Trace
du Hourra, Parc Asterix
Legend has it, in the days when
cave-dwelling mankind became excited by the most trivial of things, upon
the accidental discovery that man could walk, they became overwhelmed
with euphoria and ran down roads screaming hurrah, in a mindless spree
of jubilation.
It makes a refreshing change for
you and me to be able to introduce a so-called bobsleigh by not having
to blether on about quaint Alpine villages, covered in snow with a
bobsleigh run carving its’ way through the rocky peaks.
Although the Mack bobsleigh is
original enough, the boat has really been pushed out to make sure that
Trace Du Hourra (Trail of Hurrah) is not a poor alternative to the
criminally superb Tonnerre De Zeus, yet offering a completely
incomparable experience in similarity.
Although the bobsleigh isn’t
Mack’s biggest seller, theming seems to be a knee-jerk reaction by
painting the track white and giving the station wooden trim. A few
exceptions exist, but by theming this attraction on that celebrated day
of merriment when it was realised that man could walk, Parc Asterix
really pushed the boat out.
Original themes are Parc Asterixs’
speciality. Trace Du Hourra is only a stones throw from the superb Menhir
Express and the stippled Oxygenarium and from the outset looks
fantastic.
The curved underside of the
dusty-brown track, trimmed in red, coils in and out of view, through
trees, rock formations and over pools of water. The entrance is formed
from a precariously stacked archway of rocks before the path leads you
into the epicentre of the ride.
As you weave through the centre
of the dramatically sweeping turns of the ride, you pass cascading
waterfalls and rock-formed archways as every minute-or-so a train will
majestically orbit dizzily around you before turning out of view.
As you look closer, the story of
mankind’s first steps are told through drawings etched into the rock.
Comical men leap for joy as they raise to their feet, something which
may go over the heads of those unaware of the theming intricacies, but
enough to give at least a general idea of the ride.
A large rock creation forms the
station with carefully shaped pillars above holding the dramatic roof
above riders. The queue goes into a darkened tunnel beneath the station,
once again festively decorated in drawings. The queue goes outside once
again, past the lift hill, subtly spiralling up to the station platform.
Like most of the rides at Parc
Asterix, where you sit is up to you. Not being an airtime ride, it makes
little difference, although it goes without saying the views are in the
front, the speed in the back.
Each train is deep amber with
jovial décor in a contrasting shade of pink, green or blue. The
fresco-artwork is a joy, and although from a distance the trains might
look like a string of sweet corn, from a respectable distance they look
absolutely fantastic.
Each train is split into
two-seater cars. Riders sit one behind each other, with a lap bar that
hinges into place, held by hydraulics meaning it will fit snugly and
stay there.
Loading is exceptionally swift,
and once bars are checked, the train is tyre driven on coaster-like
track around an initial turn into the lift hill.
The lift appears to be enormous,
and as you rise, a great view of not only the ride, but of the park.
Mechanically, the lift is fast and unnervingly silent. As you approach
the top, the train levels out into a large plateau as the back finishes
the ascent and the front begins its descent.
With grace, it sharply
accelerates into a sweeping right-hand spiral, turning under the top of
the lift with surprising speed. Without pausing, the train abruptly
shifts to the left, and into another helix turning dramatically to the
right and back under the lift.
As for a moment the track
straightens, the train is funnelled in using tracks at the side,
bringing it into an upward stance. The train doesn’t even slow and
having been deprived of a few collected breaths of air, you smoothly
accelerate into a sweeping left-hand turn.
The pace once again quickens as
this double helix gets tighter and tighter. As you hurtle down this
vortex, you dip down towards the ground, almost skimming water below,
and as you do, the ride camera captures your excited face as once again,
you climb subtlety into another set of mid-course brakes.
Untrimmed, you drop down into a
slaloming figure eight through a rocky formation, arching dramatically
above your head. A unexpectedly sharp tight turn at the far end sends
you back towards these rocks before turning to the left and into a
slithering turn, sending you bouncing back into the final brake-run,
slowing smoothly, not stopping, before advancing around the final turn,
past the maintenance shed hidden from view by a screen of bamboo, before
entering the station and leaving on your right.
Trace Du Hourra completely and
utterly trounces any form of competition, and entirely embarrasses the
pitiful Intamin version of the ride. The queue is just fabulous, with
lucid and novel theming it is a pleasure to stand in, and with great
visuals of a notoriously un-photogenic ride, it entertains too.
Although the queue is a
surprising delight, it is the ride that excels. From the top of the lift
to the final brakes it is completely unyielding. Although running three
trains is normal (it can run an amazing six), not one of the mid-course
brake runs interrupts your hasty
binge around the circuit.
Without intimidating younger
family members, the ride smoothly yet forcefully throws you into each
turn with incredible grace, something achieved as the train takes its
natural path thanks to the lack of rigid track.
From the lift, the course is
varied with a great selection of varied elements, such as the swooping
turn into the first helix, the mid-course spiral and the finale, a
knotted figure-eight.
I’m not alone in saying that
Trace Du Hourra is the perfect family ride in every way. With an
un-exhausted concept of a ride it is more than the theming that makes it
stand head and shoulders above the rest.
With the trains, visuals are
great, and as the train swiftly chops and changes through the varying
turns, it is great watching it snake around as it does.
With surprising speed, and equal
grace, riding it is a joy.
MS Undated
Good points:
▪ A very smooth coaster
▪ Excellent elements
including figure-eight helix
▪ Very quick and well
paced
▪ Can run five or more
trains meaning a fast moving queueline
▪ A very original ride
with a very original theme
Bad points:
▪ Trim brakes get in the
way if a lot of trains are running
▪ Quite a short ride
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