Editing Bumper cars

{{Short description|Amusement ride}}
{{redirect|Dodgems|the abstract game|Dodgem}}
{{For|the structure on the front and rear ends of a car|Bumper (car)}}
{{Multiple issues|
 {{More citations needed|date=June 2014}}
 {{Circular|date=November 2019}}
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{{Infobox attraction
<!--GLOBAL STATISTICS-->
| name                = Bumper cars
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| type                = <!--Should be linked.-->
| manufacturer        = <!--Must not be linked.-->
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| model               = 
| theme               = <!--Should be linked.-->
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| speed_mph           = <!--Must be expressed in miles per hour and may contain only numeric characters.-->
| speed_km/h          = <!--Must be expressed in kilometres per hour and may contain only numeric characters.-->
| sitearea_sqft       = <!--Must be expressed in square feet and may contain only numeric characters.-->
| sitearea_sqm        = <!--Must be expressed in square metres and may contain only numeric characters.-->
| gforce              = 
| capacity            = <!--Use only one of vehicles, rows, participants, or audience-->
| vehicle_type        = Electricity-powered cars
| vehicles            = 
| riders_per_vehicle  = 1-2
| participants_per_group= <!--Only use if neither rows or vehicles is applicable.-->
| duration            = 
| single_rider        = <!--Must be "available" if available.-->
| pay_per_use         = 
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| small               = <!--Must be "yes" to collapse location sections by default-->
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[[File:H2199 Bumper Cars - Autorata C.JPG|thumb|Bumper cars in [[Kerava|Kerava, Finland]], powered by pole-mounted [[contact shoe]]s that supply power from a conductive ceiling]]
'''Bumper cars''' or '''dodgems''' are the generic names for a type of flat amusement ride consisting of multiple small electrically powered cars which draw power from the floor or ceiling, and which are turned on and off remotely by an operator. They are also known as '''bumping cars''', '''dodging cars''' and '''dashing cars'''. The first patent for them was filed in 1921.<ref name=Burton105>{{cite book |last=Burton |first=Anthony |date=2000 |title=Traction Engines Two Centuries of Steam Power| publisher=Silverdale Books |pages=105–106 |isbn=1856055337}}</ref>

==Design==
The metal floor is usually set up as a rectangular or oval track, and [[graphite]] is sprinkled on the floor to decrease [[friction]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=The overall introduction and safe tips of bumper cars|url=https://grey20156.wixsite.com/funfairrides/single-post/2015/04/17/The-overall-introduction-and-safe-tips-of-bumper-cars|access-date=2020-09-25|website=funfairrides|date=17 April 2015 |language=zh}}</ref> A [[Elastomer|rubber]] [[Bumper (automobile)|bumper]] surrounds each vehicle, and drivers either ram or dodge each other as they travel. The controls are usually an [[accelerator (car)|accelerator]] and a [[steering wheel]]. The cars can be made to go backwards by turning the steering wheel far enough in either direction, necessary in the frequent [[pile-up]]s that occur.

===Power source===
{{anchor|OHS}}The cars are commonly powered by one of three methods. The oldest and most common method, the '''overhead system''' (OHS), uses a conductive floor and ceiling with opposing power polarities. [[Contact shoe|Contacts]] under the vehicle touch the floor while a [[Collector pole|pole]]-mounted contact shoe touches the ceiling, forming a complete [[Electrical network|circuit]].

{{anchor|FPU}}A newer method, the '''floor pick-up''' (FPU) system, uses alternating strips of [[metal]] across the floor separated by insulating spacers, and no ceiling grid.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=459773 |title=How does this Electric Floor work? |date=29 December 2010 |publisher=physicsforums.com |access-date=2014-08-31 }}</ref> The strips carry the supply current, and the cars are large enough so that the vehicle covers at least two strips at all times. An array of brushes under each car makes random contact with the strips, and the voltage polarity on each contact is arranged to always provide a correct and complete circuit to operate the vehicle.

