| Fire Ball | |
| Imagedimensions: | 250px |
| Manufacturer: | Larson International |
| Custom Label 2: | Previous names |
| Custom Value 2: | Super Loops Ring of Fire |
The Fire Ball is a type of amusement ride manufactured by Larson International.[1] It replaced a series of Larson rides manufactured prior to its unveiling, the first being the Super Loops and the second being the Ring of Fire. The ride features a roller coaster-type train which rolls along a ring-shaped track, turning riders upside down at the top of the loop. Older models of this ride type have trains with each half of the train facing opposite directions, with a protective metal cage and a rigid lap bar restraining the riders. In 1998, Larson introduced a new roofless, open-air train with over-the-shoulder harnesses and seats that sit riders face-to-face with each other.[2] Some owners of the older Ring of Fire rides have had the caged train replaced with the new Fire Ball train.
Though the ride share similarities with that of a roller coaster, notably having a train which rolls along a track, it is often not considered as such since the ride is powered by motorized drive tires, and not by gravity like a roller coaster.
Larson makes three different versions of the ride: The Fire Ball, the 22M Giant Loop, and the Giga Loop 100ft. Each ride provides a similar ride experience, but are larger than each other in terms of both size and capacity.
| Model name | Height/Length | Rider capacity | Transportable | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fire Ball | 58feet | 20 passengers | [3] | ||
| 22M Giant Loop | 73feet | 24 passengers | [4] | ||
| Giga Loop 100 Ft | 101feet | 32 passengers | [5] |
The ride's train is rocked back and forth at a generous rate, as not to put too much stress on the tire drive. It elevates on every pass through the station until it has gained enough momentum to make it completely around the loop, thus riders experiencing hangtime (the feeling of themselves almost falling out of their seats). Once a number of consecutive loops are made, it can be shifted to go the other direction. It can also be stopped at the top. Since the Super Loop-styled rides are tire-driven, even the slightest water build-up on the rim can cause the drive tires to hydroplane on the rim. This action keeps the ride from completing its loop and can sometimes make a loud squeal. Like many amusement rides, these rides should not be operated during inclement weather such as thunderstorms.
Most of the Super Loop-styled rides are manually operated with a toggle handle. Most of these rides have a dead man's operator chair that detects the absence of an operator. This prevents the ride from moving in case the handle is bumped without an operator being sat in the chair. Operators of these rides have to be knowledgeable of weight distribution and speed-to-distance ratio. The amount of power needed to operate this ride is 240 volts, 250 amps (60 kW).
These rides have numerous safety features that include:
| Name | Park | Country | Model | Opened | Status | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bourbon Street Fireball | Six Flags America | United States | 22M Giant Loop | 2014 | Removed in 2023. | ||
| Brain Drain | Elitch Gardens | United States | 22M Giant Loop | 2014 | |||
| Brain Drain | Frontier City | United States | 22M Giant Loop | 2015 | |||
| ChaosFormerly El Diablo | La Ronde Six Flags Great Adventure | Canada | 22M Giant Loop | 2019 | Originally announced as Looping Dragon at Six Flags Great Adventure but was renamed El Diablo before its opening. Closed in 2018 and relocated to La Ronde for the 2019 season. | ||
| Cyclone | Galveston Island Historic Pleasure Pier | United States | Fire Ball | 2012 | |||
| Dare Devil Chaos Coaster | Six Flags Discovery Kingdom | United States | 22M Giant Loop | 2015 | Removed in 2022. | ||
| Delirious | Valleyfair | United States | 22M Giant Loop | 2018 | |||
| El Diablo | Six Flags Over Texas | United States | Giga Loop 100 Ft | 2019 | Originally announced as Lone Star Revolution but was renamed El Diablo before its opening. | ||
| Eye of the Storm | Kentucky Kingdom | United States | 22M Giant Loop | 2017 | |||
| Fireball | Six Flags Fiesta Texas | United States | 22M Giant Loop | 2016 | |||
| Fireball | Six Flags New England | United States | 22M Giant Loop | 2016 | Damaged beyond repair during a storm in 2021. | ||
| Fireball | Six Flags St. Louis | United States | 22M Giant Loop | 2016 | |||
| Fire Ball | Cliff's Amusement Park | United States | Fire Ball | 2013 | |||
| Fire Ball | Lake Winnepesaukah | United States | Fire Ball | 2012 | |||
| Flare | Kemah Boardwalk | United States | 22M Giant Loop | 2014 | |||
| Giant Loop (环翼飞车) | Happy Valley Shenzhen | China | 22M Giant Loop | 2019 | |||
| Greezed Lightnin' | Six Flags Great Escape and Hurricane Harbor | United States | 22M Giant Loop | 2016 | |||
| Joker: Chaos Coaster | Six Flags Over Georgia | United States | 22M Giant Loop | 2015 | Removed in 2022 after years of operational difficulties. Replaced by Kid Flash Cosmic Coaster in 2023. | ||
| Mardi Gras Hangover | Niagara Amusement Park & Splash World Six Flags Great America | United States | Giga Loop 100 Ft | TBD 2018 - 2023 | The first installation of the Giga Loop. | ||
| Ring of Fire | Clementon Park and Splash World | United States | Fire Ball | 2010 | |||
| Rolling Thunder | Six Flags Darien Lake | United States | 22M Giant Loop | 2015 | |||
| Zero G | Indiana Beach | United States | Fire Ball | 2016 |