I’m a sucker for a Gerstlauer coaster. I’m in love with The Smiler at Alton Towers but there’s no other type of Gerstlauer coaster that wins my heart more than the Euro-Fighter.
First launched in 2003 the Euro-Fighter is a custom designed coaster for every installation. All Euro-Fighter coasters feature the trademark beyond-vertical drop.
From their beautiful little go-kart style trains with hydraulic harnesses to the insane vertical lifts and beyond vertical drops. They’re without a doubt one of my favourite coasters. Many Euro-Fighters get a bad rep for how they get rougher with age. However, that’s what makes me love them ever more! Even Saw the Ride at Thorpe Park isn’t as bad as enthusiasts make it out to be!
The inversions on a Euro-Fighter are taken at such speed and it’s just a great experience. Speed No Limits at Oakwood, Saw the Ride at Thorpe Park and even Rage at Adventure Island are just brilliant little coasters. Should I ever come into some money and set up a theme park I know the first ride that’s going in there that’s for damn sure! I’d definitely go for an additional LSM launch on my version thou before ascending a vertical lift later on.
Which reminds me, have you seen the new Gerstlauer at Nickelodeon Universe in New York?! My god, it looks absolutely stunning. I’m just talking about the ride as theming around the ride is virtually non-existent at the moment. I know this is a UK only attractions site but imagine if Thorpe Park or Oakwood upgraded their coaster to something similar to this!
I’d be giving Gerstlauer a little nudge if I was Thorpe Park. I believe the Saw IP sadly soon will be expiring so why not add to the coaster, rebrand it under a new IP and away you go. It’s about time Thorpe did something new even if it is just a current ride improvement or extension.