A third method is used on [[Quantum-class cruise ship|''Quantum''-class cruise ships]], where bumper cars run on [[electric batteries]]. This avoids the conductive floor/ceiling of the traditional bumper car setup, allowing the SeaPlex venue to be convertible from a bumper car ride to a multipurpose gym (basketball court). The disadvantage is that these ships' bumper cars take several hours to recharge.
==Bumping==
Although the idea of the ride is to bump other cars, safety-conscious (or at least [[litigation]]-conscious) owners sometimes put up [[Signage|signs]] reading "This way around" and "No (head on) bumping".<ref>{{cite web|last =Dolan|first=Maura|title=Ruling over bumper-car injury supports amusement park|work=Los Angeles Times|date=January 1, 2013|url=https://www.latimes.com/local/la-xpm-2013-jan-01-la-me-amusement-park-injuries-20130101-story.html|access-date=8 December 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=A Guide To The Rides|publisher=Santa's Village Jefferson, New Hampshire|date=2013|url=http://www.santasvillage.com/public/explore/rides/bumper_cars.cfm|access-date=8 December 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212233818/http://www.santasvillage.com/public/explore/rides/bumper_cars.cfm|archive-date=12 December 2013}}</ref> Depending on the level of enforcement by operators, these rules are often ignored by bumper car riders, especially younger children and teenagers.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-03-04|title=Should You Let Your Kids Ride Amusement Park Bumper Cars?|url=https://amusementrides.org/should-you-let-your-kids-ride-amusement-park-bumper-cars/|access-date=2020-09-25|website=Premium Amusement Park & Funfair Ground Rides|language=en-US|archive-date=2020-08-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200808130141/https://amusementrides.org/should-you-let-your-kids-ride-amusement-park-bumper-cars/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==History==

In the early 1920s, a patent was granted to Max Stoehrer and his son Harold for an "Amusement Apparatus" which became the basis for their Dodgem cars. They deliberately equipped their device with "novel instrumentalities to render their manipulation and control difficult and uncertain by the occupant-operator." They asserted that "in the hands of an unskilled operator," a "plurality of independently manipulated [...] cars" would "follow a promiscuous, irregular, and undefined path over the floor or other area, to not only produce various sensations during the travel of the vehicle but to collide with other cars as well as with portions of the platform provided for that purpose."<ref>{{cite book |last1=Pursell |first1=Carroll |title=From Playgrounds to PlayStation: The Interaction of Technology and Play |date=2015 |publisher=Johns Hopkins University Press |isbn=9781421416502 |pages=65–66 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DeokBwAAQBAJ&pg=PA66 |access-date=24 September 2023}}</ref>

During their heyday, from the late 1920s to 1950s, two major US bumper cars brands were Dodgem by Stoehrer and the Auto-Skooter by Lusse Brothers, owned by Joseph and Robert "Ray" Lusse.<ref name=LAShist>{{cite web|last1=(Multiple authors)|title=Legend/History|url=http://www.lusseautoscooters.com/html/legend_history.html|website=Lusse Auto Scooter Bumper Car Web Site|publisher=Lusse Auto Scooters, LLC|access-date=6 September 2014}} Includes many details about ''Dodgem'' as well.</ref><ref name=JStanton97>{{cite web|last1=Stanton|first1=Jeffrey|title=Coney Island: Independent Rides|url=http://www.westland.net/coneyisland/articles/independentrides.htm|website=Coney Island History Site|publisher=Westland|access-date=6 September 2014|year=1997}}</ref> Lusse Brothers built the first fiberglass body in 1959, in part due to the survival of Chevrolet Corvette bodies over the previous six years. After getting permission from Chevrolet, then subsequently buying the actual Corvette chevrons from local Philadelphia dealers, those were attached to the nose of their product for 1959. In the mid-1960s, [[Disneyland]] introduced [[hovercraft]]-based bumper cars called [[Flying Saucers (attraction)|Flying Saucers]], which worked on the same principle as an [[air hockey]] game; however, the ride was a mechanical failure and closed after a few years.

==Notable examples==
The largest operating bumper car floor currently operating in the United States is at [[Six Flags Great America]] in [[Gurnee]], [[Illinois]]. Called the Rue Le Dodge (renamed Rue Le Morgue during Fright Fest in the fall), it is {{convert|51|ft|9|in|m}} by {{convert|124|ft|9|in|m}} or a total of {{convert|6455|sqft|m2}}. A [[replica]] of the ride was built at [[California's Great America]] in [[Santa Clara, California|Santa Clara]]; in 2005, however, a [[concrete]] island was added to the middle of the floor to promote [[one-way traffic]], reducing the floor area.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2012-12-31|title=California Supreme Court rejects lawsuit against Great America over bumper car rides|url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2012/12/31/california-supreme-court-rejects-lawsuit-against-great-america-over-bumper-car-rides/|access-date=2021-11-24|website=The Mercury News|language=en-US}}</ref> [[Six Flags Great Adventure]]'s Autobahn is the largest bumper car floor, but it has not operated since 2008.

==See also==
* [[Bumper boats]]
* [[Collector pole]]
* [[Commutator (electric)]]
* [[Electric vehicle]]
* [[Go-kart]]
* [[Witching Waves]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.lusseautoscooters.com/html/legend_history.html Bumping Down Memory Lane: The Lusse Legacy]
{{Commons}}
{{Amusement rides}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bumper cars}}
[[Category:Vehicles by purpose]]
[[Category:Articles containing video clips]]
[[Category:Collision]]
[[Category:Electric vehicles]]