From: mac18@po.CWRU.Edu (Michael A. Cornell)
Newsgroups: rec.roller-coaster
Subject: Re: ``Kumba'' at Busch Gardens Tampa
Date: 13 Nov 1992 18:04:17 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH (USA)
Reply-To: mac18@po.CWRU.Edu (Michael A. Cornell)
NNTP-Posting-Host: slc12.ins.cwru.edu


In a previous article, geoff@pmafire.inel.gov (Geoff Allen) says:

>
>In bit.listserv.words-l, Don Moore <DBFABAK%CFRVM.BITNET@uga.cc.uga.edu>
>posted the following info.  I thought folks here would like to see it as
>well.  Time to get those reservations for Tampa, it seems.....  ;^)
>
>| Knowing there are some roller-coaster fans in the Blue-Moon Saloon, thought
>| the following excerpts from an the Tampa Tribune might be of some interest.
>| 
>| Busch Gardens (in Tampa) Building Southeast's Biggest Roller Coaster
>| 
>| Busch Gardens officials announced plans to build "Kumba," which they boast
>| will be the largest and fastest steel roller coaster in the Southeast.
>| 
>| The ride will thrill riders for nearly three minutes: lofting them 143 feet
>| into the air, plummeting them down 135 feet and spinning them upside-down
>| seven times.  Traveling at speeds in excess of 60 mph, Kumba will sometimes
>| hit forces 3.75 times that of gravity over 3,978 feet of its turquoise steel
>| track.

Sounds like it'll have the same "look" as Drachen Fire
 
>| Ray Ueberroth, president of American Coaster Enthusiasts, predicted the ride
>| will be "outstanding."  "I've never seen anything like this," said
>| Ueberroth, who was experienced 319 roller coasters over 50 years.
>| 
>| After Kumba riders recover from the initial 135-foot drop, they'll climb
>| back up only to be dropped into a 108-foot loop, said to be the world's
>| largest.  What follows is a diving loop engineered from stunt plane
>| maneuvers, and a 360-degree spiraling camelback, experiencing 3 seconds
>| of weightlessness as you go thru the camelback.

Hmmm....Sounds like a BIG loop =)  Diving loop, sounds like it's like
the first drop on Drachen Fire, corkscrew dropping you down.

>| More spirals, a cobra roll and a double corkscrew-shaped twist will
>| further excite riders, before the train, carrying eight cars, speeds
>| to a finish inside a dark underground tunnel.

What would be really cool would be an inversion element in the tunnel

>| Well, sounds like fun to me!  They have already begun construction and is
>| due to open in the spring.  Hope to be one of the first to ride it, but
>| know I can't get any chicken females in my family to ride with me :-(
>| 
>|                             Peace,
>|                                   Don
>
>There you have it.  I note that this says 7 inversions, while Bill has
>heard 6.  Oh well, what's an extra inversion among friends. ;^)
>
>Geoff ``Unofficial rec.roller-coaster roving reporter'' Allen
>
>-- 
>Geoff Allen          \  <chink> <chink> <chink> <chink> <chink> <chink> <chink>
>uunet!pmafire!geoff   \  <chink> <chink> <chink> <chink> <chink> ............
>geoff@pmafire.inel.gov \   aaaaaaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!
>

One vote for Geoff as OFFICAL roving reporter. =)

Mike "Well time to go to Florida again" Cornell
Newsgroups: rec.roller-coaster