More actions
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| The trains dueling each other, a rare occasion | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Manufacturer | Togo | |||||||||||||||||||
| Product | Looping Mouse | |||||||||||||||||||
| Type | Steel - Twin | |||||||||||||||||||
| Riders per train | 8 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Propulsion | Chain lift hill | |||||||||||||||||||
| Red | Yellow | |||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 69 feet | 69 feet | ||||||||||||||||||
| Speed | 40 mph | 40 mph | ||||||||||||||||||
| Length | 1851 feet | 1831 feet | ||||||||||||||||||
| Inversions | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Drop angle | 42° | 42° | ||||||||||||||||||
| Duration | 1:30 | 1:30 | ||||||||||||||||||
Windjammer Surf Racers was a short-lived Togo twin looping wild mouse coaster located at Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, California, USA in the park's Boardwalk section. It opened on March 26, 1997 and closed on March 2, 2000. Xcelerator now occupies the spot where Windjammer previously stood.
History
On September 26, 1996, Windjammer Surf Racers was announced. The ride debuted on March 26, 1997.[1]
On March 10, 2000, the park filed a lawsuit against Togo, alleging that Windjammer Surf Racers had major manufacturing defects which led to regular breakdowns and prevented the ride's operation during low winds. The defects included misaligned track, flawed safety mechanisms, defective restraints, fatigue, and wrinkles in the metal mainframes of the trains. Windjammer Surf Racers ceased its racing feature in Jack Falfas' first year as general manager of Cedar Fair, and the yellow track was also ceased operation in 1999. The lawsuit also claimed that Windjammer Surf Racers could not run at wind levels as low as 3 mph. Knott's Berry Farm also claimed to have spent over $2 million on repairs and inspections and was seeking damages of $16 million.[2]
In June 2001, the area surrounding the ride was walled off.[3] Windjammer Surf Racers was demolished in July 2001.
On June 22, 2002, Xcelerator opened where Windjammer Surf Racers previously stood.
The March 2000 lawsuit was rejected in October 2003. Although Knott's Berry Farm maintained that the coaster was dangerous and had serious design flaws, and that the jury failed to examine approximately 100 exhibits that were entered as evidence, Togo's attorney, Jim Yukevich, stated that the park's actions were "a money grab to cove the cost of new equipment," noting that the park "just wanted a new roller coaster that was bigger, badder [sic], and faster" [4]
Design
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Windjammer Surf Racers was a racing looping wild mouse roller coaster. The ride's first drop led into a vertical loop. After the loop, the ride continued over multiple hills, including multiple brake runs. The station did not have an air gate system to keep queuing guests clear from advancing vehicles within the station. The ride was dressed as a tribute to the fabled Southern California beach culture, complete with towering palms trees, beach sand, a small lagoon, a scaled-down lifeguard watchtower, and other beach-worthy props. The on-ride photograph sales booth was built into the side of a scaled-down replica of a yacht.
Trains
10 trains with 2 cars per train. Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 8 riders per train.
References
- ↑ "Knott's Gets the Drop on Its Customers With New Coaster". The Los Angeles Times.
- ↑ "Knott's Suing Windjammer Ride's Maker". The Los Angeles Times.
- ↑ "Construction Walls Up Around Windjammer at Knott's". Ultimate Rollercoaster.
- ↑ "Jury Rejects Knott's Lawsuit Against Coaster Designer". The Los Angeles Times.
External links
- Windjammer Surf Racers on the Roller Coaster DataBase.
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