Swimace
-
Posts
1,512 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Posts posted by Swimace
-
-
Hey guys!
I recently returned from a trip to Germany where I was able to stop by the Nurburgring! There isn't much info on the site about the attractions, so I thought I would do a quick Photo TR. Obviously the racetrack is best known here for the notorious Ring Racer coaster, but it turns out there is a whole mini theme park here. Besides the coaster, Nurbirgring also features a 4D movie, a motion simulator, a trackless dark ride, a walkthrough attraction, and a rotating theater.
Also... in terms of visiting the park.... it is located in between Klotten and Phantasialand. We were easily able to spend the morning at Klotten, drive to Nurburgring, and still have some time get in some rides at Phantasialand in the evening.
Anyways... here's a handful of pics.
We're here! Welcome to the Nurburgring!
Visitor parking is located across the street. I think it cost us 5 euro to park here
There is a pedestrian bridge to bring you from the parking lot to the visitor area.
Ring Werk is the "park" section of the Nurburgring. It features a motion simulator, a 4D movie, a trackless darkride, a rotating theater, several interactive exhibits... and of course the notorious Ring Racer roller coaster. Lets take a look inside!
There is a giant park map that hangs over the turnstiles into Ring Werk
Once inside, the place opens up to this central area. It is filled with several racing exhibits as well as the entrances to the attractions.
As you can imagine.. everything here is racing themed!
Starting out with the walk through attraction, this exhibit takes you into racing science
It features several interactive exhibits geared towards different aspects of racing technology
Motor Mania is the park's trackless dark ride.
Here is the loading platform. Lets go for a spin!
Most of the ride takes place in this large central room. You compete for points by shooting the targets.
You pull out of the room into dead end corners. There is a video screen that comes on with some dude that talks to you in German.
Overall, the ride was "ok". Definitely interesting
Next up is the simulator! It is themed to a bus ride
We start out on a harmless bus tour of the German countryside, but due to a detour we end up on the race track. Chaos ensues!
Oh hey, they also have a coaster here. Guess what? It's still closed.
But here's a picture anyways...
It goes over stuff and stuff
Probably the coolest (open) attraction at the Nurburgring was the rotating theater.
The theater tells the history of racing at the Nurburgring
Yay Racing!!!
Outside of the Ring Werk "park", there is an open public area that does not require an admission fee. Notice the Ring Racer track in the ceiling.
It was kinda sketchy. It was pretty much a flea market.
Also, just a lot of random open space. I'm sure this area looks much different when a race is going on, but on a normal day is felt pretty weird.
On your way out, don't forget to stop by the gift shop for plenty of Nurburgring merchandise. Anybody want a sandwich press?!?!
That's all I have! Thanks for reading!
-
Neither one of you have even ridden the ride, yet you know it's going to be boring and forceless! And on that note, I love the newer inverts. Personally I enjoy a smoother ride and less rough transitions. I actually found the Batman Clones to be a terrible ride experience.
You can take the Silver Bullets, Patriots, and Black Mambas... I will be riding Nemesis, Dragons, and Montu! Banshee will probably be perfect for you!
Kinda discourteous to insult fans of a park for being excited for their new coaster.
I mean, this is the same fan base that still clings to the idea that Magnum and Beast are top 10 rides and that the Big Dipper should still be saved. I can only worry so much about hurting their feelings!
-
I am loving how much the KI fanboys are going crazy for this.
You guys... We all know that this thing is going to open and all of the Ohio enthusiasts are going to sing praises of how intense and brilliant this is. (The same way that Diamondback was praised as an airtime machine). Then everyone else is going to go visit KI and realize that it's really not all that.
Looks big and boring. And let's be honest... It's going up be forceless. Will be perfect for that park!
There... I said it!
-
^I really didn't like it.
It rode pretty awkwardly to be honest. Not rough or painful by any means, just more weird and uncomfortable. It seems to me like Gerstlaur still hasn't perfected their heart lining or something like that.
Idk, just my thoughts. It probably didn't improve my opinion of the ride to see the park only running 2 of their 4 trains within two weeks of opening...
-
Took my first visit to Phantasialand yesterday and will take any excuse to go back! This flume will more than suffice as a reason! (That and I need my Mystery Castle fix)
Although, my one big negative about the park... What gives with most of the rides not opening with the park? And then they close all the queues before the park closes? I hated that.
-
Any European members have an update on this?
-
Wow, just catching up on all of this. What a terrible accident. Unfortunately, it also is a pretty awful reminder of how bad our media sources can be.
Hopefully between iRat and NTG something will reopen in time for the Texas/Midwest trip.
-
@ Swimace: If you have a car, you can also go to the Annakirmes in Düren, it's only a 1h15m drive from the Cranger Kirmes. That way, you can do both OL and AB!
Great suggestion! We are heading to Cranger Kirmes from Phantasialand so that could work out pretty easily.
How does it work with getting on rides at these fairs? Do you buy individual tickets for the rides? Also, is it pretty much a cash-only sort of setup?
Any advice in general for Americans who are going to a German fair for the first time?
-
Loving these photos!
I have never been to a German fair, but will be going to Cranger Kirmes in a couple weeks. Getting excited!
