GERSTLAUER’S DELIGHT By Justin Garvanovic - UK Photo: First Drop Photo: First Drop oing to a factory to ride a new coaster a certain date, I could have a go, or 10! It was Gis always very special; in the nearly 20 an offer that was pretty much impossible to years of First Drop it has only happened on turn down, especially since a cheap fl ight was two other occasions that I can recall. For those available. interested, I had a visit to Pinfari to ride Xpress The ride that was built up at the factory was (see issue 55) and to Zamperla to ride Volare the coaster that would be heading to Duinrell (see issue 57). But this year Gerstlauer invited (Wassenaar, Netherlands) where it will open me to ride its slightly larger version of the new for the 2007 season under the name Rick’s Euro-Fighter coaster (the 320 model shown in Delight. Also under construction at the factory issue 71), and if I could get to Germany before were the two other coasters Gerstlauer has opening in 2007. First there’s Mystery Mine, the Photo: First Drop large themed Euro-Fighter that will be installed at Dollywood (Pigeon Forge, Tennessee). Most of the ride had been shipped, save for a few Photo: First Drop pieces of track that were being hand painted to look old and rusty, and the control system in the early building stages in the factory, was still there to be tested. The other ride, was another extended 320 model that will be heading to Adventure Island (Southend-on-Sea, Photo: First Drop England). And from what I have experienced, Duinrell and Adventure Island are getting two wonderful coasters. EF320X (Euro-Fighter 320 eXtended) – as I’ll call it from now on – fi ts in the middle of the Photo: First Drop 16 First Drop 75 Photos: First Drop First Drop 75 17 Photo: First Drop Photo: First Drop Photo: First Drop current range. Bobbejaanland’s (Lichtaart, Belgium) Typhoon sits at the top of the range purely due to its intensity. Oakwood’s (Narberth, Wales) Speed comes below it in intensity, although I believe it to be the best of the Euro-Fighters. Bottom of the “intensity list” is BonBon Land’s (Holme-Olstrup, Denmark) Vild-Svinet. The EF320X slots in above Vild- Svinet, but like Typhoon, it packs a lot of ride into a rather small amount of space. The ride looked pretty odd due to the fact it had not been painted, so it had a very ‘rusty’ theme to it; there was no reason to paint the ride before it was erected, as there’s no immediate rush to get the coaster operational. Also, the ride uses a base frame, as opposed to being set into foundations. Sometimes this is done purely for the temporary factory builds, but in this case when it heads to Duinrell, it will still use the base frame. The coaster, therefore, will be easy to take down and transport and easy to set up again. In fact, it’ll take around Photo: First Drop ubert Gerstlauer was a senior manager with the Hlegendary Anton Schwarzkopf for 14 years, until G’stente SauSau at at Tripsdrill Tripsdrill 1982 when he left Schwarzkopf to found Gerstlauer Amusement Rides. He went on to design and install electrical and pneumatic systems for a series of German ride companies. In 1992 the company moved into one of two factories that used to be home to Schwarzkopf, and for the fi rst time, rides with the Gerstlauer name appeared. Big Wheels soon gave way to coasters, and in 1998 Gerstlauer debuted its fi rst coaster, the wonderful G’sengte Sau at Tripsdrill (Cleebronn, Germany). From 1998 to 2006, the company has N built a total of 16 coasters, and three more will Justin GarvanovicGarvanovic be added in 2007. It could be argued – especially by me – that Gerstlauer N ovic has yet to build a bad coaster. Justin GarvanGarvanovic During my factory visit I was told that the building across the river was where the second Schwarzkopf building was located. In fact, I spotted it before I was informed of this because to this day the “k” from the Schwarzkopf logo still stands on the factory! The rest of the logo has been removed, but the “k” is so tall that it has proved too diffi cult to take down. It was very odd to see it just standing there. 18 First Drop 75 Photo: First Drop Photo: First Drop two weeks for Gerstlauer to have it set up and operational at its new home. This also means, of course, that the ride can be easily sold on if needs be. It is also odd to see a coaster set up in what is basically a small German town; certainly all the locals know of the ride’s existence, and of course, want to have a go. To this end, Gerstlauer has previously hosted charity events for the townsfolk and are planning to do the same with this coaster. The ride had a temporary scaffold station, and the operator was whoever from Gerstlauer happened to be closest to the console when a dispatch was needed. Various members of staff were rounded up to ride – there are few things sadder than a coaster with empty seats – and off we went. The circuit begins with a vertical lift, taking the eight-seat cars to the top of its 72ft (22m) lift tower. Like Typhoon, it drops straight into a loop, which was actually taken at a pretty Photo: First Drop sedate pace, which is disconcerting when only a few days before I’d ridden Speed, which really the inline twist, which like Speed’s, drops down excess energy at the end, but it does stick out speeds through its loop! Of course, the coaster upon exit as opposed to Typhoon’s inline twists, as something that has been added. The ride was literally brand new, so it still had to loosen which seems to have been simply “plugged in.” is incredibly compact, fi tting into a very small up a bit. I am sure the speed will increase once This, I think, makes it a far more interesting footprint, and this does still remain the case, it has been run in substantially, but I must say element. even with the track sticking out. that the hang time was good fun. On the original design of this model, it As with every other Gerstlauer ride I’ve It then climbs again, but unlike Typhoon, would have been at this point that the train been on, this Stengel company-designed it is not uncomfortably intense. The loop is would have entered the brake section, and the coaster hits all the right marks. Gerstlauer followed by a sort of horseshoe inversion – ride would have been over. Here though, the continues to make fun and really incredible that is one of those “is it or isn’t it an inversion” track dives left into a helix that leads round into coasters that leave riders smiling. This one is elements; well, in my book, it most certainly is. the fi nal brakes. The helix, it seems, has been well paced, smooth, exciting, and comfortable After rising up and turning, the train goes into added to try and do something with all the – it’s a winner. Photo: First Drop Photo: First Drop This is the fi rst piece of Rage, the Adventure Island (Southend, England) version of this ride. First Drop 75 19.