The Top Spin is a thrill ride

Thrill ride

Thrill ride or Thrill Ride may refer to*Amusement ride*3-D Ultra Pinball: Thrill Ride*Thrill Ride, the 4th book in The Hardy Boys Undercover Brothers series....

 developed by HUSS Maschinenfabrik, and is the generic name for a series of rides from other manufacturers that follow the same principle. The ride consists of a passenger platform suspended between two counterweighted arms. The arms are turned by motors, while the platform generally only has brakes that are engaged and disengaged at various points of the ride cycle. A typical top spin program runs the main arm motors while engaging and disengaging the platform brakes so that it will rotate in exciting ways. The minimum rider height requirement is 54 inches; maximum is 80 inches due to the seat and restraint design. The ride was debuted in 1990 with it proving an instant success with European fairgoers.

The Ride Experience

Huss has designed the ride so that park and carnival operators may choose one of 8 preset ride "programs." Most last no more than 2 minutes and consist of several moderate-speed loops, flips, and face-down gondola "hangtime" before unlocking the gondola hydraulics and swinging the riders back and forth. Some Top Spin rides have the added feature of water fountains which are mainly used at the end of the ride sequence soaking the riders as they are slowly lowered face first into the un-escapable water jets. Cycles can be customized to include more intense repetitive flips and also be under manual operator control. Cycles may tend to be longer at carnivals. A world record was set with over 100 gondola flips during a cycle with a theme park model in Germany.

Variations

• The original Topspin concept has two rows of seating with self lowering lap bars and rider spotlights.
• The Giant Top Spin
  The Crypt (Kings Island)
  The Crypt is a Giant Top Spin thrill ride located at Kings Island theme park in Ohio. Originally constructed in 2002 by then-owners Paramount Parks, the ride opened as TOMB RAIDER: The Ride, featuring numerous special effects, pre-shows, and voice-overs establishing its relation to the Paramount...
  
  is a larger version of the Top Spin, seating 77 passengers in three rows on the platform. Currently only one park model exists at Kings Island
  Kings Island
  Kings Island is a amusement park located northeast of Cincinnati in Mason, Ohio. Opened in 1972 by Taft Broadcasting Company and now owned by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, Kings Island is the most visited seasonal amusement park in the U.S...
  
   in Ohio. However, its third row was removed in 2008, reducing the capacity. The ride structure is still larger than any other.
• The Suspended Top Spin is a floorless version of the ride that can hold 38 passengers in two rows back to back.
• The Top Spin 2 is a smaller version of the original, designed for showmen who require a ride that fits onto a single trailer. Interestingly this version enables the platform to perform almost endless loops. This version tends to have telescoping drum supports to hold the main control arms.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNYyTRRzmxA

There are also numerous other Top Spin rides that were later developed by other companies as rivals to the Huss versions.

In addition to this, various manufacturers such as Mondial, Moser, and Zamperla make an improved version of the Top Spin where each individual arm is controlled separately; this results in diagonal gondola inversions and makes for a much more interesting ride. Such rides are known by names like "Wind Shear", "Super Loop on Top", and "Super Nova".

Appearances

The Top Spin was once a common ride at travelling funfairs, particularly in Germany

Germany

Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...

. Over time, many of the travelling versions of the ride have been sold to amusement parks. Huss also makes several models of Top Spin specifically for static locations.

• Argentina:
  • Desorbitado - (Preston's International Suspended top spin) at Parque de la Costa
    Parque de la Costa
    Parque de la Costa is an amusement park located in Tigre, a northern suburb of Buenos Aires Province, Argentina.-Development:The park, located on a 14 hectare lot along the Paraná River Delta , was developed by Santiago Soldati, whose family holding company, SCP, had been bolstered by record...
    
    

• Australia:
  • Rampage (Zamperla Windshear) at Adventure World
  • Wipeout - (Waikiki Wave Super Flip )(Vekoma) Dreamworld
    Dreamworld
    Dreamworld is a large theme park situated on the Gold Coast in Queensland. It is currently Australia's largest theme park with over 27 rides including 4 roller coasters. The park is made up of several themed lands: Ocean Parade, Kid's World, Wiggles World, Gold Rush Country, Rocky Hollow, Tiger...
    
    

• Austria:
  • Top Spin at Prater
    Prater
    The Wiener Prater is a large public park in Vienna's 2nd district . The amusement park, often simply called "Prater", stands in one corner of the Wiener Prater and includes the .-Name:...
    
