Australian Amusement Fanatics

Pouring rain, it was highest rain recorded in August for 120 years, amazingly wet day.

Doesnt seem to much of an ekka. Wheres all the feed back you QLD fanatics.

I didnt think much of it this year. My mate and I counted 9 or 10 major rides that were missing. Only the Mixer which was broken down more than going and the Hurri were the only non regular rides. I know it is because the rent is so steep they didnt turn up but it left the show a little lacking on atmosphere. I really thought there were not enough "Family" rides too. The kids area was quiet empty with unused spots everywhere.
Brisbane does not need 3 roller coasters but I the RNA needed fill up spots I'm guessing. Needs to go back to when the Coasters alternated.
Was good to see the Ali Baba back on although I don't think they did real well.

Sorry if I am confused... but did you say 3 roller-coasters? I only saw Taipan and Crazy Coaster. I personally thought that the EKKA was really lacking in atmosphere myself. I think 2007 was the best year that they had at EKKA, with Power Surge, No Limit and even Raupen Bahn. It also felt strange walking down sideshow alley and not even having the Slingshot at the showgrounds. One of the other things that I noticed was there was no one even spruiking on the joint's this year. I really feel as though something needs to be done or even more showmen will pull out of EKKA in the future. Luckily the show was blessed with decent weather apart from the Tuesday.

I really do wish that No Limit would come back onto the showgrounds next year, but from what i've heard Bell's are no longer interested in doing the show which is really sad. Overall this year's EKKA was the worst out of the 4 that I have been to. I did go on the Wednesday and went on a heap more rides, and i'll do a review in the coming days.

Yes 3. Pirates Revenge is a coaster, a water coaster.

Ah okay, I don't really consider Pirates Revenge a Roller-coaster. Moreso a log flume, but each to their own

Log Flume, Water Coaster...same thing. If you take the water away they still work like a roller coaster as all the cars have the wheels in the bottom and sides. On all the drops you are running on the wheels and the water is for looks and to get you wet

I'd hate to see how it brakes without the water!!

lol (brakes) yeah I agree Funder, Pirates Revenge fits a rollercoaster criteria. Definitely as far as footprint goes. Interesting observations guys re: EKKA issues.

Shame with all the drop in the number of bigger rides this year. That's the exact reason Power Surge didn't attend, rent too high, not making enough money to cover costs. As that would be with alot of the other rides. I'm suprised Slingshot nor Insanity were on, from what I heard last year Insanity went pretty well.

I've heard March's went well with the Sky Walker and their Hurricane went well up against all the bigger rides. That got on at the last minute as someone handed in their ground. Does anyone know what the rent is at Brissie compared to Sydney Show, as I've heard that's quite expensive at Sydney...

Wonder why MEGA DROP didnt get set up, it was there when I visited

Probably the rents as well

I know the Sydney rent is comparitively less than other capitals but unlike anywhere else, ticketing is centralised and the RES also take a percentage of ride earnings. Sounds to me like this system would benefit ride owners if it were implimented at EKKA with its poor attendance if it meant less rent. I wonder how the loss of the chairlift has affected traffic to other parts of the grounds. IMO the removal of this was a big loss for EKKA.

Mega Drop never attends anymore due to the popularity not being enough and you can guess why when you have Dreamworld's Giant Drop on the Gold Coast...

The Ekka is about $1000 a metre frontage (plus GST I think) if I remember correctly. From the couple of showmen I have spoken to they deffinately don't want the way Sydney is run implimented at the Ekka.
If you made it into the Woolworths pavillion you would have seen what the future development of the grounds will look like and if you did you would have seen that in the not too distant future there will be no rides on the Petrie Tce side of the grounds as it will all be developed.
I personally prefered the old days when all the kiddie rides were down the bottom of sideshow alley on the outer edge of oval 2.

im not sure if this will work, but i have lost my photobucket account details, so i uploaded them to facebook and make the folder open to everyone, so i hope they show up here



























some of them arent great, but they are the best of what we got

great photos PNC, the midway skyline looks great, haunted hotel appears to have had a colour change not green at night and the most amazing thing I saw was suits for joint workers mmmmm, they would have been pongy by the end of the day imo.

Good photos cheers for them PNC. Davis' wheel looks great, how did it go, sure it would've been popular. Heard it went very well on the north run. Chase Hansen's Deal or No Deal joint is looking fantastic! Looks very classey and even has plasma screens. Very clever idea for a joint his got going. Mixer looks good but shame that the front of the trailer pokes right out, making the machine looking set right back.

Top Gunner14 wrote:Very clever idea for a joint his got going.

The same concept of pick you lucky number out of a bucket, just a more modern approach.

Yeh I just think it's clever with as you said, the approach his taking to do it, catches peoples eyes due to the success of the TV show

too bad he stole the idea from a western australia showmen. he gets F+ for originality

I know he took the joint across to Perth last year, did that W.A Showmen have their's on the show aswell? Who is it btw

Top Gunner14 wrote:I know he took the joint across to Perth last year, did that W.A Showmen have their's on the show aswell? Who is it btw

2008 was the first time i saw the deal or no deal game on the grounds.

PNC great summary of EKKA photos - thanks for those

A+ for presentation of new wheel and lights. It's had a good going-over. How many trailers does it travel on?

I know David Taylors wheel which came to New Zealand a few years ago traveled on two trailers, I believe its a identical ride.