SheiKra

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SheiKra

Sheikra ride logo.
Location Busch Gardens Africa
Park section Stanleyville
Type Steel - Dive - Floorless
Opened May 21, 2005
Manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard
Model Floorless Diving Machine
Lift/launch system Chain lift hill
Height 200 ft (61 m)
Drop 200 ft (61 m)
Length 3,188 ft (972 m)
Max speed 70 mph (110 km/h)
Inversions 1
Duration 3:00
Max vertical angle 90°
Cost $13,500,000 USD
Height restriction 4 ft 6 in (140 cm)
SheiKra at RCDB
Pictures of SheiKra at RCDB

SheiKra (IPA: /ˈʃiːkrə/) is a vertical drop roller coaster in Tampa, Florida. It is situated in the Stanleyville section of Busch Gardens Africa. SheiKra was the first dive machine roller coaster in North America. It is tied with Six Flags Over Georgia's Goliath for tallest roller coaster in the southeast. SheiKra first opened in May 2005. On June 16, 2007, SheiKra was converted into a floorless roller coaster. The name SheiKra is derived from a shikra, an African hawk that is known to dive straight down for its prey.

Contents

[edit] Ride Layout

After passengers leave the station, they climb a 47 degree, 200 foot lift hill. The cars then make a U-turn and approach the holding brake which holds the trains for about 3-5 seconds over the first drop, then drops the cars 90 degrees down and into an Immelmann loop. After the Immelmann, the trains take an upward turn into the mid-course brake run before the second 81 degree drop. Then the trains travel on a turn around into a water brake and a final helix into the final brake run.

SheiKra is the first vertical-drop (dive machine) roller coaster in the United States, and the first roller coaster of its kind to include an inversion (in this case, an Immelman Loop) and a true 90 degree vertical drop. The other four coasters of its type are Oblivion at Alton Towers in the United Kingdom, G5/Flying Submarine at Janfusun Fancyworld in Taiwan, Griffon at its sister park Busch Gardens Europe and Vertical Coaster at Chimelong Paradise in China.

[edit] Ride Elements

  • 200 foot 47° lift hill
  • 200 foot 90° drop
  • 145 foot tall Immelmann
  • 138 foot 81° drop

[edit] Floorless Conversion

Sheikra on the overhang of its first drop.
Sheikra on the overhang of its first drop.
The "splashdown" is the first element of its kind on a dive coaster. Water is ejected through scoops located at the rear of each ride vehicle
The "splashdown" is the first element of its kind on a dive coaster. Water is ejected through scoops located at the rear of each ride vehicle

At 10:30am Wednesday, January 31, 2007, Busch Gardens Tampa Executive Vice President and General Manager, Dan Brown, Vice President of Design and Engineering, Mark Rose, and Busch Entertainment Corporation Corporate Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Joe Couceiro officially announced on a webcast teleconference with media outlets the floorless conversion of SheiKra and details about the conversion.

According to the press release and teleconference, the last day to experience SheiKra before the conversion would be Memorial Day, May 28, 2007. On May 29th SheiKra closed until June 16, 2007 when it reopened with new floorless hardware.[1][2]

This conversion was most likely sparked by August Busch III explaining to coaster enthusiasts about "looking at engineering taking that floor out" of SheiKra and asking if it would make the ride better, worse or the same. Everyone that was asked replied saying it would make the ride better. Video of this event can be seen on YouTube[1], and is dated back to August of 2006.

[edit] Conversion Process

The area most affected by the conversion is the station. In the weeks leading up to the May 29th closure the drop-out floor hardware was installed. The installation occurred at night leaving the ride to operate normally throughout the day.

During the three weeks that the ride was closed the trains received their floorless upgrade. The new trains make use of original hardware already used on the existing trains. The wheels, bogies, seats and harnesses were removed then reinstalled on new floorless chassis. This time was also used for loading new programs into the ride's computer systems for floorless operation as well as extensive testing to make sure all of the rides safety systems are working correctly, and training of employees on ride operation and what to do in an emergency situation should the ride come to a stop and guests needed to be escorted off the ride.[3]

[edit] Floorless Train Unveiling

On Tuesday, April 24, 2007, Busch Gardens Tampa Executive Vice President and General Manager, Dan Brown announced and unveiled the first converted train for SheiKra [2] along with Vice President of Design and Engineering, Mark Rose and Director of Park Operations, Mike Patrick as well as various Marketing Personnel. Along with the unveiling a countdown clock was displayed showing the "Countdown to America's First Dive Coaster going Floorless June 16th."

One of SheiKra's new floorless trains on display in front of the ride.
One of SheiKra's new floorless trains on display in front of the ride.

[edit] Media Day

On June 15, 2007, SheiKra opened to invited media outlets and special VIPs, mostly radio winners, that where allowed to be "the first to ride floorless SheiKra". The media event was followed by a special party that was thrown for the media and VIPs in SheiKra's honor to welcome the new version of the ride to Busch Gardens.

[edit] Reopening Day

On Saturday June 16, 2007, SheiKra reopened to pass holders for a preview hour between 8AM and 9AM. At 9AM SheiKra opened to all the public. Within the hour the queue line was full causing ride employees to set up temporary queue out of barricades outside of the main queue line.

Golden Ticket Awards: Best Steel Coaster
Year 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Ranking
28
13
16

[edit] Counterpart

Busch Gardens Africa's sister park, Busch Gardens Europe (located in Williamsburg, Virginia), constructed Griffon, a B&M diving dachine coaster which features a 205-foot vertical drop, higher than any other dive coaster in the world, two separate immelmann inversions, a second 87 degree 130 ft drop, and a watersplash. It is the first diving machine that utilizes a floorless train with three rows of 10-seats. On the park's website, three videos that introduce the details of the ride are available.

[edit] SheiKra In The Media

  • SheiKra was featured in an episode of the Discovery Channel show Build It Bigger.

[edit] See Also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Busch Gardens Tampa Bay - Press Releases Details
  2. ^ Busch Gardens Tampa Bay- Webcast
  3. ^ Busch Gardens Tampa Bay- Webcast

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Roller coasters at Busch Gardens Africa
Current:
Cheetah Chase · Gwazi · Kumba · Montu · Scorpion · SheiKra
Past:


Coordinates: 28°02′12″N 82°25′28″W / 28.03667, -82.42444

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