    

• Belgium:
  • Buzzsaw/Screamer at Walibi Belgium
    Walibi Belgium
    Walibi Belgium, formerly Walibi Wavre and then Six Flags Belgium, is a Belgian theme park located in Wavre, close to Brussels. During the 1998 to 2004 period, it was owned by Six Flags, Inc, an American theme park operator. It was later sold to Palamon Capital Partners...
    
    

• Brazil:
  • Ekatomb at Hopi Hari
    Hopi Hari
    Hopi Hari is a Brazilian theme park located at Km 72 of Bandeirantes Highway, Vinhedo in the state of São Paulo. It is located 30 km from Campinas and 80 km from São Paulo....
    
    

• Canada:
  • Hell's Gate at Playland (Vancouver)
    Playland (Vancouver)
    Playland is an amusement park in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It is located in Hastings Park and is the oldest amusement park in Canada....
    
    
  • Tornade at LaRonde
    La Ronde (amusement park)
    La Ronde is an amusement park in Montreal, owned and operated by Six Flags. It is the largest in the province of Quebec and the second largest in Canada after Canada's Wonderland, with about 2.5 million guests in 2006...
    
    

• Chile:
  • Top Spin at Fantasilandia
    Fantasilandia
    Fantasilandia is a Chilean amusement park. The park opened in 1978 and is located in a corner of the O'Higgins Park in Santiago, Chile.On January 28, 1978 the park opened for first time with only 8 attractions like the "Galaxy" coaster, "Mansion Siniestra", "Ford T", "Century 2000", among others.As...
    
    

• Colombia:
  • Apocalypsis at Salitre Magico (Bogota)

• Costa Rica:
  • Tornado F5 at Parque Nacional de Diversiones

• Egypt:
  • Top Spin at Dream Park
    Dream Park
    Dream Park was originally a novel set in a sort of futuristic amusement park of the same name.The books describe a futuristic form of live action role-playing games , although the term was not in use when the original novel was published. The novels inspired many LARP groups, notably the...
    
    

• Finland:
  • Kieputin at Linnanmäki
    Linnanmäki
    Linnanmäki is an amusement park in Helsinki, Finland. It was opened on May 27, 1950 and is owned by non-profit Lasten Päivän Säätiö . Linnanmäki has 44 different rides of different sizes...
    
    

• Germany:
  • NYC Transformer at Movie Park Germany
    Movie Park Germany
    thumb|Movie Park Germanythumb|[[Bermuda Triangle]] - Alien Encounterthumb|The Old Westthumb|[[Hollywood]] FilmmuseumThe Movie Park Germany is a theme park with real movie studios in Bottrop-Kirchhellen. It consists of 6 areas based on the topic "fascination film".The park was opened in June 1996 as...
    
    
  • Talocan at Phantasialand
    Phantasialand
    Phantasialand is an amusement park in Brühl, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany that attracts approximately 2 million visitors annually. The park was opened in 1967 by Gottlieb Löffelhardt and Richard Schmidt. Although starting as a family-oriented park, Phantasialand has also added thrill rides,...
    
     (Suspended)
  • Top Spin at Serengeti Park
    Serengeti Park
    The Serengeti Park in Hodenhagen, Lower Saxony, is a zoo and leisure park in North Germany.-History:In 1972 the Duke of Bedford had the idea of building the largest safari park in Europe with partners from America. In 1974 this plan was realised and, since then, the Sepe family has run the park...
    
    
  • Aqua Spin at Heide Park
    Heide Park
    The Heide Park Resort is a theme park in Soltau, Lower Saxony. With an overall area of over 850,000 m², it is one of the biggest German amusement parks and the biggest in Northern Germany....
    
    
  • TopSpin Scheele, Kleve

• Guatemala:
  • Estrugensen at Xetulul, (Retalhuleu)

• Hungary:
  • Top Spin at Vidámpark

• Indonesia:
  • Tornado at Dunia Fantasi Jakarta
    Jakarta
    Jakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Officially known as the Special Capital Territory of Jakarta, it is located on the northwest coast of Java, has an area of , and a population of 9,580,000. Jakarta is the country's economic, cultural and political centre...
    
    

• Israel:
  • טופ ספין (Top Spin) at Luna Park Tel Aviv
    Tel Aviv
    Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
    
    

• Italy:
  • Top Spin at Gardaland
    Gardaland
    Gardaland is the third-most-popular theme park in Europe and is between Peschiera and Lazise, at Lake Garda in Italy. Built on the eastern shore of Lake Garda at Castelnuovo del Garda, the park opened on July 19, 1975. It has expanded steadily in both size and attendance, topping 1 million visitors...
    
