Coaster101's first Editorial!

[coasterdude5]

http://www.coaster101.com/editorials.htm

 

Written by Tyler Hopkins (coasterfreak101)

 

NEW COASTER

BUSCH GARDENS EUROPE: 2007

Tyler Hopkins

 

Busch Gardens Europe hasn’t received a new roller coaster for seven years now. Any other park would have, easily. But Busch parks are different. They wait a few years, or in this case many, and when the ride comes it pushes the limits of the human body to an extreme.

 

Many coaster enthusiasts are, for lack of a better word, disappointed in Anheuser-Busch parks for this long period of time without a big thrill. Sure, there was Curse of DarKastle, a multi-million dollar investment for the park, but nothing bigger than the 60-foot building standing in Oktoberfest today. This ride has also been upgraded this year after the popularity it gained for the park in 2005 when it premiered. But there was nothing new besides DarKastle, as a matter of fact; two rides were taken out of the park in the past seven years. Both Wild Maus (now Cheetah Chase at BGA) and Drachen Fire were torn down from the European-themed park.

 

But this gap is being filled, next year a large coaster is set to open at Busch Gardens Europe. There’s a lot of speculation accumulating around the new coaster, the most pointing to another American installation of the Bolliger & Mabillard Dive Machine. There are many pieces of information, including Anheuser-Busch park history, to back this guess.

 

Both Busch Gardens parks, Busch Gardens Europe in Williamsburg, Virginia and Busch Gardens Africa in Tampa Bay, Florida are very closely related in their coaster installations. The first major relationship showed up in 1992, when Drachen Fire was installed at the Williamsburg park. Originally planned by the Swiss design company B&M, the duo fell through for the rumored reason of Kumba. This left the job to Arrow Dynamics, the now defunct coaster design company from California. They oversaw construction of the ride, which premiered to the public on April 4th, 1994. The coaster was very successful, and the following year a new B&M twister design showed up at the Florida park, Busch Gardens Africa. Kumba, again, supposedly the reason for the B&M dropout of the Drachen design, was built bigger and better than the Virginia twister. Equipped with an extra inversion and a longer track layout, Kumba was instantly a hit. The first relationship of the two parks was showing.

 

A few years later, rumors flew wild about a new inverted coaster for a Busch park. These rumors were true; Montu debuted at Busch Gardens Africa in 1996. An Egyptian-themed coaster, Montu incorporated seven inversions in it’s nearly 4000 feet of track and thrilled riders from the very beginning to the very end. And a year later, just like the back-to-back B&M (at least B&M designed) twisters installed a few years before, Alpengeist showed up at Busch Gardens Europe. Themed to a run-away ski lift, Alpengeist thrilled riders with its’ record-breaking loop, topping of at 106-feet, and its’ 197-foot tall lift hill, still the largest of any invert. Taking enthusiasts by storm, Busch had another great pair of coasters at its’ parks.

 

But now, there’s one more relationship the parks must complete. Last year, 2005, the African-themed park built the first American Dive Machine, SheiKra. Featuring a 200-foot vertical drop, a 145-foot tall immelmann, and a soaking water splash, SheiKra thrilled the coaster world yet again.

 

This all leads up to one final piece of information: the contract. Anheuser Busch signed a contract many years ago with Bolliger & Mabillard stating that each park would receive three of the Swiss-designed coasters. Busch Gardens Africa has now fulfilled this contract, with Kumba, Montu, and SheiKra. But Busch Gardens Europe hasn’t yet. They have Alpengeist and Apollo’s Chariot (1999 B&M hyper), but they need one more B&M coaster. With all of the data stated above, it’s only fair that the final [contracted] B&M coaster for Busch Gardens Europe will be a Dive Machine. Time can only tell, with an announcement later this month or possibly next month.

 

Additional information about the 2007 BGE installment:

-Anheuser-Busch has gained special permission from the county to build the new coaster at a maximum height of 210 feet above ground level.

