Starlight – Matthias Mantau

Starlight Mantau: Riding in Bertazzon New York cars

In Starlight, you are at the wheel yourself. The vehicles do not follow a set track but move around on a shared area. As soon as other visitors set their chaises in motion too, different routes emerge. You can steer in a wide arc, avoid another car or change direction on a clear stretch. It is this direct interaction with the other drivers that makes every ride a little different.

The Bertazzon New York cars are a distinctive feature of this bumper cars ride. Their vehicle type is explicitly documented for the Starlight in the specialist Ride-Index database. The covered two-column structure also creates a ride area that is easy to see into. From the outside, you can watch the movements of the individual cars and get an impression of how the action changes during a ride.

Light and fog at the fairground

According to Kirmesecke’s ride documentation, the Starlight’s presentation includes lighting and fog effects. They give the covered ride its own character, especially at dusk. Your attention is then drawn not only to the moving cars, but also to the illuminated hall and the activity on the ride floor.

The lighting complements the classic ride concept without changing it: you still decide your course at the wheel. Starlight is therefore not an automatically operated round ride. Instead, distinctive theming and the freedom to ride as you choose come together to create a shared funfair experience.

History of the Starlight-Halle from 2004

The history of this bumper cars ride begins in 2004. Ride-Index lists Landwermann and Adesko as the manufacturer combination and attributes the ride to Matthias Mantau from Bad Bevensen. No earlier operating period is listed there. Starlight is therefore one of the two-pillar bumper cars rides that helped shape the look of fairgrounds in northern Germany in the 2000s.

However, the name is not unique. Another ride called Starlight is operated by Marco Beinhorn; it is a Music Express, not bumper cars. There are also several separate bumper car halls within the Mantau family. Accurate identification is therefore more important than a mere similarity in names or vehicle models.

Organisers and fairs in northern Germany

Matthias Mantau operates Starlight in northern Germany. The ride has appeared, for example, at the Brokser Heiratsmarkt in Bruchhausen-Vilsen, the Bürgermarkt in Wittmund and at events in Cuxhaven. These appearances are part of the scooter's touring history and connect it with the region's larger and smaller fairs.

The comparison with the Bee Bop Drive, which is also known from the Mantau circle, is particularly interesting. This other bumper car ride was also built in 2004 and also uses Bertazzon New York cars. However, it has a Cosmont hall and its own history, with Ahrend as its previous operator. By contrast, Starlight is the Landwermann-Adesko ride owned by Matthias Mantau.

Who is Starlight Mantau suitable for?

If you enjoy taking the wheel yourself, Starlight is a classic attraction at the fairground. With friends, you can create new routes and enjoy spontaneous encounters on the track. You can find out directly at the ride what requirements apply for children or accompanied rides. You can find more bumper cars and their different construction histories in our overview of attractions.