    

• Japan:
  • Luna Swing at Space World Japan

• Korea:
  • Double Rock Spin at Everland
    Everland
    -External links:*...
    
    
  • Monster wind at SeoulLand

• Mexico:
  • Huracan- (Waikiki Wave Super Flip) (Vekoma) Six Flags Mexico
    Six Flags México
    Six Flags México is an amusement park owned by Six Flags Inc. and the only Six Flags park operating in Latin America. It is located in the Tlalpan forest and borough, on the southern edge of Mexico City, Mexico. Six Flags México has become one of the most important theme parks in Mexico and the...
    
    
  • Top Spin at La Feria Chapultepec Magico
    La Feria Chapultepec Mágico
    La Feria Chapultepec Mágico is an amusement park in Mexico City, Mexico. Located in Chapultepec Park, it opened in 1964 as Juegos Mecánicos de Chapultepec and was operated by the Mexican government...
    
    

• The Netherlands:
  • Excalibur at Walibi Holland
  • Montezuma's Revenge at Avonturenpark Hellendoorn
  • Waterspin at Duinrell
    Duinrell
    Duinrell is an amusement park situated in Wassenaar, Netherlands. It also contains a caravan park and a camp-site. Duinrell has been critically acclaimed for its attraction park with swimming pool , which has the longest waterslides in the Netherlands..The park is located on the estate of the...
    
    

• Pakistan:
  • Top Spin at Joyland, Fortress Stadium, Lahore

• South Africa:
  • Miner's Revenge at Gold Reef City
    Gold Reef City
    Gold Reef City is a large amusement park in Johannesburg, South Africa. Located on an old gold mine, the park is themed around the gold rush on the Witwatersrand. Park staff wear period costumes of the 1880s, and the buildings on the park are designed to mimic the same period...
    
    

• Spain:
  • Hurakan at Tibidabo
    Tibidabo
    Tibidabo is a mountain overlooking Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. At 512 meters it is the tallest mountain in the Serra de Collserola. Rising sharply to the north-west, it affords spectacular views over the city and the surrounding coastline....
    
    
  • Lex Luthor's Invertatron at Parque Warner
  • Top Spin at Parque de Atracciones de Madrid

• Thailand:
  • Hurricane at Dream World Bangkok
    Bangkok
    Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
    
    
  • Top Spin at Siam Park City Bangkok
    Bangkok
    Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
    
    

• United Kingdom:
  • Rameses Revenge
    Rameses Revenge
    Rameses Revenge is a Top Spin ride at Chessington World of Adventures theme park in London, England, introduced in 1995. It was the main focus of advertising for the park in that year, and was also widely featured in the British media, even being featured in its own segment by the ITV Evening...
    
     at Chessington World of Adventures
    Chessington World of Adventures
    Chessington World of Adventures Resort is a theme park and zoo in South West London, England. It lies south of Central London. Historically opened as Chessington Zoo in 1931, a theme park was developed alongside it, opening in 1987...
    
    
  • Ripsaw at Alton Towers
    Alton Towers
    Alton Towers is a theme park and resort located in Staffordshire, England. It attracts around 2.7 million visitors per year making it the most visited theme park in the United Kingdom. Alton Towers is also the 9th most visited theme park in Europe...
    
    
  • Terror Rack at Pleasure Island Family Theme Park
    Pleasure Island Family Theme Park
    Pleasure Island Family Theme Park is a Theme Park in Cleethorpes, North East Lincolnshire, England. It is commonly known simply as Pleasure Island. The park opened on 27 May 1993 and was originally a subsidiary of Flamingo Land Ltd...
    
     - copied version of the ride built by Fabbri
    Fabbri Group
    The Fabbri Group is an Italian amusement rides manufacturer, based in Bergantino, a northern village of Italy.Fabbri was founded and started manufacturing in 1950, just after World War II, by Romolo Fabbri...
    
    
• United States of America:
  • The Crypt
    The Crypt (Kings Dominion)
    The Crypt is a HUSS suspended top spin located at Kings Dominion in Doswell, Virginia. The Crypt is also the name of a giant top spin at Kings Dominion's sister park, Kings Island...
    
     at Kings Dominion
  • The Crypt
    The Crypt (Kings Island)
    The Crypt is a Giant Top Spin thrill ride located at Kings Island theme park in Ohio. Originally constructed in 2002 by then-owners Paramount Parks, the ride opened as TOMB RAIDER: The Ride, featuring numerous special effects, pre-shows, and voice-overs establishing its relation to the Paramount...
    
     at Kings Island
    Kings Island
    Kings Island is a amusement park located northeast of Cincinnati in Mason, Ohio. Opened in 1972 by Taft Broadcasting Company and now owned by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, Kings Island is the most visited seasonal amusement park in the U.S...
    
