Australian Amusement Fanatics

Has anyone seen any Venture Scat rides around Australia?
I remember seeing one called 'Spin Out' at a small roadside carnival at Playford in 2006 and in the Adelaide Entertainment Centre carpark.
Are they run by an obscure company?

I believe most of the Scats we have in Aus were manufactured here under license from Jerry Barber (who is the inventor behind 'Venture Rides' and also created Turbo) The only one I know operating is Smart's Amusements (who mainly do fete hire work)

It's a good ride. I've seen some very old Luna Park Melbourne footage which shows one. I think they must've been made here in the early 1970's. I've always wondered why all the ones we have operating here have had seats added, though it was designed to be a stand-up ride, as operated in USA.

here's a link to Smarts website. http://www.smartamusements.com.au/rides.php

anyone know of any other operating ones?

Tony Smanns had one for sale when i bougt my round up from him, im pretty sure he still has it

Also, I do recall seing a racked Scat among some other small rides on a weed patch by the intersection of The Golden Way & The Grove way last year.

this may interest you... Luna Park Melbourne in 1975 - have a look at the 1:17 mark. Pretty sure this same Scat (minus decorations and in a bland yellow paintjob) re-appeared at the park from 1995-2001

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZLepWm6 ... re=related

LOL LOL LOL!

That well may be me in that 1975 video! I have fond memories of riding the Scat at Luna Park around that time!!!

Fast forward 35 years,,,,

St Pats Primary school in Murrumbeena has the Cyclone (aka Scat) each year from Smarts amusements - it's literally 500 meters from where I live - I'll try and take some shots later this year at the annual fete (assuming the Cyclone returns,,,)

Jaffa23

Zamperla wrote:this may interest you... Luna Park Melbourne in 1975 - have a look at the 1:17 mark. Pretty sure this same Scat (minus decorations and in a bland yellow paintjob) re-appeared at the park from 1995-2001

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZLepWm6 ... re=related

Zamperla, I am pretty sure that the Scat left earlier than 2001 from Luna Park Melbourne. I visited there in October of 2000 (for my one and only visit!!) and it definetly was not there then. The park was preparing for its big relaunch that would happen later next year(The classic Carousel was then being restored).
However that footage is gold!!! I love seeing our Luna Parks in their former glory..brilliant stuff!! Its a pity the footage didnt contain any Big Dipper onride film however.....

Cheers,
Jobius

Just found a nice pic of A-Vans! There's a Scat Ride on the right of this pic!

PNC wrote:Tony Smanns had one for sale when i bougt my round up from him, im pretty sure he still has it

Yes I think he does still have it. It is called Spin Out Im pretty sure

Yes Jobius, you're right. The Scat was removed from the park around late 1999, it's probably the one Tony Smans now has.

What else did Tony Smanns have?

I went to a mates school carnival and i went on a ride like that called spin out. (In vic)

I know this image is incredibly blurry, but I wasn't familiarised with my camera when it was taken in December 2004.

This was next to the Hindmarsh Riverbank Display!