Bird Rok

Bird Rok (or "Vogel Rok" in Dutch) is an Enclosed Roller Coaster in amusement park Efteling in the Netherlands.

Infobox roller coaster
name= Vogel Rok


location= Efteling
section= Reizen Rijk
type= Steel
type2= enclosed
type3=
status= Open
opened= 9/4/1998
manufacturer= Vekoma
designer=
model= Custom MK-900
track=
lift= tyre-driven lift-hill
height= 82
drop= 62
length= 2296
speed= 40
inversions= 0
duration= 101 seconds
angle=
capacity= 1600
cost= € 12 million
acceleration=
gforce= 3.5
restriction= 47.3
rcdb_number= 900

History and details

The name of the ride, Bird Rok, refers to the adventure of Sinbad and the Bird Roc from the 1001 Arabian Nights; the extensive theming covers, beside the ride, the building and the queue line. The building has as a frontage a giant colorful Roc, the largest bird in Europe, according to the Guinness Book of Records. In the opening year there weren’t a lot of effects in the ride, and the link between the story and the ride wasn’t very clear. Since then a Serpent’s mouth has been added at the end of the ride, which lights up as the train goes through it, and a laser show at the queue line, which projects the story of the ride.
In 2007 more themed decorations were added.

The Ride

Lasers project over the train as it climbs the lift-hill and seen to the left are four Rocs flying off. In a strong curve down leftwards the train dives towards the ground and several more curves bring the train through a tunnel of lasers.
The train then falls into a helix and goes through a Serpent’s mouth, which lights up as the train passes through it. The last curve is decorated with fiber optic lights, portraying the diamond treasure.
Apparent wind-effects stimulate the ride-experience.

The ride has an onboard sound system with a synchronized soundtrack written by composer Ruud Bos, who also wrote the musical themes for Dreamflight, Fata Morgana and Villa Volta.

References

* [http://www.efteling.nl Company information]
* [http://www.rcdb.com/id900.htm Rollercoaster database]
* [http://www.s104638357.websitehome.co.uk/html/vogelrok_main.htm Coaster Kingdom]