Germany: SpeedSnake FREE Coaster Rushes through Fort Fun

Like a snake in poison-green, the new train of the 35 year old track of a Vekoma’s Whirlwind coaster in Germany’s Fort Fun Abenteuerland amusement park enthuses visitors with a complete new ride experience. An important difference of this new Sunkid Coaster Train 1200 model (supplied by Austrian manufacturer Sunkid) compared to the attraction’s former train – a model from Vekoma which was transferred from Vienna's Prater to the Sauerland region changing the attraction design to a snake theme in 2010 (c.f. EAP, 3/2010) – cannot only be found in its bright color design but also in the new lap bars used instead of the former shoulder restraint mechanism. In this way, a ride on the refurbished “SpeedSnake FREE Coaster” is now smoother than it was before.

According to Fort Fun’s CEO Andreas Sievering, the undisguised version of the lap bars allows quicker visual inspections as a dismantling of the safety system is not necessary anymore. The locking procedure of the lap bars is made individually and mechanically while the unlocking is handled pneumatically. Thanks to the individually fixed wheel carriers, which perfectly adapt to the track layout, visitors can enjoy an absolutely smooth ride experience on SpeedSnake. Kids up from 1.30 meters tall are already allowed to try out the new coaster fun accompanied by an adult. (eap)