Well now time for my reviews. I'm going to do 3 parts this year as I'll be puting up a few kids carnival photos. Anyway here we go. Well Sydney Show 2009, came around with a bang and basically left with a bang. The show came as quick as it went. Took a few trips down to the show over the 13 days of the show. The first Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday were with the school cattle and one last visit on Monday just to walk around the show. Had a great time down there and I'm sure everyone else did. This year with the show falling in the school holidays, thousands of familes flocked to the show with the Easter long weekend being chockers. By the time the Easter long weekend was over, crowd figures looked to be on the way to a record breaking attendance. With figures up so much, it has been reported an increase in crowds by an average of 10% on top of last year. But anyway onto the carnival aspect of the show.
A bit of a change with the Coca Cola Carnival area this year. With of course the new rides on the block were Joyland's Pirate's Revenge, Showtime Amusements Buried Alive simulator and Showtime getting there re-fitted ghost train the Haunted Hotel back on after a years absence. A bit of a let down for some with the Rainbow having to be pulled out due to some reasons and others so that meant Gill's had the chance to show what their new purchase in the Ali Baba could do. Other rides to leave the showgrounds were Durkin's Claw and Chaos which I have to admit weren't looking the best and looking really tired. Another crowd favourite to go was the Ferrari 500 go karts which was personally one of my favourites. Anyway lets kick this part of the review off.
The 3 Dodgem Tracks: Short's, Laurie's and Coney Fair's-All three tracks were looking fantastic as they do year after year. All three tracks are very unique I think because they all have a different feel and theme to them. With Laurie's track the more clasical themed with the great Australian muster murals painted on the panels on the top border of the track and with the operators dressed very smartly in their collared shirts, with moleskins. Coney Fair's tack is a nice looking track with the beautiful lights around the border of the ride and the ride has a more tropical/beachy theme/feel. The cars are painted along with the artwork of the track with a nice shade of blue being the main colour with a variety of different colours combined to give a really vibrant feel. And Short's track themed with the sports cars around the border of the track. It also feels more like a raceway by the way the ride is themed too. All tracks were popular and great to have them there.
Crazy Coaster: Easily one of the most popular rides at the show and always is year after year. Th new signs on the front of the ride shine by LED's and the changing colours make them look really nice. All staff running the ride were presented really well with the purple shirts and the ride itself is looking really good and in great shape. All mice were running and was really a crowd pleaser with all ages. Always a great ride to have at any show.
Power Surge: Well well well, Joyland's Power Surge, where do I start. the ride looks fantastic and is a very stricking ride with the presentation of the ride. The artwork on the back wall is superb and is a very bright, eye catching appeal. All lighting was working and running and chasing. the new electric voltage bars along the front of the ride just notch the ride that bit further up. With the red and yellow neons and the white blinker lights through the middle of the neons. The ride was running very well with Mile's behind the control panel and was giving a great ride cycle. Especially the time with Paulie running one way, then the other then back the other way again. The ride was running at a good speed and the random movements and flipping and tipping was creating a very fun and enjoyable ride. Great work to Joylands for the ride and god on ya Miles for the running of the ride.
Haunted Hotel: This ride has come back after its years absence due to being kicked off by the Halloween last year. The ride has come back as the Hotel themed building and has blown alot of people away. The ride looks like it has just come across from Europe and was certainly gining people a good scare. The ride had a decent line throughout the period when I saw it and was popular with the families. The lighting at night was another fantastic thing about the ride. The green flood lights combined with all the animatrics and other lighting made the ride feel very dark and gloomy. Good to see the ride back.
Buried Alive: Unfortunately didn't get a chance to have a go at this new craze at the show. But was presented well especially with the coffin car all shined up out the front of the tent. Had a few people having ago and from what I heard was more of a fun experience rather then a scary one. A nice new and different addition to the show.
