Fairground attraction - 1930's dodgem car
![The colourful dodgem in the ground floor exhibition hall](https://s3-eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/cdn.lakelandmotormuseum.co.uk/transforms/documents/444205/dodgem_news_banner_optimised_272f1834e9c4ed259570bc582d3e22a7.jpg)
Many of us enjoyed a UK Staycation this summer and rediscovered the beaches nearer to home. There’s no better time for a nostalgic trip back in time to the seaside..
There’s a real fairground attraction in our collection in the shape of a 1930’s dodgem car.
For many years it brought joy to holidaymakers at the New Brighton Fairground, near Wallasey, on Merseyside.
![The original dodgem when purchased at the auction](https://s3-eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/cdn.lakelandmotormuseum.co.uk/transforms/pages/444215/dodgem_news_inline_01_opt_5c82bc88bf37bd552c62ea8dc7f20b97.jpg)
Designed to look like an early MG race car, a large fleet of these little cars were used on a concrete racetrack there and also on a wooden track at the resort of Southport (where these wonderful black and white holiday snaps were taken).
![The cars were in a poor state of repair](https://s3-eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/cdn.lakelandmotormuseum.co.uk/transforms/pages/444238/dodgem_news_inline_02_opt_5c82bc88bf37bd552c62ea8dc7f20b97.jpg)
Before the well-known electric powered “bumper cars” came into popularity these sturdy, well built cars were driven around the tracks at a top speed of 5mph.
But bumping into things was not encouraged. Attendants would keep a close eye on drivers and stand on the running board mounted brake to bring the car to a stop if you were misbehaving or your time was up.
![A colourised](https://s3-eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/cdn.lakelandmotormuseum.co.uk/transforms/pages/444263/dodgem_news_inline_03_opt_5c82bc88bf37bd552c62ea8dc7f20b97.jpg)
We bought this example in 1990 and as you can see from the pictures it was in a pretty sorry state. It was one of three examples saved from a farm building where they had been stored after being taken out of use in the 1960s.
After careful restoration it has become a popular exhibit at the Backbarrow attraction – sparking many memories of seaside holidays.
In its day it was powered by a Stuart Turner marine-type single cylinder engine often used in pleasure boats.
![Peter Pan's Playground. Southport 18th April 1947. Photo credit: Neil Wood](https://s3-eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/cdn.lakelandmotormuseum.co.uk/transforms/pages/444292/dodgem_news_inline_04_opt_5c82bc88bf37bd552c62ea8dc7f20b97.jpg)
The little cars were very popular among the crowds of visitors who flocked to New Brighton and Southport from Liverpool and Lancashire’s industrial towns. At New Brighton there was a tower, a ballroom, a pier and an outdoor swimming pool.
But no trip to the seaside was complete without a ride around the racetrack on the colourful little cars which were a real fairground attraction.
![Peter Pan's Playground. Southport 18th April 1947. Photo credit: Neil Wood](https://s3-eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/cdn.lakelandmotormuseum.co.uk/transforms/pages/444329/dodgem_news_inline_05_opt_5c82bc88bf37bd552c62ea8dc7f20b97.jpg)
Video: Peter Pan's Playground, Southport c1950
*Thanks to http://www.kinolibrary.com on Youtube for this clip of Peter Pan's Playground in the 1950s. It gives a fascinating insight into a traditional seaside funfair.
📷: Thanks to Neil Wood for the black and white photos of Peter Pan's Playground, Southport 18th April 1947.
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