Vampire (Chessington World Of Adventures)

[Simba]

Vampire is the first ever suspended coaster in Brittan it was first opened on 17/3/1990 manufacturerd by Arrow Dynamics then it closed for renovation on 3/11/2000. Vampire reopend for 2002 season on 17/03/2001 with Vekoma floorless trains and the highet restriction was lowered with the new trains to 1.1m but what is your views of this coaster.

[LionOfNarnia]

I rode the Vampire about a month or two after it opened, must be - blimey! - over 20 years ago now. I took the lass who was to become my wife a couple of years later, we went by motorcycle from Hastings, where she lived.

During the day we had 3 vamp-rides - one in the front "seats", one in the middle and one at the back.

Front was best!

First ride (middle) we had to queue for nearly 2 hours. Explored the rest of the park for a while then went back for another go. We did a couple of other rides but nothing very memorable, spent most of the rest of our time at the 'zoo'.

...sad to say, that was the last time I was at a theme park.

[Simba]

Here is an on ride POV:

Here is a behind the scene view of the vampire video by CoasterForce

[LionOfNarnia]

I remember my fave part was the tunnel @ 1.55 in the first video. That was perhaps the one part where the designers truly got the illusion of imminent disaster absolutely right!

[Simba]

[LionOfNarnia]

Well, perhaps we can agree that the worst part was when it ended!

[Simba]

[LionOfNarnia]

...followed by the OTHER worst part-

-when you have to leave the park & go home

[Simba]

[LionOfNarnia]

Forgot to mention - before the front-seat ride Debz & I had a couple of pipes of nature's finest behind one of the fast-food concessions. I think that would have been the best ride of the day anyway, but in that state you can multiply the "Whoo-Hoo" factor by at least three