Round Up (ride)

A Round Up in operation at Stricker's Grove

Drive of a Round Up at a German fun fair

Round Up is an amusement ride consisting of a circular horizontal platform with a vertical cage-like wall around the edge. The platform is attached to a motor on a hydraulic arm. The ride starts out by spinning until the centrifugal force is enough to push riders against the wall. Then the arm raises the horizontal platform to a vertical position in which riders, instead of spinning horizontally, are now spinning almost vertically.

The ride spins for a predetermined cycle until an automatic timer releases the hydraulic fluid from the arm, causing the platform to return to its horizontal position. The operator may be required to manually control the spin of the ride such that the ride's exit aligns correctly with the exit gate. Most Round Ups require the rider to be at least 42 inches tall.

In the UK this ride is commonly known as the 'Meteorite' or 'Meteor'. The first such ride to arrive in the UK was with Rose Brothers in the 1950s and the ride came from Germany.

Although Hrubetz examples exist in the UK other common makes include Cadoxton and Sam Ward.

Zero Gravity

The new portable model, made by Dartron, is known as Zero Gravity. The lighting and appearance has changed and the ride has gone from tire rim drive to direct center gear drive, but its operation remains the same.

There are 70 Round Ups in the US, 40 in the UK, and 20 in Australia.

Locations

The Meteorite in action at Worden Park

Past appearances

References

1. ↑ "Zero Gravity". West Coast Amusements. Retrieved 18 May 2014. 
2. ↑ "New Rides and Facilities To Be Found Found At Hershey Park". The Daily Mail (Hagerstown, MD). April 20, 1968. p. 6. 

External links

• Dartron Rides
• Amusement Ride Extravaganza – Roundup