Dodgem technique: Hit or Miss?

Actually the Dodgems that used to be on the midway where TTD is now (that are now at MiAd) are newer than the Dodgems next to the Good Times Theater.

The best Dodgems that CP had (now long gone) were the Dodgems that were where Midway Market is now. They had the classic egg shaped cars with hard bumpers and slippery wheels that crashed nice and hard and made it really easy to slide the tail out. Tons of fun!

Of which old Dodgem do you speak? Dodgem 1 ran at the front of the park originally and had either Lusse or Dodgem cars. Then Dodgem II opened on the new midway and they it used the cars that look like little antique cars. Then Dodgem I moved to the middle of the park across from Magnum with a new building and more of those little cars. I think that's the ride that went to MIA, Rapids 77-78, not the really old one we remember from the 70's.

I'lll be at MIA for the first time ever next week, so i'll be sure to check em out and let you know.

Thanks CP Mac. Yup, I was thinking of the old Dodgem 1 with those huge hulking cars, apparently long since retired. Wonder if anyone has one of those cars in a collection somewhere?

THIS - the only way to do the dodgems. (These are the Knoebels ones)

That looks fun :)

CP Mac said:
Of which old Dodgem do you speak? Dodgem 1 ran at the front of the park originally and had either Lusse or Dodgem cars. Then Dodgem II opened on the new midway and they it used the cars that look like little antique cars. Then Dodgem I moved to the middle of the park across from Magnum with a new building and more of those little cars. I think that's the ride that went to MIA, Rapids 77-78, not the really old one we remember from the 70's.

Yes, the old Dodgem 1 used the Lusse or Dodgem cars. But Dodgem 2 on the Million Dollar Midway opened with the same cars it has now, not the antique themed cars. The new Dodgem 1 when it opened used the antique themed cars and that is the ride that went to MiAdv.

2 summers ago I made the mistake of riding the bumper cars at GL with my hubby. While everyone else was stuck in a jam on the other side, he and I went full speed at each other and hit head on. Our car backs both came off the ground and on lookers even moaned.

I can honestly say I heard the bones in the back of my neck crack, and was sore for DAYS after that.

Needless to say, no more bumper car riding with hubby ;)

Jo
Lifetime Raptor flights: 2025 :)

Geauga's bumper cars were sick, too. One day a friend and I were bored, so we decided to just ride bumper cars for about 2 hours. I hit a kid so hard, the connecting plate on the end of the pole (that touches the ceiling) landed in his lap. :)

Pete - I dunno, but here's what I remember. When Dodgem II first opened it used the antique themed cars- I remember riding in those before Dodgem I ever "moved". I think when it did, those cars were transferred to the new ride and Dodgem II was the recipient of new cars, the ones we see now. If those cars from Dodgem I (no. 2) were moved again to MIAd that would make a total of 3 stops for them. It would also make them very old! The Million Dollar Midway opened in 1970, and if they are indeed still operating, it would certainly support ltparkmaster's above mentioned experience as an operator.

I may be totally wrong about this, but it's how I remember it. Regardless, it's fun to think of how many older flats and small rides in the Cedar Fair chain are still hanging on, with no sign of leaving us anytime soon. (oh, except Chaos, it's thinking of leaving! - not that old though!)

Yup in my operator's guide, it says that Dodgem opened in 1968 at Cedar Point and then moved to MiAd in 2002. The cars I believe are still the originals.

When I ride the Dodgem I try to hit as many people as I can. I don't hit the kids as hard as I do the grownups.

While I was watching the video from Knoebels, I noticed there were people not wearing the safety belt. I thought the belts had to be fastened before the ride would start.

Trent

I do enjoy the Dodgem cars and Ilike the fact the most people are polite when they hit! I hurt my neck years ago on Dodgem cars at another park and it was not fun! I don't mind getting hit as long as the person listens to the ruls and not nail you head on at full force!