     - "The King of Top Spins," the only Giant Top Spin in the world, completely enclosed.
  • Der Twister at Six Flags Fiesta Texas
    Six Flags Fiesta Texas
    Six Flags Fiesta Texas is a seasonally operated theme park located on approximately of land in San Antonio, Texas.Six Flags Fiesta Texas is the major entertainment component of USAA's La Cantera, a 1,600 acre master-planned development in northwest San Antonio...
    
    
  • Firefall at California's Great America (Originally the "Texas Twister" at Geauga Lake, the first in North America.)
  • Hang Time at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom
    Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom
    Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom is an American amusement and water park located in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The park features nine roller coasters, other adult and children's rides, and a waterpark, Wildwater Kingdom....
    
    
  • King Chaos at Six Flags Great America
    Six Flags Great America
    Six Flags Great America is a Six Flags theme park in the Chicago metropolitan area, located in Gurnee, Illinois. It first opened in 1976 as Marriott's Great America. Six Flags purchased the park from the Marriott Corporation in 1984, making it the seventh park in the chain...
    
    
  • King Kahuna at Kennywood
    Kennywood
    Kennywood is an amusement park located in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Pittsburgh. The park first opened in 1898 as a "trolley park" at the end of the Monongahela Street Railway. The park was purchased in 1906 by F. W. Henninger and Andrew McSwigan and thus began the Kennywood...
    
     - Removed from park/for sale
  • RipTide at Knott's Berry Farm
    Knott's Berry Farm
    Knott's Berry Farm is a theme park in Buena Park, California, now owned by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, and a line of jams, jellies, preserves, and other specialty food, now part of The J. M. Smucker Company based in Placentia, California....
    
     and Valleyfair
  • Shake, Rattle & Roll at Elitch Gardens
  • Splash Over at Adventureland (Iowa)
    Adventureland (Iowa)
    Adventureland is a family-owned amusement park in Altoona, Iowa . It features over 100 rides, shows and attractions.-The History:...
    
    
  • Thunderhawk at Worlds of Fun
    Worlds of Fun
    Worlds of Fun is an amusement park in Kansas City, Missouri, United States. The park opened in 1973 and was originally built by Lamar Hunt and Jack Steadman . In 1995 Hunt-Midwest sold Worlds of Fun to Cedar Fair Entertainment Co., which currently owns the park...
    
    
    
  • Top Spin at Astroland
    Astroland
    Astroland was a amusement park in Coney Island first opened in 1962. It was located at 1000 Surf Avenue on the boardwalk...
    
    , Coney Island and the Strates Shows
    Strates Shows
    Strates Shows is America's only railroad carnival. It travels the United States during a seven-month season, transporting personnel and equipment with 61 rail cars and 34 trucks. Traveling with the show are some 400 employees and families who operate the many rides, games and...
    
     railway carnival.
  • Twister at Six Flags Great Adventure
    Six Flags Great Adventure
    Six Flags Great Adventure is a theme park in Jackson Township, New Jersey, owned by Six Flags Entertainment Corp., the world's largest amusement park corporation...
    
     and Six Flags New England
    Six Flags New England
    Six Flags New England , formerly Riverside Amusement Park, is a Six Flags theme park, named for the New England region, in which it is located. Located off of Massachusetts State Route 159, Six Flags New England is located less than from the major City of Springfield, Massachusetts, in the nearby...
    
    
  • Twister at Darien Lake
  • VooDoo at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
    Six Flags Discovery Kingdom
    Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, formerly Six Flags Marine World, Marine World, The New Marine World Theme Park, and Marine World Africa USA, is an animal theme park located in Vallejo, California. The park includes a variety of roller coasters and other amusement rides, along with a collection of...
    
    
  • Top Spin at Dixie Classic Fair
    Dixie Classic Fair
    The Dixie Classic Fair is an annual fair held in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The fair takes place every autumn on the Dixie Classic Fairgrounds , which is part of the Winston-Salem Entertainment-Sports Complex; the grounds are located adjacent to the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum...
    
    

External links

• A comprehensive Top Spin website with descriptions and pictures