Twist (ride)

A Sizzler Twister made by KT Enterprises (Keith Emmett), in the sunset

The Twist or Twister is an amusement ride in which suspended riders spinning in cars experience centrifugal force, while spinning along two separate axes. Riders are seated in small carriages clustered together and connected by beams at the top to a central point. The clustered vehicles are spun in one direction, while the ride as a whole spins in the opposite direction.^[1] There are a number of variations of the design.

Description

The Twist or Twister is an amusement ride in which suspended riders spinning in cars experience centrifugal force, while spinning along two separate axes. Riders are seated in small carriages clustered together and connected by beams at the top to a central point. The clustered vehicles are spun in one direction, while the ride as a whole spins in the opposite direction.^[1]

Variants

Grasscutter Twist

A grasscutter twist has a basic frame shape and no platform and is driven by a lower arm assembly. This type of twist is extremely popular in the United States, where it is known as the Scrambler.^[2]

• Scrambler—These rides usually have a circular structure near the top of the ride. There are vertical bars that go around the top along with lights on them. For the most part, these rides are made by the Eli Bridge Company.^[3]
• Wisdom's Sizzler—This ride does not have a platform, but it still has thick arms at the top and bottom of each seating assembly. The top of the ride has 3 twisted metal structures. There are also lights all over the ride including the cars. This ride goes much faster than the Scrambler or the Wisdom's Super Sizzler. These are popular in the US, but are no longer made by Wisdom.

Sizzler

A Sizzler twist are twists which have thicker arms and a platform? It was when these type started being manufactured, the manufacturers concentrated on the ride aesthetics. Concerns have been raised about its safety, as the ride has been involved in at least five fatalities since 1997.^[4]

• Bennett & Pollards—These rides have a smaller circumference from the center of the ride to the seats. They are similar to Scrambler-type rides because they also have cylinder structures on top of the ride.
• PWS Sizzler, Sonacase Twister, & Twist—These rides each have a platform, but they do not have objects near the top of the ride such as a cylinder structure. There are lights all around the center structure of the ride. Thus, these rides look similar.
• Wisdom's Family Sizzler—this ride has thick arms and a platform, along with a central structure with dazzling lights. It has wheels to guide the three pods along underneath, and is quite fast when compared to a Grasscutter Twist. They are found mostly at indoor fun centers and are the only type of Sizzler being made by Wisdom.
• Wisdom's Super Sizzler—This ride has a platform, and it looks similar to the Sizzler. Another difference is that it goes backwards, and this ride also has a backdrop with some colorful art. Wisdom has recently stopped making this type of Twist ride.

Gee Whizzer

The 'Gee Whizzer' derivative was constructed and commissioned by the operators King Carnival amusements of Tasmania, Australia during the 1950s. The project was carried out by rail engineers who utilised rail and tram parts which were common for the era. This machine is currently the largest and fastest of the Twister type rides utilising a unique fully suspended balanced single sweep arm design, driven from the top resulting in no lower arm assembly. The centre support core is fully independent and does not require a support deck, instead eight extended stabilisers are fitted to the core during assembly. Only one of these machines are known to be in existence.

Current installations

Manufacturing tablet for the Scrambler at Cedar Point.

See also

• Troika (ride)

References