This article needs additional citations for verification .(September 2014) |
Zodiac | |
---|---|
Thorpe Park | |
Area | Lost City |
Coordinates | 51°25′58.16″N0°35′48.72″W / 51.4328222°N 0.5968667°W |
Status | Operating |
Opening date | 2000 (As 'Enterprise') 2001 (As 'Zodiac') 2006 (Replacement) |
Ride statistics | |
Attraction type | Spinning Ride |
Manufacturer | HUSS Park Attractions |
Model | Enterprise |
Height | 59 ft (18 m) |
Speed | 19 mph (31 km/h) |
G-force | 3 |
Vehicle type | Gondola |
Vehicles | 20 |
Riders per vehicle | 2 |
Duration | 60 Seconds |
Height restriction | 110 cm (3 ft 7 in) |
Must transfer from wheelchair |
Zodiac is an Enterprise ride at Thorpe Park, Surrey, United Kingdom.
The ride originally opened in 2000 as 'Enterprise', though it came to be renamed 'Zodiac' the following year to better suit the expanding Lost City theme alongside the opening of Vortex. This marked the decision to maintain the ride as a permanent installation, though an incident during the 2001 season, in which a gondola became partially detached from the main frame of the ride, leading to the park owners being fined for £65,000 in 2004, [1] necessitated that the ride be replaced. The eventual replacement (for 2006) was yet another Huss Enterprise – sourced from Drayton Manor theme park – that was differently decorated to the original (2001–2004), having a plain white finish on the spokes and minimal red stripes. [2] This has still not been rectified, suggesting that the park have no intention of doing so.
Riders enter small gondolas that are suspended next to a large disc that spins once the ride is in motion. The small gondolas seat two people and there are no restraints, the idea being that the force of the ride will hold you in place and allow you to experience the ride more freely. Ride operators run round the large disc to check that all the cabins have their gates closed correctly. When it is considered safe, Zodiac is put into motion. The disc starts to spin, slowly at first, but becoming faster and faster. Eventually, the suspended gondolas are being forced almost completely sideways at a speed of 13.5 revolutions per minute and the disc starts to pitch upwards into the air on a powerful hydraulic arm. Once the spinning disc has reached the maximum tilt of 70°, riders are almost inverting in the suspended cars, completing a manoeuvre similar to a vertical loop element of a rollercoaster. As soon as maximum tilt is reached, the arm lowers again, the disc slows and riders slowly come to a halt as gravity takes over and reorientates the base of the gondolas towards ground.
On the rare occasion that Zodiac (or any other HUSS Enterprise) tilts over 90 degrees, an emergency stop procedure is initiated. This is a very uncomfortable situation for guests as the gondolas swing uncontrollably until the wheel comes to a halt. The ride slowly lowers itself back to a level position.
A pirate ship is a type of amusement ride based on pirate ships, consisting of an open, seated gondola which swings back and forth, subjecting the rider to various levels of angular momentum. A variant where the riders must pull on ropes to swing the ride is known as a swing boat.
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The Top Spin is a thrill ride developed by HUSS Park Attractions, and is the generic name for a series of rides from other manufacturers that follow the same principle. The ride consists of a passenger platform suspended between two counterweighted arms. The arms are turned by motors, while the platform typically only has brakes that are engaged and disengaged at various points of the ride cycle. A typical top spin program runs the main arm motors while engaging and disengaging the platform brakes so that it will rotate in exciting ways. The minimum rider height requirement is 54 inches; maximum is 80 inches due to the seat and restraint design. The ride was introduced to the public in 1990 and proved an instant success with European fairgoers.
The Enterprise is an amusement ride, manufactured primarily by HUSS Park Attractions and Anton Schwarzkopf beginning in 1972. The HUSS ride was an adaptation and improvement of a design produced earlier that year by Schwarzkopf, with an increased passenger capacity. Despite not owning the original incarnation of the ride, HUSS was issued the patent.
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The Troika is an amusement park ride designed and manufactured by HUSS Park Attractions in the mid-1970s. The name Troika means "group of three" in Russian, a reference to its three armed design. There are several variations on the design.
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Vortex is a KMG Afterburner at Thorpe Park, an amusement park in Chertsey, Surrey, England. It was installed in the Lost City area of the park in 2001. It opened on 25 May, seven weeks after the opening of the 2001 season.
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Riptide is a thrill ride at Canada's Wonderland manufactured by Mondial. The ride is similar to the park's Shockwave ride in terms of how the riders are spun. At the base of the ride there are a number of fountains that shoot up towards the riders as they are spinning and soak them. When the weather is cool, the fountains shoot up but go back down before the water hit the riders. Over the past couple of years, the ride cycle has been cut down and riders don't get as wet as they did in the past. Unlike the 'Topspins' made by Huss which feature one gondola, Riptide features two gondolas.
Delirium is the name of three Frisbee rides located at three Cedar Fair parks – California's Great America, Kings Island, and Kings Dominion. The installation at California's Great America, the smallest of the three, was designed by Chance Rides and opened in 2002. The installation at Kings Island was designed by HUSS Park Attractions and opened on April 12, 2003, as the largest Frisbee ride of its kind in the world. The record-setting ride is able to swing 50 passengers up to 76 mph (122 km/h) reaching a height of 137 feet (42 m). Mondial manufactured the version of Delirium at Kings Dominion, which opened in 2016. It accommodates up to 40 passengers, reaches a top speed of 60 mph (97 km/h), and swings to a maximum height of 115 feet (35 m).
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Rainbow is an Amusement park ride created by HUSS Maschinenfabrik of Bremen, Germany. The Rainbow was manufactured from 1982 to 2000 and is often confused with its cousins Ali Baba and 1001 Nachts plus other similar models. The HUSS Rainbow has developed a vast fan base due to its large stature, smooth ride, bright lights, and iconic motor noise.
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Sol Spin is a swinging Top Scan ride at Knott's Berry Farm built by Mondial Rides. Riders spins in a circular rotation while swinging in an angle. The ride opened to the general public on April 21, 2017 in the Fiesta Village section of the park. Designed by Mondial, Sol Spin is a tipsy top turvy adventure taking places 6 stories high over Fiesta Village. As the ride lifts off the ground, riders begin spinning in a circular motion while guests are spun around. At its peak, Sol Spin rotates guests in circular motion at 60 feet in the air. Riders can experience up to 4gs at the peak of the ride. In addition, the ride is located on the former spot of Windseeker which was also built by Mondial. Sol Spin is unique as it is the largest Mondial Top Scan to this day. Knott's Sol Spin was customized to fit in the former location of Windseeker.