Spinning roller coaster

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A Spinning roller coaster is a roller coaster with cars that are able to rotate on a vertical axis or sometimes (as in the case of 4th dimension roller coasters, as they are known to Arrow Dynamics) on a horizontal axis.

4th dimension roller coasters are similar to flying roller coasters in many ways, the key differences being seat position and rotation. Rather than being suspended beneath the track, riders are placed to either side of the track, in seats mounted on spinning arms similar to axles. The arms do not spin freely, but rather rotate to a certain position at a predetermined point during the ride. There are many types of spinning roller coasters.

1 Types of Spinning Roller Coasters
2 Inversion Controversy
3 External links

[edit] Types of Spinning Roller Coasters

[edit] S&S/Arrow 4th Dimension (4-D) roller coasters

In 2001, as a part of Six Flags Magic Mountain's conversion into the "X-treme Park!", the park unveiled X, the world's first 4th Dimension coaster. A 4-D coaster is a coaster in which the seats can rotate forward or backward 360 degrees in a controlled spin. This is achieved by having 4 rails on the track; 2 for the train, and 2 for the seats. The 2 rails that control the spin of the seats, or "X Rails," vary in height relative to the track, and spin the train using a rack and pinion gear mechanism.

It was a unique ride design, however, the design was a prototype and cost the Arrow Dynamics and the park itself a lot of money due to technical difficulties and design flaws. In 2002, the park sued Arrow Dynamics, which went into bankruptcy. Since then Arrow was bought out by S&S Power and became the company's steel coaster division, S&S Arrow. For years, the 4-D coaster has been shelved due to the X incident. However, Fuji-Q Highland in Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi Japan did build a 4-D coaster which opened July 19, 2006 under the name Eejanaika, which translates to something along the lines of "Ain't it great." For more information visit: [1]

[edit] Intamin Ball Coaster

The Intamin Ball coaster has been in development for some time since Arrow's unveiling of the 4th dimensional roller coaster. The project just went out of the developmental stages and into production with the first coaster being built in Linnanmäki in Helsinki, Finland for the 2007 season [2]. This coaster is named Kirnu. The Intamin version is (based on the first design) quite different than S&S/Arrow's 4th dimensional coaster. Some differences include Intamin's 4-D coaster is available with both a conventional lift hill, or Linear Syncronous Motors used in a manner similar to a powered coaster, and Intamin's trains look much like Arrow's but only one car exists in each train. Also, Intamin's seats rotate freely, not controlled as Arrow's are.

Recently, it has become known that a second Intamin Ball Coaster will open in 2007 at Terra Mitica in Spain. It has also become known that both these rollercoasters are actually a variant of the Ball Coaster concept known as a "ZacSpin", which uses a traditional chain lift to pull the train to the highest point, instead of the Linear Syncronous Motor, or "LSM" technology used to power the original Ball Coaster prototype around its track.

[edit] Zamperla/Reverchon Spinning Wild Mouse roller coasters

In 1997, the very first Spinning Wild Mouse roller coaster opened at the defunct Dinosaur Beach pier at Wildwood, New Jersey. Based on the design of the Wild Mouse roller coaster, the ride features cars similar to a Virginia Reel. The layout of the ride boasts lots of hairpin turns and small hops. The design, noted for its portability and small footprint, became popular at smaller amusement parks and fairs. A well known theme park installation of the ride is Primevial Whirl at Disney's Animal Kingdom.

Reverchon first distributed the coaster in the late 1990s until the company merged with Zamperla in 2003. Since 2004, all Spinning Wild Mouse coasters have been distributed by Zamperla.

[edit] Gerstlauer Spinning roller coasters

In 2004, Timberland Twister, and Spinning Dragons were the first two Gerstlauer Spinning coasters, opening first at The Park at MOA inside the Mall of America (formerly known as Camp Snoopy), and then at Worlds of Fun. These roller coasters have large, twisted layouts with many vertical hairpin turns intended to spin the cars around and give each rider a different experience every ride. Only three of these coasters have been built.

[edit] Inversion Controversy

There is considerable debate within the coaster community as to whether or not the spinning of these coasters qualifies as an inversion for the purpose of coaster records. Guinness World Records gave Eejanaika the record with 14 inversions. However, other more coaster-specific record bodies such as the Roller Coaster Database do not recognize this claim and instead count only track inversions, which gives the record of 10 to Colossus and Tenth Ring Roller Coaster.

[edit] External links

RCDB's listing of Spinning Roller Coasters
X 4th Dimension Roller Coaster Review and photos of this roller coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain.
Timberland Twister Review and photos of a Gerstlauer spinning roller coaster at Mall of America.