I remember the Turbo from way back when. Put that ride back with the fairs as I would like to ride it again. One thing that Chance Rides does not need to do is to have this great ride banned to single riders.
Rode the Zipper for one hour non-stop a few years ago. I would like to do the same on the Turbo, only ride it longer than the Zipper and ride it for two to three hours non-stop. Bring back the Turbo.
Its sad that carnivals are not carrying these classic rides today, with the same colors and lights as the original rides had. There is a whole generation that has not had the chance to ride these great rides.
-jim,
You are completely right. I want to change that. I know exaxtly how the turbo works and I live to construct rides. If you guys have any ideas or questions, email me at mneininger@gmail.com.
I remember the Turbo at the Canadian National Exhibition in the 1970’s. It was the best amusement park ride at the time, hands down. I have a cousin (15 at the time) who was not afraid of any ride – but screamed his head off on the Turbo! Even more fun than the “Skydiver” – the second-best ride.
I road one as a kid at the Calaveras County fair in California in the late 70’s early 80’s. Man it was fun. I remember riding it with a pretty girl. We just kept crashing into each other. I was in heaven. LOL. They eventually took it out and all I could think was when are they bringing it back. They never did.
I rode a Turbo at the defunct Idora Park in Youngstown Oh in the middle 70’s. It was the greatest ride ! Lisko and Sons Amusements of Coitsville Oh traveled with one in the early 80’s. I remember seeing it at a few festivals but never rode it. They have a lot of old rides stored on the east side of Youngstown Oh and I always wonder if it was sitting there as it’s hard to see the lot from the trees and bushes covering the fence line.I always wondered if it was the old Idora ride also Conneaut Lake Park is supposed to have one in storage from the rumors that I have seen posted on line.
This turbo ride was my favorite ride I remember my parents use to take me&my brother to vacaville fiesta days in vacaville california and I could see the turbo ride from off the freeway and in high school id cut class jus to ride the turbo ride this awesome ride was in vacaville in the 70s an last seen in late 80s, I would love to ride it again!
I rode this at the South Park fair in Pittsburgh Pa. I was just a little girl and could never remember the name of it. It was so frickin’ fun. I have searched for it all this time at different fairs. After reading this page, it all makes sense why I have never seen it again. But thanks heavens “The Zipper” is still around. I have to “zipper” at least a few times every Summer. I LOVE THAT CRAZY RIDE…..:)
I’m from Vacaville, Ca. and I looked forward to riding the Turbo every year growing up at our annual Fiesta Days Carnival put on by Johnson’s Amusments. The Turbo NEEDS to return..!
I do agree with other people who wish to see the Chance Turbo ride used again at fairs, and possibly any amusement park that could be interested in buying one, any ride model that,s in good working condition. The same for the Chance Radar or Raven, I was told that their could be a new ride similar to the Chance Rotor which I have never ridden before but hopefully someday in the future.
I have seen tons of pictures of this ride before but I have never seen this ride in real life and I always wondered how it worked. Either way I kind of wish they would bring it back to carnivals again so I could get a chance to see it.
Does anyone have a picture of the Turbo ride that was at Idora Park Youngstown, Ohio My husband used to run the ride in his teens and I would love to find a picture for his Birthday. Thanks
I remembered wanting to ride this ride every time Bennett’s amusements came to my home towns of Alamogordo/Tularosa,Nm (tularosa is small village like community of maybe 10-15,000 ppl and Alamogordo is a bigger town 13 miles over and is populated by about 70 to maybe 80,000 ) we travel to Alamo to do shopping for the things that Tulie (tularosa doesn’t have so Thats y I say that those are my hometowns. Anyway, when this ride came to these places, I always got asked by friends to ride it…but I can’t recall if it was a one person per seat or two? Needless to say I declined every time out of fear( never rode any of the bigger rides that flipped you upside down, like the zipper or ones that did forward and backward circles with the cabins doing circles of their own….guess you cud say I stuck to the more easy going rides. One year when I was older and a lil more braver, I decided to ride the loop-o-plane, after that my confidence and bravery level skyrocketed thru the roof and I dared to ride the zipperfanaticer that I was hooked, I even took it as far as going to six flags over Texas and became a thrill coaster fanatic!!!! I now love riding these rides now….sometimes as now I have kids and they are not old enough to yet experience these joyful adrenaline rushes!!! My point of the long story, which btw, if your still reading it…and I thank you!! Lol! Is that once I realized that these rides are not at all scary…I never rode the turbo due to this soon to pass fear and that is one my biggest REGRETS, needless to say that the next year the carnival came to town I was absolutely going to ride this ride a million times over, but to my dismay, when the carnival showed up, the turbo was nowhere in site and was permanently replaced by the zipper!!! So after that the zipper became my “turbo” I really wud like to see the turbo’s return to the carnival as I wud like to no longer make not ride it my biggest regret!!!! Please please PLEASE BRING IT BACK!!!!
