Bumper cars

[Herb Spitz <hmspitz@domain.elided>]

Digestisti -

Charlie in el Lay wrote -

" I believe the carnival ride bumper cars was invented based on driving in 
Boston, however without the mean streak."

Actually Charlie is very close on the origin of those devices.  The 
"Dodgem" cars were invented a few miles north of Boston in Lawrence by my 
dad's uncle Max Stoerher, who later sold the business to Pratt & Whitney. 
 My dad drove the prototype in Uncle Max's basement when he was a mere lad 
of 14 (he's 91 now), and remarked that the best feature was how the car 
would turn in the opposite direction that it was steered.  Not unlike the 
way many in Boston drive.....

I doubt that Boston traffic was truly the inspiration, as it couldn't have 
been at anywhere near the insane level of today over 75 years ago.

Regards,
Herb Spitz
78 Spider (Italian go-cart)
69 GTV (restoration in progress)
   

------------------------------