Fairground Rides

[Mick F]

We were at Dingles yesterday evening for a 60th birthday party.
http://www.fairground-heritage.org.uk/
All the working rides were free for the party! There must have been about 100 of us on two big 52 seater coaches.

I spent absolutely ages on the dodgems. Also, Mrs Mick F drove one - the first time in her life! Big grins everywhere.

One ride, not featured on the website - at least I don't think it's there, but there is a photograph or two - is called "Super Chariot Racer". It's a late 1930's roundabout ride with motorbikes, and bench seats too for the less adventurous, and it went round at a terrific rate and up and down the "wavy" track. Wow! Was it fast or what!

One thing I will be eternally sorry about, is that I didn't take my camera, or even my movie camera. The place is fantastic, and well worth a visit. We must go back - as paying customers - and get some action shots.

If you visit West Devon, or even if you're LEJOGing along the Old A30, pop in. You won't be disappointed.

[glueman]

Never been but keep meaning to, I love vintage fairground rides. What they lack in spectacle they make up for in danger. The steam yachts used to terrify me as a kid and the Rotor, where you stick to the wall and the floor drops away.
A couple of weeks ago I came across a 40s wartime re-enactment and they had kiddies rides with period artwork. Apparently the chap who painted them in the late 30s was blinded in the war and couldn't do any more so they were left as they were. One 'rocket' ride was made up of spare aircraft fuel tanks. I also remember fixed wheel bikes riding the wall of death, encouragement not to stop pedalling if you need it.

[ferrit worrier]

you can't beat the good old fairground rides, several years ago I had a go on one of the last of the steam gallopers I think there are only two left. Not too far away from you Mick is the Paul Corin Music centre near Liskeard http://www.paulcorinmusic.co.uk/ It full of Fairground organs etc, Mrs FW and I went in there when we were on Honeymoon, we were staying in Looe at the Port Byhan hotel. I could have stayed all day

Malc

[Mick F]

Not been, but heard about it.
A friend of ours rescued a Compton Theatre Organ and it's in Dingles now. He played for us yesterday. He's a brilliant musician.

http://www.tamarorganclub.org/
That's him playing on pages two and three.

[dkmwt]

I spent absolutely ages on the dodgems. Also, Mrs Mick F drove one - the first time in her life! Big grins everywhere.

When I was in my teens I nearly got thrown off the dodgems for reversing, I was going the same direction as everyone else but backwards. The attendant jumped on the side and said drive forwards or get off.

[cjchambers]

It's the rides at travelling fairs that worry me. They're actually designed to come apart, for goodness sake!

[glueman]

It's the rides at travelling fairs that worry me. They're actually designed to come apart, for goodness sake!

That's the thrill! Many years ago I saw a ride called The Satellite, a big wheel whose cars revolved through 360 degrees, brought to a standstill with a full compliment of riders. One of the operators climbed the framework and hit a pin(?) in the centre with a large mallet before climbing down and restarting the ride. The screams of the female riders was replaced by a deathly quiet for the remainder of the ride.

[Lawrie9]

You see some amazing old steam fairground rides at The Dorset Steam Fair http://www.gdsf.co.uk/. If you've never been it is the biggest steam fair in the world and is quite an amazing experience. I was a stall holder there for 9 years.

[rjb]

Lawrie9 wrote

You see some amazing old steam fairground rides at The Dorset Steam Fair http://www.gdsf.co.uk/. If you've never been it is the biggest steam fair in the world and is quite an amazing experience. I was a stall holder there for 9 years.Lawrie9

I concur with this. Makes a memorable day out. Came upon this steam fair today on a tandem ride to weston super mare. The smell of steam and oil brought back a lot of memories. There was a lot of impressive machinery here, however it was early in the morning so nothing was up and running yet.
http://www.carterssteamfair.co.uk/

[cjchambers]

Came upon this steam fair today on a tandem ride to weston super mare.

Gosh, for a moment there I thought you were saying that you stumbled upon the Great Dorset Steam Fair on a ride to Weston-S-M. That would have been some ride!

Many years ago, my dad lost his shoes in mud at the Great Dorset fair (back when it was at Stourpaine Bushes), leaving him with a bit of a problem as he had drive home to County Durham the next day (no shops open on a Sunday then!.) My grandad, who lived just up the road, had a recently deceased neighbour who just happened to have the same shoe size as my dad - problem solved! Pretty random anecdote, but it's the first thing that springs to mind whenever someone mentions the Great Dorset.