Roundup

The Roundup made its debut in 1954, manufactured by Frank Hrubetz, USA. The ride was a quick success with licenses being issued in Europe (Swedish-based Gunnar Manson),Australian-based Ferrari, UK-based Cadoxton and Sam Ward’s Meteorite.

The ride movement is essentially a Rotor / Gravitron on a 50° angle using centrifugal force to keep riders in place. . The ride comes in 24 and 32 person units, racks on a single trailer and can be set up in 1.5 hours, making it appealing to the show owner.

The Roundup remains a popular with an appeal that has lasted through generations of carnival-goers.

In 2003, Dartron premiered a modernised design under the name Zero Gravity with improved loading, 33 person capacity and refined portability.

There are approximately 15 Roundups in Australia, at least 40 in the UK and 70+ in the USA.

37 Responses to “Roundup”

  1. Hola, soy panameño. Visito tu página desde hace casi 10 años. Es muy grata la oportunidad de participar con comentarios. Felicidades!

    Este juego Round Up es mi favorito desde que tenía 3 años de edad (1975). Mi familia iba a las ferias en la ciudad de Panamá, en medio de los edificios de la Cuchilla de Calidonia y en Vía España al lado del Banco Nacional, y ahí mi atracción hacia esa máquina, al ver su belleza y a la vez, me llamaba la atención que las personas no se caían (a esa edad no comprendía la fuerza centrífuga).

    La versión que siempre traían a Panamá, era la de la primera foto, la de la corona sobre el eje central. Luego, a finales de los 70, venía sin corona. En los 80s vino por pimera vez la versión Super Round Up, más grande, con 6 espacios más para 6 pasajeros. Nunca más volví a ver la luminosa versión de la corona y luces fluorecentes blancas, amarillas y azules hasta 1990. Me emocionó verla otra vez. Visualmente este juego luce mejor en esa versión que en las nuevas, que me parecen más obscuras.

    Hace ya varios años que este juego no viene a mi país. La única feria anual que nos visita es una feria centroamericana llamada Play Land Park, que en lo personal, ha decaído bastante y ya no trae esta máquina.

    English Translation:

    Hello, I am Panamanian. I’ve visited your page for almost 10 years. The opportunity to participate with commentaries is very pleasing. Congratulations! The Round Up is my favorite since I was 3 years of age (1975). My family went to the fairs in the city of Panama, in the middle of the buildings of the Blade of Calidonia and in Via Spain next to the National Bank, and that started my attraction towards this machine, when seeing its beauty and simultaneously, fascinated that the people did not fall (at that age I did not understand the centrifugal force).

    The type always brought to Panama was likethe first photo, with the crown on the central axis. At end of the 1970’s, it came without crown. In 80s came a super version of the Round Up, with spaces for 6 more passengers. I never returned to see the luminous version of the crown with white, yellow and blue lights fluorescents until 1990.

    Visually this ride lights up better in older versions than in the new ones, that seems darker to me. Already for several years this ride has not been coming to my country. The unique annual fair that visits us is a Central American fair called Play Land Park, who has decreased in size and no longer brings this ride.

    Rafael Aguilar E. - June 6th, 2009 at 1:34 am

  2. Great ride! Been on a few different travelling ones, very strange but exciting ride experience, love them :)

    Danny - July 22nd, 2009 at 5:34 am

  3. How many revolutions per minute?

    Jenny Weir - July 24th, 2009 at 11:20 am

  4. I last looked at your site on 4/5/2005. At the time you had on page 2 of 3 a photograph with following caption: An interesting German-built unit, with sit-dowm seats! Notethe rider sitting the wrong way up. This 800×600 161 KB was merely a thumbnail. Do you have it anywhere, where the upside rider can be seen? I thank you in advance, for any attention you can give this.

    Tom Grupe - August 8th, 2009 at 11:19 am

  5. Wow.

    Unknown - August 14th, 2009 at 2:07 pm

  6. 30 Passenger Roundups turn 18-18.5 RPM, 42 Passenger (Super Roundups)16 RPM, and were designed to tip 67 degrees

    Mark Blumhagen - August 17th, 2009 at 2:29 pm

  7. Best ride at any traveling carnival by far- probably because just about anyone can ride it :) Can put you to sleep but if you get bored on it, you could always try spitting on your friend beside you, not that I condone it, since it normally hits you in the face.

    Erin - September 5th, 2009 at 10:18 am

  8. Love this ride! I went on it for the first time this past summer (2009) and loved it. I wanted to get back on, but I ran out of money. I haven’t gotten the opportunity to try the “Zero Gravity.” I went to a perminent park that had it, but it wasn’t opperating. I was sad. Next year (hopefully) , I’ll be able to get on both….

    Myles - September 12th, 2009 at 4:17 am

  9. great but scary you have nothing to hold on to apart from a chain that holds you back from falling

    george - May 1st, 2010 at 5:56 am

  10. owned and operated a 30 person hrubetz roundup in uk. good money taker, rode by all ages. believed to be in australia now. sadly missed super machine

    mark wilkins - June 13th, 2010 at 4:38 am

  11. I used to call it the Barf Up

    Bryce - June 21st, 2010 at 5:31 am

  12. THIS RIDE LOOKS JUST LIKE THE GENIE!!!!BTW IT ROCKS RIDE IT IF U EVA SEE IT!!

    Angel - December 21st, 2010 at 6:58 am

  13. BTW: ISNT THIS THE SAM AS CHAOS??

    Angel - December 21st, 2010 at 7:05 am

  14. If anyone doesn’t know, the first generation roundup has a tire drive, whereas the second generation roundup has the center conveyor drive

    mike - May 27th, 2011 at 12:40 pm

  15. I remember seeing a tire drive Round Up when I was younger. A lot of those older rides had tire drives along with hydraulics. The old Trabants and Casinos were tire driven, too.

