originally posted on 8/8/2020
Autodrome is one of three models for Intamin’s new Hot Racer concept.
Photo: Courtesy Intamin. View full-sized image.
On July 23, Intamin set the internet abuzz with the announcement of four new coaster concepts from the company. Response was quick, ranging from “love it” to observations that the ideas looked very similar to products offered by competitors.
ACE News won’t enter that debate, but instead will just present the facts.
The four concepts are called Hot Racer, Giga Splash, Ultra Splash and Vertical LSM Coaster. Three of them involve a new track design similar to what many ACE members have ridden on Six Flags Fiesta Texas’ (San Antonio) Wonder Woman Golden Lasso Coaster and California’s Great America’s (Santa Clara) RailBlazer. Those two Rocky Mountain Construction projects featured a type of track called Raptor track — a wide, single-rail system somewhat similar to that of a monorail. How Intamin’s track fabrication differs is unknown, but the rides do have their distinct qualities that show some innovative and original characteristics.
Photo: Courtesy Intamin. View full-sized image.
Hot Racer offered three concepts: Overdrive, Infinity and Autodrome. Each offers inline seating, close-to-the-ground maneuvers and friction wheel propulsion launches. The nature of these attractions can be summarized as high speed taken at lower heights, all within a racing theme.
Overdrive has a total track length of 1,778 feet and a height of 56 feet. Two launches send trains off at 42 mph. Overdrive sports a single track and the fastest speed of the three models presented. Its signature element is termed a “wallride dive” by Intamin.
The Overdrive model features a “wallride dive” maneuver.
Photo: Courtesy Intamin. View full-sized image.
Infinity has dual tracks, each with a length of 1,082 feet and a height of 33 feet. The speed on this model is estimated at 40 mph. It features the adrenaline rush of racing alongside another train.
Autodrome is the longest of the concepts, with four trains, four launches and a track length of 3,343 feet. It boasts 75 seconds of pure racing time and a world record of 20 dueling moments.
All three models contain no lift hills, just launches. Note, not all three layouts feature inversions, giving potential clients a better control on the market being targeted. Racing and rider interaction are popular trends, so Intamin might have a strong interest in this ride.
Video can be seen here:
Video: Courtesy Intamin.
Photo: Courtesy Intamin. View full-sized image.
On hearing the term “giga,” some ACEers might jump to the conclusion that it is a 300-foot-tall splashdown ride. But no. Giga became a part of enthusiast/industry lingo in the new millennium, but in reality, the term is somewhat nebulous. It “sounds” good but doesn’t have a clear-cut meaning. But make no mistake, there are no 300-foot milestones being breached here.
However, the ride looks quite cool and has various features that make it interesting and a modern take on the familiar spillwater/shoot-the-chutes concept. Intamin introduced the first modern spillwater ride at Kings Dominion in 1985. Following that, it became an industry staple for decades, with versions also built by O.D. Hopkins and Arrow. Giga Splash ignores the typical oval layout and offers a more meandering boat ride through interactive water elements before engaging an innovative tower that raises the boat 131 feet high. The vertical lift rotates, giving riders a 285-degree panorama of its surroundings.
Boats partially float through a 672-foot channel. Once engaged onto the lift tower, they transfer to a wider single-rail track. Poised at the top, boats are released to plunge at 87 degrees down the drop, with waterfalls pouring to the sides. A speed bump at the bottom offers a quick spritz before surging into the channel once more with a big splash for both riders and those on a pedestrian bridge.
See video here:
Video: Courtesy Intamin.
Photo: Courtesy Intamin. View full-sized image.
Ultra Splash also utilizes the single beam track. Its forward/backward shuttle experience has two curved reverse points, looking slightly dragon-like. On the third pass over the ride’s water reservoir, an entrenchment fills with water creating a traditional wall-of-water splash. Boats seat 24 people.
The ride stands 121 feet and is launched at speeds up to 58 mph. With negative Gs felt at both reverse spikes and an airtime hill along the track’s course, several moments of airtime will be felt.
See video here:
Video: Courtesy Intamin.
The Vertical LSM Coaster will include the world’s first upside-down launch.
Photo: Courtesy Erlebnispark Tripsdrill. View full-sized image.
The Vertical LSM Coaster has a couple of new features compared with other such rides on the market. The manufacturer boasts that it is the most compact triple-launch coaster available. This ride uses a more traditional style of track.
ACEers will be quick to notice the world’s first upside-down launch. The second cool moment is an element called a torpedo dive, which blends a corkscrew onto a larger half loop. A station fly-through at the ride’s top speed of 65 mph also looks to be a crowd-pleasing moment for those waiting to board.
Like other rides of this genre, a single train of 12 is used. If artistic renderings are any indication, the restraint system is placed around the waist and is not an over-the-shoulder-type harness.
Towering at 154 feet tall, the compact ride offers a high profile in a very limited space.
See video here:
Video: Courtesy Intamin.
Discussion among fans and industry insiders is sure to continue, but during a time of constantly developing global events, seeing new concepts is an uplifting thing. ACE will stay tuned to see if such new rides will materialize in the years ahead.
— Tim Baldwin
ACE News Editor
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