Bumper car at a small town fair

Bumper car is the generic name for a type of flat ride consisting of several small electric cars that draw their power from an overhead grid, which is turned off by the operator at the end of a session. They are also known as dodgem cars. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x768, 380 KB)Bumper car at a small fair in Uzès, France. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x768, 380 KB)Bumper car at a small fair in Uzès, France. ... A flat ride, or platform ride, is usually taken to mean any amusement ride which is not a roller coaster, dark ride, tower ride, or water ride. ...

The metal floor is usually set up as a rectangular or oval track, and graphite is sprinkled on the floor to decrease friction. A rubber bumper surrounds each vehicle, and drivers ram each other as they travel. The controls are usually an accelerator and a steering wheel. The car can be made to go backwards by turning the steering wheel far enough in either direction, necessary in the frequent pile-ups that occur. Graphite (named by Abraham Gottlob Werner in 1789, from the Greek γραφειν: to draw/write, for its use in pencils) is one of the allotropes of carbon. ... It has been suggested that Frictional force be merged into this article or section. ... A bumper is a part of a car designed to allow one vehicle to push another and to withstand the impact from collisions. ... A small variety of cars, the most popular kind of automobile. ... A modern road cars steering wheel A modern Formula One cars steering wheel has buttons and knobs to control various functions A steering wheel is a type of steering control used in most modern land vehicles, including all mass-production automobiles. ... A multi-vehicle collision (colloquially known as a pile-up) is a road traffic accident involving many vehicles. ...

A bumper car

Although the idea of the ride is to bump other cars, safety-conscious (or at least litigation-conscious) owners often put up signs reading "This way round" and "No bumping". Depending on the level of enforcement by operators, they are usually ignored by bumper car riders, especially younger children. Bumper car image, altered patent drawing This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Bumper car image, altered patent drawing This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... A lawsuit is a civil action brought before a court in order to recover a right, obtain damages for an injury, obtain an injunction to prevent an injury, or obtain a declaratory judgment to prevent future legal disputes. ...

During their heyday (late 1920s through 1950s), the two major bumper car brands were Dodgem and the Lusse Brothers' Auto-Skooter. In the mid 1960s, Disneyland introduced hovercraft-based bumper cars called "The Flying Saucers," which worked on the same principle as an air hockey game; the ride was a mechanical failure and closed after a few years. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Social issues of the 1920s. ... The 1950s were a decade that spanned the years 1950 through 1959, although some sources say from 1951 through 1960. ... The 1960s decade refers to the years from 1960 to 1969, inclusive. ... Disneyland Park is a theme park at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, USA, 28 miles from Downtown Los Angeles, and is owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company. ... A U.S. Navy hovercraft attached to the Amphibious assault ship Kearsarge (LHD-3) A Russian Project 1232. ... Air Hockey is a game for two competing players trying to score points in the opposing players goal. ...

External links

• Links to various amusement ride patents