santa clara whizzer
santa clara whizzer
Does anyone know why the santa clara whizzer was removed, what happened to it, or have any photos of the disassembled ride to share? Thanks!
It was already gone before I ever visited the Santa Clara park. I don't know the exact reason for its removal, but I've heard that it had maintenance problems and was burdened also with bad memories of the tragic accident (which I'd prefer that we not rehash here right now, thanks).
I've never heard exactly what happened to the disassembled ride, but have been told that it was scrapped. I've not seen any photos of it in the process of being taken down or of the disassembled pieces. Some concrete footings of the Whizzer remain on the old site. A rumor persisted that a piece of track is still there that can only be seen when the water from the pond is drained. I have no idea if there is any truth to that. The Whizzer's sign is displayed in the park's coaster maintenance shop. It has been seen and well-photographed during behind-the-scenes park tours which were featured in events such as Coasterpalooza.
Steven
I've never heard exactly what happened to the disassembled ride, but have been told that it was scrapped. I've not seen any photos of it in the process of being taken down or of the disassembled pieces. Some concrete footings of the Whizzer remain on the old site. A rumor persisted that a piece of track is still there that can only be seen when the water from the pond is drained. I have no idea if there is any truth to that. The Whizzer's sign is displayed in the park's coaster maintenance shop. It has been seen and well-photographed during behind-the-scenes park tours which were featured in events such as Coasterpalooza.
Steven
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The Gurnee Whizzer sign was has changed since Marriott.
Here is a closeup
http://www.sfgamworld.com/gallery/Whizzer/Whizzer_2
Regarding the SC Whizzer. I asked my boss about the SC Whizzer removal when I worked at SFGA. He told me that the park simply didn't maintain it and it fell into disrepair. I didn't know about the accident back then, somehow I think this may have had something to do with it. Like Steven I also heard that this ride was scrapped. I did learn last year that there was a third coaster which was similar to the two whizzers which has been disassembled and relocated to another country. I found a few small photos of this ride a couple months ago operating in its new location. I don't remember where I put them at this time but I can post them here as soon as I find them again.
Here is a closeup
http://www.sfgamworld.com/gallery/Whizzer/Whizzer_2
Regarding the SC Whizzer. I asked my boss about the SC Whizzer removal when I worked at SFGA. He told me that the park simply didn't maintain it and it fell into disrepair. I didn't know about the accident back then, somehow I think this may have had something to do with it. Like Steven I also heard that this ride was scrapped. I did learn last year that there was a third coaster which was similar to the two whizzers which has been disassembled and relocated to another country. I found a few small photos of this ride a couple months ago operating in its new location. I don't remember where I put them at this time but I can post them here as soon as I find them again.
I don't have a photo handy of the Whizzer sign hanging in the coaster shop. But here is the same sign before it was moved indoors:
This photo is of the sign after it was redone to remove Willard's from the name.
The Whizzer was a Schwarzkopf speedracer roller coaster. The first of its kind was the Big Bend at Six Flags over Texas:
The second speedracer is the one that redfishpaw mentions. It was originally located at Kansas City's Worlds of Fun. It was relocated to Parque Nacional del Café in Colombia.
More information and photos of the Schwarzkopf speedracers is here (scroll down on each page for English text):
Big Bend -- http://schwarzkopf.coaster.net/ESbigbendGF.htm
Zambezi Zinger -- http://schwarzkopf.coaster.net/ESzambezizingerGF.htm (includes two photos of the coaster at its new home in Colombia)
Gurnee Whizzer -- http://schwarzkopf.coaster.net/ESwhizzer-gurneeGF.htm
Santa Clara Whizzer -- http://schwarzkopf.coaster.net/ESwhizze ... laraGF.htm
Steven
This photo is of the sign after it was redone to remove Willard's from the name.
The Whizzer was a Schwarzkopf speedracer roller coaster. The first of its kind was the Big Bend at Six Flags over Texas:
The second speedracer is the one that redfishpaw mentions. It was originally located at Kansas City's Worlds of Fun. It was relocated to Parque Nacional del Café in Colombia.
More information and photos of the Schwarzkopf speedracers is here (scroll down on each page for English text):
Big Bend -- http://schwarzkopf.coaster.net/ESbigbendGF.htm
Zambezi Zinger -- http://schwarzkopf.coaster.net/ESzambezizingerGF.htm (includes two photos of the coaster at its new home in Colombia)
Gurnee Whizzer -- http://schwarzkopf.coaster.net/ESwhizzer-gurneeGF.htm
Santa Clara Whizzer -- http://schwarzkopf.coaster.net/ESwhizze ... laraGF.htm
Steven
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- redfishpaw
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The Santa Clara Whizzer station is gone. It came out to make room for the Xtreme Skyflyer upcharge attraction. I'll never forget the first time I saw it. During the off season, I was on a flight out of SJC. As is frequently the case, the plane went over PGA on takeoff. I was stunned when I looked down and saw the Xtreme Skyflyer on the old Whizzer site. I had always hoped that the Whizzer site would be reserved for another roller coaster.
Steven
Steven
Here's a portion the Santa Clara Whizzer site in 2005:
Some concrete footings can be seen in the pond just above the center of the photo. These footings were for the track that climbed up before wrapping around the outside of the spiral lift. The spiral lift was located approximately where the large white tent is seen to the right of some of the original Hometown Square buildings.
Steven
Some concrete footings can be seen in the pond just above the center of the photo. These footings were for the track that climbed up before wrapping around the outside of the spiral lift. The spiral lift was located approximately where the large white tent is seen to the right of some of the original Hometown Square buildings.
Steven
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