-Height Waiver: http://www.jccegov.com/pdf/pcpdfs/pc2006/030606pc/5j_mem.pdf

-A balloon test was completed on February 24th, 2006 to clear all height issues with the surrounding town of Kings Mill. The county passed the test and construction is permitted to reach that height.

-Balloon Test Pictures: http://www.jccegov.com/pdf/bospdfs/bospdfs2006/041106bos/f3_att2.pdf

-SheiKra was the second Dive Machine designed for Anheuser-Busch, and was originally designed for BGE. BGA took the coaster due to monetary problems.

-The track for the BGE coaster is said to be an orange-beige color to blend with the supports rumored to be blue (track color information comes from the warehouse itself).

-An old attraction in the area (New France) is set to close for the construction of the new coaster. The only attraction located in the New France section of the park is LeMans Raceway (antique cars).

-LeMans Raceway is slated to close on July 5th, 2006, making the Fourth of July its’ last operational day.

-Markers are placed all around the New France area of BGE, many right next to LeMans.

-The new coaster may incorporate new technology, one possible idea being floorless trains. In a recent statement by Anheuser-Busch, SheiKra was slated to receive floorless trains sometime around the 2010 season for marketing. BGE could take this idea, though.

EDIT: Taken the picture out.

 

--Tyler Hopkins

[Jon Sabo]

Are we starting another thread on this topic?

 

I am getting confused on which thread to go off of now because we already have a couple of open topics on the BGE-'07 project.

 

1. http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=23186&highlight=busch+gardens

 

2. http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=21549&highlight=busch+gardens

 

**The picture posted is from "fergusonat" at the BAC (Busch Adventure Community) site (unless you are the person going under his/that name). I feel it would only be proper to give the author credit for the picture posted on the link you provided. I am also a member of that site and and his posting is as follows:

1. http://www.buschadventure.com/Forums/index.php?showtopic=142&st=300

[phazan]

^Well, it's more like announcing the first coaster101.com editorial. It's not really for discussing the new coaster.

[QueerRudie]

That's some pretty good rendering of a potential ride; but I'm not quite sure about the splash at the end. BGE would have to re-think that consdiering the spring and fall weather- wet=bad idea in a climate that can get quite chilly in October.

 

I can fully belive a floorless install on this one- B&M has quite a reputation for mutating rides and train designs- and this would be no exception. Plus, the concept of a thin and wide car would make for a great ride name- I can only imagine, being that it's in France, would be Guilliotine (Now watch them name it something else along the way-

 

I'm hoping this is going to be another great install for BGE- they've got such a great mix of rides to play with there.

[coasterdude5]

Added the credit, sorry about that!

[jarmor]

I hate to sound negative but that whole article is a bunch of rumors. None of that information has been confirmed especially the on going rumor as to b&m building drachen (from what I saw a while ago that was declared false). I just find the article to be well...it was entertaining but I couldn't help but wonder how can anyone take it that serious.

[SLUSHIE]

the on going rumor as to b&m building drachen (from what I saw a while ago that was declared false).

 

Busch hired B&M to build them two sit-down coasters. One for BGT and another for BGW. B&M was a lot smaller at the time and was only able to build one of them, so Busch hired Arrow to do the other.

[jarmor]

still dont believe it until I see some proof or read a more crediable article where it quotes B or M stating that rumor is infact true. If B&M designs the coasters...they dont actual build them.

[SLUSHIE]

I didn't mean that B&M designed both... Arrow did design the other, but I heard they were given a design by B&M that the park liked to go off of.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drachen_Fire

[Jon Sabo]

^^ That debate will always appear to be whoever believes what they want..lol B&M did not in anyway design or build DF. I worked there during that time since '83 even and there was no correlation between DF and B&M.

 

That debate started on p. 5 on this :

 

http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=21005&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=drachen+fire&start=40

 

Jamor is correct. All of these are just "rumors". Expect an official announcement near end of summer (around mid-to-end of August) or before BGE Holloween event. There is proof that B&M/BEC (Corporate) has a 5 yr. contract on the DM's in the US markets and we can go off of that "assumption".

