Mobs going mad for new monster fairground ride

"It's 40m high, has 3000 lights, moves at 120km/h and takes eight people on a ride "just long enough so you're not sick".

Turbo Boost is part of the sideshows at this weekend's Wanganui A&P; Show at Springvale Park. The ride makes its debut in Wanganui this weekend, and yesterday had curious bystanders going "Wow" even before its motor started.

Turbo Boost was bought from Holland for $1million and each ride costs $15. People are mad for it, said Paul Mahon of Mahon's Amusements. There were queues an hour long when the giant instrument of fun first appeared in Carterton, he said.

Mr Mahon, a third generation part-owner of the Mahons Amusements empire, said the show lacked last year's attraction, the Super Loop, but Turbo Boost more than made up for that.

His crew of 25 arrived on Monday to set up for this weekend's show.

Its fenced compound will be open from 10am to 5pm today and tomorrow, and 7pm to 10pm tonight.

It will cost $2 to get in. Inside will be all the usual fair attractions - ferris wheel, merry-go-round, haunted house, candy floss and hotdogs.

Alongside it during the days will be other and free attractions of this year's Wanganui A&P; Show - sheep racing, which Mr Mahon said was entertaining, wood chopping, a chainsaw section, a children's petting zoo, lambs, calves and more.

The horse events, with 1200 entrants and free admission, will be on at the same time at Wanganui Racecourse.