Apollo's Chariot

Apollo's Chariot is the first Bolliger & Mabillard hypercoaster, located at Busch Gardens Europe.

Infobox roller coaster
name=Apollo's Chariot

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caption=Apollo's Chariot First Drop
location=Busch Gardens Europe
type=Steel
opened=March 27, 1999
status=Operating
manufacturer=Bolliger & Mabillard
model=Hypercoaster
designer=Werner Stengel
track=Out and Back
lift=Chain lift hill
cost=$20,000,000 USD
capacity=1750
length=4882
height=170
drop=210
speed=73
duration=2:15
restriction=52
angle=65
acceleration=
gforce=4.1
rcdb_number=531

Description

Apollo's Chariot is the first roller coaster to incorporate the "T-shaped" clamshell harness design, which is a type of tight lap restraint rather than an over the shoulder harness, or the traditional "U-shaped" lap bar. This allows the rider to experience more freedom and movement of the body. Opened in 1999, it soon became a favorite roller coaster of many enthusiasts and riders. The roller coaster uses an out and back design with a helix. Notably, the first drop is actually longer than height of the lift, the drop being 210 feet, and the height of the roller coaster 170 feet high. The ride with its purple track and yellow supports is easily noticeable from nearby roads.

Ride experience

After riders hear the dispatch send-off, "Thank you, and enjoy your voyage to the sun on the wings of Apollo's Chariot," they climb a 170 foot lift hill. At the peak, riders drop down a few feet in a pre-drop. The pre-drop serves to reduce the stress and pull of the chain. After the pre-drop, riders drop 210 feet toward a water-filled ravine at a 65 degree angle and reaching speeds of 73 mph. At the end of the ravine, riders go up a second airtime hill with a 131 foot drop. The riders then enter a short tunnel at the bottom of the second drop. Then after the third hill, they go down a 144 foot drop, which tilts sideways as it descends. Then there is a large, upward helix which pulls 4.1 Gs. Coming out of the helix, there is a small drop, then a climbing right turn into the block brake. A sudden dive off the block leads into a bunny hop parallel to the ride's initial plunge. Then, Apollo's Chariot features an overbanked turn under the lift hill, just dodging one of the support columns. Then the ride turns sharply right and at the end the riders go into a camel hump hill and drop into a ditch where the on-ride photo is located. Then the train gently hits the final brakes and after a u-turn, the riders return to the station.

Goose incident on opening day

Apollo's Chariot is known for a freak accident that occurred during the coaster's opening day on March 27, 1999. The coaster's opening ceremony was attended by fashion model Fabio, who also rode the first car of the coaster's train for the maiden ride. During the rapid descent on the ride's first 210 foot drop, a goose struck Fabio in the face, leaving his nose covered with blood. However, he only received a one inch cut on his nose. [cite news |title=Bird slams into Fabio's face |url=http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/News/9903/31/showbuzz/ |work=Showbuzz |publisher=CNN |date=March 31 1999 |accessdate=2007-07-08 ]

Awards

Notes