National Fairground Archive

Autodrome list

This list gives known details of all known Autodrome rides used in the UK. It also includes a handful of specific Loch Ness Monster rides that were converted through various guises to other platform rides. The Autodrome list can be read in conjunction with the Caterpillar list, since many of the machines worked in both these guises. Traditionally Autodrome rides used a trio of outside rim-drive motors - this caused problems with burn-outs when the motors were not quite synchronised to work together. Many of the surviving converted Autodrome machines were rebuilt to a standard centre drive. The details of history and subsequent research are still very much in flux, and so contributions are welcome. Any corrections can be emailed to the NFA via the link at the foot of the page.

Disclaimer - the National Fairground Archive does not take responsibility for the accuracy of the information included in these machine lists. Historical information is based upon existing research alongside our own research utilising written and photographic resources. Current information regarding ownership changes, scrapping of rides, etc is based upon information sent to us and checked where possible.

It is not our intention to mislead or misrepresent regarding the chains of ownership of these fairground machines. We include this research on our website as a service to interested parties. If you feel any aspects of these lists are incorrect then please do not hesitate to contact us where we will endeavour to check facts and make amendments where required.

The famous 'New York' frontage on Manning's Autodrome, 1964

LOCH NESS MONSTERS

LANG WHEELS

LNM1 Fred Gray [35] (Autodrome [39]) - John Biddall [c54] - Harry Remblance [73] - S. Hutchinson [79] scrapped

LNM2 Henry Studt [35] - Robert Green [38] - Twigdons - Bob Wilson [45] - Sid Squires - Chipperfields [49] (Caterpillar [52]) - David Joel (Whitley Bay) [57] - James Crow - Pounders (Redcar) [63] for sale 1968

ROBERT LAKIN

LNM3 H.P. Studt [35] (Autodrome [39]) - Percy Remblance [54] - W. Mott - Crowe Brothers [58] - Butlins (Ayr) [63] scrapped?

LNM4 T. Whitelegg & Son Ltd [36] (Waltzer [37]) - Crole (Aberavon) [63] - H. Remblance [66] - J.A. Remblance [70] - J. Stokes [85] - Perry Remblance - James Manning [02]

AUTODROMES

LANG WHEELS Wooden Bottom

AU1 Bob Wilson [4/39] - Reg Gale [66] - Teale Brothers (Shipley Glen) [69] - Testo (Plaza, Tynemouth) [72] - Bob Wilson [73/4] not opened, scrapped

AU2 Arthur Bates [4/39] (Caterpillar [52]) - J. & H. Shaw [56] - P. Remblance 'Chariots' [60] in use 62 scrapped?

Suggestion that Caterpillar laid up at Hollinwood in 1957 - Remblance Chariots is a different ride?

AU3 John Thurston [39] - J.T. Whyatt [54] - Butlins (Minehead) [c66] scrapped

AU4 Nathaniel Codona [39] (Caterpillar [57]) - Pat Collins (Billy Bagnall) [58] - Shepherd [c73] - Charles Beach (Whitley Bay) [c75] - Dickinson (Seaburn) [c82] - Keith Emmett - S. Hutchinson [82] - South Shields [83] scrapped

AU5 Henry Thurston [8/39] - Christian ? - Dan Baker/Buck Wall [51] - Joe Chadwick [52] - Basil Drake [63] - A. Burdon [68] - Fred Thompson [72] - S. Chapman [76] - W. Keeble [81] - Dave Prout n/g [85] - Dave Reynolds n/g [ ] - Jack Schofield n/g [ ] in store

AU5a Pat Collins c1956 (twin to machine above, possibly the same?)

AU6 Aresco [39] - Joe Ling [40] scrapped at Tickhill c1955 (cars abandoned, ride went to Supercar)

AU7 Morley Brothers [9/39] - Arthur Franklin snr [64] - J. Drake [66]

AU8 John Crole [39] (Porthcawl then Aberdeen) - D. Herbert [59] - Pepper [62] - B. & S. Stevens [c75] - T. Wilson [ ] - R. Rogers-Porter [84] - Roper (Hunstanton) [c90] - Jimmy Dobson [96] - exported Singapore

AU9 John Flanagan [8/39] - Webb [ ] - Roger Austin n/g [ ] (in store) - Jack Schofield n/g [07] (in store)

AU10 Silcock Brothers [39] - Chris Thompson [48] - William Church [49] (Ark [49]) - George Stirling [67] - Alex Leitch [73] - Kenny Stirling [c76] scrapped 1980s

AU11 Jacob Studt [39] - Margate open top?

