Mr Softy's Ice Cream Van

 Manufactured by RG Mitchell of Skegness, Mr Softy's Ice Cream Van was released as part of their "Premium Rides" range in 1997.  The blue and white van was a very popular ride at the time.  I specifically remember them being a common sight in Mothercare, as well as seaside amusement arcades.


Mr Softy's Ice Cream Van - 2000 RG Mitchell Catalogue

"The Story Teller", released a couple of years later, used the same van mould, but was now coloured in pink and purple with a different theme.  It never seemed to gain the same popularity as Mr Softy's Ice Cream Van and I only ever saw a small handful of them.


The Story Teller Van - 2000 RG Mitchell Catalogue

These were two seater kiddie rides with plenty of special features.  While one child sat in the driver's seat watching the "rolling road" screen display with two push buttons for ice cream van chimes and horn sound effects, there was space for another in a back seat alongside an interactive panel featuring a further four sound effect buttons allowing customers to choose their favourite ice cream flavours.


Mr Softy's Ice Cream Van - Ocean Boulevard Fun Park, Felixstowe, July 2021

The Story Teller had six pictures of popular children's nursery rhyme characters in place of this panel.  Each picture had a corresponding button which could be pressed to hear the nursery rhyme and see the character light up.

According to old RG Mitchell catalogues, the rides measured 54" x 30" x 50" and weighed 209lbs.  They cost £2,745.00 to purchase as of the 2001 price list.

Both were discontinued in 2002, making way for the upgraded versions, "Hank's Ice Cream Van" and "Hank's Storyteller Van".

American Roadster

The two-seater American Roadster was released by RG Mitchell as part of their Premium Rides range in 1997.  It was based on a Chevrolet Corvette and sold in a range of different colours, the most common being red.


1999 RG Mitchell Catalogue

When in motion, the ride played authentic-sounding radio sound effects and had a "rolling road" display screen on the dashboard.


Mr P's Classic Amusements, Bognor Regis, August 2020

Tots TV

 Manufactured by RG Mitchell of Skegness, the Tots TV ride was released in 1998.

2000 RG Mitchell Catalogue

According to old RG Mitchell catalogues, it measured 48" x 33" x 52" and weighed 286lbs.

Barry Island Pleasure Park, June 2019.  Unfortunately, the revolving dial on this unit wasn't working.

I believe the ride was discontinued around 2002.

Snow White's Enchanted Castle

 Manufactured by RG Mitchell, Snow White's Enchanted Castle was a two seater ride released in 1997.  It was a tall castle tower, most frequently coloured in grey and blue with various embossed symbols on the outside.  When a coin was inserted, the castle rotated back and forth.


Snow White's Enchanted Castle - 2000 RG Mitchell Catalogue

A little later, a reinvented version of the ride was created and sold alongside the original.  This was the "Haunted Castle" in purple, with various ghost, bats and things that go bump in the night pictured on the outside.


Haunted Castle - 2000 RG Mitchell Catalogue

Both rides featured a themed interactive game including a light-up screen and eight push buttons for different sound effects.


Snow White's Enchanted Castle - Caesar's Amusements, Hemsby, April 2017.  Unfortunately, the volume on this unit was very low.  Combine this with the fact that the arcade was extremely noisy and you can hardly hear the ride at all on the recording.  (It's a miracle that you can hear anything at all to be honest!)

The castles measured 46" x 76" and weighed 231lbs.  They cost £2,795.00 each to purchase as of the 2001 price list.

Postman Pat

RG Mitchell of Skegness acquired the rights to Postman Pat in the late 1990s, and launched this "new, improved" version of OMC's earlier ride at the ATEI in January 1998.  While at first glance, you could be forgiven for thinking that the ride had not undergone many changes, the interior underwent a complete makeover and included one of Mitchell's trademark "rolling road displays" on the dashboard.  Like its OMC predecessor, the ride has two sound effect push buttons, one for the "toot toot" of a horn, the other for Jess's "Meow".


2000 RG Mitchell Catalogue

The movement of the ride also differs from OMC's usual oscillating motion to a more standard smooth forward and back.


Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach Gardens, April 2017.  Sadly, the audio quality on this particular unit wasn't great, but I tried my best!

The ride measured 55" x 29" x 46", and weighed 231lbs.  It cost £2,495.00 to purchase, as of the 2001 price list.

Superbike

2000 Cogan Flyer

Released in the late 1990s, the Superbike was manufactured by Cogan.  It is a small motorcycle which came in either red or yellow.  When in action, the ride alternates between the general rocking motion and a rotating movement.  The speed and engine sounds can be altered using the accelerator and brake controls on the handlebars.


2000 Cogan Flyer


Planet Fun Amusements, Ingoldmells, September 2018.  Unfortunately, this ride was mute, and my camera also decided to film it out of focus.  It's on my list to re-film, but this is the only unit I know of in the UK and it hasn't been working the last few times I've visited Planet Fun.

Le Mans

2000 Cogan Flyer

Released in the mid-1990s, the Le Mans sports car was manufactured by Cogan of Italy.  It was sold in either red or yellow with number decals on the bonnet and doors, and a picture of two people inside the car on the windscreen.  Yes, two people.  A baby-faced (rather TOO youthful to be driving a car in my humble opinion!) boy sits beside the rider wearing suitable attire.

2000 Cogan Flyer

The speed of the ride and engine sound effects are controlled by foot pedals, and there are also several push buttons for additional sounds and flashing lights.  The ride was discontinued in the early 2000s.

Clacton-on-Sea, August 1998

Planet Fun Amusements, Ingoldmells, September 2018