The El Loco is a model that is manufactured by S&S Worldwide. The rides were often characterized as having a vertical or beyond-vertical drop, tight corners, and abnormal banking. There are currently six El Loco roller coasters operating around the world.
Green Lantern Coaster, Warner Bros. Movie World is the biggest of its kind.
History[]
The first El Loco was that of Steel Hawg at Indiana Beach. The ride was announced in November 2007 as having a 120° first drop and a planned opening date in mid-May 2008. However, these were revised to a drop angle of 111° and an opening date on July 5, 2008. The ride drop angle was the steepest in the world at the time, taking the record from a series of Gerstlauer Euro-Fighters which shared the record with drops of 97°. The design of the outward banking turn found on the ride was developed by Alan Schilke of Ride Centerline LLC.
Mumbo Jumbo at Flamingo Land was the next El Loco to be constructed. In order for the ride to take the world's steepest drop record from Steel Hawg, the drop angle was increased to 112°. All other elements of the ride remained the same. The ride opened on July 4, 2009.
In 2011, S&S Worldwide set about building two El Loco roller coasters. The first was Timber Drop at Fraispertuis City which opened on July 2, 2011. Following the trend from the previous versions, this ride had an increased drop angle of 1° (making the drop 113°) to claim the world record. This record was short-lived with Takabisha at Fuji-Q Highland claiming the record just two weeks later. Also in 2011, Warner Bros. Movie World collaborated directly with S&S Worldwide to develop an El Loco roller coaster that was unlike the previous models of Mumbo Jumbo, Steel Hawg and Timber Drop. The park wanted the same style of ride, but with increased capacity. S&S Worldwide came up with a new train design which features four across seating in two rows, totalling eight riders per train. This gives the ride double the capacity of the previous El Locos. The trains are articulated in such a way that the first row of four riders moves independently from the second row. Each seat features a pair of stereo speakers in the head rest which are capable of playing multiple tracks for up to 9 minutes on a single charge. Riders are harnessed in to the ride through the use of lap bars and seat belts. This design was showcased by the company at the 2011 IAAPA Attractions Expo.The ride also features a drop angle of 120.5° – the second steepest in the world. Green Lantern Coaster officially opened on December 23, 2011.
In 2013, a new El Loco was opened at Happy Valley, Tianjin and was named Crazy Bird, featuring a 120° drop.This also knwon to be the first indoor El Loco.
Circus Circus Las Vegas opened another indoor El Loco on a custom track layout to fit an existing space in February 2014. It is the second indoor installation at the Adventuredome, simply named El Loco.
Steel Hawg,the first El Loco,Indiana Beach
Records by the model.[]
As of December 2012, the operating El Loco roller coasters are four of the five steepest roller coasters in the world. Three of these rides held the Guinness World Record for a period of time.
Ride Experience[]
The majority of El Loco roller coasters begin with a U-turn out of the station. Riders ascend a chain lift hill before going down a small dip and into an s-bend followed by a U-turn. After a slight ascent, the car enters a beyond-vertical drop. The track then returns to approximately two thirds of its original height before entering the first set of block brakes. These brakes lead into a left turn with reverse or outward banking. It then drops under the block brakes and into the first inversion – a Dive Loop. The inversion begins with half of an inline twist which transitions into half of a vertical loop. Upon exiting the inversion the track makes an incline and into a second set of block brakes. The train then goes around a right U-turn and into the second inversion – a downwards inline twist. This leads into a cutback-style turnaround before entering the final brake run and returning to the station.
Installations[]
| Name | Park | Location | Opening Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crazy Bird | Happy Valley | Dongli, Tianjin, China | December 22, 2013 |
| El Loco | Adventuredome | Las Vegas, Nevada, USA | February 8, 2014 |
| Green Lantern Coaster | Warner Bros. Movie World | Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia | December 23, 2011 |
| Mumbo Jumbo | Flamingo Land | North Yorkshire, England, UK | July 4, 2009 |
| Steel Hawg | Indiana Beach | Monticello, Indiana, USA | July 5, 2008 |
| Timber Drop | Fraispertuis City | Jeanmenil, Vosges, France | July 2, 2011 |