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Need for speed
German roller coaster manufacturer Maurer Rides introduces the Speed Chaser - the customisable, multimedia roller coaster where interactivity is key
S
peed Chaser is the roller coaster that can do it all - and with less space! Thrill ride or family ride? That’s the question that so often stands at the beginning of roller coaster planning and has now
been answered with the Speed Chaser. Passengers determine their own speed, eight-seater and two-seater
racers can be used alternatively or simultaneously on the track, and with the option of tilting seats, boosters, gaming, shooting, light gates ... the Speed Chaser can do a lot in a small area if required. The Speed Chaser layout is fresh from the think tank of Maurer Rides in
Munich. The layout can accommodate two different vehicle types. There is the option for a two-seater racer or a train for up to eight passengers - and not as an alternative to each other, but simultaneously. This opens up serious flexibility for operators: they can use different vehicles depending on visitor frequency, or give passengers the choice; everyone loves options! Whatever Spike vehicle is chosen, the Speed Chaser is characterised by
a high level of know-how. There is no boring technology here, because the basis of the Speed Chaser is the Spike drive, which has been tried and tested hundreds of times, but is still unrivalled. The formula is ‘on the move at all times’ and it means that any ride
figure is possible at any point. The drive can be engaged anywhere on the track with acceleration and braking. Maurer Rides has conjured up a very compact layout on a small footprint (60m x 50m) from these
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possibilities. At the same time, space is opened up for maximum planning freedom, whether operators seek a thrill coaster with spectacular loops and boosts, or a family coaster without inversions.
Gaming on board The icing on the cake of the Speed Chaser are the interactive features: get in and step on the gas – or enjoy a more gentle ride. Either way, the passenger has complete control over the speed. A throttle and boost button provides additional thrust, while bright brake lights are installed, and the engine sound is speed-dependent and freely configurable.
Unrivalled high-tech vehicle Gone are the days of the passive co-pilot. The co-pilot activates the track light gates, with the integrated targets on top, and with the shoot button it’s time to collect points. The onboard video system (with touchscreen display, of course) can generate additional income for the park. More equipment can hardly be squeezed into a vehicle.
Not digital, but immediately noticeable, is the 45° tilt function of the Speed Chaser seats. They can be triggered anywhere on the track (by the passenger or programme-controlled) and when they tilt backwards, for instance, at the camelback, they catapult riders visually into the sky and
SEPTEMBER 2023 IAAPA EUROPE EDITION
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