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Click on any thumbnail for the full-size pic
 The Swiss Bob was a standard production model Schwarzkopf Bayern Kurve (Bavarian Curve) ride, which was common to many amusement and theme parks around the world in the 1970's and 80's. The ride offered a high speed thrill, suitable for the entire family since young children could be seated in the laps of their parents. The rides had a very distinctive sound which could be heard from all around the parks they were in. Most park that had them have retired these rides since the manufacturer is out of business and parts have become scarce. |
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The Swiss Bob ride opened with the park in July of
1974. The ride appears to have been added at the last
minute, not appearing on the park map from the first season, though it
appeared in the Souvenir Book. Originally located near the Giant Wheel in 1974, the Swiss Bob was moved to what would turn out to be its final home for the 1975 season as part of the Fun Fair expansion. Originally the ride featured an Olympic bobsled theme, complete with a back drop, which was removed after the 1979 season. The ride originally received its power via a contact bar mounted below the center car, and a rail in the track. The power was required for both the lighting and the motors which lowered and lifted the cars as the ride started and ended. Following the modifications pictured in the photos, the contact bar was removed and a central rotating power line was added - sort of like a big power cord. The power cord wasn't possible in the early years due to the elaborate backdrop panels and scenery, but provided a more reliable and easier to maintain power connection.  |
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The Swiss Bob was
powered by a series of drive tires mounted below the track which
propelled the cars with a central fin. The ride was removed in 1991 to make way for the Batman Stunt Arena and was moved to the boneyard, where it remained for several years. Twice the ride was slated to be rebuilt in new locations and the cars were even repainted gold/orange/red colors and its structural pieces were placed in the former Ultra Twister site hinting that it was destined for the Mexican area but it never reappeared. |
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These images from the
park's poster maps show the Swiss Bob's locations throughout the years. Originally left off of the 1974 map, the rides first location is marked here with a blue dot. The 1975 map shows the rides second location in the Fun Fair section where it stayed until its removal in 1991. The poster map to the right from the 1992 season shows the Swiss Bob being relocated to the long-vacant Ultra Twister site which had been a dead spot in the park. The ride was painted, and parts moved to the site, but was never re-built here, leaving the site vacant until the introduction of Viper. The poster map to the left from 1993 shows the Swiss Bob along with the Swabinchen ride being relocated to the former Shockwave site along with the Lion sign. The idea was they would be in a gated area which would be closed off on slow days, and open on the busiest days, giving the park added ride capacity to handle larger crowds. With a change in plans, the Swabinchen would reappear in 1993 as El Sombrero on the site previously occupied by the Tilt-a-Whirl. The Swiss Bob, however, was never rebuilt. |
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