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Round the World and at the Fair with Zamperla’s Air Race

Posted in Amusement ride, tagged Air RAce, Coney Island, Dreamworld, Florida state Fair, Luna Park, State Fair of Texas, Tivoli, Zamperla on February 18, 2013| Leave a Comment »

A new portable version of Zamperla’s Air Race designed for traveling carnivals is one of the thrill rides on the independent midway at the Florida State Fair, which runs through today in Tampa. Owned by Joyce and Jeff Brady of Playworld Amusements, the ride debuted at October’s State Fair of Texas, where it was called the “Air Raid.” The on-ride POV vid shown above was shot at the 2012 IAAPA Attractions Expo in Orlando, where attendees were invited to try out the ride for free. In the vid below of the ride at the Dallas fair, skip to 1:49, which is when the planes start moving. Carnival lights are always brighter than amusement park lights!

Designed by Mega Disk’O creator Gianbattista Zambelli, the aerobatic thrill ride sends riders round and round and upside down at up to 4g forces. Since the Air Race prototype made its world debut at Zamperla’s Luna Park in Coney Island in 2010, it’s been a worldwide success with sales to parks in Portugal, China, North Korea, Chile, Australia and Utah. In 2013, Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen will debut the Air Race with eagle-shaped seats shown in the rendering below. Built on an elaborate platform, the ride’s theming has an Art Nouveau look.

Rendering of Eagle-themed Air Race Set to Debut at Tivoli Gardens in 2013. Via Tivoli Gardens Facebook

Coney Island’s Air Race seats 24 riders and is similar in design to the ones at Aquashow Parc in Portugal, Lagoon Park in Utah, and Gorky Park in the Ukraine. A new deluxe model seats up to 32 riders in six four-seater planes. In an article we wrote about the new Luna Park for IAAPA Funworld in 2010, Zamperla president Valerio Ferrari said, “Our intention is to have the latest rides that we develop in our park.” The fact that the world’s largest manufacturer of amusement rides is trying out prototypes at Luna Park is an exciting development that calls to mind the heyday of Coney Island when the first models of any new park or carnival rides would make their debut here.

Zamperla also benefits because the New York City amusement park functions as a showroom for Zamperla’s New Jersey-based North American operation. In December, a Kung Fu Panda-themed version of the Air Race called Pandamonium opened at Australia’s Dreamworld, which has a partnership with DreamWorks Animation. “This swinging rickshaw ride is an adventure with a serious split personality,” according to the park’s website. “It’s two rides in one — one for kids and one for thrill seekers.” Riders get to choose the intensity of the ride –‘not-so crazy’ or ‘seriously crazy’–as it spins around a mighty dragon.

Photo Album: Post-Sandy MERCY Graffiti in Coney Island

Posted in Photo Album, Photography, tagged Bruce Handy, Coney Island, graffiiti, Hurricane Sandy, MERCY, street art, Superstorm Sandy on February 16, 2013| 16 Comments »

MERCY. February 9, 2012, Photo © Bruce Handy via Coney Island Photo Diary

After Sandy, we began noticing the word “MERCY” stenciled on lamp posts and empty signboards in Coney Island. It felt like a call for compassion from a neighborhood devastated by the storm. During last week’s snowstorm, Coney Island photographer Bruce Handy came across three of these graffiti messages. The one above was on a white wall at Paul’s Daughter on the Boardwalk.

POƧT –ИO–MERCY February 7, 2012, Photo © Bruce Handy via Coney Island Photo Diary

On Stillwell Avenue, the “Post No Bills” message on the plywood covering Thor Equities vacant new building was replaced by graffiti saying “POƧT — ИO — MERCY.” Person(s) unknown also pasted MERCY bumper stickers on poles in the amusement area. Have you seen any others? Scroll down for readers’ comments and theories about the graffiti and additional photos. Bruce Handy’s flickr set can be viewed here.

Williams Candy Moves Next Door During Post-Sandy Renovation

Posted in amusement park, Food, News, tagged Coney Island, renovation, Sandy, Williams Candy on February 15, 2013| 2 Comments »

Williams Candy on Surf Avenue next to Nathan’s was one of the first Coney Island businesses to reopen after Sandy. The Mom-and-Pop candy shop owned by Peter Agrapides is open year-round and also has a mail order business. Winter hours are 11 am till 5 pm. When we went by on November 17th, they had cotton candy, candy apples and all of our favorite marshmallow-on-a-stick treats in the window. Try the one with the chocolate sprinkles!

But you’ll have to go next door to the dining room of Pete’s Clam Stop to find the candy treats. This week Williams Candy began a month-long, post-Sandy renovation. The interior was gutted and everything will be brand-new at 1318 Surf Avenue in time for Coney Island’s Opening Day, which is March 24th this year.