L.A. County Fair 2011

[simon8899]

Well, that depends on how successful a ride is at a location.

 

Olympia Looping only does 5-6 carnivals a year. Construction/Deconstruction time is two weeks with the permanent staff or shorter with extra freelancers. Transport is done with 50 large standard-containers - preferably by train, at this size a "special" train only transporting the Olympia hardware. Transport from the railstation to the fairground is hired on location. By truck are transported: 3 Containers containing the sleeping-areas of the crew and the 2 forklifts. The street-convoy consists of: 4 large container trucks - 2 large moveable cranes - 2 small trucks towing the caravans of the owners.

 

Olympia-Fuhrpark

 

Thats a lot of work - but they've enough riders that it works out...and of course distances in germany are manageble: From Hamburg (north) to Munich (south) its about 600 miles - the Olympia train can traverse germany in a single night...

[redmenace8]

Apologies for the 4 post 'clutter,' I just like the idea of responding to each person individually, It just seems more polite...

 

Onwards! The fair itself is really large and while I was stuck in the scarefest of the midway for several hours, I did manage to limp around and check out some more sights at the fair, though not even close to everything I wanted to...

 

Former site of the Hi Miler coaster, RCS brought out their old large Bumper Cars to fill in the space.

They still put up their other large Bumper Cars, the much nicer Dodgems. Oddly, the older version seemed to have almost the same size line as this one.

The other main credit, a spinning mouse. It is pretty good if you can get the right off balance. My little cousin's first 'major' coaster.

Crazy Coaster Lift Hill

G-Force, KMG Afterburner, a favorite of mine. Oddly, With the ride playing dance and techno, I've seen club kids dancing in front of it at night. Then again, this ride has played at the Electric Daisy Rave.

Lawyer-fied Tornado, some delicate flower might get a blister while grabbing the central support while trying to make it spin.

American Carnival sized Star Flyer, still fun. New LEDs really make it look snazzy at night.

Elissa approved...

We will be the first in line for Knott's Giga, they started building it right?

I miss the Big Yellow Slide, operated by Hot Dog on A Stick, of all people. It was permanent and a family favorite. I remember riding in my Dad's lap, it was there that long ago. I don't think people will have the same memories on this slide.

KMG Tango, Intense, a touch uncomfortable, especially if that metal 'blade' on the shoulder restraint catches your pants when it is locking down and pulls down hard, you don't really notice the ride after that happens. Otherwise a great ride and very busy.

Most expensive ride, 16 tickets I think. Low capacity and long waits, but very good.

To conquer Luthor: Drop of Doom, I have to conquer this first.

Extra Flash, most midway providers don't go to the trouble or expense, to do something you might see at a Fun Fair. This sets RCS apart and I appreciate what they do.

Yo Yo, La Grande Wheel, Evolution, Mega Drop and Sky Ride (one of 2)

Ummm, looks like a pair of hairy....never mind.

I'm sure there is a joke in there somewhere...

Aha, the greatest piece of carnival art ever. A devil shooting a lazer Broom Handle Mauser at an Asian Super Hero shooting a semi auto AR-15 lazer while his girl has had the behind of her pants ripped off by another devilish character. On a Kid's ride with Dragons. AWESOME!

I'm seeing a trend.

Hard Drinking Blonde

Scary Blonde in a Bikini and a hole in her head.

Moving on, Rethemed log ride, again, a hint of what they do in Europe.

KMG Experience, RCS loves KMG, and why not, they have been very innovative the past 10 years or so.

Evolution, there seem to be some rumours of its sale. It was doing good business and the new lighting package really makes it pop.

You mean I don't have to drive into LA to get a good hot dog. 2 please.

Blues Brothers approved?

La Grande Wheel, claims to be the largest transportable Ferris wheel in the Western Hemisphere. I haven't seen anything to make me doubt it.

The returning Bungie Jump and the other big Ferris wheel, the Grand Wheel, made by Kroon from the Netherlands, predecessor to Nauta Bussink, themselves succeeded by Ronald Bussink. New LED package was running a spectacular program.

Both big Ferris Wheels.

Sartori Techno Jump, a fun bouncy family ride.

The fair's newly installed permanent Merry Go Round.

The infamous Chicken Charlie's, purveyor of deep fried goodness. Funny, no one remembers you can get healthy, grilled kabobs here too. New items this year are Deep Fried Kool Aid, Deep Fried Ribs and Deep Fried Caramel Apples.

Food Truck Central, while I think the we have reached the back side of the wave, they still seem cool to me. The fair is supposed to have a few more famous ones like Coolhaus and Fry Smith during its run. Piaggio's, Argentine food, looked good. There are actually quite a few food choices that are not just deep fried sugar and grease on a stick.

Want to see what you are damaging with all that fat, salt, sugar and grease? I think it is pretty awesome that they could have this kind of display, formerly available only in science museums. Separate admission, 8 dollars. Not sure how large or small it is.

Looks like someone found a good one. Yes, these are the same people who run the shop at Knott's Berry Farm, very nice, very knowledgeable.

