OABA Reflections: The Man Who Started It All PART II
by Dan J. Zapata Continued from the
January/February 2023 issue of ShowTime magazine.
Foreign Companies/ Foreign Standards
D
an was, likely, the initial person related to a carni- val’s operation to arrive
at the lot daily. “I’d generally go out at the break of dawn: 6:30.
By 11 o’clock, I’d be done inspecting rides ‘cause that’s when the show’s personnel came in. Show personnel come in and do their inspections from 10 to 11,” stated Dan, adding, in a tes- tament to his responsibilities that never actually enjoy “down- time,” “…I’m open 24/7 every day.” Dan performs inspections while the rides are in operation, as well, but, this time, his focus is on the ride operators. “I’d check to see that they have their mind on the ride action. If not, I’d wait for the appropri- ate time to calmly point out to them that their concentration isn’t what it should be and that they need to get with it,” Dan described.
During the Star of Texas Fair, which had its midway sup- plied by Texas-based Crabtree Amusements, Dan said, by the end of the show’s run, he’d have conducted approximately180 inspections! “When I worked the Texas State Fair, I’d done as many as 280! Throughout my decades inspecting rides, I figure I’ve done about (130,000), not counting accident investiga- tions, which would obviously place the number much higher,” Dan estimated.
Besides the assistance Dan received from his “better half," his progeny were members of his staff. “Karen and Bryan were each NAARSO, Level II checkers. They’re retired, though, but they’d come out, from time to time, to help. Dan, Jr.’s also a NAARSO certified man. He’d do all my electrical inspections for me. Karen was, particularly good because she’s a real ‘nitpicker.’ Nothing gets past her,” proudly stated Dan, who, incidentally, is a NAARSO, Level III himself. Dan’s “better half” assisted him in ways additional to checking the rides. “My wife ran the ‘Safety House’ for me. She also helped me with the paper work…Doing so saved me some time,” Dan observed appreciably. It’s Dan’s opinion that German companies build the stron- gest of all the rides he’s seen up close but that our manufac- turers hold the upper hand with respect to electrical com- ponents. However, the Europeans may have an edge in yet another area. “Europe has the TUV, which, years ago, was the only government-funded amusement ride inspection agency in the world. They have the legal mandate and authority to check the manufacturers’ specifications of the rides proposed to be
constructed there. Those ‘specs’ had to satisfy TUV or the ride didn’t get made! So, you could be pretty sure that the rides that come out of that continent are structurally sound and finely engineered,” Dan lauded. Then again, America’s empha- sis on safety puts us ahead of the Europeans in, at least, one key respect. “…They don’t have the same standards we have because…they didn’t even fence amusement rides years ago,” disclosed Dan.
Why is this the case? Again, Europe has the upper hand on us, according to Dan. “Over there, the legal system is such that if you sue over there and lose, you pay all of…the other side’s legal expenses in addition to your own. As a consequence, you don’t get too many frivolous lawsuits over there,” Dan stated.
State Inspections Dan described how some states handle ride inspections.
“In Texas, for instance, the state’s Department of Insurance DOI does the ride inspecting themselves by contracting out for certified ride inspectors. If the ride passes muster, the DOI sends the ride owner the inspection sticker as verifica- tion that the ride cleared. However,” continued Dan, “it was my understanding that legislation was pending, years ago… that, if approved, would change the responsibility of issuing those stickers over to the Department of Licensure. In Ohio, that state supported their ride inspection system through their inspection fees. I think that was a good model for the other states to follow.”
Dan decried the practice of some states that apparently rush the training of their inspectors. “I knew of some states where, after only a couple of weeks or so of training, they’d be certified as official ride inspectors. Come on, give me a break,” howled Dan. Indeed, this lack of preparation can lead to dis- gruntled ride and show owners. “Shows and the ride owners don’t mind the inspections so long as you know what you’re talking about. Prove to these guys that you know your business and they won’t give you any guff. Otherwise, the ride inspector and his inspection are of no use and the ride and show owners get all out of sorts,” Dan described.
A knowledgeable ride man can be a ride inspector’s best
friend. “Take Steve Vandervorste, for example. He grew up working big coasters going back to the ’70s when his dad, Dick, was moving Zyklons and flume rides. I don’t know of a guy with more big coaster know-how than him. So, inspect- ing a ride that the owner knows a whole lot about comes in handy,” Dan admitted, adding that Steve’s current mega- coaster, the Crazy Mouse, is “… a good family ride.” In 2022, Steve sold this coaster to fellow ride “in-die” Michael Wood Entertainment (San Antone’, Texas), one of the republic’s top contracting ride independents. Also selling his other rides signaled Steve’s retirement from the industry.
MARCH 2023 | OABA ShowTime Magazine 23
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