Stick ’em

The N.C. State Fair has arguably the largest midway in North America. And each of the 100-plus rides on the midway undergoes a rigorous inspection by the N.C. Department of Labor before the first rider steps on. Bureau Chief Jonathan Brooks and his crew of 24 inspectors have been working diligently to inspect each ride to make sure it is 100 percent in line with the manufacturer’s specifications. If it doesn’t pass muster, it doesn’t “get stuck.” That’s industry lingo for the sticker that certifies a ride has passed inspection. North Carolina’s standards for ride safety are among the strictest…

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Midway Mania

WARNING: I was on this ride with a few screamers (um, not me, of course…) so make sure to turn your volume WAYYY DOWN before you click play. Your ear drums and co-workers will thank you! WRAL Blogger Tara Calashain dared us in her “North Carolina State Fair getting seriously online” post to record a first-person ride on the Midway. At the Mountain State Fair back in early September, I decided to do just that. So, with a tight grip on my camera and a purposely empty stomach, I grabbed a few friends and hopped on the Cortina Bob ride….

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