Carnival thrill rides operate under the assumption that faster is always more fun. Whether spinning, soaring or dropping, the brightly lit attractions are built around endless varieties of velocity.
Thrill rides come equipped with all manner of belts, bars and buckles to protect patrons from an untoward end to a high-speed spin. What they do not come equipped with, however, is a speedometer. In an effort to discover how fast a Tilt-a-Whirl whirls, The Augusta Chronicle hit the Georgia-Carolina State Fair Friday night with a radar gun in hand. Here's a look at how a quartet of the fair's rides fared:
The Thunder Bolt
A classic spinner, the Thunder Bolt flings patrons forward and backward on a small circular track.
RIDER ESTIMATE: Dawn and Brenda Luppold of Evans estimated the speed at about 35 mph.
RADAR READING: 13 mph.
The Cliff Hanger
Designed to mimic the sensation of hang gliding, the Cliff Hanger spins riders, lying on their stomachs, in a quick circle, letting centrifugal force tilt each glider.
RIDER ESTIMATE: CJ and Endia Mahoney of Augusta estimated the top speed at around 10 mph.
RADAR READING: 25 mph.
The Wave Swinger
Riders are suspended in space in chain-mounted swings, which whip out over the midway when the ride begins to turn.
RIDER ESTIMATE: Jackie Foshee estimated the ride's rate at 30 mph while her husband Shawn went lower -- 27 mph.
RADAR READING: Mr. Foshee should have bought a lottery ticket -- 27 mph.
Zyklon roller coaster
A classic coaster, the Zyklon takes cars up and lets them coast down, hitting some hills and banks along the way. We measured the Zyklon's speed as it rolled down the longest, steepest hill.
RIDER ESTIMATE: Zelvonte Harden of Augusta estimated the top speed at around 60 mph.
RADAR READING: 28 mph.
IF YOU GO
GATES OPEN: 5 p.m. Monday-Friday; noon Saturday and Sunday
REGULAR ADMISSION: $6. Unlimited ride tickets are $16. Secured parking is $5.
ADMISSION SPECIALS:
Today: Free admission from noon to 2 p.m. with the purchase of an unlimited ride ticket.
Sunday: Admission $1 for seniors (55 and over) or with a church bulletin
Monday: Admission $1 for federal, state and local government employees and their families
Tuesday: Admission $1 with coupon from The Augusta Chronicle
Wednesday: Admission $1 for teachers, military and their families
Thursday: Admission (18 and older) $1 with a non-winning Georgia lottery ticket.
Monday-Friday: Free admission 5 to 7 p.m. with purchase of an unlimited ride ticket
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