Tilt-A-Whirl

I love fairs and carnivals. I think it is a way for the white trash Dan to get out and play once in a while. This weekend there was a small carnival at a festival near my house and I rode the Tilt-A-Whirl. It has always been one of my favorite rides.

I think I like it because it is such a simple ride, yet gives a huge bang for the buck. For the unfamiliar, I will try to describe it. If you have problems in your inner ear or any other balancing issues, avoid this ride at all costs. First you sit down in the futuristic looking pods that resemble half of an egg sliced lengthwise. No need to look around for a seat belt or safety cord - there aren't any and they are not needed. Each pod is mounted on a circular rail track and these tracks are then mounted onto a rotating and undulating platform that turns counterclockwise. The rotation and undulation of the platform causes the pod to, at times, turn very quickly creating lots of centrifugal force, pressing you back into your seat. Lots of g-forces are also created and you can feel your insides "float" a bit - this is a weird feeling and part of the great fun of the ride. As you can see from the photos, this particular version of the Tilt-A-Whirl has been around the block a few times. Tilt-A-Whirl was invented in 1926! For more info on this most famous of all rides, click here, here, here, here and here.