Montaña Rusa (La Feria Chapultepec Mágico)
Montaña Rusa was a wooden roller coaster at La Feria Chapultepec Mágico in Mexico City, Mexico. In 1993, it was renamed Serpiente de Fuego (Serpent of Fire) but later it was changed back to Montaña Rusa.[1] For several years, Montaña Rusa held the record of world's tallest roller coaster.[2][3] With the conversion of Medusa at Six Flags México into a hybrid roller coaster in 2014, Montaña Rusa was the last wooden roller coaster in Mexico.[4] In 2020, it was announced that Montaña Rusa would be removed from the park.
| Montaña Rusa | |
|---|---|
 Montaña Rusa (coaster in foreground) | |
| La Feria Chapultepec Mágico | |
| Location | La Feria Chapultepec Mágico |
| Coordinates | 19°24′59″N 99°11′44″W |
| Status | Closed |
| Opening date | 22 October 1964 |
| Closing date | 13 October 2019 |
| General statistics | |
| Type | Wood |
| Manufacturer | National Amusement Devices |
| Designer | Aurel Vaszin, Edward Leis |
| Height | 110 ft (34 m) |
| Drop | 80 ft (24 m) |
| Length | 4,000 ft (1,200 m) |
| Inversions | 0 |
| Montaña Rusa at RCDB Pictures of Montaña Rusa at RCDB | |
History
Montaña Rusa was constructed in 1964 by International Amusement Devices, Inc. and was designed by Aurel Vaszin and Edward Leis.[1] Aspects of the coaster's design served as an inspiration for the designers of future roller coasters, such as Screamin' Eagle and Colossus.[3] In the 1980s, Montaña Rusa underwent a major $800,000[5] renovation and refurbishment for safety and ride comfort.[6] Following the work, the original coaster builder responded with a tongue-in-cheek remark that he was "at least 80 percent sure" that roller coaster passengers would remain in the trains' seats.[7]
In 2006, Luis Felipe Santamaría set a record for roller coaster endurance by riding on Montaña Rusa for a total of 1,333 consecutive rides. He did not leave the train, and only briefly stopped for medical checks. Santamaría both ate and slept on the roller coaster.[8]
Layout and ride experience
The layout of Montaña Rusa is unusual in that it is a Möbius loop coaster. This coaster design means that a left-track ride will result in a return on the right-track side and vice versa; it also means that the coaster has a continuous track of 8,000 feet (2,400 m).[1] Montaña Rusa is one of only a handful of such coasters in the world.[6][9] In 1979, roller coaster expert Robert Cartmell rated it as being the 8th best roller coaster in North America—as well as rating it the "most brutal", a characteristic that stemmed partly from Mexico City's 7,350 feet (2,240 m) altitude.[10]
References
- Marden, Duane. "Montaña Rusa (La Feria Chapultepec Mágico)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 2 July 2013.
- Swanson, Bob (19 May 1968). "Mexico's Cheapultepec Park: Family Fun!". Chicago Tribune. p. G18.
- Cartmell, Robert (1987). The Incredible Scream Machine: A History of the Roller Coaster. Popular Press. ISBN 0879723424.
- Marden, Duane. "List of Mexican roller coasters by height". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 2 July 2013.
- "Roller Coaster to Reopen". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. 4 September 1986. Retrieved 2 July 2013.
- Rutherford, Scott (2004). The American Roller Coaster. MBI Publishing Company. ISBN 0760319294.
- Romero, Pedro (2007). Night+Day Mexico City. ASDavis Media Group. ISBN 0977624560.
- "Dio 1.333 vueltas en montaña rusa por un concurso" [1,333 He rollercoaster round in a contest]. Infobae (in Spanish). EFE. 9 March 2006. Retrieved 2 July 2013.
- Marden, Duane. "List of Möbius roller coasters". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 2 July 2013.
- "His 10 Most Thrilling Rides". Schenectady Gazette. Associated Press. 25 June 1979. p. 4. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
| Preceded by Cyclone |
World's Tallest Roller Coaster 1964–1966 |
Succeeded by Giant Coaster |
| Preceded by Cyclone |
World's Tallest Wooden Roller Coaster 1964–May 1976 |
Succeeded by Colossus |
