It’s late August in Nebraska, and the State Fair midway is alive with the clink of coins, the scent of funnel cakes, and the delighted screams of riders spinning through the air. There’s something about this season that makes people crave a little extra thrill — the faster, higher, and more unexpected, the better. Nearly a century ago, one inventor imagined a carnival-style rush without ever setting foot on the fairgrounds.

In November 1927, Charles A. Ramage of Langdon, North Dakota, patented what can only be described as the ultimate automotive stunt machine — a “Somersaulting Auto.” His goal? To give passengers more fun in addition to seeing beautiful scenery. This was no ordinary Sunday drive. Ramage envisioned a car that could literally perform a complete somersault, thrilling the driver, the riders, and any onlookers lucky enough to witness the spectacle.

The design was simple in concept but outrageous in execution. The driver sat in a special cage within a superstructure with a rounded surface. When the moment felt right, he could trigger a tilting mechanism that dropped to the ground as the car moved forward. This device lifted the rear end of the vehicle while rigid brakes at the front dug into the ground — launching the entire machine into a full rotation over its rounded top.

While Ramage didn’t go into detail about safety harnesses or medical liability, he confidently claimed his invention could execute the stunt “without injury.” Still, even the most daring State Fair ride-goers might pause before buckling up for a flip in a two-ton automobile.

Though it’s unclear whether any Somersaulting Autos were ever built or demonstrated, the patent remains a fascinating glimpse into an era when inventors weren’t afraid to dream big — and sometimes upside-down. It’s the kind of idea that blurs the line between transportation and entertainment, reminding us that the human appetite for excitement has always been just a gear shift away from the next big thrill.