Pinfari

Pinfari was an Italian roller coaster (and fibreglass apple) manufacturer based in Italy.

History

The company was founded in 1975 by Barry Pinfari, in response to the demand for cheap and compact roller coasters. The rides were easily identified by their small footprint, garish colour schemes, clumsy banking, brittle looking support structures and blood stained seats.

Although an Italian company, Pinfaris found their natural home in Scotland. So much so, that north of Hadrian's Wall is affectionately known in the enthusiast community as 'Pinfari Land'. As such, Scotland is home to the spiritual Mecca for Pinfari fans - M&Ds - which houses no fewer than 5 different models. M&Ds is said to be to Pinfari, what Europa Park is to Mack.

Scotland's First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, has recently announced plans to erect a 10 foot bronze statue of Barry Pinfari in Motherwell town centre, "in honour of his great contribution to the Scottish leisure and amusement industry, and indeed, the economy."

Notable Examples

Tornado

Tornado (an RC70 model) is thought by fans to be Pinfari's masterpiece. It was officially opened at M&Ds to great fanfare in 1998, in a ceremony attended by Sean Connery and Billy Connolly. Reaching heights of nearly 80ft and originally featuring 3 inversions (including a rare Pinfari corkscrew), Tornado was an incredible visual spectacle. Sadly, for the 2006 season M&Ds took the tough decision to remove the iconic corkscrew citing the multiple concussions riders were suffering. Many Pinfari fans see this as a dark day for Tornado and claim the ride has never been the same since.

Such was Tornado's popularity, a second RC70 model was opened in 2000 at Center Norte in Argentina. The corkscrew was retained throughout its operating period. Hurricane - as it was called - was sadly removed in 2007.

In the 2009 Mitch Hawker Steel Coaster Poll Tornado was voted as "the worst steel roller coaster in the world". This has been attributed to Pinfari's fans misunderstanding the overly complex voting system.

Tsunami

Tsunami (or McNemesis) was the first XP56 model - a unique inverted coaster design. After travelling the fair circuit for several years it was settled at M&Ds in 2004 where it has operated ever since.

Thunder Mountain

Thunder Mountain was an enclosed attraction, which operated at Flamingo Land in Yorkshire, between 1991 and 2004. While simply a standard Zyklon Z40 model, the hand sculpted papier-mâché 'mountain' that engulfed the ride was a grand and imposing structure. Thunder Mountain is notable as the only attempt ever made to theme a Pinfari.

Big Apple

Arguably Pinfari's most successful model, the Big Apple (or Mini Apple, or Wacky Worm, or Caterpillar Coaster) has spread across the developed (and undeveloped) world, like a child friendly plague. Notable for their (optional) fibreglass apple and smiling, vaguely sinister trains, these rides have been boring jaded children and boosting the 'coaster counts' of shameless 'credit whores' for generations. At last count there were said to be 6947 Big Apples in the world.

Such was the overwhelming popularity of the Big Apple that operated at Astroland in New York until 2008, it became unique as the only version of this ride to support two train operation via a custom turntable system.

I guess you could say, the Big Apple loves a Big Apple!

The Disney Nod of Approval

In 1993, Pinfari's superlative coaster design skills were given the seal of approval by the world's largest theme park operator - Disney. For their Indiana Jones et le Temple Du Peril attraction at the newly opened Disneyland Paris, imagineers chose to copy Pinfari's first ever looping coaster design - the TL-59 - a timeless layout, and a lesson in pacing and tension. It is almost universally acknowledged by the theme park community that Indiana Jones is one of the best coasters in Europe and definately Disney's finest effort.

The track was however manufactured by Intamin. Rumour has it that this is because Pinfari were "too busy".

Decline

Pinfari hit substantial financial difficulties in 2001 in the wake of the September 11th attacks, and were eventually liquidated in 2004. A bustling international market still exists for second-hand Pinfaris, with some rarer models fetching as much as £200 at auction.

Controversy

Although they continued to enjoy an underground following, Pinfari rides were in fact outlawed in Britain under the Offensive Weapons Act of 1996. Anyone found to be in possession of a Pinfari ride could face up to 18 months imprisonment. Supply of Pinfaris (or intent to supply) could - and often did - result in a life sentence.

However, when New Labour swept to power in 1997, one of their first acts was to decriminalise Pinfari rides. This is thought by many, to be the main reason for Labour's continued strong support in Scotland.