 

**Thanks for submitting the credit to the author of the picture link you posted. It's only fair that he gets the credit since he was the one who provided the pic on that site. It would be the same if someone else took credit for another person(s) video or pic, its just not right.

[SLUSHIE]

I'm done with that, but if it is infact a design solely created by arrow, it no doubt got some inspiration for some of the newer Intamin and B&M creations at the time.

 

Anyway.

 

I don't see why Busch would want to install similar rides at both parks. Since both parks are located on the east coast you would think that they would want to provide different rides so people will have a reason to want to visit the other. They arn't that close, but much closer than DL and WDW.

[Jon Sabo]

Whooowheee the "actual author" of that drawing is not very happy.

1. You have it on your "own" site

2. There is no credit given to the author or where you got the pic from.

 

It would only be fair that any pic (or video for that matter) is given proper credit to those original author(s) that did the actual work and not other(s) taking credit for that.

 

This is the pic I am referring too:

 

http://img290.imageshack.us/img290/1127/bgedmsmall1ih.jpg

[phazan]

^ Well, the picture is down now so you can be happy that something you made a problem is worked out now. It was a mistake, you didn't really have to make the author mad or anything.

 

Sorry if that sounded like a was a jerk.

[DATman]

^Yes, well, some people just have to go byond telling the person to give credit....

 

Did he ever personally take credit, saying "I drew this". No. Should he have given credit to the author, yes. But I'm sure everyone does stuff that's illegal like that. Do you guys burn CD's for others? Cause that's illegal. I think I'll go tell all the bands out there that people are burning CD's.

 

 

*just a rant. Not directed at anyone personnally. (I am really sorry if I sound like a b*tch)*

[coasterdude5]

Yeah, really, I'm sorry this happened, but I did not say anywhere (neither did Tyler) that he or I drew this. I have removed the link all together.

[Jon Sabo]

^Thanks!! I give you compliments for taking care of the issue. It's water under the bridge. I asked (the author of the pic), not to do anything about it and just said it was a mistake and it won't happen again.

 

If I am sounding like a jerk about it, I am not trying to be. But, it can become a serious mess if another person (or even an author of the work in question) would get a hold of it (which they did). Also, I'm not picking on your age(s), but if this happened in the real-working world, it would be a legal matter-unfortunately as it happens everyday. I have seen one guy go bankrupt on a mistake they did and it cost them the whole company. It's not all about this incident, it happens often (especially other sites) and just needed to be addressed. Think how Rob/you would feel if someone took credit for your work?

 

A couple of people on the site emailed me about it and wasn't too happy either, but I told them to give the original person on this post to have a chance to explain/take care of it and its done.

 

I felt it was a mistake here and needed to address it, therefore I didn't take it to the site owner(s) or really made a big stink out of it as I felt I could have. I believe there was a statement in the general rules forum and this would apply to not just pictures, but to videos as well. I even asked the site owner about it and I'm sure he would take matters into their own hands.

 

To put it into perspective, wouldn't (any of the posters^/^^/^^^ above here) feel quite angry if another person took credit for what you had done? It's all been cleared up now and water under the bridge. It's a "mistake" and the person took care of it and its finished now and he will learn from it as we all have. In response to the few posts above, it doesn't matter if a person states that he/she drawn the pic or not.

 

It's time we all have fun now and it's forgotten! Have a good one.

[ECZenith]

I kinda like the colors. If those are in fact the final colors...

 

Nice editorial, I enjoyed reading it.

[Jon Sabo]

^Although not officially confirmed, but those may be the projected colors from reports of track sightings on the B&M factory (Ohio) lot. The beige-orange color(s) track appear a bit faded, but I think that could be a primer-coat or that the sun has faded it a bit. There are 2 color combinations floating around on the support color. One color was a dark-blue color scheme and the other was a silver-grey color, but that pic look like it was a primer-coat (and final painting is underway). The reason why I believe this is for the BGE project is based on the time-scale for delivery of the track/supports and the production schedule. It "could" also be the possible Valleyfair coaster, but the track does not appear to be an Inverted-type coaster.