Your ride’s here

Simon Brown

Whether you seek traditional rides or cutting-edge, theme-park

thrills, the adult rides at the Orange County Fair have something for

everyone.

I selected a variety of rides, from the tame to the slightly

scary. Some got me wet, some made me dizzy, and some were just

relaxing. All in all, the rides are entertaining and a reasonable

value. Each of the rides I chose cost anywhere from four to six

tickets ($3 to $4.50), and I ranked the rides on a four-star scale --

four for the best, one for the worst.

Magic Spinning Coaster

This is one of two new adult rides at the fair this year. It looks

like a traditional roller coaster, but it has a twist: It spins in

circles while it rolls along the tracks. This way, passengers get to

experience the ride backward and forward, which makes it much more

exciting. The Spinning Coaster is a ride you can go on several times

without getting too dizzy or too bored.

“I thought it was great,” Ray Stapf of Anaheim said. “It’s the

second time I’ve been on it today.”

Rating: ****

La Grande Ferris Wheel

A staple of the fair for years, the Ferris wheel is 164 feet tall,

making it one of the tallest portable wheels in the world. Its 36

air-conditioned cars and slow pace make it a relaxing break from the

other carnival rides. It also provides a nice view of much of the

surrounding county, including the mountains and the ocean. This is a

good ride to start with because it allows you to see all of the other

fair rides, and you can pick out which ones look the most fun.

Rating: ***

Hydro Slide

This ride is very similar to the Splash Mountain, log flume at

Disneyland, but it’s not as much fun. The Hydro Slide doesn’t last

very long, and its two drops are not very steep. It’s nice when it’s

hot, though, because you will get plenty wet.

Rating: **

Zero Gravity

Zero Gravity, the other new adult ride at the fair, looks scary

from the ground but is definitely worth trying. Passengers stand in

open cages on a large wheel, which lifts high into the air and spins

in circles at several angles. The G-force is somewhat strong at

times, and it will leave you a little dizzy, but the feeling goes

away after a few minutes.

Rating: ****

Tango Dance

This is for those who want a thrill. Riders are strapped into a

chair and lifted high into the air with their feet dangling. The ride

then begins to spin at several angles. But just when you think you

can handle the spinning and the high speed, it reverses directions

and flips you upside down. This leaves you dizzy for about 10 minutes

and may cause a headache. I recommend not going on this ride

immediately after Zero Gravity. Brandon Dotts of Huntington Beach

said, “It was pretty fun” and that he would ride it again.

Rating: ***

Hi Miler

The Hi Miler is one of several traditional roller coasters at the

fair. It is a short ride with a few moderately steep drops, but it

never picks up much speed, and it jerks riders around uncomfortably

in the turns. Fans of big roller coasters probably won’t enjoy the Hi

Miler, but the less daring will.

“I’m not a roller coaster person, but it was pretty fun,” said

Susanna Jodzio of Laguna Nigel.

Rating: **

I’m normally a little timid when it comes to amusement park rides,

but I had a great time on the rides at the fair. To others who may be

afraid, I say that even if a ride looks scary, try it. You may be

surprised at how much you enjoy it, and you’ll probably want to try

it again.