Stanley Shows had the first one in set up when I was 13 years old in Febuary 1971 in Hot Springs AR owned and operated by Wm Billy Stanley Jr. and his wife Sherry.Gads I loved being a Carney Brat.
I used to operate the turbo for Reithoffer Shows in the mid 70s. I’d love to spin everyone before I sent them on there way The best part was seeing the faces of people still walking around when the fair closed and it was time to tear down. Once you took the scenery down it exposed the trailer bent in half sticking up in the air. People would go crazy saying they couldn’t believe they rode it. How do you get the trailer like that Some would stay around just to see you bring the trailer back to the vertical position. Ah. The good times.
I used to operate the turbo for Reithoffer Shows in the mid 70s. I’d love to spin everyone before I sent them on there way The best part was seeing the faces of people still walking around when the fair closed and it was time to tear down. Once you took the scenery down it exposed the trailer bent in half sticking up in the air. People would go crazy saying they couldn’t believe they rode it. How do you get the trailer like that Some would stay around just to see you bring the trailer back to the vertical position. Ah. The good times.
I am so very happy that Chance is planning to reintroduce this wonderful ride. For many years I always wanted to experience this novel thrill ride, but could never find one at the fairs. About 25 years ago a carnival set up about 200 miles from my home, and I drove their to try it. I fell in love with the action, and rode it until my ride partner became ill from vertigo. At 70 years of age I remain an active participant at carnivals, and always look forward to new ideas in thrill rides. I wish everyone at Chance a safe, and profitable 2015 season, and look forward to next Spring when I can fly once more. Sincerely; Roy Graham
Trying to fulfill a “Make a Wish” request! Can someone help me find the Sky Diver that was set up and run at the Portland Rose Festival in 2013? Funtastic had the ride at that time. We are looking to see if this ride will be set up any time this year, or even if we can find where this ride is dismantled and stored??? Thank you!
I have been a zipper operator since 2010 I’m working on my 4th zipper number 135 and I love the rise compared to the old zippers the three-hour and back in the day the newer ones are really awesome to somebody to get the kids in and out of concern to deal with those R keys on the cages I will always love the zipper I love riding it out of operating it I tell people about his history of the zipper how long it’s been around since 1968 I will continue my drive working on the zipper and getting parts from chance TV
I remember the carnivals from the 1970s: skydiver, zipper, turbo were often featured together. Now THAT was a supersize combo!!!!!
STAN - June 21st, 2009 at 12:37 pm
I remember the Turbo from way back when. Put that ride back with the fairs as I would like to ride it again. One thing that Chance Rides does not need to do is to have this great ride banned to single riders.
Bruce - October 10th, 2009 at 10:23 am
Rode the Zipper for one hour non-stop a few years ago. I would like to do the same on the Turbo, only ride it longer than the Zipper and ride it for two to three hours non-stop. Bring back the Turbo.
Bruce - October 11th, 2009 at 9:05 am
Its sad that carnivals are not carrying these classic rides today, with the same colors and lights as the original rides had. There is a whole generation that has not had the chance to ride these great rides.
Jim - November 21st, 2009 at 10:48 pm
I’ve never seen one of thies looks like fun i run with a show that like chance rides but dont get the good one
lit cris - November 13th, 2010 at 1:58 pm
-jim,
You are completely right. I want to change that. I know exaxtly how the turbo works and I live to construct rides. If you guys have any ideas or questions, email me at mneininger@gmail.com.
mike - January 5th, 2011 at 8:17 am
I remember the Turbo at the Canadian National Exhibition in the 1970’s. It was the best amusement park ride at the time, hands down. I have a cousin (15 at the time) who was not afraid of any ride – but screamed his head off on the Turbo! Even more fun than the “Skydiver” – the second-best ride.
