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Thrill rides and family exhibits at county Fair By Kamilah A. Boone TO AUGMENT its traditional fodder--from pig races to petting zoos--the Santa Clara County Fair offers up some fresh ideas this year. Instead of a relatively sedentary agrarian activity like cow milking, for instance, adventurous fairgoers can strap themselves into a full-body harness and plunge earthward from the Skycoaster bungee-jumping tower. Slightly more controlled thrills can be found on the fair's dirt-racing track, where would-be Andrettis can go wheel to wheel with up to 20 competitors in one- or two-seat NASCAR replicas. The fair is not only for thrill seekers hyped on extreme-sports programs. According to fair spokesman David Grandey, organizers are working to attract as many senior citizens and young children as they do teenagers. Among the new attractions and exhibits geared toward the whole family are the hands-on science show Imagination Gallery and Mission: Planet Earth, a 10,000-square-foot educational display containing space artifacts. Pitched at a somewhat older demographic is the Virtual Golf Mobile Country Club, the first mobile golf simulator in the United States. The attraction offers a selection of the world's great golf courses, including Pebble Beach, Augusta and Pinehurst #2. In addition to the rides and exhibits, the fair will feature 11 musical and comedy performers on the Grandstand stage starting Thursday (July 25). Fireworks follow all shows except on Aug. 4. July 25: Monica, 8pm July 26: "Weird Al" Yankovic, 7:30pm July 27: Peabo Bryson, 7pm July 28: Lucero, 7:30pm July 29: Dick Bright's SRO, 7pm July 30: The Everly Brothers w/Charles Williams, 7:30pm July 31: Tracy Lawrence with Ricochet, 7:30pm Aug. 1: Gallagher, 7:30pm Aug. 2: Doug Supernaw, 8:30pm Aug. 3: Charlie Da niels Band, 7pm Aug. 4: Sparx with Jorge Luis Cabrera, 6pm The Fair runs through Aug. 4 at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds, 344 Tully Road, San Jose; Monday­Thursday, noon­11pm, Friday, noon­midnight, Saturday­Sunday, 10am­midnight. Tickets are $7/$4. (408/494-3100) [ Metro | Metroactive Central | Archives ]