Transformer – Marc Schmidt
Rotating arms, upside-down moments and a distinctive robot show
Operator: Marc Schmidt (Stuttgart)
The Transformer Schmidt is a travelling upside-down ride operated by showman Marc Schmidt from Stuttgart. When you are looking for a particularly action-packed ride at a funfair, you can recognise this attraction by its distinctive robot design, towering support arms and circular rows of seats. The combination of several rotating movements means the view changes again and again during each ride.
Learn more – pick a topic:
What to expect
- Loops / inversions
- Multi-axis rotation
- Light show / LED facade
- Sound system / music
- Live host (ride MC)
Highlights & records
Flight height of up to around 16 metres; ten rows of seats with four places each. Distinctive robot design and changing façade.
Several rotating movements combine with a striking robot backdrop – Transformer is an intense funfair ride for fans of upside-down action.
A ride with its own distinctive character
Alongside the movement itself, the futuristic design, large lettering and eye-catching lighting shape its appearance. The pictures from the Cannstatter Volksfest show Transformer in its silver-grey robot design. Older photos also document earlier colour schemes. These changes make it particularly interesting to compare pictures from different years.
The distinctive arms, which rise well above the platform when the ride is operating, give the attraction its characteristic silhouette. If you have not seen Transformer before, the linked videos show both the view from the seats and the full movement from outside.
Transformer Schmidt: what the ride feels like
First, you take a seat in one of the rows. As soon as the ride begins, the whole structure starts moving: the central gondola assembly rotates while the suspension also moves you upwards and around its own axis. This takes you through sideways spins, steep angles and moments when you are upside down. Unlike a roller coaster, you do not follow a track. Instead, the ride's special appeal comes from the overlapping rotations.
Transformer is also exciting to watch. From the ground, you can see the gondolas changing position one after another as the seats rotate above the ride. The illuminated façade and music also shape its presence at the fairground. Especially after dark, the ride becomes an eye-catching attraction.
Video
General
- Manufacturer
- Soriani & Moser (Italy)
- Model
- Top Star Tour
- Year built
- 1996
- Premiere
- 1996
- Original name
- Transformer
- Also known as
- Transformer (Schmidt)
Vehicles & capacity
- Gondolas
- 10
- Riders per gondola
- 4
Set-up & transport
- Footprint
- 22 × 20 m
- Power rating
- 250 kW
Transformer Schmidt: history since 1996
The ride was built in 1996 by Italian manufacturer Soriani & Moser. The model is called Top Star Tour. Transformer made its debut at the Mannheimer Maimess in the same year. At first, the attraction travelled under the name Schmidt & Hohl from Stuttgart; later it became known under Marc Schmidt.
Transformer is therefore one of the classic upside-down rides that have appeared at numerous fairs in Germany. Documented locations include the Cannstatter Volksfest in Stuttgart and the Bremer Freimarkt. However, historical locations do not indicate which rides will be at a future edition. For current funfair dates, find events in our funfair calendar.
Timeline
Debut 1996 at the Maimess in Mannheim.
- Operator
- Marc Schmidt (Stuttgart)
- Type of operation
- Travelling
- Status
- Active / in operation
- Last known season
- 2026
Previous operators
Initially: Schmidt & Hohl (Stuttgart)
Who is Transformer suitable for?
Transformer is aimed mainly at people who enjoy intense spinning and upside-down movements. However, this ride is not the right choice if you are looking for gentle family rides. In particular, you should expect to lose your sense of which way is down several times. The different directions of movement are what define the ride.
Before boarding, check the current notices from the showman's operation at the ride. They provide the applicable height and age requirements, as well as any health restrictions. The price may also vary depending on the event. You can get an idea of how the ride moves from the onride and offride videos on this page.
Sources: Ride-Index – Transformer (Schmidt); Kirmesecke – Transformer (Schmidt); Image sources and licences: Giftzwerg 88 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0), Dirk Vorderstraße / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0).
