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Special Features: SheiKra soars over Busch Gardens Tampa

By Alex W

Oct. 27th, 2004 -- Busch Gardens Tampa announced the addition of their eighth roller coaster. SheiKra, a Bolliger & Mabillard Dive Machine roller coaster will debut for the 2005 season. The 200-foot-tall SheiKra will feature two vertical drops and an Immleman Dive.

This will be the third installation of the B&M Dive Machine. In 1998, Alton Towers’ seven million dollar Oblivion debuted with a 180-foot underground drop. Just two years later, Janfusun Fancyworld introduced their own dive machine with a 179-foot near-vertical drop. Gold Reef City introduced a Ronald Bussink designed Dive Machine.

Up until this point, all three of the Dive Machines have been one-trick ponies. Busch Gardens Tampa will push the envelope farther with the debut of SheiKra next year. The B&M scream machine will feature an initial drop of 200 feet, reaching speeds of 70 mph, then enter an immleman dive. This will be the first time an inversion will be featured on a Dive Machine. SheiKra will also feature a 360-rising carousel turn, and a second 138-foot subterranean dive. The ride will also contain a water splash feature and pull a maximum of 4 G’s.

SheiKra, named after a Savannah Hawk, will carry up to 1500 guests per hour on a force-filled journey including moments of airtime and face-ripping G-forces. SheiKra will rise over a newly-themed portion of Stanleyville. The new roller coaster will not be the only improvement. New shopping options will be available and a new indoor/outdoor restaurant will be built right next to the attraction, allowing diners to see SheiKra close without riding.

No exact date has been set for the opening of SheiKra, but stay tuned to ThrillNetwork for updates and more information over the next few months.

View the new ride's stats here, or view its gallery.

To view the video (requires QuickTime 6 or higher with a high-speed connection), please click here.

Bryan Wood and Steven contributed to this report


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