The Twist, also known as the Twister, Cyclone, Sizzler, Scrambler, Merry Mixer, Jambalaya, or Grasscutter is an amusement ride in which suspended riders spinning in cars experience the illusion that they will crash into other suspended, spinning cars. 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.
The minimum height requirement is 36 inches; anyone under 48 inches tall must ride with a responsible person.
In Australia there are two versions of the ride one being The Sizzler, which always has a more menacing demeanor, while the Cha Cha looks to be more for the kids, while actually the Cha Cha goes much faster than The Sizzler, both rides have the same function, the paint jobs and the cart shapes distinguish the two.
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There are three different types of the twist rides, the Grasscutter/Scrambler, Sizzler, and Gee Whizzer.
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 USA, where it is known as the Scrambler.
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.
The 'Gee Whizzer' derrivative was constructed and comissioned by the operators King Carnival amusements of Tasmania, Australia during the 1950's. 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 independant and does not require a support deck, instead eight extended stablisers are fitted to the core during assembly. Only one of these machines are known to be in existance.