haux Posted April 10, 2006 Posted April 10, 2006 Every spring, my old school puts on a really big carnival. It's billed as the largest student-run carnival in the country. It's the University of Arizona's Spring Fling. Every year they add a new ride or two. Last year it was a lame Booster, which they didn't have this year. This year it was a Techno Jump and a Slingshot. The Slingshot was $20 a person, so I didn't ride. Shame. I've never ridden a Slingshot. I went with some friends, and we got in for free with our student IDs. We paid $20 for a wristband that let us on everything but the Slingshot. We started on the Inverter. These rides are really fun. We sat on the right side in the front row. When the ride reversed direction, we were facing the ground when it dropped down. I love that part. Next we went on MegaDrop. This is easily my favorite ride at Spring Fling. They added it in 2003 or 2004, and it's been there ever since. You get a good view of Tucson or the Santa Catalina Mountains, depending on what side you're sitting on. Because it was night, we couldn't see much. The last time I rode this, they held us up there for nearly two minutes! It was crazy. This time we were at the top for about 20 seconds. The one bad thing about MegaDrops is you know when you're about to drop because there's a click right before the hook releases. We went on the Super Himalaya next. It only ran backward, but it ran really fast. The operators started unhooking the harnesses before the ride came to a complete stop. Crazy. I'm not one for spin 'n' pukes, so I sat out while my friends rode the Starship 2000 and Spin Out. The operator on Spin Out stood in the middle of the platform underneat the ride as it was still in motion! He stood there as the huge arm was coming down before stopping. The operations at this place have never left me too amused. We went on the Yo-Yo next. These things are fun. When it did the little dipping motion, the seats got really close. I liked yelling things at my friends as their seats came in contact with mine. We went on a Laff in the Dark next. These things are fun. There was a painting on it of a woman showing her boobs. Hot. Inside the dark portions, there are rubber things in your way. You can't see them, so I thought someone was touching my face. Ick. We went on the Goliath Slide because it's funny. It's just a big three-lane racing slide. We got our bags and went to the top of the narrow staircase. The side I sat on had gaps between the sections at least an inch wide. When I went down, I could feel every gap. Ouch. My friend Drew won. I lost. Haha. We went inside another fun house, this time a house of mirrors. My friends don't like these because they said they make them look stupid. I wandered around and took pictures of them and myself. I turned around because I didn't like following them. That was easy. I wanted to find my own way! The top had all the funny mirrors, and it ended with a spiral slide. My friends went on the Orbiter. I don't think I'll ever ride one of these things. That would make me insanely dizzy and sick. We circled around to MegaDrop once more. We were only at the top for about 15 seconds. This time I actually had a little tickle in my stomach. We hopped on the Yo-Yo again and then decided to call it a night. Spring Fling is a lot of fun. I wish they'd add a little roller coaster some time in the near future. A spinning mouse or something like that could be a great addition. Spring Fling is run by Ray Cammack Shows, which runs tons of fairs and carnivals. A few of them have coasters, so I guess there is potential for a coaster. The reason you clicked on this thread: boobs. A look at most of Spring Fling from the house of mirrors. Something every carnival has: a Ferris wheel That's my friend trying to look fat in the mirror that makes you look fat. That's me in the mirror. Yes, I brought a tripod. Yes, I am a huge nerd. Yo-Yo This is the carnie on Spin Out; the guy who stood under the ride as it was coming down! Spin Out Goliath Slide. I'm the one losing on the left. Starship 2000 Apparently this thing goes 70 mph Mega Drop Chance Inverter
chaos Posted April 10, 2006 Posted April 10, 2006 That sounds fun. I hate those Spin Out rides. They're the only rides ever to give me real bruises. I wish my school would have a carnival like that.
coaster1 Posted April 10, 2006 Posted April 10, 2006 It's like mini-RCS and Talley showings ... Good to see Talley getting their Mega Drop out more places now.
Slacking Posted April 12, 2006 Posted April 12, 2006 Nice pics haux! Makes me miss AZ (graduated in '02) Quick question though, did they ever move the carnival back on campus? I couldn't quite tell by the pictures. My first 2-3 years the carnival was on campus and it was so convenient, but my senior (or junior, I don't remember) year they moved it off campus due to construction. I never made it out to the off-campus carnival but it just didn't seem the same to me.
haux Posted April 12, 2006 Author Posted April 12, 2006 It's still at Rillito Downs. They're not moving it back because it's too large for campus now, and Rillito Downs has better handicapped access.
Sean Menefee Posted April 12, 2006 Posted April 12, 2006 Mega Drops are fun, we always try to hit that ride when it comes to the State Fair in late August. Thanks for the photos, it looks like you had a good time, tripod and all. Sean "Can't wait to catch some flats outside of CA soon for the first time in a few years!" Menefee
Recommended Posts