| Spinball Whizzer | |
|---|---|
| Previously known as Sonic Spinball (2010–2015) | |
 | |
| Alton Towers | |
| Location | Alton Towers |
| Park section | The Towers |
| Coordinates | 52°59′20″N1°53′40″W / 52.988915°N 1.89457°W /52.988915; -1.89457 |
| Status | Operating |
| Opening date | 27 March 2004 (2004-03-27) |
| Cost | £3,500,000 |
| General statistics | |
| Type | Steel –Spinning |
| Manufacturer | Maurer AG |
| Model | SC 2200[1] |
| Lift/launch system | Chainlift hill |
| Height | 17 m (56 ft) |
| Length | 470 m (1,540 ft) |
| Speed | 60 km/h (37 mph) |
| Inversions | 0 |
| Duration | 1:15[clarification needed] |
| Capacity | 950 riders per hour |
| G-force | 3 |
| Height restriction | 120–195[2] cm (3 ft 11 in – 6 ft 5 in) |
 Fastrack available[3] | |
| Spinball Whizzer at RCDB | |
Spinball Whizzer is aspinning roller coaster located inThe Towers area ofAlton Towers inStaffordshire, England. Built byMaurer Söhne, it was previously sponsored bySega, the company that created theSonic the Hedgehog video game franchise, and was known asSonic Spinball from 2010 to 2015.
Opening in 2004,Spinball Whizzer featured a loose pinball machine theme. The name was a pun on the song "Pinball Wizard" byThe Who. In 2010, it was announced that Spinball Whizzer would be receiving aSonic the Hedgehog re-brand as part of a partnership with Japanese video game companySega.[5] The roller coaster was therefore given a red and blue track repaint; new decoys, signage and audio, including songs from the games and station announcements provided in-character byRoger Craig Smith asSonic, prior to his official debut as the character inSonic Free Riders. The ride re-opened to the public as Sonic Spinball on 13 February 2010 during the park's February half term event. A Sonic-themed room was also made available at the Alton Towers Hotel, which featured various playableSonic games and wallpaper based onSonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I.[6]
Sega previously had a deal with Alton Towers for theToyland Tours dark ride. ASonic animatronic featured in one of the ride's scenes along with associated sound effects and music. However, the ride was closed for refurbishment in June 2005 to make way forCharlie and the Chocolate Factory: The Ride, and currently the Alton Towers Dungeons. Sega's sponsorship was set to end in 2013 as part of the three-year deal. At the end of 2013, the sponsorship was renewed, and continued until 2016.[citation needed]
On 2 June 2015, the ride was temporarily closed, owing to an accident onThe Smiler atAlton Towers. Sonic Spinball reopened on 15 June 2015.[7] The ride's original Spinball Whizzer theme was restored for the 2016 season as part of an area of the park called Adventure Land.[8]
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