Looking for Whirlwind racer info

[zingo]

After seeing footage of this ride on British Pathé website I'm interested in knowing more about it (and the Racing coaster too!)

Was it powered or gravity? Steel or wood? Anyone on here ridden it in the 60's and remember what they were like? It looks like it whips round the track quite fast on the video footage...

Likewise same questions for the Racing coaster...

Any info much appreciated!

Cheers

[zingo]

Ahh the sound of silence! Sorry if it's been discussed before, but...
Ive been fumbling about and for anyone interested in these two rides, I came across an image which I hadn't seen before showing the lift hill of the side friction Racing Coaster. Looks like a mini Scenic about 30 ft high. Seems there's more sightings of Nessie than this ride!!!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/32335433@N ... 483400980/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/32335433@N ... 483400980/


The guy's got two pics of Whirlwind racer too which was live rail powered not gravity so not strictly a 'proper' coaster. Bit of a squeeze for an adult to fit into those trains too from the look of them. Side friction too, but can't tell if it runs on wood or steel... anyone?

Ohh, and there's pics of the Kursaal Cyclone which I'd love to time travel and ride more than anything... well apart from the Bobs of course!

Cheers

[aweber1us]

Hi
I was born in 1967 and i can remember going on this ride with my Mum. She use to call it the little dipper and the Scenic was the big dipper.When riding the dreamland train im sure you could see some of the up rights of this coaster still after it was demolised?

[Greg Pryce]

A friend of mine used to ride the Whirlwind Racer and remembered when it was raining and dark, seeing all the sparks as the electricity arced across the 'pick-ups' as the trains flew around the track.

[faro]

i remember going on the racing coaster(just),my mum waited at the bottom so it couldn't have been that scarey.
i must have been 10 or 11.
i think it may have been very similar to a figure8.
regards jamie.

[Gary]

If you click

http://www.joylandbooks.com/themagiceye/articles/bobs2.htm

and go to the bottom of the page you can just about make out The Whirlwind Coaster that operated at Belle Vue Manchester.

Gary