BDG Posted January 27, 2006 Posted January 27, 2006 Our Tornado is now gone forever. It was the second ever Vekoma roller coaster and for many Belgians, their first "upside down experience". Since it's opening at Walibi in 1979 this Vekoma Corkscrew has thrilled many many visitors. It was a copy of the first ever Vekoma coaster, which opened just a few months earlier at a German funfair...and was later moved to Holidaypark where it still operates as the Superwirbel (Supergerbil to some) Along with the Tornado, a Schwarzkopf Looping Star - named Looping Star - opened the very same season at another Belgian park, Bobbejaanland. The Looping Star gave its final rides at the end of the 2003 season during a big nighttime event, organised by the park and fans. It was replaced by a Gerstlauer Eurofighter, which opened the next season. The Schwarzkopf itself, was carefully dismantled and has been in storage ever since. The Tornado on the other hand was closed suddenly at the end of 2002...then reopened for a few weeks...and was closed again. Nobody knew it was going to operate in 2003. It did not. The area was closed off in 2004 as well. Trees grew between the track, shrubs and bushes covered the station. When it's trains were used as Halloween decoration, we knew the end was near. In 2005, the entire ride was used as the backdrop of a new Halloween walkthrough. And only a few days ago... (click the image for more horror) Requiescat in pace, my friend. I had - along with many others - a love/hate relationship with this ride. I liked it as as a fun attraction, a classic, something that was always there when you'd visit the park. An icon alongside the highway. Now it's gone. On the other hand, it had it's rough days, a typical Vekoma. And after 24 years of fun and 3 years of death row, it's probably time for a replacement, a worthy successor. A Doppelmayr Mountain Glider has been announced for 2006 and it might use some of the new free space, but I doubt that that "wannabe coaster" will live up to a "Tornado II" job.
robbalvey Posted January 27, 2006 Posted January 27, 2006 OMG, I loved this photo: Vekoma turned to scrap metal! YAY!!!! --Robb "This is one Vekoma I won't miss." Alvey
SharkTums Posted January 27, 2006 Posted January 27, 2006 OMG!!! Those photos are insane!!! I felt kind of sad...but then I rembered how terrible that ride was...oh well, it's still a little sad!
nemesis-storm Posted January 27, 2006 Posted January 27, 2006 Oh that's a real shame! It's become Europe's version of Drachen Fire
Inferno Insane Posted January 27, 2006 Posted January 27, 2006 Wooo, Looks like they did't want to sale it, but rip the crap out of it , Still a bummer seeing it last year just standin there.
BDG Posted January 27, 2006 Author Posted January 27, 2006 Wooo, Looks like they did't want to sale it, but rip the crap out of it , Still a bummer seeing it last year just standin there. Any park willing to "come and get it", could have it for free. But it was just too expensive to refurbish it.
viking86 Posted January 27, 2006 Posted January 27, 2006 While it probably was a crappy ride, its (almost) always sad to see a coaster being demolished. Walibi World Belgium should get the Schwarzkopf Looping Star from Bobbejaanland and put where Tornado stood.
hyyyper Posted January 27, 2006 Posted January 27, 2006 While it probably was a crappy ride, its (almost) always sad to see a coaster being demolished. Walibi World Belgium should get the Schwarzkopf Looping Star from Bobbejaanland and put where Tornado stood. IMO tornado is alot better the lame'ol'looping star
Katalyst Posted January 27, 2006 Posted January 27, 2006 Never been on it but demolishing coasters should be a crime, lol.
Noobitizer Posted January 27, 2006 Posted January 27, 2006 Those are some crazy photos, another vekoma layed to rest. I remember those photos of greenery taking over the ride, they were funny to say the least. You think any of the older Vekomas/Arrows will find another 20 years of life with thoose new Kumbak coaster trains?
Groteslurf Posted January 27, 2006 Posted January 27, 2006 it wasn't a good coaster anymore, but still it's a little sad as this was the first looping coaster i've been on (end of the seventies) I'm feeling old all at once
sfmmFREAK Posted January 27, 2006 Posted January 27, 2006 whenever a vekoma gets torn down, a cat dies. everybody knows that.
trustkill22 Posted January 28, 2006 Posted January 28, 2006 Is this here the coaster that at Halloween they but a car and a witch on the track? That first picture is sweet. I wish every coaster being demolished was taking down like this instead in a nice orderly fashion.
DATman Posted January 28, 2006 Posted January 28, 2006 YAY! It's taken away a little bit of the world's pain...
coasterfan625 Posted January 28, 2006 Posted January 28, 2006 YAY! It's taken away a little bit of the world's pain... true
benzo41190 Posted January 28, 2006 Posted January 28, 2006 All that work and memories all crushed into seperate pieces Yeah Vekoma
ECZenith Posted January 28, 2006 Posted January 28, 2006 That steel-chewing machine is badass! Sad to see the coaster go, but maybe they'll replace it with a next-gen coaster...
krouvi Posted January 28, 2006 Posted January 28, 2006 Ok it was a Vekoma but I LOVED this coaster. It was my first coaster in Walibi and I knew it is closed for some years. Me not happy .
Captain Jack Posted January 28, 2006 Posted January 28, 2006 These scrapping pictures make SFGADV's Viper scrapping look like nothing.
neovortex2k Posted January 29, 2006 Posted January 29, 2006 Oh my god i'm so sad that was my second ever coaster(Turbine was first)!!First corkkscrew element when i was 11 ahh thats so sad.
DerekRx Posted January 30, 2006 Posted January 30, 2006 Wow, talk about ripping apart a ride. Those pictures are pretty awesome! My unborn children rejoice, knowing they will never experience the headbashing that this ride delivered.
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