The £5 million ride opened to the public on Saturday, and hundreds of people of all ages put up with the extreeme heaton a hot Summer’s day in order that they could be among the first to try out the record-breaking ride.
Mumbo Jumbo has a section with an inverse incline of 112 degrees – beyond the vertical – which was verified as the steepest on a steel rollercoaster by the representative from the Guinness Book of Records in attendance on the day.
Talking to Scarborough’s Evening News, Flamingo Land boss Gordon Gibb said: “It’s wonderful to get the public on at last – it’s what it’s all about. I’m delighted with it, every second is filled with dynamic twists and turns. I’ve never experienced anything like it.”
Several competition winners were among the first to board the ride along with members of the Roller Coaster Club of Great Britain, who had travelled from as far as Cornwall, London and Scotland.
Chairman Andy Hine, 42, of Hillingdon, London, said to the Evening News: “This is a unique ride which has elements nobody else has got.”
Whilst fellow member Matt Walker, 36, of Bournemouth, commented: “It was brilliant – it has lots of things you don’t expect. Plus it’s really comfortable – you could spend an hour on it!”
The ride ran smoothly for over an hour but a technical hitch left one four-person carriage stuck near the top of a steep climb for around 20 minutes but these were explained simpy as ‘teething problems’ by the ride operator.
This great new ride is expected attracted tourist to local are from far and wide and be a huge boost for the local economy including local businesses and hotels in Scarborough and the surrounding area.
