Corkscrew

[Secret Weapon]

Given that Corkscrew was apparently ground-breaking in 1980 (I am too young to remember), I am surprised that more parks didn't commission their own version of Corkscrew - especially given that, unlike Nemesis etc, it is apparently a standard off-the-shelf model (similar to the Boomerang), and AT probably didn't have any kind of exclusivity agreement with Vekoma or Arrow?

I realise that Flamingo Land eventually bought a Corkscrew, but this was a long time after (1990).

I am specifically surprised that Drayton Manor chose to buy Python instead of Corkscrew during the 1980s? I assume that the Python was cheaper, but I am not sure.

I believe that there were at least three Boomerangs in Britain (American Adventure, West Midlands Safari Park, and Pleasure Island) but only two Corkscrews, so did parks simply prefer Boomerangs to Corkscrews? Alton Towers presumably had to build a Corkscrew rather than a Boomerang due to the Boomerang's height, but what about other parks?

P.S. I'm not sure if this is true, but I heard a rumour that Corkscrew was originally supposed to open at AT in 1979 (either before, or alongside, Revolution at Blackpool), but - for whatever reason - it didn't open until 1980.

 

[jon81uk]

Given that Corkscrew was apparently ground-breaking in 1980 (I am too young to remember), I am surprised that more parks didn't commission their own version of Corkscrew - especially given that, unlike Nemesis etc, it is apparently a standard off-the-shelf model (similar to the Boomerang), and AT probably didn't have any kind of exclusivity agreement with Vekoma or Arrow?

I realise that Flamingo Land eventually bought a Corkscrew, but this was a long time after (1990).

I am specifically surprised that Drayton Manor chose to buy Python instead of Corkscrew during the 1980s? I assume that the Python was cheaper, but I am not sure.

I believe that there were at least three Boomerangs in Britain (American Adventure, West Midlands Safari Park, and Pleasure Island), so did parks simply prefer Boomerangs to Corkscrews?

P.S. I'm not sure if this is true, but I heard a rumour that Corkscrew was originally supposed to open at AT in 1979 (either before, or alongside, Revolution at Blackpool), but - for whatever reason - it didn't open until 1980.

Other than Blackpool I don't think there was so many big parks, so its probably that no others could really afford it. I imagine boomerangs were cheaper too.
Also why get the same thing as somewhere else, why not look for a point of difference?
Look at 1994, three big new rides all opened but all completly different, therfore encouraging visits to Drayton, Alton and Blackpool.

 

[Trooper Looper]

Inversion Mayhem

🎢 Alton Towers FANS… IT’S OFFICIAL! 💛 Baker Street Coasters has confirmed that the iconic Corkscrew track at the Alton Towers entrance is back YELLOW bringing back the classic colour from its 1980...

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New Picture of it fully completed!

 

[Secret Weapon]

Look at 1994, three big new rides all opened but all completly different, therfore encouraging visits to Drayton, Alton and Blackpool.

That's true, although I remember hearing that Drayton Manor were unaware that AT were building Nemesis in 1994 (and that - in hindsight - they regretted building a stand-up rollercoaster), and I'm therefore not sure whether Shockwave was intentionally meant to be an alternative?

I wonder if Drayton Manor would have attempted to build an inverted coaster rather than stand-up if they had known about Batman / Nemesis further in advance?

My guess is that AT would have attempted to build a tall rollercoaster similar to The Big One at some stage if planning permission had allowed it (although perhaps not instead of Nemesis).

I think AT kind of got lucky that Nemesis landed in their lap at the perfect time (1994), as it helped to steal some of the thunder away from the other parks.

Also why get the same thing as somewhere else, why not look for a point of difference?

I totally agree with this, although it could be argued that Corkscrew was a better ride than Python (I suppose it's subjective); my guess is that Python was simply cheaper and smaller?

 

[Bowser]

Inversion Mayhem

🎢 Alton Towers FANS… IT’S OFFICIAL! 💛 Baker Street Coasters has confirmed that the iconic Corkscrew track at the Alton Towers entrance is back YELLOW bringing back the classic colour from its 1980...

www.facebook.com

New Picture of it fully completed!

I think AT kind of got lucky that Nemesis landed in their lap at the perfect time (1994), as it helped to steal some of the thunder away from the other parks

I don’t think putting it down to luck is giving John Wardley enough credit. He demonstrated repeatedly having a fantastic mind for the business, seeking out innovative rides and combining them with immersive theming. It didn’t land in their lap, he actively sought it out.

 

[Matt N]

Inversion Mayhem

🎢 Alton Towers FANS… IT’S OFFICIAL! 💛 Baker Street Coasters has confirmed that the iconic Corkscrew track at the Alton Towers entrance is back YELLOW bringing back the classic colour from its 1980...

www.facebook.com

New Picture of it fully completed!

With it finished, I maintain my opinion from before.

I think that looks absolutely awful and I don’t think it fits the plaza at all, particularly with the gold supports remaining. If they’re going to have bright yellow track, I think the supports should go darker to have a nice contrast of colours.

I get the nostalgia angle, but I thought it looked way classier and more fitting with the purple track and gold supports. In my view, it just looks odd in yellow!

 

[Secret Weapon]

I don’t think putting it down to luck is giving John Wardley enough credit. He demonstrated repeatedly having a fantastic mind for the business, seeking out innovative rides and combining them with immersive theming. It didn’t land in their lap, he actively sought it out.

He definitely deserves credit for the great theming and layout.

I’m not sure how the Batman ride first came to his attention (e.g. whether he searched for it, or simply stumbled upon it); in the interview below, he says around the 3:45 mark that he had heard about it, but he doesn’t specify who told him, or why (I think he said in another interview that he saw a drawing of the loop, but - again - I don’t know who gave it to him, or why).

I suppose AT deserve credit for having good industry connections, though, because he says later in the interview that B&M refused to discuss the subject with him, but Six Flags agreed (by contrast, Drayton Manor apparently had no idea about Nemesis when they agreed to build Shockwave).

I think the drop-track on Thirteen was an idea that he himself created (and helped Intamin to develop), and so AT definitely deserve full credit for that ride, though.


From: https://youtu.be/sGiN_0KmVko?t=225