Monday, June 13, 2011

So What Are We Going to Call Them?

Way back in 1923, Sir Billy Butlin introduced what were then called "Dodgem" cars at his resorts in England. But what became known as "bumper cars" may no longer be driven in such a manner as to crash into anyone at the resorts that still bear Sir Billy's name.

Signs posted at the rides warn resort guests that bumping into each other's cars with one's own car that is surounded by a thick rubber bumper will earn you an invitation to leave. Instead, you are to drive around in circles with the flow of traffic at the blistering speeds bumper cars regularly achieve.

Staffers insist that the attraction is still great fun, doggedly returning to the original name of "dodgems" and highlighting how drivers cross over the traffic patterns and overtake one another. Although they obviously can't be called "bumper" cars anymore since they can't bump into anything, I don't know that "dodgem" works very well either, as there is no reason to dodge what won't be permitted to bump you.

What we need is a good name for an electrically-powered vehicle of limited range that doesn't come close to measuring up to what's been said about it. Any ideas?

No, I'm sorry, those names are taken.

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