Australian Amusement Fanatics

The Hurricane debuted circa 1972, based off a ride called Saturn 6 from 1948(!) -amazing design and technology for that era.

90% of the Hurricanes we have in Australia were built here from this early date.

Nice choices HUSSR, = quality. You'd be hard pressed to get all those for under a mill, but some of the larger HUSS rides are surprisingly well priced due to their +1 trailer portability. (you could do a package deal with Conklins) - Rainbow is an exception though - a bit more complicated than the m...

PNC I think you've probably hit the nail on the head there. Princess, I had not noticed so much, but after you pointed it out, I have to agree with you. I would say there would be noticably fewer rides than Melbourne, and moreso to Royal Easter. (Princess you have been spoilt being a Sydney-sider) t...

PNC, thanks for that info and pic.

Kiwi, agreed. Wisdom's are not quite as flashy or as well-built as European equivalents.

Berg, here is a website:

http://www.ausfun.com.au/thrill.aspx

I was impressed, a very nice looking unit - typically German (well built with plenty of attention-to-detail) - do you have any idea how old it is? I would be interested to know.

Mind over matter, Princess. Let the Zipper be your friend.

EKKA dates please? - I quickly answered my own question:

9th to 18th August

I am hoping Cyber Party will make a long-awaited EKKA debut. There seem to be a few new rides to Australia floating around Brissie including a US-made Wisdom Miami.

If the fire had've happened on an SDC unit, the gondola would not look as good as it did in that burnt out photo (those chrome rails are rust-proof and fireproof by the look of it - at one point they were the only metal objects in Melb Luna Park without rust on them) The occupants for the most part ...

Yes it is quite amazing that most were released from hospital within 48hrs, and no fatalities. From the sudden ferocity of the flames it looks like some sort of accelerant had to have fueled it. Also, if the operator had pushed the emergency stop or the power had cut out due to the fire, it would've...

Enterprise catches fire; 37 suffer burns (Friday, May 18, 2007) - In Rakvere, Estonia, an Enterprise-type amusement ride somehow caught fire, leaving 37 people with burn and smoke inhalation injuries. The victims, six of whom suffered serious injuries, were rushed to local hospitals where they were...

Kiwi, there are actually quite a few photos of our Aust unit on Topfun's website, the rides manufacturer, of Italy.

It is purple & pink coloured and shown fully racked:

http://topfun.it/adult-rides-spin-ball.asp#

The change from hydraulically driven motors (that we see in Australia) to electric motors happened around circa 1980 by Harold Chance. At a guess I would say the electric motors are much easier to maintain, and probably cheaper to manufacture than the more complicated hydraulic set-up with extra ste...

Wiring etc. would be pretty minimal as far as spending $ on conversion to Aus voltage - something like the Zipper is actually pretty universal and widely accepted by Australian standards to those in the US - the problem would be the operating life of the many moving components, bearings etc. which w...

USA showmen are still quite active in this area in some US states (Coney Island NY has a few, Ben I'm sure you know a few details) - I did not know about the freak show at Royal Easter.

I last saw it at the Royal Melbourne Show (September 2006)

Well said Princess.

It does seem to be a good show with quite a few rides that we don't see in NSW or Victoria (e.g WA-based Zamperla Ali Baba, Paratrooper)

Mangels Whip definately (never got to ride one) How about the traditional Tumble Bug? [Mangels / Traver] (we had at least 1 at Sydney's Luna Park and probably a lot of others back in the day in the parks we had) A Swingin' Gym would be good, were there ever any in Aus? More modern but now forgotten ...

Sounds like a good idea to me Princess (let me know if you win Lotto) Here is a 2004 article [and photos] on the demise of Melb Showground's Mad Mouse: Page 1: http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/2225/mousearticle1hz3.th.jpg Page 2: http://img293.imageshack.us/img293/1433/mousearticlepage2cy4.th.jpg

It is dissappointing that it will no longer be on the grounds - it is a unique position to be on top of a building and adds to the excitement of the ride. I know American coaster enthusiasts are in envy of our original wooden mad mice - all guaranteed to give a more traditional ride than any steel e...

Australian road regulations for maximum loads make it unable to carry the main arms alongside the base, unlike Europe. (I believe the same restrictions apply in the USA, giving reason to the limited number of HUSS 2+ trailer rides operating at carnivals now-days) 1 for the base / hub 1 for the arms ...

Rainbow is 3 - 3.5 trailers. (all that heavy quality steel - she ain't no Ali Baba)

Kiwi was referring to the Skyview - perhaps Mondial would have some specs

Yes there was definately music playing on Rainbow when we rode it, I can't recall what sort, I was too busy enjoying the view and airtime to give it much attention. Was it just me, or did anyone else notice the extra breeze being generated every time the gondola swooped down? I was quite happy to st...

If I can make it up to NSW for 2008, I think a trip to Hawksbury is well in order from what I've read.

Can anyone confirm whose Hurri it was?

what a top variety of rides - it certainly is a huge show.

Thanks for sharing that review, I was surprised to read the Sky View wheel was there - was good reading about your experience on No Limit.

Cheers Ben, I think you had covered most of the other details so I kept it brief. One thing I didn't mention was that I did not end up riding the new Sky View wheel, though I did take lots of photos of it. I did ride Durkin's Skymaster which gave a great view of the grounds, and was sporting nicely ...