Bill - April 15th, 2011 at 7:34 am
I road one as a kid at the Calaveras County fair in California in the late 70’s early 80’s. Man it was fun. I remember riding it with a pretty girl. We just kept crashing into each other. I was in heaven. LOL. They eventually took it out and all I could think was when are they bringing it back. They never did.
Jeff - July 31st, 2011 at 9:41 am
I rode a Turbo at the defunct Idora Park in Youngstown Oh in the middle 70’s. It was the greatest ride ! Lisko and Sons Amusements of Coitsville Oh traveled with one in the early 80’s. I remember seeing it at a few festivals but never rode it. They have a lot of old rides stored on the east side of Youngstown Oh and I always wonder if it was sitting there as it’s hard to see the lot from the trees and bushes covering the fence line.I always wondered if it was the old Idora ride also Conneaut Lake Park is supposed to have one in storage from the rumors that I have seen posted on line.
Chris - October 19th, 2011 at 12:35 am
just like the radar!
oliver - January 7th, 2012 at 11:40 am
This turbo ride was my favorite ride I remember my parents use to take me&my brother to vacaville fiesta days in vacaville california and I could see the turbo ride from off the freeway and in high school id cut class jus to ride the turbo ride this awesome ride was in vacaville in the 70s an last seen in late 80s, I would love to ride it again!
Angela nakatani - April 22nd, 2012 at 9:01 am
I rode this at the South Park fair in Pittsburgh Pa. I was just a little girl and could never remember the name of it. It was so frickin’ fun. I have searched for it all this time at different fairs. After reading this page, it all makes sense why I have never seen it again. But thanks heavens “The Zipper” is still around. I have to “zipper” at least a few times every Summer. I LOVE THAT CRAZY RIDE…..:)
Jeanie Liston - May 14th, 2012 at 6:01 am
I’m from Vacaville, Ca. and I looked forward to riding the Turbo every year growing up at our annual Fiesta Days Carnival put on by Johnson’s Amusments. The Turbo NEEDS to return..!
Scotty K. - March 4th, 2013 at 10:19 am
I do agree with other people who wish to see the Chance Turbo ride used again at fairs, and possibly any amusement park that could be interested in buying one, any ride model that,s in good working condition. The same for the Chance Radar or Raven, I was told that their could be a new ride similar to the Chance Rotor which I have never ridden before but hopefully someday in the future.
Carlos Saltz - March 16th, 2013 at 6:25 am
I have last seen this ride, TURBO in 1972 at New Mexico State Fair. It was also in 1971 at that fair.
calvin J. Hendry - October 28th, 2013 at 9:08 pm
I have seen tons of pictures of this ride before but I have never seen this ride in real life and I always wondered how it worked. Either way I kind of wish they would bring it back to carnivals again so I could get a chance to see it.
Erron Bennett - January 20th, 2014 at 3:07 am
Does anyone have a picture of the Turbo ride that was at Idora Park Youngstown, Ohio My husband used to run the ride in his teens and I would love to find a picture for his Birthday. Thanks
Sandy Mulligan - April 27th, 2014 at 10:21 am
I remembered wanting to ride this ride every time Bennett’s amusements came to my home towns of Alamogordo/Tularosa,Nm (tularosa is small village like community of maybe 10-15,000 ppl and Alamogordo is a bigger town 13 miles over and is populated by about 70 to maybe 80,000 ) we travel to Alamo to do shopping for the things that Tulie (tularosa doesn’t have so Thats y I say that those are my hometowns. Anyway, when this ride came to these places, I always got asked by friends to ride it…but I can’t recall if it was a one person per seat or two? Needless to say I declined every time out of fear( never rode any of the bigger rides that flipped you upside down, like the zipper or ones that did forward and backward circles with the cabins doing circles of their own….guess you cud say I stuck to the more easy going rides. One year when I was older and a lil more braver, I decided to ride the loop-o-plane, after that my confidence and bravery level skyrocketed thru the roof and I dared to ride the zipperfanaticer that I was hooked, I even took it as far as going to six flags over Texas and became a thrill coaster fanatic!!!! I now love riding these rides now….sometimes as now I have kids and they are not old enough to yet experience these joyful adrenaline rushes!!! My point of the long story, which btw, if your still reading it…and I thank you!! Lol! Is that once I realized that these rides are not at all scary…I never rode the turbo due to this soon to pass fear and that is one my biggest REGRETS, needless to say that the next year the carnival came to town I was absolutely going to ride this ride a million times over, but to my dismay, when the carnival showed up, the turbo was nowhere in site and was permanently replaced by the zipper!!! So after that the zipper became my “turbo” I really wud like to see the turbo’s return to the carnival as I wud like to no longer make not ride it my biggest regret!!!! Please please PLEASE BRING IT BACK!!!!
