Community Corner
Ice Bumper Cars Make Their Debut At Glenview Community Ice Center
The rides will be available on a limited basis this winter and allow residents to take a spin around the ice without the benefit of skates.
GLENVIEW, IL — Holiday fun will take a little bit of a different spin beginning this week at the Glenview Community Ice Center, where local residents can take to the ice in bumper cars that will be available starting on Monday.
A total of eight bumper cars will be available for 30-minute rides at the ice center, which is debuting the new attraction this week. The bumper cars will make their return to the ice for a two-week stay over the upcoming winter break in December, organizers said.
Rides will be available weekly during Friday night public skates. The ice center will also offer additional rides over holiday breaks and days off school, including this week. A 15-minute ride costs $8, and a 20-minute ride is $12. One rider per car is permitted.
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The Ice Center is offering discounted bumper car rides for $5 in November and December. Riders must be at least 6 years or older and at least 48 inches tall and under 300 pounds. Private rental and birthday party options are also available, ice center officials said.
Each bumper car is powered by an electric motor that controls and turns the wheels underneath. The wheels feature special, custom-made rubber tires that provide traction but won’t damage the ice surface. The outer ring on the car is made of a PVC air tube that protects the car frame and absorbs the impact of bumping cars. Riders control the vehicle using a pair of joysticks to move forward, backward, turn, or spin.
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“The controls are like playing a video game,” Glenview Community Ice Center General Manager Brian Montgomery said in a news release. “People can slide around the ice, spin, and bump into each other.”
The ice bumper cars are a creation of IBC International, based in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. They have been a popular attraction during Chicago’s annual Winterland celebration at Wrigley Field.
“We are thrilled to offer ice bumper cars at the Glenview Community Ice Center, Montgomery said. “They provide another opportunity for visitors and groups to enjoy our facility.”
Rides can be booked by clicking here and walk-in registration is available based on availability.
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