IF the barometer of a good ride is losing your shoe, then The Hangover ride at the Bendigo Agricultural Show gets a 10 out of 10.
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Mr poor shoe took a tumble when I was approximately 50 metres in the air, looking down at the empty showgrounds below, and screaming like a teenage girl at a One Direction concert.
I’m assuming it’s not called The Hangover because it makes you confused about what you did the night before.
There are several seconds on each rotation where you just hang way up high in the air, staring down at the ground, really hoping your safety belt is secure. It’s terrifying.
The Hangover is definitely not the ride to go on after you have downed such gourmet show delights as a Chiko Roll and a Dagwood Dog, but on an empty stomach it’s definitely worth a red-hot go.
It also gets extra points for the attendant’s use of Skrillex, booming microphone and threats of, “Let’s go over one more time!”, when all you really want to do is get to the safety of level ground and find your shoe.
Next up was the Tornado, a spinning device I hope is the closest I will ever get to being in a washing machine.
It immediately and worryingly reminded me of Luna Park’s Gravitron, where the fast, whirling movement of the ride would inevitably make your cheeks seep into your neck.
I was assured by the attendant it was like that, but “more family friendly”.
If you like headspins, feeling unsteady on your feet and having your stomach churn uncontrollably, then this is the ride for you.
I’m sure there are many of you out there who like that combination.
After these two rides, I thought it was time to tone it down and go on something a little less “spinny”.
Unlucky for me, the Ghost Ride’s occupants were apparently having a day off. I found this quite surprising because I didn’t think ghouls, goblins and zombies could really escape their day job.
Not deterred, I settled on an old family favourite, the tea cups.
This was a nice calm way to end my ride testing, but I would probably recommend having a small child as a companion as I got a few weird looks as a solo adult occupant.
Other rides to catch my attention on my journey around the showgrounds were the Cha-Cha and the XXX-L.
But whatever you choose to go on, make sure you wear some seriously secure shoes.