simon8899

Wow - a 40+ years old Zyklon rollercoaster.....

Looks like a "light" version of the Zierer trains built for the Teststrecke (Schwarzkopf looper) and Vienna Prater Boomerang (Vekoma).

That would be a year to remember - but I guess you've got to win the lottery as the rides are now spread worldwide. From Canada to Brasil to South Africa to Japan. Adding the obvious visit to Munich's Oktoberfest to get the portables. Even more when you add the rides were Mr. Schwarzkopf was acting as consultant - mostly sweden for Lisebergbanan (Zierer) and Jetline (also Zierer) - but also Olympia Looping (Zierer and BHS). If you add those were eningeers who worked with Schwarzkopf KG and started their own companies or were hired by other companies you can add any coaster that is not Arrow- or Zyklon-based.

It seems like the Volare is for sale anyway - unless they didn't only used the picture: http://www.fab.lu/index.php?id=74&L=2&tx_ttnews[pointer]=7&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=51&tx_ttnews[backPid]=73&cHash=8f8f40c823

Schwarzkopf "Thriller" - but as its now in mexico and judging from their drug-war situation there I doubt it will happen - maybe some german showmen buys it back, but thats very far-fetched.... Intamin ZacSpin is also a must - but as I plan to go to Linnamaki and Gröna Lund next year - and they both have one.... On my recent US-trip I rode most of the coasters on my wishlist: Giant Dipper - Done! Schwarzkopf Shuttle-Loop - Done! X2 - Done!

@larrygator This reminds me when a crane got in the way of an Enterprise in Hamburg when I was a kid - the operator of the crane was fined and jailed for manslaughter. I'd go for "attempted manslaughter" in this case against the operator of the crane. Next to that his license to operate a crane and/or amusement ride should be removed for life.

At the end of September Hannover Oktoberfest is on again and I'll probably head down there again this year as they've two classic coasters: - Schwarzkopf Wildcat - big park variant now as portable coaster - "Die Wilden 50er" (The Wild 50s) - Zierer Flitzer - "High Explosive" Both are owned by Hannover showmen Jens Vorlop. More information (in german): http://www.oktoberfest-hannover.de/?page_id=33

What mostly wonders me in US carnivals that all rides stand so "bare" around. In germany they used to have huge colorful painted backs with lots of lights and lots of speakers on them - every ride has its own multi-1000 watts music system with it - and in the dark the strobe lights adds an eerie effect when the ride is running. But would love to ride the Ring Of Fire - we had one of those once in a park in bavaria but never really was there. Looks like a cool ride....

I kinda miss that klickety-klackety mechanical anti-rollbacks on chainlifts today....but one has to say that these fancy breaking-fins are much smoother.....

As far as I know you don't need them on tire lifts. As I remember the Olympia Looping twice stalled on the tire lift - first due to an energy blackout and secondly as the engine of the tires broke - but as the tires are pressing firmly against the train even without power the train simply stalled on the lift. Maybe they're added to US rides but you sometimes overdo the scurity - like adding OTSR or seatbelts on Schwarzkopf lapbar-only trains.... The park looks nice and hopefully adds rides as its expanding over the years....

Sometimes I think you're too much into the modern ultra-smooth B&M and Intamin coasters - and yes those are great - but I'd choose an old Wildcat or JetStar any time over an standard Arrow or Vekoma. Yes those old coasters might got a little roughed up due to their age - but thats were also the fun for me lies. The same goes for some rickety 50+ years old woodie. As long as parks don't ruin the classics with OTSR I'm quite happy to enjoy them....

You wet my appetite with the Finland pictures as I'm planning a Scandinavian tour next year: Helsinki - Linnamaki and Tampere - Sarkeniemmi (that language is hard... ) Over to Stockholm - Gröna Lund by ferry from Turku On to Göteborg - Liseberg by train On to Copenhagen - Tivoli / Bakken by train I assume it will be marvelous....

Thats a letdown.... Sounds weird however as Vekoma has the same coaster as Space Mountain in Euro-Disney - if that would happen at Disney I'm sure they would sue Vekoma's ass off....but thanks for the info.

@DiSab The show or the girls....?

I might go to Walibi Holland if weather fits in September (also a friday) but until now also consider Attactiepark Slagharen as they've a Schwarzkopf Looping-Star plus some more 70s Schwarzkopf rides. A question: Was XPress open? It's listed as out-of-operation on RCDB - if it's open I might still change my mind....

Teststrecke - Schwarzkopf double-loop - on the carnival.

