The San Diego County Fair: June 15 - July 7, 2002
The photos on these pages are courtesy of Ryan Snooks.
The Chance Falling Star is owned by Helm & Sons Amusements. Sadly many carnivals have moved away from large Falling Star-style rides like the Chance version and the Huss Rainbow in favor of smaller, one-trailer models. This ride racks on two trailers and gives a great feeling in the stomach as it rolls over the top.
The Wisdom Storm, owned by Flight to Mars, is a classic spin-n-puke. In many ways it is an updated version of the Watkins Tempest & Hustler rides.
KMG has made some of the best fairground attractions of the past decade. The Afterburner, owned by Fun For All, and the Experience, owned by Ray Cammack Shows, are both rides that thrill riders in very unique ways. The Afterburner takes a disc of 24 passengers and spins them upside down at 120-degrees while the Experience spins 24 guests on three different axis's.
Ray Cammack Shows' Kroon wheel is a classic Ferris wheel. It takes riders up over 100 feet in the air for a great view of the fairgrounds.
Chance Rides has been building attractions for carnivals for decades. The Inverter (left) debuted in 1999, while the Zipper has thrilled riders since 1969. This was one of the first rides that thrilled a large number of riders at once by sending them upside down. Rides from Eyerly had taken guests head-over-heels, but those rides performed simple arcs. The Zipper features uncontrolled spinning that varies every time they ride.
Bishop Amusements brought several rides to the fair. The KMG Spin Out (left) and Soriani & Moser Loop on Top are two super spectaculars they booked in throughout the west. However, the family took the Loop on Top off the road after the 2002 season in order to purchase a KMG Tango.
