"Like a giant jojo" was the motto of HANSA-PARK in 2000. And the name says it all. The transportable "Vertical Ride" from Maurer Söhne found its place in the newly designed Mexican area, as the first ride in the new themed area. Only four months later followed the water bobsled ride Rio Dorado.
In 1892, several scientists, archaeologists and adventurers embark on a dangerous journey into the mountains of the Mesa Central. Their goal is to find the last remnants of the dark ruler Monte-Zuma. The sun god of the Atztecs. After setting up the base camp at 1600 meters, they set out to tackle their final lap. The journey was not from the beginning under any good star, because the summit is cursed in the vernacular of the Mexicans. Cursed by the ruthless revenge of the sun god Monte-Zuma. Nobody ever saw the expedition team again.
"Monte-Zuma" was the prototype of the Power-Tower series. He was with a total height of 42 meters and a drop height of 36 meters, the smallest delivered system. After the prototype was completed in the spring of 1998, the constructors of Maurer Söhne were already working on a 55-meter higher unit, which was sold as "Power Tower 1" to the showman Ewald Schneider from Bielefeld. The prototype was apparently not retrieved, and only used in 1999 on the Foire du Trône in Paris as "Thrill Tower - The Big Jump". Then HANSA-PARK took over the tower.
In order to be able to lift the weight of a fully loaded 13-tonne gondola, two Siemens electric motors were required, each transmitting 362 kilowatts of power. The gondola was connected to the engines with four thick steel cables via two giant winches, and reached an upward speed of 5 m/s (18 km/h). At 12 m/s (42 km/h), the passengers finally fell to earth.
Shallow, but with belly-tingling up and down movements, the passengers gradually climbed the top of the tower and could experience a beautiful panorama of the Bay of Lübeck. Until they were suddenly torn down by the earth's gravity. But Monte-Zuma's revenge was not yet soothed. And the fateful journey began again. The driving program is called POJO, and belongs to a collection of work from pre-programmed rides. The graph shows the altitude and speed.
Despite the simplicity of the ride, which can still be seen on big fairgrounds today, "Monte-Zuma" trumped with a specially dubbed soundtrack based on the song "Virtual Experience" by Cocooma. As a result, a very mystical as well as modern soundtrack was chosen, which scoured the heartbeat, while at the same time lending the theme, an expedition into the unknown, a very nice atmosphere.
Many thanks to Cocooma for the kind permission.
During his time at HANSA-PARK, the Power-Tower has undergone some changes. Among other things, the waiting area was provided with a canvas roof, to protect against sun and rain. The turning lettering on the head of the tower was removed after a few years, and the forecourt was adapted several times due to the Jumping Star La Torre Rapidá. The biggest change was made in the 2006 season. The orange tower was repainted in a red-yellow pattern, as well as the formerly blue gondola now in a bold red. After a long time a decoration element was put on the head, in the form of a spinning sun, in honor of the sun god Monte-Zuma.
In the case of a test stop, the tower was secured by two brake blocks on the sides of the tower. Once all four cables were torn or the engine brakes failed, passengers would have had to withstand no more than six times their body weight as soon as the gondola was caught by the brakes. But even with one cracked cable, the tower was still functional enough to safely let the gondola to the ground. Every year, both steel cable harnesses and the motors were tested for wear by TÜV SÜD.
With 2012, the era of the Power-Tower finally came to an end. The ride was sold, and on March 1, 2013, the tower was dismantled to clear the way for the hyper coaster Oath of KÄRNAN. An Internet photo finally showed the dismantling of the drop tower in the yard of a Lübeck junk dealer.
