Montezooma's Revenge
Encyclopedia
Montezooma's Revenge is a steel
shuttle
roller coaster
at Knott's Berry Farm
in Buena Park, California
. It opened on May 21, 1978. Designed by Anton Schwarzkopf
, it is one of eight flywheel-launched units manufactured for theme parks around the world. It is the last ride of its kind still operating in the United States, and remains one of the most popular attractions at Knott's Berry Farm.
Like many other Anton Schwarzkopf designed looping coasters, Montezooma's Revenge uses lap bars to hold riders in the seats instead of conventional over-the-shoulder restraints found on most other steel looping roller coasters. Following Cedar Fair LP's 1997 takeover of Knott's Berry Farm, fabric seat belts were added as a secondary restraint system.
Based on the launch mechanism for aircraft carriers, the flywheel-launched shuttle loop is a successor of the drop-tower launch shuttle, and predates modern LIM and hydraulic launch systems by over 15 years. The drop tower models had a large silo with a weight inside connected to a similar launch system. The weight would drop, thus pulling the cable and bob, launching the train. Drawbacks included no adjustments for inclement weather. Also, the drop-tower launch was nowhere as intense as the flywheel launch, taking almost two seconds longer to reach the same speed. The drop-tower launch system is no longer used.
The nearby Jaguar! roller coaster passes directly through the center of Montezooma's loop. Jaguar! was opened in 1995.
In 2002, Montezooma's Revenge was repainted with teal track and yellow supports, where previously, it had yellow track and yellow supports.
In 2008, Knott's opened Pony Express, a small "out and back" steel roller coaster with a flywheel launch system much like Montezooma's Revenge.
mechanism to accelerate the train to 55 miles per hour (24.6 m/s) in 4.5 seconds. The train goes through a loop, then ascends a tower and reverses direction. It passes through the station in reverse and ascends another tower behind the station.
The 7.6 tonnes (7.5 LT) flywheel, located outside the station and adjacent to the loop, is attached to a clutch and cable system, which in turn connects to a small four-wheeled catch car known as a "bob". On the front of the bob is a launch pin that seats in a socket in the back of the train. This is one of the primary safety features: the bob, through the restraint mechanisms, completes an electrical circuit. If any restraint is not working, the circuit is not made and it is impossible to launch the train until the situation is addressed. Once the bob is seated and the circuit made, the operators receive the ready light.
Two operators are required to launch the train. After verifying that all passengers have secured their restraints and checking the exit stairs, one operator ascends a podium at the right front of the train. The other operator stands on a platform at the left rear. After verifying that the launch area is clear of personnel, the front operator gives a thumbs-up signal and says, "Clear; dispatch." Both operators must then press a button on their respective consoles simultaneously to launch.
At launch, the clutch system engages the cable to the spinning flywheel, pulling the bob and train rapidly forwards. During the launch sequence, enough kinetic energy
is removed from the flywheel to reduce its speed from approximately 1044 rpm to 872 rpm. The train negotiates a 46 feet (14 m) diameter vertical loop before ascending the 148 feet (45.1 m) front tower, then descends backwards, going through the loop a second time, running at full speed backwards through the station, and ascending the 105 feet (32 m) rear tower. It is at this point where the best "airtime" on the ride is experienced. The train then returns to its starting position after being slowed by 66 sets of brakes, 33 in the station and 33 to the rear of the station. Less than a second after the ride stops, the restraints release.
During night time operation, the station lights dim at the instant of launch.
Steel roller coaster
A steel roller coaster is a roller coaster that is defined by having a track made of steel. Steel coasters have earned immense popularity in the past 50 years throughout the world...
shuttle
Shuttle roller coaster
A shuttle roller coaster is any roller coaster that ultimately does not make a complete circuit, but rather reverses at some point throughout its course and traverses the same track backwards...
roller coaster
Roller coaster
The roller coaster is a popular amusement ride developed for amusement parks and modern theme parks. LaMarcus Adna Thompson patented the first coasters on January 20, 1885...
at Knott's Berry Farm
Knott's Berry Farm
Knott's Berry Farm is a theme park in Buena Park, California, now owned by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, and a line of jams, jellies, preserves, and other specialty food, now part of The J. M. Smucker Company based in Placentia, California....
in Buena Park, California
Buena Park, California
Buena Park is a city in northwestern Orange County, California. As of Census 2010 the population was 80,530. The city is adjacent to the city of Anaheim and is 12 miles northwest of downtown Santa Ana. The Current OMB metropolitan designation for Buena Park and the Orange County Area is "Santa...
