Bumper cars

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Dodgems" redirects here. For the abstract game, see Dodgem.
Bumper cars
Bumper Cars 9944 (14762891777).jpg
General statistics
Vehicle typeElectric powered cars
Riders per vehicle1-2
Bumper cars in Kerava, Finland. The cars are powered by pole mounted contact-shoes that supply power from a conductive ceiling

Bumper cars or dodgems are the generic names for a type of flat amusement ride consisting of multiple small electrically powered cars which draw power from the floor and/or ceiling, and which are turned on and off remotely by an operator. Bumper cars were not intended to be bumped, hence the original name “Dodgem.”[1] They are also known as bumping cars, dodging cars and dashing cars.

Design[]

Bumper cars at a state fair in Raleigh, North Carolina, 1940

The cars are commonly powered by one of three methods. The oldest and most common method, the Over Head System (OHS), uses a conductive floor and ceiling with opposing power polarities. Contacts under the vehicle touch the floor while a pole-mounted contact shoe touches the ceiling, forming a complete circuit.

A newer method, the Floor Pick-Up (FPU) system, uses alternating strips of metal across the floor separated by insulating spacers, and no ceiling grid.[2] The strips carry the supply current, and the cars are large enough so that the vehicle covers at least two strips at all times. An array of brushes under each car makes random contact with the strips, and the voltage polarity on each contact is arranged to always provide a correct and complete circuit to operate the vehicle.

A third method is used on Quantum-class cruise ships, where bumper cars run on electric batteries. This avoids the conductive floor/ceiling of the traditional bumper car setup, allowing the SeaPlex venue to be convertible from a bumper-car ride to a multipurpose gym (basketball court). The disadvantage is that these ships' bumper cars take several hours to recharge.

A ride in a bumper car, short video clip

The metal floor is usually set up as a rectangular or oval track, and graphite is sprinkled on the floor to decrease friction.[3] A rubber bumper surrounds each vehicle, and drivers either ram or dodge each other as they travel. The controls are usually an accelerator and a steering wheel. The cars can be made to go backwards by turning the steering wheel far enough in either direction, necessary in the frequent pile-ups that occur.

Although the idea of the ride is to bump other cars, safety-conscious (or at least litigation-conscious) owners sometimes put up signs reading "This way around" and "No (head on) bumping."[4][5] Depending on the level of enforcement by operators, these rules are often ignored by bumper car riders, especially younger children and teenagers.[6]

During their heyday, from the late 1920s to 1950s, two major US bumper cars brands were Dodgem by Max and Harold Stoehrer and the Lusse Brothers' Auto-Skooter by Joseph and Robert 'Ray' Lusse.[7][8] Original bumper cars were created out of tin.[9] Lusse Brothers built the first fiberglass body in 1959, in part due to the survival of Chevrolet Corvette bodies over the previous six years. After getting permission from Chevrolet, then subsequently buying the actual Corvette chevrons from local Philadelphia dealers, those were attached to the nose of their product for 1959. In the mid-1960s, Disneyland introduced hovercraft-based bumper cars called Flying Saucers, which worked on the same principle as an air hockey game; however, the ride was a mechanical failure and closed after a few years.

The current largest operating bumper car floor in the United States is at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois, and is called the Rue Le Dodge (renamed Rue Le Morgue during Fright Fest in the fall). It is 51 feet 9 inches (15.77 m) by 124 feet 9 inches (38.02 m) or a total of 6,455 square feet (599.7 m2). A replica of the ride was built at California's Great America in Santa Clara; in 2005, however, a concrete island was added to the middle of the floor to promote one-way traffic, reducing the floor area.[citation needed] Six Flags Great Adventure's Autobahn is the largest bumper car floor, but it has not operated since 2008.

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ USA, Fun Crew (2015-11-23). "The History and Some Fun Facts About Bumper Cars". Fun Crew USA. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
  2. ^ "How does this Electric Floor work?". physicsforums.com. Retrieved 2014-08-31.
  3. ^ "The overall introduction and safe tips of bumper cars". funfairrides (in Chinese). Retrieved 2020-09-25.
  4. ^ Dolan, Maura (January 1, 2013). "Ruling over bumper-car injury supports amusement park". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  5. ^ "A Guide To The Rides". Santa's Village Jefferson, New Hampshire. 2013. Archived from the original on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
  6. ^ "Should You Let Your Kids Ride Amusement Park Bumper Cars?". Premium Amusement Park & Funfair Ground Rides. 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2020-09-25.
  7. ^ (Multiple authors). "Legend/History". Lusse Auto Scooter Bumper Car Web Site. Lusse Auto Scooters, LLC. Retrieved 6 September 2014. Includes many details about Dodgem as well.
  8. ^ Stanton, Jeffrey (1997). "Coney Island: Independent Rides". Coney Island History Site. Westland. Retrieved 6 September 2014.
  9. ^ Editor, Pinstack (2017-09-18). "5 Surprising Facts About Bumper Cars". PINSTACK Bowl. Retrieved 2021-03-23.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)

External links[]

Retrieved from ""