Spinball Whizzer (roller coaster)
| Spinball Whizzer | |
|---|---|
| Previously known as Sonic Spinball | |
| Alton Towers | |
| Park section | Adventure Land |
| Coordinates | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Status | Operating |
| Opening date | 27 March 2004 |
| Cost | £3,500,000 |
| General statistics | |
| Type | Steel – Spinning |
| Manufacturer | Maurer Söhne |
| Designer | Layout by John Wardley and Werner Stengel |
| Model | SC 2200[1] |
| Lift/launch system | Chain lift hill |
| Height | 17 m (56 ft) |
| Length | 470 m (1,540 ft) |
| Speed | 60 km/h (37 mph) |
| Inversions | 0 |
| Duration | 1:15 |
| Capacity | 950 riders per hour |
| Height restriction | 120 cm (3 ft 11 in) |
 Single rider line available |
|
| Spinball Whizzer at RCDB Pictures of Spinball Whizzer at RCDB |
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Spinball Whizzer is a spinning roller coaster located in the Adventure Land area of Alton Towers in Staffordshire, England. Built by Maurer Söhne, it was previously sponsored by Sega, the company that created the Sonic the Hedgehog video game franchise, and was known as Sonic Spinball from 2010 to 2015.
History
Opening in 2004, Spinball Whizzer featured a loose pinball machine theme. The name was a pun on the song "Pinball Wizard" by The Who. In 2010, it was announced that Spinball Whizzer would be receiving a Sonic the Hedgehog re-brand as part of a partnership with Japanese video game company Sega.[2] The roller coaster was therefore given a red and blue track repaint; new decoys, signage and audio, including songs from the games (with the station announcements done by Sonic's voice actor Roger Craig Smith). The ride re-opened to the public as Sonic Spinball on 13 February 2010 during the park's February half term event. A Sonic-themed room was also made available at the Alton Towers Hotel, which featured various playable Sonic games and wallpaper based on Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I.[3]
Sega previously had a deal with Alton Towers for the Toyland Tours dark ride. A Sonic animatronic featured in one of the ride's scenes along with associated sound effects and music. However, the ride was closed for refurbishment in June 2005 to make way for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: The Ride. Sega's sponsorship was set to end in 2013 as part of the three-year deal. At the end of 2013, the sponsorship was renewed, and continued until 2016.[citation needed]
On 2 June 2015, the ride was temporarily closed after an accident on The Smiler at Alton Towers. Sonic Spinball reopened on 15 June 2015.[4] The ride returned to the Spinball Whizzer theme for the 2016 season.[5]
References
- ↑ http://www.maurer-rides.com/s-coaster/SC_2200/
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ http://www.sonicstadium.org/news/exclusive-photos-of-the-sonic-suite-at-alton-towers
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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- Use dmy dates from July 2012
- Use British English from July 2012
- Roller coasters by name
- Steel roller coasters
- Spinning roller coasters
- Roller coasters manufactured by Maurer Söhne
- Pages with broken file links
- Articles with unsourced statements from May 2014
- Roller coasters in the United Kingdom
- Roller coasters operated by Merlin Entertainments
- Visitor attractions in Staffordshire
- Buildings and structures in Staffordshire
- Roller coasters introduced in 2004
- Alton Towers
- 2004 establishments in the United Kingdom
- Sonic the Hedgehog
