Submission (Alton Towers)
| Submission | |
|---|---|
| Alton Towers | |
| Park section | X-Sector |
| Coordinates | 52°59′13″N 1°53′48″W / 52.98708°N 1.8967°WCoordinates: 52°59′13″N 1°53′48″W / 52.98708°N 1.8967°W |
| Status | Closed |
| Opening date | 2001 |
| Closing date | 2014 |
| General statistics | |
| Manufacturer | Chance Rides |
| Height restriction | 120 cm (3 ft 11 in) |
Submission was a Chance Rides Double Swinging Inverter located in the X-Sector area and was built in 2001. From 2005, the ride only operated one of its arms to save electricity and the ride's cycles were shortened. The slogan used in advertisement was 'Hang in there'. Following the area's theme, the ride was painted blue and was covered in a shiny metal, most likely steel. Each of its two arms had a counterweight in the shape of two metal spikes, which would sweep near to the ground like a scythe. The sequence was always the same, different to some other weight based rides that have numerous sequences, this was also probably to be more energy efficient. The Ride type itself is a rare flat-ride and not seen at a lot of themeparks, Submission did not have the best of reviews at Alton Towers mainly due to it having the same sequence (unlike others such as Ripsaw), the restraints were very similar to those on a Huss Top Spinner making it fairly uncomfortable to ride when inverted, breakdowns occasionally happened and as a result, queues were very short. In 2013 it was later revealed that Submission would be closed after the end of the 2013 season by which there is a vacant grass area where it once stood next to the break-block section on Oblivion. The grass area is often referred to as the 'Submission memorial ground' by thrill-seekers which has become a popular sitting area in the park section.
Ride experience
Submission was a simple ride, featuring a central tower with two gondolas attached to rotating arms on each side. Each gondola contained 6 rows of 4. When the ride started the gondola was lifted 90 degrees back and forth, slightly tilting forwards and backwards and gradually rotated in a full circle with the gondola spinning the opposite way to the arm, making the riders go upside down. As the arm would move in one direction, the gondola would tilt in the other way. Because of the double sided seating which saw riders sitting back-to-back, when one arm moved one way, there would be one set of riders that we tilted vertically, pointing the ground not dissimilar from Oblivion. When the gondola reached its highest point, it was turned upside-down.