Skymaster Wheel: One of the classics of the show and always popular with everyone whether your a thrill junkie or just someone that likes to go for a glide through the sky.I decided to get on this year and fantastic views of the showground and especially the carnival area. The ride is very well presented and the lighting at night looks very nice.
Hard Rock: Another popular ride. The ride was looking stricking as usual during the day and night and always had a decent line of people waiting to have ago. I missed out on riding this one but from past rides on it, it is always a good fun ride. Had all the strobes going at night along with the fog machine.
Mega Drop: Fancy a drop from the top? I hadn't ridden this ride for a few years but got dragged on this year. Slowly creeping up to the top before stopping at the top for another good view of the carnival area. Then suddenly your plumeting down to the ground. And boy you definately get an adrenaline rush and in the process loose your gut as you drop. A very fun ride and I'm glad I rode it. Looking as good as usual and at night with all the lights running up the tower.
Ranger: I didn't ride this either but has had a bit of work done to it. The paint has been gone over and is a bright looking ride again. Also alot of OCS Fun stickers and decals stuck on the cars. All lights were running at night. And the sound of the ride is very different and sounds like a dinosaur or something being slaughtered lol. Not being a bad thing but I do like this sound. Always a good ride to have at the show.
Sea Circus. Decided to try this out and the ride has some good animatrics through it. A haven't been on a funhouse is a long while. There was alot of different things through the ride and was actually really fun and I actually had a good time on there. I also got up there to get a few photos. The ride itself is very well presented. Very bright colours are painted on the ride and the special characters that are all over the ride like the octopus on top of the ticket box and the waurus fishing look very good.
Extreme Speed Machine: The ride is always well presented. The new LED lights up the arm and the tower look very good at night. The ride experience was a very fun one. Riding with Paulie once and went on again on Monday. The ride was very smooth and was running pretty fast. The seats on the ride are very comfy which make the ride more enjoyable. The ride cycles were a good length aswell.
RollerGhoster: This was very popular with the graveyard created out the front of the ride again made the ride look more appealing. The ride looks in good condition and the artwork over the ride looks really good. The scare photos looked like they were a hit too. A very well presented ride.
Hangover: This was the first time I've seen this ride so I decided to have a ride. The open seats rather then being in the cages is pretty good, more opened and a bit of a different experience. The ride cycle was a good decent length with plenty of loops in both directions and a bit of hangtime. The ride is presented well but I think its a bit over done with all the hangover signs around the border of the ride.
Zipper: Always a good ride and a good classic to still have on the midways of our Royal capital shows. Unfortunately I missed out on riding this too. But was running pretty well and the ride was very well presented. The new artwork on the tower looks great with murals of the rock legends painted on and the new sign and the LED's on the wheels at the end of the boom were all working and were very bright. Shame I did miss out on riding it.
Sling Shot: Looking good as usual, wasn't to busy whenever I walked past. I think once you've tried it, you've done it so it isn't the ride many people would re-ride. I still haven't tried this but next time I see it I will. had new lights up the towers with orange and blue up there.
No Limit: You can't go to a show without trying this. Looking good as usual, the top sign was back and was working again. The ride cycles were pretty lenghty and the rides I had on it were pretty intense. I ended up riding it 3 times lol. All three were good but the last ride I had on it was a very thrilling one. Also saw a phone drop while i was on too lol. Taking a few swings to get to the top before the break on the gondala being released and sent into a frenzy of spinning and face planting into the ground or being whipped around. A good ride to see anywhere and glad we have it here in the country.
Taipan: Looking good as usual, at night had rope lights running all over the tracks and all the lights working. This was also very popular and always is. I decided to have a ride again and the ride is really enjoyable. Firstly going down one hill then the second at a fast speed then my favourite part would be going through the helixs going round and round gathering speed before going over the station then going through another helix down. A fun ride and glad we still have this on our shows too.
Theres part 1. The next 2 will be up soon. Enjoy! P.S: if the images come up as the little icon with the x in the box. Just right click and go down the list and click show picture. They should work.
Cheers
Top Gunner14