Caterpillar ride

The Caterpillar ride is a vintage flat ride engineered by the inventor Hyla F. Maynes of North Tonawanda, New York who dubbed it the Caterpillar when it debuted in Coney Island, NY in 1925. It is a fast-paced ride that generates a decent helping of centrifugal force, causing the riders on the inside of the seats to crush the riders on the outside of the seats. It was once found at nearly every amusement park around the country, but is now so rare that an original Caterpillar ride can only be found operating in four parks today. Though only four Caterpillars are known to be operating there have been reports claiming there are additional Caterpillars in storage or standing but not operating at a few other parks.The ride features a complete circuit of motorized vehicles that are connected end-to-end all the way around the ride in a way similar to a Music Express. Also, the cars travel a circular, undulating (wave-like) track very similar to that of a Tumble Bug. This ride is famous for its green canopy that automatically, or manually in the case of Heritage Park's, begins to slowly surround the cars and fully encapsulate them once the ride reaches its maximum velocity, though DelGrosso's operates without it. When covered with the canopy, the ride tends to look like a caterpillar, which is probably how Mr. Maynes got the name for his ride. Located at one point under the carriage of the ride, a high powered fan was traditionally, and is still at Idlewild Park, used to surprise riders with a blast of air as the cars go around the track.

The Caterpillar most likely served as Moser Rides' inspiration for the popular Music Express (sometimes Musik Express or Himalaya) style ride. Without the canopy the ride does basically look like a stone-age Music Express minus the theming, lighting, and loud music.

Manufacturers

The Caterpillar was manufactured by several old amusement ride companies including:
* Traver Engineering (famous for inventing the Tumble Bug)
* Allen Herschell
* Spillman Engineering Maynes, the inventor of the Caterpillar and owner of the patent, was paid a royalty by the companies that built the ride, or sometimes the buyer of the ride.

Locations

The only four original Caterpillar rides still known to be operating are:
* The Idlewild Park Caterpillar in Ligonier, PA (Operating with original canopy and undercarraige fan.)
* The DelGrosso's Amusement Park Space Odyssey in Tipton, PA (Operating without canopy and in a space themed building.)
* The Canobie Lake Park Caterpillar in Salem, NH (Operating with original canopy.)
* The Heritage Park Historical Village Caterpillar in Calgary, AB (Operating with original canopy.)

There is also a newer remake of the classic ride which is:
* The Pavilion Nostalgia Park (a small portion of the Myrtle Beach Pavilion Amusement Park that was relocated to Broadway at the Beach) Caterpillar in Myrtle Beach, SC (Operating with canopy.)

References

* [http://www.ridezone.com/rides/caterpillar/index.htm Ride Zone]
* [http://www.ocpc.com.ar/foro/showthread.php?t=869 Asociación Argentina de Amigos de los parques de Diversiones] es icon