Spinball Whizzer, Steel spinning roller coaster at Alton Towers, England
The Spinball Whizzer is a steel roller coaster at Alton Towers with spinning cars that rotate freely as they travel through the course. The ride features more than 450 meters of track with banked turns and curves, traveling at speeds around 60 kilometers per hour to combine rotation with traditional coaster thrills.
The ride opened in March 2004, created by Maurer Rides, introducing a new type of spinning coaster experience to the park. In 2010, it was temporarily renamed Sonic Spinball when a partnership with SEGA brought video game theming to the attraction.
The name draws inspiration from The Who's classic song Pinball Wizard, with pinball machine design elements woven into the ride's overall look and structure. This musical reference shapes how visitors experience the attraction, making it feel more like a fun game than a standard roller coaster.
The ride is located in the Adventure Land section of Alton Towers and accommodates four riders per car in a back-to-back seating arrangement. The spinning motion during the ride can cause dizziness, so it helps to take a moment before boarding if you are sensitive to rotation.
This ride is the only model of its type ever built by Maurer Rides, making it truly one of a kind in the coaster world. This rarity appeals to enthusiasts since no other park has an identical version of this particular spinning coaster design.
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