Graeme et al

Not sure if you have seen them yet but a poster named "FATBOY" on the Joyland Books Forum has posted some great photos of Clacton Pier!

Thanks Gary. I didn't know there were that many great photos about. The more the internet develops, the more pieces of the "Clacton in the '70s and '80s" jigsaw get filled in!

Great photos its amazing how what is now a rather modest amusement operation on Clacton Pier once had the resource to purchase such a relatively extravagant ride

I've heard that the mini apple park on Hastings beach has got hold of a mondial top scan! Lets hope with the credit crunch keeping Brits holidaying at home, the seaside parks can splash out on some impressive rides once again

> Great photos its amazing how what is now a rather modest
> amusement operation on Clacton Pier once had the resource
> to purchase such a relatively extravagant ride

> I've heard that the mini apple park on Hastings beach has
> got hold of a mondial top scan! Lets hope with the credit
> crunch keeping Brits holidaying at home, the seaside parks
> can splash out on some impressive rides once again

I went to Clacton the other day, and thought to myself how nice it was that the indoor bit still feels much the same as it did when I was young (before Whirlwind!) It still has the Waltzer and Dodgems, and just feels really "classic" to me. It always fascinated me how far to the left the wall is.

Every time I go, I visualise a Gerstlauer Bobsled on the Whirlwind site. An Aqua Wind clone would be nice and small, although I'd really like a custom one to the same design as the Steel Stella! Now that would be something!

Hey, Graeme, Are you up for Graeme Cassidy's Clacton Chronicles?

...No pressure of course.... :-)

Gary

Rides on piers have a great atmosphere about them.

> ...No pressure of course.... :-)

It's Pier Pressure.

OK, I'll redouble my efforts.

Pier pressure....Brilliant!! :-)

I take it Whirlwind is the Vekoma looking coaster? You know, my brother and I rode the coaster in the picture, many years ago.

I remember finding it quite awe inspiring to look at, what with it being so close to the end of the pier. When in the queue, the ride ops started horsing around and hung a colleague over the edge of the loading platform, in effect, over the sea! As we moved down the queue, the train was later stopped on the hill lift when one of the passengers lifted his harness up and stood up, probably to show the ride ops that it was not locked! Incredible. My brother and I still rode it....It was pretty good and reminded me of a shorter version of Corkscrew. Even today, I think it's quite impressive how they managed to get a coaster like that on the pier.

Chris.

> I take it Whirlwind is the Vekoma looking coaster? You
> know, my brother and I rode the coaster in the picture,
> many years ago.

Yes indeed (and it is an actual Vekoma - the model name is "Whirlwind" and it's deliberately a smaller-footprint version of their "Corkscrew with Bayern Curve").

I was generally too young and wussy to ride Whirlwind. The odd thing is I don't even strongly remember seeing it up-close (although I was very aware of it). I do remember the ghost train from that particular era though - "Haunted Dungeon", apparently (thanks to Dirk the Daring). This did coincide with the Pier having an entry fee, so that explains a lot!

A new poster to the Seaside Forums on Joyland has just posted an interesting "Stella" post!

> I take it Whirlwind is the Vekoma looking coaster? You
> know, my brother and I rode the coaster in the picture,
> many years ago.

> Yes indeed (and it is an actual Vekoma - the model name is
> "Whirlwind" and it's deliberately a
> smaller-footprint version of their "Corkscrew with
> Bayern Curve").

> I was generally too young and wussy to ride Whirlwind. The
> odd thing is I don't even strongly remember seeing it
> up-close (although I was very aware of it). I do remember
> the ghost train from that particular era though -
> "Haunted Dungeon", apparently (thanks to Dirk the
> Daring). This did coincide with the Pier having an entry
> fee, so that explains a lot!

Apparently there's still a few of the smaller European parks who have a Whirlwind. I've actually heard that they weren't that bad of a ride, interesting layout regardless.

Tim,
It feels nice to be back.

> Tim,
> It feels nice to be back.

You're very welcome back as well!

Thank you, sir. Now to get back into the swing of thing, if Whirlwind was still there now, Grazza, would you ride it or wuss out as always...hahaha, I still haven't lost it. :P

Tim.

> Thank you, sir. Now to get back into the swing of thing, if
> Whirlwind was still there now, Grazza, would you ride it or
> wuss out as always...hahaha, I still haven't lost it. :P

Yes, I'd ride it. I'd be a bit more worried about my neck than I would have a few years ago, but I'd definitely ride it!

> Thank you, sir. Now to get back into the swing of thing, if
> Whirlwind was still there now, Grazza, would you ride it or
> wuss out as always...hahaha, I still haven't lost it. :P

> Yes, I'd ride it. I'd be a bit more worried about my neck
> than I would have a few years ago, but I'd definitely ride
> it!

Grazza, I can see your concern after your glorious ride on that pinfari death machine, but I think your neck would be fine.

> Grazza, I can see your concern after your glorious ride on
> that pinfari death machine, but I think your neck would be
> fine.

For some reason, you calling it "glorious" really warmed my cockles! It made me feel really tough, like Mr Best!

Glad I was of some service, although me thinks Mr. Best would dash to that Pinfari...fearless yes...is it madness to rush to a Pinfari...you bet your arse. :P