-
So, it seems like this is the closest thing to an official Nagashima Spaland thread (maybe?). So mods, feel free to move this if this is the wrong place...
But has anyone seen this new slide at Nagashima Spaland from White Water West? It looks amazing! Did anyone on the Japan trip ride this?
[youtu_be]
[/youtu_be] -
I will be there early August, so I'm hoping it operates for at least that long!
-
According to the LA times, Ring Racer is set to open July 7th.
By Brady MacDonald, Los Angeles Times staff writer
June 25, 2013, 8:15 a.m.
The long-anticipated RingRacer at Germany's Nurburgring racetrack is set to join the ranks of the fastest roller coasters in the world when it reopens this summer after a four-year delay.
Back in 2009, the $15-million compressed-air-launch coaster was billed as the fastest coaster in the world with a top speed of 135 mph. Built by Utah-based S&S Worldwide, RingRacer was designed to launch with a force of 5.6 Gs and travel along a 4,000-foot-long track running between the grandstands and the racecourse. Reaching maximum acceleration in 2.5 seconds, the coaster would accelerate twice as fast as the Formula One single-seater cars that race at the renowned Grand Prix track 75 miles northwest of Frankfurt.
RingRacer never achieved the record-setting pace. With Formula One champion Michael Schumacher on board in July 2009, RingRacer operated at approximately 80 mph during its maiden run because the braking system was "not quite working well enough," according to Autosport magazine.
Within weeks of the debut, a problem with the launch system forced the closure of the new coaster. A few months later, an explosion while testing the pneumatic launch injured seven people and damaged a nearby building, according to the General-Anzeiger newspaper. Since then the idled 125-foot-tall coaster has stood as a constant reminder of the failed attempt at the record books.
Over the ensuing years, the few photos of riders aboard RingRacer have whet the appetite of coaster enthusiasts around the world.
Provided they secure the proper operating permit, Nurburgring officials hope to reopen RingRacer on July 7 during a Formula One race at the German track. According to track officials, the initial launch speed of RingRacer will be approximately 105 mph with the possibility of higher speeds at a later date.
But even at that speed, RingRacer will remain behind the coasters it was designed to top: Kingda Ka (128 mph) at New Jersey's Six Flags Great Adventure, Top Thrill Dragster (120 mph) at Ohio's Cedar Point and Doponpa (107 mph) at Japan's Fuji-Q Highland.
The real problem, of course, is that records are meant to be broken. Since RingRacer's brief but fleeting debut, the star-crossed coaster has been bested by the 149 mph Formula Rosa at Ferrari World in the United Arab Emirates. Which means, as any race fan knows, RingRacer will never finish any better than second place.
-
^Awesome! I will be there on August 1st! Can't wait to ride this.
-
Hey guys remember before we all became super smart awesome enthusiasts and didn't give a s--t about the landscaping/station/mascots/spraypaint surrounding a ride and actually based our opinions of a ride off the ride itself?
Man, what a time that was.
No, I don't remember that time...
-
I know I am late to the party on this one... but WOW did they do a crappy job on the station/queue/stage area. It all looks terrible!
But aside from that, the coaster itself does look like a lot of fun. I've never been a Premier coaster that I didn't like.
-
Wow! I had no idea this ride even existed! It actually looks really good for a compact launched coaster.
Good thing I will be in Germany in a month or so!
-
1) This looks like a great addition to Busch Gardens! Something totally unique for the Florida market. Good for them!
2) I will never ride this.
-
Finally got on the ride on Tuesday after hitting some unlucky downtime on Monday around park closing.
I thought it was pretty underwhelming overall. The ride system itself was great, it's just a shame that SeaWorld didn't do more with it. I think it is a cute ride that I would wait 10-15 minutes for, but there is no way I would wait any longer than that to ride it again.
-
^The trains are prototypes. It's definitely not uncommon for manufacturers to have hiccups when they introduce prototype ride vehicles (i.e. Battlestar Galactica, Timberliners)
-
Or who can forget the woman who called 911 from Harry Potter claiming she was stuck upside down...
I'm not sure what frustrates me more: that people are this stupid, or that the media gives them a spotlight for it.
-
^Ha, you beat me to it. Was driving me crazy as well!
With that said, I am curious to see what this turns out to be. Considering that construction is starting this early, I am assuming it will be quite large. Can't wait to see all of the Ohio fanboys go crazy for the next year or so!
-
I could see a park like Joypolis being a successful concept in the US, especially in the right market. However, I do not see Ft. Meyers as that market.... what a strange choice of location. Not gonna happen.
-
^If anything, I would almost compare White Lightning to El Toro at Freizeitpark Plohn in terms of being a tiny little coaster for a small park. I hardly think GCI is opening up new markets with this one, they've been working with small parks for quite some time.
-
^Still out of commission.
Trip Report - Sand Blaster Opening - Daytona Beach Boardwalk
in Theme Parks, Roller Coasters, & Donkeys!
Posted
Thanks for the update Robb! I was hoping to go get my credit sometime in the next couple weeks. I didn't realize that it was literally right next to the beach. Very nice!
The tie-ins with Attractions Magazine though... Ehhh???...