Booster Bike
Jean Gelissen and Caroline Maessen, owner and general manager of the largest indoor/outdoor amusement park in Europe, "Attractiepark Toverland", and Peter van Bilsen and Charlotte van Etten of Vekoma Rides Manufacturing proudly announced their agreement for the sale of the first Motorbike Launch Coaster.
The innovative Motorbike Coaster, designed and developed by Vekoma Rides Manufacturing was first introduced to the market at the IAAPA 2003 in Orlando, Florida and the interest was overwhelming. With this new design Vekoma was recently given an Award for "Best Idea Euro Amusement Show 2004 – Paris" at the Euro Amusement Show in Paris.
The motorbike coaster is Vekoma's latest invention in park rides. The unique experience of freedom that a motorbike offers and riding a roller coaster, are combined in this ride. Vekoma spent a lot of time and effort towards maintaining the original way of sitting and mounting a real motorbike, in order to come as close as possible to the real thing. Imagine taking a roller coaster ride on top of a bike but being up high in the sky, seated on the narrow saddle of a bike and going on to a low long stretched race track in combination with a horizontal launch to complete the ultimate racing bike feeling.
Toverland, located in Sevenum, Limburg in the Netherlands, actually is the largest indoor park in Europe. Toverland opened its doors for the first time to the public in May of 2001 and has been very successful. The park is currently expanding with the development of Phase 2 with a second indoor hall as well as a large outdoor area, named "Tovertuin".
With the excellent relation between Toverland and Vekoma, the negotiations to reach this successful conclusion just took about three months, says Jean Gelissen. Our negotiations have resulted in a good deal for both parties.
Based on the recent new developments at Vekoma Rides Manufacturing, together with the excellent service extended by Vekoma to Toverland, Jean Gelissen has expressed its full confidence in Vekoma and the success of this new attraction.
The new motorbike launch coaster is approx. 600 meters long, with a launch, three camelbacks, a horseshoe element, horizontal loop and a high speed curve and is suitable for both children and adults. The launch accelerates the motorbikes in 3 seconds from 0-75 km per hour. This launch system has been designed in close cooperation with Vekoma's sister company, Huisman-Itrec B.V. in Schiedam, who's core business is heavy lifting and special off-shore equipment.
Together with other new attractions, this world-class Motorbike ride will mark the beginning of another successful season for Toverland.
Toverland, which is opened year-round, daily from 10:00-18:00 hours, foresees that attendance this year will continue to rise.
It is also anticipated that the expansion at Toverland will create additional jobs in the region, both during the construction phase and for the operation of the park.
Both Vekoma and Toverland look forward to the official opening early this summer.