ;-) *** Edited 4/30/2004 11:01:50 PM UTC by CoasterDad64***

For those interested in the nearly lost Traver Bugs,
here's a webpage to visit:
http://www.ridezone.com/rides/tumblebug/index.htm

Although it was done a number of years ago, it is still
an excellent resource. Following are the Bugs known to
exist:
Kennywood (operating)
Conneaut Lake (SBNO?)
Blackpool UK (operating)
Luna Park, Australia (??)
Whalom Park (disassembled, for sale at Edaville RR)
Chippewa Lake Park (SBNO)
Fantasy Farm (disassembled, owned by Historic Amusement Foundation)

So, you see, there are actually currently only two operating
Bugs in the world. Truly a shame for such a fun ride!

I think Conneaut's bug will be operating. According to this, ACE has ERT scheduled on it!

WOW!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for that photo link Shaggy!!! Now THAT brings back some memories.

I almost forgot about some of those rides, but I do remember that Tumble Bug vividly. The Smurf ride is bringing back that horrible theme song...eh!

It's great to see some photos of the Screamin Demon before it's demise. :-(

-Tina

*** Edited 5/1/2004 9:50:17 AM UTC by coasterqueenTRN***

Moosh,

When you hit Lagoon, Lakeside and SFEG let me know. I'd love to get together for the Denver parks. I'm also planning a trip to Lagoon, but I'll probably just do it on a whim over a slow weekend.

m_gerfen@hotmail.com

FYI.... here is a link to another photo of the Tumble Bug at KI. This picture was taken from the Eiffel Tower while the park was still under construction.

This shows the placement of the ride really well.

http://www.pki-central.com/Parkinfo/parkhistory/photos/robert/16.jpg

Shaggy

"Do you have the 50 word or less version for an old KI employee?"

Hmmmmm... let's see...

Skylab was 1 of 3 Huss Giant Enterprises ever built. Added in 1986, and lasting until mid '90s, it featured 4 person cars. It experienced a ton of downtime because the hydraulic arm would often "fail." PKI removed it because of astronomical maintenance costs. It sat dormant for at least 1 season prior to it's removal.

How's that? 50 words exactly... I think (not counting numbers.) LOL

Here's a link to a pic:

http://www.pki-central.com/Parkinfo/parkhistory/photos/robert/4.jpg

Shaggy

*** Edited 5/3/2004 7:05:18 PM UTC by Shaggy***

Anybody know where the other 2 giant huss enterprises are located at? I always wondered why PKI didn't have an enterprise type ride and now I understand. Another thing I was in the dark about was the fact that PKI used to have a ferris wheel. Being a new park patron, I always thought, "gee, that's something this park seems to be missing...a ferris wheel." Anybody know why it was removed? (my guess is low ridership due to the Eiffel Tower's popularity)

Glad to see you guys are enjoying the history section that had me up all night programming.

With there only being 2 working bugs in the world, this should make everyone sick. These are pictures for the bug from Cascade Park in New Castle, Pa, about 50 miles north of Pittsburgh. The park removed it's rides over 20 years ago and here the bug sits...

http://home.earthlink.net/~mykeyb/images/cascade%20park/cascade%20park%206-2-03%20015.jpg

http://home.earthlink.net/~mykeyb/images/cascade%20park/cascade%20park%206-2-03%20018.jpg

Thanks to imis_idora from www.idorapark.org for the pictures.

Shaggy, thanks for the link to the Tumblebug. I also agree with Toveck1 that there should be more of these bugs around. Just like some of the other rides that are gone, like the Zodiac, Der Spinnin' Keggers, the Bayern Curve and the Rotor. What happened to these classics? How come none are made any more? Seems to me that there is a lack of flat rides out there, although I could be wrong.

"Anybody know where the other 2 giant huss enterprises are located at?"

Well, the only remaining one is still in operation at Paramount Canada's Wonderland. Well, actually the ride is not operating yet this season.... why? Hydraulic arm issues probably.

The other's location escapes me.... but I do know that the ride is no longer in operation. PCW's is the only one still around AFAIK.

Shaggy

P.S. I failed to give props to PKI Central for the links to the pics. Thanks!