Jesus Lopez - August 22nd, 2014 at 5:46 pm
Stanley Shows had the first one in set up when I was 13 years old in Febuary 1971 in Hot Springs AR owned and operated by Wm Billy Stanley Jr. and his wife Sherry.Gads I loved being a Carney Brat.
Marilyn Spencer - September 9th, 2014 at 3:10 am
I used to operate one of these in alaska back in the 70’s sure was a awesome ride. would like to see it again.
robert - November 2nd, 2014 at 11:38 pm
I used to operate the turbo for Reithoffer Shows in the mid 70s. I’d love to spin everyone before I sent them on there way The best part was seeing the faces of people still walking around when the fair closed and it was time to tear down. Once you took the scenery down it exposed the trailer bent in half sticking up in the air. People would go crazy saying they couldn’t believe they rode it. How do you get the trailer like that Some would stay around just to see you bring the trailer back to the vertical position. Ah. The good times.
Mark - November 30th, 2014 at 12:33 am
I used to operate the turbo for Reithoffer Shows in the mid 70s. I’d love to spin everyone before I sent them on there way The best part was seeing the faces of people still walking around when the fair closed and it was time to tear down. Once you took the scenery down it exposed the trailer bent in half sticking up in the air. People would go crazy saying they couldn’t believe they rode it. How do you get the trailer like that Some would stay around just to see you bring the trailer back to the vertical position. Ah. The good times.
Mark - November 30th, 2014 at 12:34 am
I am so very happy that Chance is planning to reintroduce this wonderful ride. For many years I always wanted to experience this novel thrill ride, but could never find one at the fairs. About 25 years ago a carnival set up about 200 miles from my home, and I drove their to try it. I fell in love with the action, and rode it until my ride partner became ill from vertigo. At 70 years of age I remain an active participant at carnivals, and always look forward to new ideas in thrill rides. I wish everyone at Chance a safe, and profitable 2015 season, and look forward to next Spring when I can fly once more. Sincerely; Roy Graham
Roy Graham - December 2nd, 2014 at 3:14 pm
Sandy Mulligan, there are pics of the Idora Turbo on the Turbo Facebook page!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/78890541931/
Mark Hackett - February 3rd, 2015 at 7:35 am
Trying to fulfill a “Make a Wish” request! Can someone help me find the Sky Diver that was set up and run at the Portland Rose Festival in 2013? Funtastic had the ride at that time. We are looking to see if this ride will be set up any time this year, or even if we can find where this ride is dismantled and stored??? Thank you!
Grandma Misi - December 15th, 2015 at 6:52 am
does anyone know when the new turbo will debeaut
Don lessard - March 31st, 2016 at 10:57 am
I have been a zipper operator since 2010 I’m working on my 4th zipper number 135 and I love the rise compared to the old zippers the three-hour and back in the day the newer ones are really awesome to somebody to get the kids in and out of concern to deal with those R keys on the cages I will always love the zipper I love riding it out of operating it I tell people about his history of the zipper how long it’s been around since 1968 I will continue my drive working on the zipper and getting parts from chance TV
Keith Strout - July 17th, 2016 at 3:02 am
Marilyn Spencer, I was there with you in 1970. Mail me
Doug Esser - March 14th, 2022 at 11:36 am
Marilyn mail me at dna@bevcomm.net
Doug Esser - March 14th, 2022 at 11:37 am
The Turbo used to do the show circuit in Australia when I was a teen in the 1980s-1990s. It was my favourite ride after the Zipper. Totally wild!
Stuart Duel - June 4th, 2022 at 9:21 am