Ladies and Gentlemen- I might have scored a good one for the C-7. I am serious. Elephant Man has no reason to bulls$it you.

I wrote to the manager of Magical Midway, the park I visited when doing the new Imagine Coney article on my website, to ask a few more questions about their rides. (for those of you who do not yet know about the new page, click this link. http://gottaloveconeyisland.com/VISIONS.aspx
Instead, I got a letter back from the park's owner, who is also director of Funtime, the parent company who manufactures all the rides shown on new page, and along with answering my questions, revealed to me that

They have a SLINGSHOT that needs to be relocated after the end of this season!!]


So, folks, waddya say?  Can we help these guys out?  Maybe Mayor Mike can buy Bullard's lot and Funtime can lease part or all of it and once again the C-7 would have a western anchor. Slingshot doesn't travel alone, again, see the new Imagine Coney page on my site to understand what Magical Midway is and also the links to Funtime to see their list of rides that they manufacture.
I'm excited over this, maybe a little too excited, and need to hear the customary negativity to bring me back down. Opinions anyone?
Here is the letter I recieved.

Hi Jay,

I am the owner of the Magical Midway Amusement Park you looked at in Orlando, thanks for your email. I also looked at your invaluable web page  www.gottaloveconeyisland.com and found it very interesting. Years ago we were looking at expanding to Coney Island but like everyone else in the industry we were afraid of the deterioration and lack of government support for the area.

First I’ll answer your questions:

1)     Magical Midway is 96,000 Sq Ft (2.2 acres) This includes the parking area and buildings. Without the parking the area is 75,000 sq ft (1.72 acres).

2)     The large track that goes across the roof is 922 feet long and 18 feet wide, the smaller track is 727 feet long and again 18 feet wide. One thing to remember is cover the tracks with concrete or asphalt, the wooden tracks are too much maintenance.

3)     Bumper boats take 2 people and go out on 5 minute rides, we have 8 so about 192 people per hour.

4)     The Starflyer has a capacity of about 500 per hour (12 double seats) we do make versions up to 1000 per hour (24 double seats). The slingshot is more of an exclusive 2 person thrill ride and has a capacity of between 50 to 60 per hour.

5)     Our parent company is a ride manufacturer and has a stand at IAAPA under the name of Funtime, please look up www.funtime.com.au

I don’t know what the situation is at Coney Island now and if it is still profitable for an operator to come there but at the end of the 2009 summer season we will have a 180 foot Slingshot available which are trying to locate. I am a half owner in this one and the present site it is at will lose the lease in November. If you think it will work please let me know who I should contact to try and locate it there.

Best regards

Brian Mirfin – Director Funtime Group of Companies

www.funtime.com.au

ElephantMan wrote on May 30^th, 2009, 11:43pm:



Well I am sorry, I can't be negative, I don't like it, and I refuse to dish it out...besides, THIS SOUNDS A-W-E-S-O-M-E!  I was just saying wish the tents would leave and more rides be there, well this would be GREAT on Bullards property. Can you imagine how this would really bring some expansion to the current amount of rides, AND if successful, and permanent as you say, also be a boon to keeping the current zoning and preventing encroaching retail and hotels on the South side of Surf we dread the possibility of! I am ALL for this, now if MIKEY likes it, remember those commercials, hey Mikey LOL, FUND us!

Ouch!  I woulda offered him a hand, but that's not what he needed....

If the accident was back in the 90's, it was a different kind of slingshot.
I don't think Funtime was around yet.
I do know that a park in Kissimmee called Old Town had a slingshot ride that was smaller and kind skimpy looking, and they demolished it and put in the new giant  Funtime slingshot around 2002 or so.
The technology is far more advanced with this model. It uses a patented spring systemwith counterweights (no bungee cable involved) and is loaded with safety features and electronic sensors.  The skimpy old one was a mechanical dispatch lever, no electronics, etc.  I am sure the slingshot that the incident occured with was of this older type.  

I stayed next door to Old Town back in 89, went back in 92 the last time. Didnt know they were gone.

I have one of their nickle coke bottles, guess I cant return it anymore

Bruce

OOPS, all  the excitement, I forgot to include the picture the fella sent me of the Slingshot in question.  It is in Darien Lake until the end of this season, then it is looking for a new home.  Can this be  Coney's new kid on the block?  Time will tell.

How much do they charge per person to ride?

doesn't this type of ride also do a video of each rider that they sell?

In Orlando, they charge $20 a person, dispatching 2 people per shot.
It is not a high capacity ride, but due to it's extreme nature, people who want to ride rarely worry over the price before, and certainly not during and after.
Also, if Funtime  came in, no doubt they would bring other Funtime rides too.  The slingshot is the magnet that draws people,but the big money comes from the smaller stuff that surrounds the slingshot, such as Go Karts, quality flat rides , games, food, merchandise, etc.
Star Flyer charges 6 or 7 dollars a ride, average price, same with the others.