AU? Charles Beach - G. Morrison [63] - T. Findlay [64] scrapped 1970 11 car extension front

LANG WHEELS Alloy Bottom

AU12 E. Steel [48] - G. Lowe [ ] - D. Manning [50] - W. Bugg [ ] - Unknown [85] burnt out Norwich (New York front from new, front still with Mannings)

AU13 Butlins (Skegness) [48] - H. Ayers [ ] - T. Kayes [73] - D. Manning [ ] scrapped (New York front from new, poss not to Manning - is this AU15?)

AU14 Anderton & Rowland [48] - Sid Linsey [50] (Waltzer [64]) - T. Ayers [72] - Terry Wood Jnr [91] - Chris Smith [ ] (New York front)

AU15 Butlins [48] - S. Turner (Battersea Park) [ ] - John Biddall [ ] (Waltzer [59]) - Joe Cogger [by 64] - J. Herbert [65] - John Studt [c75] - Arthur Milne [c84] - McCormicks (Ireland) [c90] - David Mullins (Ireland) [ ]

AU47 Butlins (Clacton) - J. Peters [69] - Walter Brothers [70] - C. Penfold [ ] - (Bob Rose [74] - J. Appleton??? for sale 1979) juvenile machine

AU45 Fred Gray - Bobby Rose jnr [72] in use to 1977

AU? Butlins - Billy Day [74] 'Rocketship' juvenile machine

AU46 Rhyl (open top) c1955

AU? Jack Rogers [39] (conv to Waltzer) - A. Stokes [75]

ORTON & SPOONER

AU16 George Beach [54] - Charles Beach [60] in use 1981

AU17 Harry Tuby [47] (Caterpillar [50]) - H.S. Gray [56] - Butlins (Minehead) [63] - Charles Beach [68] in store

AU18 Pat Collins [48] (Caterpillar [50]) - Billy Bagnall [ ] - B. Russell (Brighton) [67] - C. Beach [ ] (Stonebridge Park) for sale 1969

AU18a McArdle [54-57] (Orton and Spooner alloy make, from Stoke-on-Trent area, poss AU18)

AU19 William Noble [45] for sale 1950

AU21 Edwin Corrigan [46] - Brown Brothers (Bridlington) [ ] - Corrigan (Scalby) [ ] (Ark [ ]) - Ronnie Weston (Rhyl) [71] - Fred Thompson (Skegness) [75] - George Stirling [ ] scrapped

MARSHAM

AU34 J.G. Gray (South Shields) [48]

AU27 Searle [48] - Gooch [60] - E. Lawrence [61] - ?

AU27a ? - Raymond Codona [by 59] (Ark [62]) - F. Gillane (Ireland) [c82] - Wilkie (New Brighton) [c85] - Stewart Thom n/g [90]

AU36 J. Brown - Walter Bates [60] - Mablethorpe A.P. [63] 35 foot 10 car

ROBERT LAKIN

AU33 Harry Gray [c43] - Forrest [50s] - Basil Drake [ ]

AU25 Michael A. Collins [51] - Phil Case [67] rebuilt as W109?

JACKSON

AU35 Hughes (Beaumaris) - Arthur Herbert [ ] - Billy Kimberley [63] - Cedric Dobson [64] - George Hatwell [68] - Jimmy Hall [72] - Michael Boswell [75] - Francis [80] 38 foot

MISCELLANEOUS

AU23 Jones Brothers [46-49] made by Hall and Proctor during war

AU30 Alf Hammond 50' 22 chariots fs 4/75, in use 76/7

AU40 Rose Brothers [self built 1944] with static rockets - Thomson (Dundee) [48] scrapped 70s

AU41 Wilmot's Rocket Ride 1953

Other mentions include:

Fred Thompson (50' machine at Cleveleys) [40]

G. Linsey [42] sold 1945

G. Rogers [42] - J. Rogers [43] sold 1944

G. L. Studd [40] sold 1942

L. Buckland (self built) [45]

John Scarrott [8/49] scrapped 1954

Deakin [42] sold 1943

B. Parkin [41] sold 1942

J. Sanders fs 28/5/49 in use 1953

Jennings [48-50]

Butterworth [55] conv to Ark at Morecambe, fs 23/6/56

H. Armstrong [55]

Bastable [55-57]

J. Wright (Wales) - T. Pratley [61] sold 1963

Charles Murphy [61-68] 50 ft 11 car for sale 8/69 Dunstable

R. Jones (Hounslow) 11 car LW for sale 1966

Fletcher (Milford Haven) TOL for sale 10/66, also 1964

Guyatt 48 foot 12 car with tunnel for sale 1/63

Gray of Hornsea 50 foot LW for sale 11/63

Tony Gale 48 foot for sale 1962

Harrison (Bundoran) 12 car for sale 1962

K. Miles (Chertsey) 40 foot TOL for sale Oct 1961