The Ride
New Mexico had been without a great coaster for a number of years. That all changed on June 21, 2002 when Cliff's Amusement Park announced that they were building a 2,750 foot Custom Coasters International creation dubbed the New Mexico Rattler. The Rattler is the first coaster with CCI's newest addition, a steel support structure with wooden track. The Rattler is also one of the only out and back twisters in the world. New Mexico finally has a new coaster to be proud of with eleven turns, ten hills, and two helixes. The Rattler reaches speeds of 50 mph, and has a height of 100 feet. Hopefully this is a sign of great things to come from New Mexico and Cliff's Amusment Park.
The Experience
Riders board the classic wooden coaster trains capable of holding 24 passenger, sitting 2 abreast and secure the lap-bar. The trains roll out of the station and through a right-handed L-turn. Then the cars lock onto the chain and begin the 100 foot ascent up to the peak. As the train disengages from the chain the track curves right and riders plummet down the diving 75 foot first drop. The trains level out and gain speed as they start to climb to the Rattler's first turnaround section. As the coaster rolls along the turnaround riders experience 200 degrees of curves and two small ascents and descents. The coaster dives of the turnaround section onto a straightaway and into a Double-Up, which runs the trains parellel to the lift hill. Riders then drop down and into a Camelback Hump. The train make another dive and the track veers to the right, climbing and curving to the left. Riders crest another hill, and the course begins to bank, into a 270-degree Fan Curve. As the train completes the Fan Curve it dives back towards the gorund and into a second curve going to same direction as the Fan Curve. The track banks once again and sends the train through a Camelback. As the Camelback ends the grand finale awaits. The trains roll into a banked climbing helix, then a diving helix, and bank into a climbing helix over the fifith drop. The trains roll into the brake run and a U-turn returns the train to the station.
|
