Spinball Whizzer

Roller coaster in the United Kingdom
Watch the on-ride POV
Spinball Whizzer
Alton Towers
Location Alton, Staffordshire, England, UK
Coordinates 52°59′20″N 1°53′40″W / 52.988945°N 1.894545°W / 52.988945; -1.894545
Status Operating since 27 March 2004
Rider height 120 cm minimum
Statistics
Manufacturer Maurer Rides
Product Xtended SC 2200
Designer / calculations Ing.-Büro Stengel GmbH
Type Steel - Spinning
Riders per train 4
Hourly capacity 950
Propulsion Chain lift hill
Area 62 metres × 55 metres
Height 17 metres
Top speed 60 km/h
Length 450 metres
Inversions 0
Duration 1:15
HELP

Spinball Whizzer is a steel spinning roller coaster located at Alton Towers in Alton, Staffordshire, England, UK. It was manufactured by Maurer Rides and opened in 2004.

History

Spinball Whizzer opened on 27 March 2004.[1][2] The ride was loosely based on a giant pinball machine.

In 2010, the roller coaster was repainted and renamed Sonic Spinball as part of a three year partnership with SEGA, which also saw Sonic themed rooms added to the Alton Towers Hotel.[3] This was extended by another three years, with the ride restoring its original theme for the 2016 season.[4] It also received new theme music that year from IMAScore.[5]

Design

Spinball Whizzer is the only Xtended SC 2200 ever built by Maurer.

Trains

Single cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows, for a total of 4 riders per car. The two rows sit back-to-back.

Images

References

  1. "Roller Coaster novelties 2004". Coastersandmore. Retrieved 2022-10-02.
  2. "Spinball Whizzer". TowersStreet.
  3. "SEGA Confirms Alton Towers Tie-In". Nintendo Life.
  4. "The Sonic Spinball Ride at Alton Towers has now Closed". Sonic Stadium.
  5. "Portfolio". IMAScore.

External links

Articles on Alton Towers