Detonator (Thorpe Park)
{{Short description|Drop tower flat ride}}{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox attraction
| name = Detonator
| logo =
| logo_width =
| image = Detonator at Thorpe Park - geograph.org.uk - 145471.jpg
| imagedimensions = 250px
| caption = The 115ft drop
| location = Thorpe Park
| section = Big Easy Boulevard
| coordinates =
| status = Open
| cost =
| soft_opened =
| opened = {{Start date|2001|4|6|df=yes}}
| closed =
| previousattraction = Phantom Fantasia
| replacement =
| type = Mega Drop
| manufacturer = Fabbri Group
| designer =
| model =
| theme = Fireworks
| height_ft = 115
| drop_ft =
| length_ft =
| speed_mph = 50
| gforce = 5.5
| riders_per_vehicle = 12
| rows = 1 Circular
| riders_per_row =
| participants_per_group=
| audience_capacity =
| duration = approximately 0:40
| restriction_ft =
| restriction_in = 51
| restriction_cm =
| virtual_queue_name =Fastrack
| virtual_queue_image = Merlin Entertainment Fastrack availability.svg
| virtual_queue_status= available
| single_rider =
| accessible =available
| transfer_accessible =available
| assistive_listening =
| cc =
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| vehicles = 1
| custom_label_6 =
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}}
Detonator (previously known as Detonator: Bombs Away from 2014–2021) is a tower ride at Thorpe Park in Chertsey, Surrey, England, UK. It was manufactured by Fabbri and is a 'Mega Drop Tower'. It opened in 2001 along with two other 'flat' rides, Vortex and Zodiac.{{cite news |author=Jon Rhys |title=THE 50 BEST BANK HOLIDAY OUTINGS
|work=The Independent |date=25 August 2001}} It is around {{convert|115|ft|m|abbr=on}} and is not released via a computer. The ride operator at the bottom has a button, which can be pressed to make the car release at any time once the car has reached the top.{{Citation needed|date=November 2023|reason=I keep seeing this rumour floating around, but am yet to see any concrete proof.}} Once released, the car is fired downwards by pneumatics rather than simply falling under gravity, with the ride reaching a speed of 46 mph at the base of the drop, giving the impression of weightlessness for riders. For the 2011 season, on-ride photos were added. These were later removed in the 2013 season. {{Citation needed span|The ride made a world record for most g force on a free fall ride with 5.5.|date=November 2023|reason=Is there any evidence of Detonator - an individual instance of a Fabbri Mega Drop, having an actual world record for having 5.5 Gs? - also, what's the actual source for it having 5.5Gs?}}.
History
In July 2000, Thorpe Park's Wicked Witches Haunt and part of Mr Rabbit's Tropical Travels were destroyed in a fire. Although Mr Rabbit's Tropical Travels was recovered and reopened later in the year, Wicked Witches Haunt was destroyed beyond repair. This left a vast open space in the park - to fill that space, they applied for temporary planning permission for a Fabbri Mega-Drop.
In 2001 Detonator opened as the park’s tallest ride at 115 feet in replacement of Wicked Witches Haunt. The ride's success meant the park applied for extended planning permission, making this ride a permanent addition. In 2007, the ride opened with a new theme tune after the park decided it was no longer plausible to pay royalties for the original soundtrack.
In 2014, with the opening of Angry Birds Land, Detonator was rethemed to "Detonator: Bombs Away". The theme tune used the same track as used in 2001 until 2016, when the theme tune was changed to a more upbeat tune mixed with sound effects from the Angry Birds video games.
In 2022, both the online website as well as entrance signage to the ride had been updated, with the name once again as "Detonator".{{Cite web |title=Detonator: 100ft Drop Tower Thrill Ride {{!}} Thorpe Park Resort |url=https://www.thorpepark.com/explore/theme-park/rides/detonator/ |access-date=2024-02-15 |website=Thorpe Park |language=en}}
In 2024, the ride was rethemed to fit in with Big Easy Boulevard.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.thorpepark.com/rides-detonator.php Thorpe Park - Detonator]
- [http://www.totalthorpepark.co.uk/guide/detonator.shtml Detonator at Total Thorpe Park]
- [http://www.themeparks-uk.com/thorpe-park-guide/rides/detonator.html Detonator at ThemeParks-UK]
{{Commons category|Detonator (ride)}}
{{TP Coasters}}
{{coord|51.403865|-0.515238|display=title}}
Category:Amusement rides introduced in 2001
Category:Towers completed in 2001