The Roller Racer and the Flying Turtle Riding Toy
Ranked #9,802 in Hobbies, Games & Toys, #130,831 overall
The Amazing Roller Racer... Flying Turtle Toy... Thing!
When I was little, I had the coolest toy ever. You sat on the low seat, put your feet on the handle bars, and twisted the bars from side to side until you were zooming all over the place. It wasn't a useful means of transportation, but dang, it was fun.
I called it a "Wham-O," not realizing that this was the name of the manufacturer and not the name of the toy itself. In fact, it was a Roller Racer. A similar model called The Flying Turtle is sold by the Mason Corporation. These fun toys from the 80's are still available today!
I called it a "Wham-O," not realizing that this was the name of the manufacturer and not the name of the toy itself. In fact, it was a Roller Racer. A similar model called The Flying Turtle is sold by the Mason Corporation. These fun toys from the 80's are still available today!
My Flying Turtle / Roller Racer
I didn't know what to think of it. It had a big, wide plastic seat that was the color of a grapefruit. It had plastic wheels and big handle bars. When I was finally allowed to play outside by myself, I dragged out the Roller Racer to see what it could do. I sat on it, propped my feet on the metal bars, and jiggled the handle bars back and forth--and to my amazement, the toy built up momentum and had me zooming around the parking lot. Loads of fun.
We lived in an apartment complex, so I didn't have the benefit of a private backyard. It wasn't long before other kids took notice and wanted to ride my Roller Racer too. That was fun for a while, but unfortunately there were lots of kids and only one Roller Racer. Nobody seemed to like waiting their turn. Instead of teaching us all a valuable lesson about sharing (which only seems to happen in feel-good TV shows), the Racer stirred up some arguments and bad feelings. After a while, I didn't bring it out as much. It was a great toy, but I think I would have gotten much more enjoyment from it if the circumstances had been a little different.
I would recommend this toy if you have the space for it. You really need a large, level, smooth surface to ride on, such as a patio. If you have more than one child, you might want to consider getting more than one Roller Racer. That way they can all ride and race at the same time instead of waiting their turn and getting upset because their big brother or sister is hogging the Roller Racer all the time.
Get the Original Flying Turtle from Amazon
What's So Great About a Flying Turtle or Roller Racer?
- It's fun and zooms around at high speeds!
- It gets kids active and moving.
- You can use it indoors, because the polyurethane wheels won't leave marks on your floors.
- They are some of the few toys still made right here in America.
- Totally kid-powered--no batteries required.
- Ready to roll, no assembly required.
What's the Difference Between a Roller Racer and a Flying Turtle?
How They're Alike:
- Both are meant for children ages 3 to 12.
- Both are designed to hold up to 150 pounds of weight.
- Both are based on the original design by a retired Boeing engineer, who used a tractor seat, some wheels and handlebars to make a ride-on toy for his grandson.
- Both operate the same way--you sit on it, put your feet on the bars, and swing the bars from side to side until you're moving.
- Both are made in the US.
How they're different: Of the two, the Roller Racer has the more "updated" design. The handle bars are shaped a little differently and feature buffer wheels (probably so you "brake" more quickly instead of tipping and sliding to a stop). According to reviewers, the Roller Racer is a bit sturdier than the Flying Turtle.
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