Speed Monster

Infobox roller coaster
name= Speed Monster


caption= "Speed Monster"'s "Norwegian Loop" element.
location= TusenFryd
type= Steel
type2= Launched
status= Open
opened= April 23, 2006
closed=
manufacturer= Intamin AG
designer= Stengel Engineering
model= Accelerator coaster
lift= Hydraulic launch
height= 131
length= 2264
speed= 55.9
inversions= 3
duration= 1:09
capacity= 700
cost= €7.5 million
acceleration= 0 - 55.9mph in 2.2 seconds
gforce= 4
restriction=
rcdb_number= 3245

"Speed Monster" is a launched roller coaster located at the Norwegian theme park, TusenFryd. Built by Swiss manufacturer Intamin AG, the ride opened in 2006 and features a unique element known as a "Norwegian Loop".

History

The ride was announced on July 7, 2005 and was revealed to be TusenFryd's biggest investment in its history, at a cost of 60 million kroner (about €7.5 million). It was also announced that the ride would feature a hydraulic launch and three inversions. [cite web |url=http://www.rcdb.com/document177.htm |title=TusenFryd will open new coaster in 2006|publisher=RCDB |accessdate=2007-09-19]

Due to the park's unique topography, the ride is partially located upon a 20 metre high rock slope and weaves its way through trees. The harsh climate and rocky location made construction difficult, with areas of soft earth requiring deeper foundations.cite web |url=http://www.coastersandmore.de/rides/speedmonster/speedmonster.shtml |title=Speed Monster - Powerrausch am Felshang |language=German |publisher=Coasters and more|accessdate=2007-09-19] Construction was completed in December 2005 in icy conditions. Soon after completion, heavy snowfall left drifts of 1 metre in the area, which would have held up construction had the ride not been complete.

Since its opening, "Speed Monster" has been sponsored by Mazda, tying in with the race car theming present throughout the ride.

Ride experience

Each of the two racing car themed trains consists of three cars, each with four seats for a capacity of 12 riders per train. [cite web |url=http://www.ultimaterollercoaster.com/coasters/yellowpages/coasters/speedmonster_tusenfryd.shtml |title=Speed Monster|publisher=ultimaterollercoaster.com |accessdate=2007-09-19] Upon leaving the station, riders are accelerated from 0 to 55.9 miles per hour in 2.2 seconds before negotiating the convert|630|m|ft|0 long course. "Speed Monster" is the world's first roller coaster to feature a "Norwegian Loop", an element which inverts riders twice and wraps around Tusenfryd's unusual entrance escalators. [cite web |url=http://www.s104638357.websitehome.co.uk/html/magazine_15_01.htm |title=Coaster Kingdom - Magazine |publisher=coasterkingdom.co.uk|accessdate=2007-09-22]

References

External links

* [http://tusenFryd.no/english/location.aspx Official TusenFryd website]