History
The ride is first known to have operated at Butlin's Ayr (now Craig Tara Holiday Camp), where it was new in 1987.[1] The coaster was removed along with all of the park's amusement rides at the end of the 1998 season. It was sold to Dreamland Margate where it opened in 1999.[2] It had white supports, black track and blue trains. The ride only lasted two seasons before being closing. Another Looping Star took its place in 2001.
The ride was relocated to Camelot Theme Park, where it opened in 2001 as Gauntlet.[3] After leaving Camelot, it received new trains (the same type as those on the former Looping Star at Sauble Beach Fun World) and a new paint scheme: red track and blue trains and supports.
The ride opened as Storm at New Pleasureland Southport on the former spot of Traumatizer. It operated from Easter 2008 to October 2008. It was subsequently taken down and sold.
It operated at Playground Varna in Bulgaria from 2009 to 2011 or 2012. It is now located at Luna Park Sunny Beach.
Design
Trains
3 cars per train. In each car, riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows, for a total of 12 riders per train.
Notes
A Dreamland map from the 1999 season lists this roller coaster as "The Loop". It hasn't been determined if the ride was really once called The Loop or if the park map was inaccurate.
Incident
On 22 October 2001, a 59-year-old employee was struck and killed by a train while greasing the track.[4] The train was carrying five children and three adults at the time. In 2003, following an investigation, Camelot Theme Park was fined £40,000 and ordered to pay a further £20,000 in costs as the company admitted it had "failed to ensure employees were not exposed to risk".[5]
References
External links
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