Your Favourite Attraction at the Mule Derby!

[Michael Alexander]

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[georg ruf jr.]

I remember the merr-go-round. But what's that on the first pic?

[Michael Alexander]

The Dunk tank!

[Clive Symes]

Mike did you mean to say the DRUNK tank ???

Just looking through the photos posted on the topis especially the early ones of the Planes, reminds me of when my Dad, Ronny Jew, Eddie Jones ( Dawn & Gloria's Dad)and a whle load of other people made the merry go round.
I still remember the "bombs" and machine guns being fitted to the planes

[Michael Alexander]

   The Drunk tank was next door in the beer garden.......

[georg ruf jr.]

Mike did you mean to say the DRUNK tank ???

Just looking through the photos posted on the topis especially the early ones of the Planes, reminds me of when my Dad, Ronny Jew, Eddie Jones ( Dawn & Gloria's Dad)and a whle load of other people made the merry go round.
I still remember the "bombs" and machine guns being fitted to the planes

It's incredable the way these things were all made in OM. The dragon and fuffyslide at the rugby field ect...The guys must've realy had fun.

[Clive Symes]

JA George,
I think our parents had as much fun making and testing these things out as we had using them

[Johanvz]

Man, what memories. I know this post is a little late but this thread is new to me.  I loved those planes at the merry go round. They meant a lot to me, even today.  It was thrilling to see the photos again. Thanks for posting them.

My parents took us to the Mule Derby when I was around age 5 I think. We rode a bunch of the rides including the planes. That afternoon when we got home I picked up a pencil and started drawing one of the planes from memory.  My parents were quite surprised to see the attention to detail.

Drawing became hobby and later turned into a career for me.  I drew and painted all through my school career.  After school I studied Mechanical engineering and became a Machine Designer.  Bottom line of the story. I have been drawing and designing machines for the last 23 years.

Only difference is that  today we use computers to make our drawings. "AutoCAD".  No more pen and paper. Also, most of what I do today is 3dimensional modeling of machines and then conversion to 2 dimensional drawings for manufacture.

It all started with those little planes. It is amazing to think that my career choice had its very first origins at the OM Mule Derby at age 5.

Yes, I do believe in destiny. Thanks again for posting those pictures.  I suppose that it is ok to download them for my album.

[Bertie Horak]

  Johan.  Wonderful to have such great memories and to make the connection.

[Dalene Steenkamp (Coetzee)]

Jislaaik, Johan....  I don't think anyone would mind.  But would you mind if the museum or even the school downloaded your picture and story, for I think it would be fantastic if they could use it as an example for children. 

Great stuff and thanks for sharing with us.

[Johanvz]

Thanks for all the kind words. 
I don't mind if someone downloads it for the museum or for the kids. 
It is my old teachers that I am worried about.  Some of them might just pass out if they make the connection.   Seriously!!!

Let me know if I need to post/send a link showing some design examples.

[georg ruf jr.]

Nice story Johann... 

[Carl Wrbka]

Thanks for sharing that story, Johann. Following your dream to the end. It seldom happens nowadays.

While I was still a kid in OM, I was forever blowing things up and naturally thought of a career in bomb disposal or demolitions. Luckily though, this idea ended during national service, when I met some "ou manne" who had been doing the job for a couple of years already. All of them were about 60% deaf before the age of 40, and were all missing a couple of body parts here and there...

My favourite ride at the mule derby was definately the go-carts!