Rita - Queen of Speed

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Rita - Queen of Speed

Location	Alton Towers
Park Section	Ug Land
Type	Steel - Launched
Status	Open
Opened	April 1, 2005
Manufacturer	Intamin AG
Designer	Werner Stengel
Model	Accelerator Coaster
Lift/launch system	Hydraulic Launch
Height	69 ft (21 m)
Length	2100 ft (640.1 m)
Max speed	62.1 mph (99.9 km/h)
Inversions	0
Duration	0:25
Capacity	1,100 riders per hour
Acceleration	0 − 62.1 mph in 2.5 seconds, maximum 1.5g
Max G force	4.7
Rita - Queen of Speed at RCDB
Pictures of Rita - Queen of Speed at RCDB

Rita - Queen of Speed is an Intamin AG Accelerator Coaster and one of the newer roller coasters to be built at Alton Towers in Staffordshire, England. It accelerates to 100 km/h (62.1 mph) in approximately 2.5 seconds. The ride is located in the Ug Land area of the park and was opened on 1 April 2005. The ride is based on drag racing. To mark the wedding of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles, the park changed the ride name to Camilla - Queen of Speed for a short time.

[edit] The Ride

The theming of the ride can look identical to Stealth at Thorpe Park, also owned by Tussauds. All theming is around a drag race, and includes the same entrance as Stealth, a large tyre which is used to walk through to gain access to the queue.

Once on the coaster and over the shoulder resistants are pulled down, the platform gates are closed. The resistants are double checked by staff, before the train moves slightly forward and back again, to enable to catch car into place. The anti-rollback fins are lowered, and then the preparation voice is played; "Keep your head back and hold on tight, we're counting down, get those engines reving... go, go, GO!". Shortely after the stations lights turn green, and the ride shoots off.

[edit] Criticism

Rita - Queen Of Speed has recieved much criticism from roller coaster enthusiasts saying the launch is 'forceless' and the layout of the track is uninteresting.