The beginning of what are now commonly known as Miami’s stemmed from Anton Schwarzkopf’s Flying Carpet rides. In the early 1990s, a Dutch showman, Kroon, bought a Topper ride for his son [with side-ways seating], and told him he could have it if he could make a success of it. The showman’s son decided to fit a frontward facing bench, making way for the world’s first Miami. (Incidentally, this prototype ride model was since sold to an Australian showman, re-named Sidewinder)
The showman’s family was surprised with the success of this ride and soon manufactured a Miami of their own. The Kroon family later went on to form the Dutch-based KMG Manufacturing, now a highly respected manufacturer in the world ride industry.
Other manufacturers soon latched on to KMG’s success to make their own Miami’s. These include UK based: Nottingham UK Ltd, KT Enterprises, and ARM (producing only 2 units, now based in USA under Chance), Belgium-based manufacturer Sobema [no longer in business], US manufacturer Wisdom and a number also manufactured in the Czech Republic.
The Miami is highly compact single trailer ride with minimal set-up & tear-down time - they practically fold themselves up. The ride movement is essentially a high speed Rainbow with alternating clockwise / counter-clockwise movement of varied speeds. While the swing height is nothing in comparison to the Rainbow, the Miami makes up for its modest size with quick accelerating rotations. Due to the high negative g-forces experienced at the top of rotation i.e.. the rider is lifted from their seat, all Miami’s have over-shoulder safety restraints. These quick accelerating movements are assisted by counter weights on each arm, which in all models except Wisdom’s, are located behind the backdrop.
Miami’s have a high reputation when it comes to art since each Miami has its own large backdrop of artistic flare. Some of the best examples are in the UK painted by Paul Wright.
For more information on this great ride, checkout Ian Bickerton’s Miami Madness - with over 100 photographs and a comprehensive list of every Miami ever produced.
As of 2010 there are 9 Miami rides in Australia
We have hundreds of these machines in the UK, great fun and very popular with everybody, although dont eat or drink and ride, the contents of your stomach goes round like a washing machine lol
Danny - July 22nd, 2009 at 5:30 am
I LOVE THE MIAMI RIDES!! I have been on one called the La Bamba.I live in Carnoustie and theres a carnival that comes once or twice a year.I was wondering is there another carnival coming with a miami??? Thanks..
Amy - August 26th, 2009 at 4:45 am
I love miamis there is so many over here now mainly notts uk ones and a few emmett ones.i worked on the very first kmg ride that came into the uk which was called miami back in eary 1990.
simon - October 31st, 2009 at 5:00 am
i love the miamis iv been on one could the hysteria
aaliyah - June 26th, 2010 at 7:54 pm
all the rest er rubish so ther
aaliyah - June 26th, 2010 at 7:55 pm
A complete classic. :3 I’m on it as soon as I spot/hear it. :D
Sarah - July 8th, 2010 at 12:30 am
I went on one called the Ali Baba and it was shaped like a flying carpet. i was nine the first time. it was the funnest ride of the carnival.
Dallas - July 25th, 2010 at 5:27 pm