High time guaranteed at Royal Darwin Show

WITH blood rushing to my head and my stomach filling with butterflies, the Royal Darwin Show’s Xtreme Speed ride whipped me through the air at a GForce of 6

NT News Journalist Lauren Roberts gets a ride preview at the Royal Darwin Show with Extreme Speed. PICTURE: Ivan Rachman

WITH blood rushing to my head and my stomach filling with butterflies, the Royal Darwin Show’s Xtreme Speed ride whipped me through the air at a GForce of 6.

Strapped into a firm plastic seat, I reached 100 feet above the ground and rotated 360 nauseating degrees.

Showmens Guild representative Mark Brown said operators had to obtain an air force clearance just to run the ride.

“Darwin Royal Show has one of the safest records anywhere in the Southern Hemisphere,” Mr Brown said.

The Xtreme Speed ride is not recommended for the faint hearted.

Show classic the dodgem cars is fantastic if you enjoy being beaten mercilessly by primary schoolers with quick reflexes. Thomas Burdett, 8, said he was “pretty good” at dodgem cars.

“I’ve done it twice before,” he said.

Thomas revealed his secret strategy: “Normally I hit the back of the car, and it spins.”

Young Thomas was also a fan of the Ranger ride.

“I liked it when it went upside down,” he said.

By comparison, I did not like it when The Ranger went upside down.

For those new to show rides, The Ranger is a giant pendulum swing which goes faster and faster until you forget your last name.

The Ranger is best enjoyed on an empty stomach so try it before, not after, a feast of fairy floss.

Royal Darwin Show chief executive Cherry Court said they were expecting 50,000 people over three days at the 26th annual Royal Darwin Show. “We don’t look for a record crowd — we look for a nice, happy safe event,” she said.

While not a ride enthusiastic herself, Ms Court did say she enjoyed watching the faces of those spinning upside down.

The 2016 show is themed ‘Taste of the Territory’.

Gates open at 9am today and the show closes with a fireworks display on Saturday at 9pm.