    M Time - June 8th, 2011 at 7:30 am

  16. HI, LAST YEAR MY FRIEND AND I WENT ON THE ROUND UP AT MY COUNTY FAIR IN MARYLAND AND IT WAS AWESOMEE!

    LADY JENJEN FARQUAAD - June 20th, 2011 at 11:26 am

  17. Also a popular ride in germany but not many in operation today. Most were built in the 70s by Klaus Engineering – one made in 1978 is since then continuosly in use till today in Heide-Park.

    VulcanNonibird - June 23rd, 2011 at 5:52 am

  18. A midway classic. Someone mentioned the chain as the only restraint. True, what is that chain really going to do? The HUSS UFO is a bit bigger and scarier, as it goes completely vertical, unlike the Round Up which goes about 45 degrees.

    Ted Russell - July 13th, 2011 at 6:34 am

  19. German firm Kasper Klaus built 7 Round Ups, all in 1958. The first went to Gunnar Manssen (Emde)and they took his original Hrubetz model in part exchange and re-sold to Rose Bros (UK) later in 1958. Kasper Klaus ceased ride production in 1969 and are best known for their Jets rides of which 100 rides of 5 types were made between 1951 & 1966

    Mike Willis - July 30th, 2011 at 7:45 am

  20. enjoy this site, many years ago ihad the pleasure of working on a Sam Ward built meteorite for 4 years, then years later chance became me and i had moved south and ended up working with Sam ward bulding machines for industry 12 years

    ian johnson - August 10th, 2011 at 9:34 am

  21. HIIII!!!! Frank Hrubetz is my grandpa’s uncle or something so….ya cool huh? BYE!! :)

    Sydney - October 14th, 2011 at 4:09 am

  22. This came to our local fair for one year back in the mid 90s. It wasn’t one of the usual haunts (like the Rock-O-Plane, Octopus, Himalaya and Cobra) so we were pretty wary of it. Once I was finally persuaded to get on it, just loved it! Made trips to the fair while it was in town just to ride this a dozen or two times! Was very sad it didn’t make a reappearance and haven’t seen one since. If you get the chance to ride it, do so! It’s a lot of fun!

    kittygirl - November 13th, 2011 at 3:26 am

  23. not trying to offend someone but……….. NO ONE IS AS OBSESSED WITH THIS RIDE AS MUCH AS I AM!!!! XD
    sorry bitchezzzzzzz :P :P :P

    Nicole - April 17th, 2013 at 6:03 am

  24. You might mention there is a newer and more intense version of this ride called ‘Zero Gravity.’ It seems to be a little faster and tilts steeper than a generic Round Up. Also, my favorite park model Round Up has to be the one at Six Flags Magic Mountain. It is now called ‘Wonder Woman’s Lasso of Truth.’

    Mike Ford - April 28th, 2013 at 5:38 am

  25. We are interested in this equipment. please offer me detailed information about the round up. If I buy from you, when will you delivery the goods? how much it cost from your country to Qingdao, China. thank you

    ammy - December 11th, 2013 at 1:17 pm

  26. I am a showman in South Australia and I am looking to buy a Round Up. If you know of one for sale can you pass on my details. In Australia.
    Regards
    Peter

    peter - June 18th, 2016 at 6:36 pm

  27. Hello peter I have roundup for sale in the uk

    Jim - June 19th, 2016 at 4:02 am

  28. sorry about the long delay to reply cam you send me some details and photo and price
    regard
    peter

    peter - January 14th, 2017 at 11:49 pm

  29. Email me back for details if stil interested

    Jim - March 19th, 2017 at 11:26 am

  30. Hi I am looking to buy a round up if you know of something please contact me on my email regards peter

    Peter - July 10th, 2017 at 11:48 am

  31. Don’t know why but I always preferred this ride to the UFO

    Terra Verso - October 22nd, 2017 at 7:06 pm

  32. Hi I have a rhubets roundup for sale

    Marcelle - October 29th, 2017 at 5:18 am

  33. Oh! I rode Round Up with Genesis at The Fun at Walmart Parking Lot on Friday, March 9, 2018! CTtransit 1758 and CTtransit 490!

    Bianca Hilario - March 18th, 2018 at 11:22 am

  34. I WOULD LIKE TO GO ON ROUND UP RIDE & ROLLER COASTER HAUNTED HOUSE & SPACE SHIP RIDE

    NICKLAUS LEE WEISS - June 8th, 2018 at 8:25 am

  35. Brilliant ride; especially for chubby people like me. There is no bar to hold you in. On a ride with a safety bar I’m to big for the bar to go across my lap, so the operator refuses to let me ride those rides.

    Nick Attwell - June 16th, 2018 at 12:14 am

  36. I remember when I was a kid (70’s) they would spin you up, then drop the floor away, and there was nothing to keep you from sliding down but friction between your back and the wall. Then once you’re sufficiently terrified, they would tilt it, eventually going fully vertical. Is that this, or an earlier version of this, and does anybody have any pictures? The ones I saw were always yellow, with a chainlink-like cage that you stood in with your back to the wall.

    Rex Joyner - October 3rd, 2019 at 4:36 am

  37. Never heard of such a thing ???

    Mom Dexter - April 13th, 2021 at 4:56 am

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