Laser´s fate

It is now reported from Germany that Dorney´s Laser will actually go to the German fair-circuit in 2009.

A group of Showmen alledgedly bought the ride, with plans to refurbish it and to travel the German fairs with it next year.

Since the departure of Eurostar, Thriller and Dreier Loop, there are only Alpinabahn, Olympia Looping and Höllenblitz left as big, marquee attractions for the numrous large fairgrounds.

There were once two Schwarzkopf Double-Loop coasters touring in Germany in the early 80s. The rides were not clones, though. One model had an extra helix before the final brake. (Laser is the shorter version). Both rides were sold pretty fast after the Dreier Looping and later Thriller would up the ante (and the prospected earnings).

Double Loop should be able to run three trains in busy fair operation. Although I see that Laser only owns two trains.

Let´s just hope they will keep the lapbars!

The rumours for an all new big travelling coaster in Germany are brooding for a long time now. This move came quite unexpeted.

Wish it was staying local, but at least it's going "home". ;)

^Our "largest travelling coaster" is RC-48, and the Eurpoean fairgoers get *another* Anton?

Americans are getting completely TAKEN in the exchange rates... ;)

Seriously though, I'm happy that another Anton is being saved, although I was hopeful it might stay in the States. Hopefully will be refurbed to run *as God and Anton intended* - they did work as a team ya know... :)

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rollergator said:
^Our "largest travelling coaster" is RC-48, and the Eurpoean fairgoers get *another* Anton?)

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Eh, your largest fixed coaster is more than double the height of the tallest coaster in Europe. Don't begrudge us europeans what we have :)

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tricktrack said:

(...) Since the departure of Eurostar, Thriller and Dreier Loop (...)

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Wait a minute... Eurostar is no longer travelling the fairs?
I couldn't find any information on it.
What happened?

I know some friends who expected it in Düsseldorf in early July but were surprised to find Alpinabahn there and wondered what was up.

I hope it found a worthy home?
After all, they just refurbished it for over a million Euros...

Quick! Somebody call the newspaper in Allentown -- a reporter called me this morning to check out a rumor he'd seen online that it was coming here.

I chortled in an unprofessional manner and then choked out, "I cannot confirm or deny." :)

Paula

@superman:
Well, "worthy home" depends on the definition. EUROSTAR was sold in a sort-of-whirlwind-deal to GORKY PARK in Moscow. Parts of the ride had already arrived in Düsseldorf, where it was scheduled to play, when they suddenly disappeared again.

This leaves many of the big fairs without a major coaster attraction (which in turn could have a negative effect on the visitor numbers).

Right now, Gorky Park is a bit of a dump. Since the ride was not really enjyoable in the last years (despite an expensive make-over) I can only guess that it found a "worthy home".

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Raven Maven said:Quick! Somebody call the newspaper in Allentown -- a reporter called me this morning to check out a rumor he'd seen online that it was coming here.I chortled in an unprofessional manner and then choked out, "I cannot confirm or deny." Paula

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That usually means yes without saying so. If so this would be awesome. If not, Keep playing :)

Um, Chuck? Did you read the first post?

as I said on the HoliBlog, landing Laser would hardly be worth all of the hype HW is generating.

Gorky Park of Scorpions' "Wind of Change" fame
:)

Isn't Thriller just laying around vacantly somehwere and could possibly be aquired for really cheap right now - if they need a spectacular looking ride quick?

Interesting times! *** Edited 8/15/2008 9:56:44 PM UTC by superman***

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Richard Bannister said:Eh, your largest fixed coaster is more than double the height of the tallest coaster in Europe. Don't begrudge us europeans what we have

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LOL, nah, we do pretty well on the whole (but I'm always following the Antons that are left, much like the Millers and Schmecks). But if you think I'm going to argue that increased height makes a ride better, you're looking at the WRONG guy... ;)

Personally, I think landing Laser would have been quite the coup for HW...or any park.

Still HOPING that the Thrill-Ville's Ripper somehow magically ends up staying in the US. It sat there idle on my one visit to the (closed) park. God thing the workers were on-site - I'd have been SORELY tempted to get a lap or two the old-fashioned way... ;)

P.S. Among the "recently departed Antons" from the US - here's some good news for fans of Thriller (aka Zonga, Texas Tornado, and as of late, Tsunami): http://www.rcdb.com/ig4214.htm?picture=1
Hehe, weren't we discussing multi-colored paint schemes recently? :)

*** Edited 8/15/2008 8:43:27 PM UTC by rollergator***

^That´s pretty much the same colours it had in NoCal.

You will like this:
Photos of a guy who was comissioned to investigate "Zonga´s" current state (2006) for it´s former owner Oscar Bruch. He went all over the ride and took some spectacular photos:

http://freizeitparkweb.de/cgi-bin/dcf/dcboard.cgi?az=show_thread&om=4&forum=DCForumID154
much more:
http://freizeitparkweb.de/cgi-bin/dcf/dcboard.cgi?az=show_thread&om=3305&forum=DCForumID39

Like Gator, I'm an FoA (Fan of Anton) and I would like to see Laser find a new home, preferrably stateside. It could be a great marque attraction for a small-to-medium-sized park (think Del Grosso's). But Holiday World? I'd be happy if it happened but I just don't see it.

ATTENTION... :)

For a while there were 2 of these type of coasters for sale.. One being Laser.. the other being the Dopple Looper that traveled down in Florida and other places. I forgot which carnival owned it though.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpuACToBocI&feature=related

I don't know if anyone has noticed yet, and i haven't heard any new words but BOTH seem to have been sold, as neither are listed anymore.

Gee, could the Dopple Loop be going to HW since Laser isnt.

On another note, Dopple was listed for around $1 Million at one time. I forget the actual amount.

Shame Beech Bend didn't snap it up! Would've been awesome there.

Exactly. Beech Bend, Del Grosso's, Oaks Park...those are they kinds/size of parks I was referring to.

Mexico - where undead roller coasters live forever :)
(Sometimes it makes sense to look into rcdb before posting here)
:)

To each his own I reckon, maybe I always took it for granted. Laser was my first metal coaster. These last 10 years I've found it too slow and too small for my taste. I agree, it would have been a great land for Del Grossos.

Delgrossos hasn't put up the last coaster they bought yet... Although I think I'd rather ride Laser than that one.