Samurai (ride)
| Samurai | |
|---|---|
Samurai, at highest point in cycle.
|
|
| Thorpe Park | |
| Coordinates | 51°25′58.16″N 0°35′48.72″W / 51.4328222°N 0.5968667°WCoordinates: 51°25′58.16″N 0°35′48.72″W / 51.4328222°N 0.5968667°W |
| Status | Operating |
| Opening date | 2004 |
| General statistics | |
| Attraction type | Top Scan |
| Manufacturer | Mondial |
| Height | 60 ft (18 m) |
| G-force | +4g / -3g |
| Capacity | 500 riders per hour |
| Vehicles | 6 |
| Riders per vehicle | 5 |
| Duration | Approximately 2 minutes (Setting Dependant) |
| Height restriction | 140 cm (4 ft 7 in) |
Samurai is a flat ride located at Thorpe Park in the United Kingdom. It was originally installed at nearby Chessington World of Adventures. The song played on the ride is a modified version of "Burly Brawl", from the soundtrack of The Matrix Reloaded.
Ride Type: Mondial Top-Scan
Height: 60 ft (18 m)
Length: Approximately 2 minutes (Setting Dependent)
Height Restrictions: 1.4 m(55 in.)
On-Ride Photo: No
G-Force: +4g / -3g
Status: Operating
Capacity: 30 seats per ride, 400 riders per hour
Samurai is a Top Scan ride from the Dutch company Mondial. The ride was originally installed at Chessington World Of Adventures in 1999 as part of the Mystic East section of the park, and replaced the original plan of installing a Huss Flic Flac on the site. The ride was the first of its kind in a UK amusement park, though a travelling version, "Top Buzz" debuted on the UK fair circuit the previous year.
Samurai stayed at Chessington until the end of the 2003 season when it was closed, dismantled and moved to Thorpe Park. Reasons for the ride's move are largely speculative. Most enthusiasts generally regard the decision to be part of Tussaud's (the company which owned Thorpe Park and Chessington at the time) plans to change the target audience of both parks. Chessington was intended to become a more family orientated park and installations since the 2002 season have been in line with this policy. Similarly Thorpe Park has moved towards attracting the 14-30 market and has installed thrill rides since this policy emerged.
Keen-eyed guests can still spot a reminder of Samurai at Chessington when they ride the Dragon Falls log flume - a theming item depicting a samurai warrior gripping the head of his decapitated foe, emerging disconcertingly from the undergrowth.
Samurai opened at Thorpe Park as the sole new ride for the 2004 season. It sits in the site that had been occupied by the Calgary Stampede ride. Some confusion emerged with regards to the location of this ride in relation to Thorpe Park's themed "lands". Calgary Stampede was a Canada Creek ride yet Samurai was painted and themed to match the Lost City rides, similar to Vortex. This decision sparked discussion of a "three areas" system for Thorpe Park where the existing themed areas would be condensed into three larger themed areas, which would probably be the Lost City, Amity Cove and Calypso Quay areas of the park. Subsequent installations in Canada Creek seem to have dispelled this rumour.
...
Wikipedia