Title: Wave Swinger, sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride Source:
Mike McCarthy URL Source:http://www.funtasticshows.com/market_frames.html Published:Aug 21, 2007 Author:Ferret Mike Post Date:2007-08-21 20:38:23 by Ferret Mike Keywords:None Views:287 Comments:19
One year before I fell from the tree in 1998, I travelled with Funtastic and operated their Wave Swinger. (Picture of the very machine in header URL)
I ran into several people I knew from Funtastic and got talked into running the ride at the local county fair as the ride foreman was gone with family stuff to deal with.
Flinging 48 people around in a circle on a ride that is a shear delight to ride and that I know well was tiring a way to spend 12 hours a day from Tuesday to Sunday, but I enjoyed it.
We got high marks as a crew which made me happy, as Funtastic Rides has a much higher standard for courtesy, cleanliness and maintanance then any other company I have worked with on and off over the years.
This ride and the giant Ferris Wheel is the keystone rides of Mr. Ron Burback.
If I could afford it and if my back yard was big enough, I'd get me one of these things. They are a gas.
This one is electric powered, so you would have to buy a large generator to discomfort the neighbors enough to make them unhappy. I know the power costs are second only to the insurance cost of running these things.
The cost of labor is relatively low in comparison to even the maintanance upkeep costs.
Rule number two, if you have a 'screamer;' that is a pretty lady shrieking and squealing in delight at the thrill of the ride, make that ride a long one.
I don't know exactly the sociology behind it, but that sure attracts the 'marks' to your line to climb abord to spend 3.50 to ride the Wave Swinger for the two and a half minute ride cycle.
It is well worth the trouble to get as much milage on that sort of rider as possible.