Review of the year featuring the good, the bad and the mediocre (and the latter in perhaps a larger dose than you might wish for).

Well as the opening of the 2005 season drew near our excitement was fast beginning to dwindle. Construction on their new toy G Force didn’t even begin until after the season had opened and most details had been revealed autumn the previous year, leaving the last details including the name, theming and the nature of the cars still under wraps. Perhaps coaster enthusiasts could have hijacked such an event to build up a regular construction achieve as piece by piece the ride was erected, yet despite this silver lining this was not to be as most people were off enjoying Rita at Alton Towers (but even Alton Towers kept guests waiting until a month after the season had begun for their new coaster).

In spite of the lack of photo updates news was beginning the filter through that delays at the Mauer Sohne factory caused by other new coasters for the 2005 season (chiefly Tarantula: Parque de Attraccions) meant they were behind schedule on G Force. In particular delays in producing the loop like lift pushed back opening from early July to late July delay leaving many more visitors disappointed as they were forced to gaze at the new coaster they couldn’t ride. Further more many people including enthusiasts were unsure exactly what it was they were waiting for. Poor marketing claim it would “go backwards” and be a “worlds first”, which was a slight porky considering the worlds first X car coaster (The Sky Wheel at Skyline Park in Germany) was juxtaposed in the background.

Eventually the ride did open (To be precise the 26TH OF July), complimented in the usual Drayton Manor fashion of a pop (and in this instance operatic) group. G Four sang a song before enjoying five laps of the coaster herself, however it is been argued whether the pop group is a benefit for those present or for the many teen magazines it attracts. In all honesty if I were a G Four fan who turned up on the day I would have been thoroughly disappointed. Without any kind of a stage hardly anyone save the official photographers could see much of them and they didn’t give much of a show. Just to compound the flop of launch day G Four may have been treated to ample rides, but before the general public were able to follow in their foot steps she had broken down for the rest of the day. I entirely sympathise with those forced to watch other people enjoying a new coaster without queuing will they received nothing having paid their hard earned cash to be there.

Having slated the launch day it is fair to say that her reliability would improve, and although continued to be less than perfect, compared to other new rides even faired comparatively well. I will hold back offering a personal review of the ride which has already been done in our G Force review, but in case you haven’t yet experienced her first hand, I will say that she isn’t bad, but hardly great either. Towards the end of the season she would begin to gather criticism not least from enthusiasts disappointed with the parks first coaster in a decade, but also from locals frustrated by her rumblings. Scared of receiving the same fate as Alton Towers (a noise abatement order) they have promised to work on softening her voice over the closed season.

While enthusiasts were fairly forgiving about them softening the note on G Force, it was less well received when the park announced the removal of their Huss enterprise Cyclone. Despite signs depicting Uncle Sam commanding “I want you to stop screaming”, their efforts weren’t good enough and locals remained peeved over her whining sound when in operation. She may be replaced by another Huss ride, but this time enclosed to prevent noise being such an issue.

Other updates around the park were sparse with any little attention diverted from G Force falling on the zoo. The Meercats were moved to a new enclosure, while there were some other new arrivals (including a rare specie of alligator) and sadly others passed on (RIP Topsy the chimp). To compliment these new additions there were a couple of special events. The fireworks went off with their usual bang, apparently fairly successful by the parks standard, but nether the less much overshadowed by Alton Towers. As a one off they had a VE Day celebration with an orchestra and Spit Fire fly by, which according to the park was thoroughly successful.

In conclusion there was much anticipation for this season owing to the arrival of a new coaster; however when the much awaited season finally arrived things went flat remarkably quickly. Not covered in this review was the unveiling of a new medium term strategy under pinning the parks direction up until 2012. As with G force it has prompted mixed opinions and you can follow the advancements of this strategy in the news section and discuss them on the forum.

Back to our articles contents page.