My only grayout so far was in Goliath at SFMM in the final 720 degree (?) bayerncurve. I found it quite cool - and avioded it on the following rides by taking 2-3 deep breaths before entering the curve... Overall "right" breathing is something you learn when doing rides often - inhale when you've airtime or low Gs plus taking deep breaths if the coaster has breaking segments and exhale when you've high Gs, that way you keep your blood with the correct oxygen levels

I rode the KongaXXL and was a fun ride for me.....but next time they should place it next to the log-flume to get dry from the wind.... The XXL is made by netherlands KMG and is transported on 3 trailers. On KMGs website you can see one trailer and how the ride is folded for transport: http://www.kmg.nl/kmg/factory/xxl_en.html# - it should be no problem for european streets. Plus many rides are transported long-distance (100+ kilometers) by train here. Here we've Teststrecke on a train: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=238164102880204&set=a.238163912880223.70454.165091500187465&type=1&ref=nf - http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=238164186213529&set=a.238163912880223.70454.165091500187465&type=1 Yes, the Teststrecke trains were made by Zierer as the refurbishment of the old trains would've been as expensive. I think the new trains are okay, running smoothly and very silent.

Stay tuned for more in about a week.....

Zierer swinging - no german carnival without it.... I spy a Hamburg first and a new credit: crazy Höllenblitz (Hell's Lightning) indoor-coaster in sight.... but before some swinging around.....and no "please don't rock the cars" like in the US.....man, these cars are made for rocking.... finally onto Höllenblitz....a crazy and quite fast lil indoor coaster at 80 kph with spinning cars....made by Stein Engineering which later became Gerstelauer. The indoor part is a fenzy of lasers and waves of LEDs pulsating in all colours....feels like on LSD..... This Huss Take-Off right next to Höllenblitz is truely insane. The compartments spin at incredible speeds creating high Gs - at max speed breathing was hard. I never get tipsy-turvy but this had me running circles after getting out. Had to do it three times..... And then another ride on Höllenblitz.....but not before sampling some good bavarian beer at one of the beer-stands..... Airwolf looming behind a harmless kiddie-ride. Airwolf - named after the TV-series - with hard shakes and turns as always. It's roumored that this will be its last year on the carnivals... Funny darkride with living ghosts - meaning actors - inside. Now this what we call an Afterburner, this one named KongaXXL - 45 meters high.....two riders puked after getting out....poor lil kids..... And yes: the ride attendants were wearing old-style safari outfits.... finally another ride on Teststrecke..... Love the same-sized loops back to back - the first with really intense Gs as another is comming. The second with near weightlessness as the train slows going up the loop. After the loop and first bayerncurve the track goes between the two loops narrowly - one man in the car before more broke his hand as he was holding out his arms sideways.....well, a stupid idea abviously. But holding your arms straight up in the loops is highly recommended....

First short - 2 hours - around the Dom as I had an early appointment today. But enough to get first rides and impressions..... I see Schwarzkopf loops..... looking good....but as this coaster was made in the looping frenzy in the late 70s / early 80s its not much more than two loops and two bayerncurves.....but perfect ones..... then onto a very wet log-flume - in germny widely known as Wildwasser (wildwater).... 20 meter drop......you get very wet at the end of this..... nice view before getting wet..... getting dry inside the DomDancer - on a very long and fast programm.... I see a mouse.... and some Autoscooter (bumber cars) opposite the mouse....you know you're getting old when the bumps hurt your back....but the music was excellent.....the ride ops here is more a DJ than a ride ops. this mouse is quite okay but must be an old one as the dispatch was manual.... Huss Frisbee.....way to go.....

I don't know about train replicas but in Munich there was an exibition at the town museum about the works of Schwarzkopf and Stengel. The had - non-working - modells of the Olympia-Looping, Thriller and Mindbender. http://mpics.teamone.de/cgi-bin/index.cgi?sort=0&menu=d20011111#PB110004 Next to that some crazy guys from the netherlands built a working model of the Looping Star. As all of these - including train replicas - would be too big for my appartment. How about this 3-D things they do in blocks of glass? That would fit nicely.

Who cares if its "gluten free" - was it good? What are glutens btw....came across this often in the US....

I really enjoyed Santa Cruz Broadwalk two months ago - even if I had only half a day as I had to go to San Francisco the same day. The Giant Dipper was big fun - as well as the Waveswinger going over the beach. Quite cool was also the indoor Breakdancer. As you say its amazing that those classic merry-go-rounds are still there - also found the rubber thingies on the Waveswingers funny - I only knew them so far with bare chains. I didn't do Hurricane as at first they had a "minimum 10 riders" limit in the morning - and at midday the line was so long I skipped it. But got onto Giant Dipper over 10 times....

Were you alone in the park? The trains are nearly empty - lucky you....