B.A.P.-Big Ass Pumpkin, though smaller than last year. I could live in this thing. Already idiots were taking small chunks out to see if it was real. *sigh*

 

Oooo, Fun Land, could it be an arcade or other silly activity or performance. No. It was a display of a neon sign collection, part of the "Eclections" show at the art museum. Yes, Art Museum, small but cool. Next door to the NHRA Hot Rod Museum.

See, "Art." Thanks for letting us know.

Old sign from the fair. Many original buildings and structures have been torn down over the years. I miss the Art Deco Fun Zone sign and the monorail

Really, surprisingly good, slightly salty, with a hint of sweet chewy goodness. Make it a dessert or dinner. Fry Bread came from the time when Indians were first put on Reservations, land where "Americans" couldn't find anything they wanted. With no way to support themselves on the lands left over, Indians had to rely on what meager rations the government gave them. Flour, salt, lard were brought together to provide sustenance but in the end created community. Go to any Pow Wow or gathering of Indians and Fry Bread will be there. So go and try it, taste the history, and feel part of a disparate and unique people. Though I don't think Indians actually run the stand, lol.

 

 

Like I said, I didn't have time or energy after Typhoon to do and see everything I wanted. They had a live shark display, bears, a lumberjack show, an 'exotic' animal display, a garden display, vendors, a miniature train display I wanted to get some pictures of before my camera battery died, more night time shots of the rides, the corny 70's band that performs on a stage that travels around the fair and can gather a bunch of people to dance, the trapeze artists, the pseudo cirque show, the Chinese Acrobats, pig races, wiener dog races and so on and so on.

 

Nothing is ever really top quality, but, considering it is "free," I can be entertained for several visits on a season pass. My friend calls it Ghetto Fabulous and a second home, especially after one year, being really sick, going to the fair, having a frozen lemonade, and leaving healthy(True story, we call it the Miracle of the Fair). As long as I can pretend to nitpick the entries in the Tablescaping competition like the too serious judges("Gasp!, That off kilter dessert spoon offends my eyes, How DARE they, oh, I need my fainting couch, now! oh, me, oh my"), I am a very happy person.

 

Creating happy memories with friends and family is really why the fair has meant so much to me for so long. From the earliest days I can remember, being towed around by my parents, only wanting to watch and ride the rides, to today, when I can appreciate all the heart and work needed to put every single unique piece of the fair together. But, the fair is more than the sum of its parts. Yes, there are too many rude and self involved people at times, and you see too many parents letting kids get away with too much, but I can put that out of sight when the people I go with are gathered around, exhausted, yet, smiling, as we dig into some unique food, drinking our lemonade, examining our purchases and talking about the day, together.

Performers who attached elastic bands to their feet and danced like puppets almost. Looked better than it sounds. They performed several dances and used plastic bottles as instruments. They worked damn hard.

"What are you looking at, so what if I got a feather stuck on my beak, I'm a damn bird and I'm covered in these things!" "and why haven't you tried Indian Fry Bread yet?"

[QueerRudie]

Very Interesting TR: But a few notes/questions:

 

1.) Having not had the 'pleasure' of Typhoon, I can't speak for it- but for such a novel design, I'm surprised at how much bad press it's getting- which begs the question: better or worse than a TOGO?

2.) The Bodies Exibition (I saw it in SF a few years ago) is -well- worth the price, and I guarantee, you'll pass up McDonalds afterwards. Perhaps it should be lent out to ACE for a while?

3.) It's good to see a 'fair' where the rides actually look like they're going to scare you to death. Good thing I'm not there to protein spill with them.

4.) INDIAN FRY BREAD IS -almost- AS AMAZING AS CINNAMON BREAD AT DOLLYWOOD!

 

R.D.

[DJeXeL]

 

Evolutions are awesome rides. They pack a thrill and "wow" bystanders. I make a point to ride the OC Fair's a few times every year.

[SoCalCoasters]

^ Unfortunatley RCS has even more reason to get rid of it after this:

 

Third one down; http://www.rideaccidents.com/

[WFChris]

^ Unfortunatley RCS has even more reason to get rid of it after this:

 

Third one down; http://www.rideaccidents.com/

 

FTFY

[DJeXeL]

^??

[Top Thrill Dragster]

^FTFY = Fixed That For You

 

The original link was as dead link.

[DJeXeL]

^1st time I've seen "FTFY". Thanks!

[FilmoreISnAZN]

AHHH! Chicken Charlies! Great times! Whenever I go to the Orange County Fair, I always get the Fried Frog Legs and Fried Oreo! so delicious!

[Andrewoplis]

They should buy an old Schwarzkopf Looping-Star or Double-Loop - those shouldn't be too expensive anymore. They're still reliable, quite smooth and a considerable improvement.....

 

If they could manage to find and operate a Katapult I'll be over in no time....

 

There was a Traveling Doppel looping on the east coaster but I got sold in 2008, It was getting to expensive to move around. It seems like these large traveling Schwarzkopf's aren't to expensive to buy anymore, but they can get very pricy when it comes to transporting them.