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"Super Loops" redirects here. For other uses, see Superloop and Fireball (disambiguation).
Fire Ball
A Ring of Fire ride at a fair in 2014
ManufacturerLarson International
Previous namesSuper Loops (1970s)
Ring of Fire (1988)

The Fire Ball is a type of amusement ride manufactured by Larson International.[1] It replaced a series of Larson rides manufactured prior to its unveiling, the first being the Super Loops and the second being the Ring of Fire. The ride features a roller coaster-type train which rolls along a ring-shaped track, turning riders upside down at the top of the loop. Older models of this ride type have trains with each half of the train facing opposite directions, with a protective metal cage and a rigid lap bar restraining the riders. In 1998, Larson introduced a new roofless, open-air train with over-the-shoulder harnesses and seats that sit riders face-to-face with each other.[2] Some owners of the older Ring of Fire rides have had the caged train replaced with the new Fire Ball train.[citation needed]

Though the ride share similarities with that of a roller coaster, notably having a train which rolls along a track, it is often not considered as such since the ride is powered by motorized drive tires, and not by gravity like a roller coaster.

El Diablo at Six Flags Great Adventure. This is Larson International's 22M Giant Loop,[3] a larger version of the Fire Ball.[4] This installation is now located at La Ronde as Chaos.

Design

Larson makes three different versions of the ride: The Fire Ball, the 22M Giant Loop, and the Giga Loop 100ft. Each ride provides a similar ride experience, but are larger than each other in terms of both size and capacity.

Model name Height/Length Rider capacity Transportable Notes
Fire Ball 58 feet (18 m) 20 passengers Yes [5]
22M Giant Loop 73 feet (22 m) 24 passengers No [6]
Giga Loop 100 Ft 101 feet (31 m) 32 passengers No [7]

The ride structure is a large steel boxed-track loop attached to a concrete base or portable trailer with supporting outriggers and steel cables. In this boxed track is a multiple-piece pivoted end-rim (inertia ring) with wheel dogs attached settled within this boxed track. On one section of the rim the train is snugly placed. The rim is run through a shock-absorbent tire drive, which drives the train around the loop.[8]

The ride's train is rocked back and forth at a generous rate, as not to put too much stress on the tire drive. It elevates on every pass through the station until it has gained enough momentum to make it completely around the loop, thus riders experiencing hangtime (the feeling of themselves almost falling out of their seats). Once a number of consecutive loops are made, it can be shifted to go the other direction. It can also be stopped at the top.[citation needed] Since the Super Loop-styled rides are tire-driven, even the slightest water build-up on the rim can cause the drive tires to hydroplane on the rim. This action keeps the ride from completing its loop and can sometimes make a loud squeal. Like many amusement rides, these rides should not be operated during inclement weather such as thunderstorms.[1]

Operation

Most, if not all, of the Super Loop-styled rides are manually operated with a toggle handle. Most of these rides have a dead man's operator chair that detects the absence of an operator. This prevents the ride from moving in case the handle is bumped without an operator being sat in the chair. Operators of these rides have to be knowledgeable of weight distribution and speed-to-distance ratio.[citation needed] The amount of power needed to operate this ride is 240 volts, 250 amps (60 kW).[1]

These rides have numerous safety features that include:

  • Emergency power cut-off button.[1]
  • Dead-man's operator chair that detects the absence of an operator.[9]
  • Anti-air double-lock harnesses with secondary precaution belt that activates when air is released.[10]
  • Pull-up-and-move operation toggle that will only move when tip of handle is compressed.[11]
  • Height requirement of 48 inches (1.22 metres).[1]

Park installations

Name Park Country Model Opened Status Notes
Bourbon Street Fireball Six Flags America United StatesUnited States 22M Giant Loop 2014 Operating
Brain Drain Elitch Gardens United StatesUnited States 22M Giant Loop 2014 Operating
Brain Drain Frontier City United StatesUnited States 22M Giant Loop 2015 Operating
Chaos

Formerly El Diablo

La Ronde

Six Flags Great Adventure

CanadaCanada 22M Giant Loop 2019 Operating Originally announced as Looping Dragon at Six Flags Great Adventure but was renamed El Diablo before its opening. Closed in 2018 and relocated to La Ronde for the 2019 season.
Cyclone Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier United StatesUnited States Fire Ball 2012 Operating
Dare Devil Chaos Coaster Six Flags Discovery Kingdom United StatesUnited States 22M Giant Loop 2015 Removed Removed in 2022.
Delirious Valleyfair United StatesUnited States 22M Giant Loop 2018 Operating
El Diablo Six Flags Over Texas United StatesUnited States Giga Loop 100 Ft 2019 Operating Originally announced as Lone Star Revolution but was renamed El Diablo before its opening.
Eye of the Storm Kentucky Kingdom United StatesUnited States 22M Giant Loop 2017 Operating
Fireball Six Flags Fiesta Texas United StatesUnited States 22M Giant Loop 2016 Operating
Fireball Six Flags New England United StatesUnited States 22M Giant Loop 2016 Removed Damaged beyond repair during a storm in 2021.
Fireball Six Flags St. Louis United StatesUnited States 22M Giant Loop 2016 Operating
Fire Ball Cliff's Amusement Park United StatesUnited States Fire Ball 2013 Operating
Fire Ball Lake Winnepesaukah United StatesUnited States Fire Ball 2012 Operating
Flare Kemah Boardwalk United StatesUnited States 22M Giant Loop 2014 Operating
Giant Loop (环翼飞车) Happy Valley Shenzhen ChinaChina 22M Giant Loop 2019 Operating
Greezed Lightnin' Six Flags Great Escape and Hurricane Harbor United StatesUnited States 22M Giant Loop 2016 Operating
Joker: Chaos Coaster Six Flags Over Georgia United StatesUnited States 22M Giant Loop 2015 Removed Removed in 2022 after years of operational difficulties. Replaced by Kid Flash Cosmic Coaster in 2023.
Mardi Gras Hangover Six Flags Great America United StatesUnited States Giga Loop 100 Ft 2018 Removed The first installation of the Giga Loop. Removed in 2023.
Ring of Fire Clementon Park and Splash World United StatesUnited States Fire Ball 2010 Operating
Rolling Thunder Six Flags Darien Lake United StatesUnited States 22M Giant Loop 2015 Operating
Zero G Indiana Beach United StatesUnited States Fire Ball 2016 Removed

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "The Fire Ball". Larson International. Retrieved August 6, 2017.
  2. ^ "Super Loops – Amusement Ride Extravaganza". Retrieved 2023-02-24.
  3. ^ "Name Change for New 2015 Ride: El Diablo". Great Adventure Online. August 6, 2017.
  4. ^ "The 22M Giant Loop". Larson International. August 6, 2017.
  5. ^ "THE FIRE BALL – Larson International". Retrieved 2023-02-24.
  6. ^ "THE 22M GIANT LOOP – Larson International". Retrieved 2023-02-24.
  7. ^ "THE GIGA LOOP 100 FT – Larson International". Retrieved 2023-02-24.
  8. ^ "Super Loops – Amusement Ride Extravaganza". Retrieved 2023-02-24.
  9. ^ "Fire Ball's Safety". amusementrides.org. Retrieved August 21, 2017.
  10. ^ "Fireball Info". thedod3.com. Retrieved August 21, 2017.
  11. ^ "Superloop Pull Up Bar". ride-extravaganza.com. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
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