. It opened on May 21, 1978. Designed by Anton Schwarzkopf
Anton Schwarzkopf
Anton Schwarzkopf was a German engineer of amusement rides, and founder of the Schwarzkopf Industries company, which built numerous rides and large roller coasters for both amusement parks and travelling funfairs....
, it is one of eight flywheel-launched units manufactured for theme parks around the world. It is the last ride of its kind still operating in the United States, and remains one of the most popular attractions at Knott's Berry Farm.
Like many other Anton Schwarzkopf designed looping coasters, Montezooma's Revenge uses lap bars to hold riders in the seats instead of conventional over-the-shoulder restraints found on most other steel looping roller coasters. Following Cedar Fair LP's 1997 takeover of Knott's Berry Farm, fabric seat belts were added as a secondary restraint system.
History
Montezooma's Revenge was named after the bluegrass group, Montezuma's Revenge, a musical act that performed regularly in the wagon camp at Knott's Berry Farm.Based on the launch mechanism for aircraft carriers, the flywheel-launched shuttle loop is a successor of the drop-tower launch shuttle, and predates modern LIM and hydraulic launch systems by over 15 years. The drop tower models had a large silo with a weight inside connected to a similar launch system. The weight would drop, thus pulling the cable and bob, launching the train. Drawbacks included no adjustments for inclement weather. Also, the drop-tower launch was nowhere as intense as the flywheel launch, taking almost two seconds longer to reach the same speed. The drop-tower launch system is no longer used.
The nearby Jaguar! roller coaster passes directly through the center of Montezooma's loop. Jaguar! was opened in 1995.
In 2002, Montezooma's Revenge was repainted with teal track and yellow supports, where previously, it had yellow track and yellow supports.
In 2008, Knott's opened Pony Express, a small "out and back" steel roller coaster with a flywheel launch system much like Montezooma's Revenge.
Launch mechanism and safety features
The ride uses a flywheelFlywheel energy storage
Flywheel energy storage works by accelerating a rotor to a very high speed and maintaining the energy in the system as rotational energy...
mechanism to accelerate the train to 55 miles per hour (24.6 m/s) in 4.5 seconds. The train goes through a loop, then ascends a tower and reverses direction. It passes through the station in reverse and ascends another tower behind the station.
The 7.6 tonnes (7.5 LT) flywheel, located outside the station and adjacent to the loop, is attached to a clutch and cable system, which in turn connects to a small four-wheeled catch car known as a "bob". On the front of the bob is a launch pin that seats in a socket in the back of the train. This is one of the primary safety features: the bob, through the restraint mechanisms, completes an electrical circuit. If any restraint is not working, the circuit is not made and it is impossible to launch the train until the situation is addressed. Once the bob is seated and the circuit made, the operators receive the ready light.
Two operators are required to launch the train. After verifying that all passengers have secured their restraints and checking the exit stairs, one operator ascends a podium at the right front of the train. The other operator stands on a platform at the left rear. After verifying that the launch area is clear of personnel, the front operator gives a thumbs-up signal and says, "Clear; dispatch." Both operators must then press a button on their respective consoles simultaneously to launch.
At launch, the clutch system engages the cable to the spinning flywheel, pulling the bob and train rapidly forwards. During the launch sequence, enough kinetic energy
Kinetic energy
The kinetic energy of an object is the energy which it possesses due to its motion.It is defined as the work needed to accelerate a body of a given mass from rest to its stated velocity. Having gained this energy during its acceleration, the body maintains this kinetic energy unless its speed changes...
is removed from the flywheel to reduce its speed from approximately 1044 rpm to 872 rpm. The train negotiates a 46 feet (14 m) diameter vertical loop before ascending the 148 feet (45.1 m) front tower, then descends backwards, going through the loop a second time, running at full speed backwards through the station, and ascending the 105 feet (32 m) rear tower. It is at this point where the best "airtime" on the ride is experienced. The train then returns to its starting position after being slowed by 66 sets of brakes, 33 in the station and 33 to the rear of the station. Less than a second after the ride stops, the restraints release.
During night time operation, the station lights dim at the instant of launch.