Uploaded May 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
John-Jordan Bills and Mitchell Wilmot swap rides
In a surprise move to many both Showmen announced the move on their social media channels yesterday. The two showland families have reached an agreement to swap Air Raid 1 and Top Star with Air Raid 1 going from Mitchell Wilmot to John-Jordan Bills and Top Star going the other way from John-Jordan Bills to Mitchell Wilmot.
The Top Star is an N.A Super-Rides Superstar. New in September of 2003 for John Thurston the ride was passed on to Michael Houghton at the end of the 2008 season. While in his ownership Top Star attended many major fairs including Nottingham Goose Fair, Newcastle Hoppings, Hull Fair Knutsford Royal May Fair and Oxford St Giles. Top Star was no stranger to Scotland attending fairs and events such as Kirkcaldy Links Market, Irvin Marymass, St Andrews Lammas, Aboyne Highland Games, Black Isle Show, Bathgate Gala, Edinburgh Meadows and the Irn-Bru Carnival to name a few.
The Top Star was sold to John-Jordan Bills after Knutsford Royal May Fair. In his ownership the ride travelled further south but still opened at major fairs including recently at the Peterborough Mart.
With Mitchell Wilmot buying Top Star it will be the only Superstar in Scotland and the first Superstar to be owned by a Scottish Showman in over 20 years. For Wilmot Attractions the Top Star is the third major machine in as many years with Air Raid 2 in 2023, Freakout in 2024 and now Top Star in 2025!
The Air Raid is a Tivoli Rides UK built Remix 2, this ride was built in 2013 for Notts & Derby showman Gary Evans. In his ownership the 4 arm machine opened at several major fairs including Star City, Great Dorset Steam Fair and Ashby De-La Zouch Statutes Fair. The ride was sold at the end of the 2015 season to Mitchell Wilmot who opened it for new years eve at Stonehaven in Scotland.
In Mitchell Wilmot's ownership Air Raid opened at several major fairs including Bathgate Gala, Kirkcaldy Links Market, St Andrews Lammas, Beaconsfield Charter Fair and Hull Fair. Air Raid also spent two seasons at Alton Towers as Spin Jam as part of the Retro Squad series of rides. In more recent years the hires continued for the ride, opening at M&D’s theme park, several Indoor Funfairs and Galactic Carnival.
In their ownership, John-Jordan Bills will be touring the Air Raid further south, giving the chance for many new riders to experience the ride.
For both showmen their new machines are bound to prove popular with the fair going public in their areas.
John-Jordan Bills and Mitchell Wilmot swap rides
In a surprise move to many both Showmen announced the move on their social media channels yesterday. The two showland families have reached an agreement to swap Air Raid 1 and Top Star with Air Raid 1 going from Mitchell Wilmot to John-Jordan Bills and Top Star going the other way from John-Jordan Bills to Mitchell Wilmot.
The Top Star is an N.A Super-Rides Superstar. New in September of 2003 for John Thurston the ride was passed on to Michael Houghton at the end of the 2008 season. While in his ownership Top Star attended many major fairs including Nottingham Goose Fair, Newcastle Hoppings, Hull Fair Knutsford Royal May Fair and Oxford St Giles. Top Star was no stranger to Scotland attending fairs and events such as Kirkcaldy Links Market, Irvin Marymass, St Andrews Lammas, Aboyne Highland Games, Black Isle Show, Bathgate Gala, Edinburgh Meadows and the Irn-Bru Carnival to name a few.
The Top Star was sold to John-Jordan Bills after Knutsford Royal May Fair. In his ownership the ride travelled further south but still opened at major fairs including recently at the Peterborough Mart.
With Mitchell Wilmot buying Top Star it will be the only Superstar in Scotland and the first Superstar to be owned by a Scottish Showman in over 20 years. For Wilmot Attractions the Top Star is the third major machine in as many years with Air Raid 2 in 2023, Freakout in 2024 and now Top Star in 2025!
The Air Raid is a Tivoli Rides UK built Remix 2, this ride was built in 2013 for Notts & Derby showman Gary Evans. In his ownership the 4 arm machine opened at several major fairs including Star City, Great Dorset Steam Fair and Ashby De-La Zouch Statutes Fair. The ride was sold at the end of the 2015 season to Mitchell Wilmot who opened it for new years eve at Stonehaven in Scotland.
In Mitchell Wilmot's ownership Air Raid opened at several major fairs including Bathgate Gala, Kirkcaldy Links Market, St Andrews Lammas, Beaconsfield Charter Fair and Hull Fair. Air Raid also spent two seasons at Alton Towers as Spin Jam as part of the Retro Squad series of rides. In more recent years the hires continued for the ride, opening at M&D’s theme park, several Indoor Funfairs and Galactic Carnival.
In their ownership, John-Jordan Bills will be touring the Air Raid further south, giving the chance for many new riders to experience the ride.
For both showmen their new machines are bound to prove popular with the fair going public in their areas.
