Paulton’s Park in the United Kingdom ( http://www.paultonspark.co.uk ) is adding a custom Bobsled Coaster from Gerstlauer for the 2006 season. Standing 16.5 meters (54 feet) high and sporting a track length of 450 meters (1,476 feet) the exciting ride will soon be thrilling family members of all ages. Designer Siegfried Gerstlauer commented that the park’s demographics and a Gerstlauer coaster were the perfect fit. He said, “If you look at the park’s current ride selection it consists of attractions that everyone in the family can enjoy together. Our Bobsled ride provides the opportunity for children to enjoy their first ‘big coaster’ with their parents.”
The ride layout, which borrows from the company’s 1998 installation at Erlebnispark Tripsdrill in Germany, combines:
- A curving first drop
- Mouse curves
- Back-to-back helices
- An airtime-filled ending with camelbacks
Installation Supervisor Franz Maier said that that the fall installation went smoothly. “The Mancey family [which owns Paultons] wanted the ride installed during September to ensure it would be open to guests at the beginning of 2006. The track went up in only two weeks and we just finished testing. The Cobra will be ready to thrill guests of all ages this spring.”
The attraction is Gerstlauer’s seventh Bobsled Coaster. The company has other models in Sweden, Japan, Denmark and Germany. Siegfried Gerstlauer said, “We are excited about producing our first U.K. coaster installation and another ride which thrills everyone in the family. We appreciate the opportunity to design rides that thrill teenagers, but are fun for kids to ride with mom and dad.”
Quick Cobra Stats:
Slithering along 450 meters (1,476 feet) of track
Striking at speeds of 50 km/h (31 mph)
Springing from 16.5 meters (54 feet) above the ground
Gerstlauer Rides ( http://www.gerstlauer-rides.com )