The Ride
If you like inversions the place to be is Thorpe Park. There has always been a race for the most  inversions. In 1975 the record was two and that grew to three the following year. Then in the 80's the record was six, and then in 1995 Intamin AG introduced the first coaster with eight inversions. Then for 2002 Intamin pulled the wraps off their newest scream machine, with ten inversions. Their new creation calles Chestney England's Thorpe Park home. Colossus as the ride is dubbed features a Vertical Loop, a Vekoma style Cobra Roll, two corkscrews, and a series of five Heartline Rolls.
The Experience
Colossus begins as riders enter coaches sitting 2 abreast and securing the over the shoulder restraint. Riders then embark out of the station and up a 99 foot lift hill. Riders then  plummet down a 9 story U-turn at a 50 degree angle, causing the trains to excelerate to 45 mph. Then Colossus leads riders through the first element, the vertical loop. As riders exit the loop a quick hop leads riders into the Cobra Roll, ending with a dive underground. Next in line is the Double Corkscrew. Through this dual inversion riders spiral over the track leading into the Cobra Roll, then riders are flung in the air again be another corkscrew. A banked turn leads riders around the first drop and into the most talked about element of this ride. Riders flip a total of four times through a series of Heartline Rolls. Then riders swing around a 180 degree banked turn around the far end of the coaster's layout. Then riders are thrown through a final Heartline Roll, before coming to a stop in the brake run.
|
