Spin through the Eighties with the RetroSquad...
Spin through the Eighties with the RetroSquad...
| Theme Park | Alton Towers |
|---|---|
| Park Area | X-Sector |
| Type | Flat Ride |
| Audience | Thrillseekers |
| Opened | 26 March 2022 (replaced Mixtape) |
| Manufacturer | Tivoli |
| Model | Extreme |
| Owner | Mitchell Wilmot |
Spinjam has landed from the Planet Retrograde
Spinjam is a new addition to Alton Towers' lineup of RetroSquad rides for the 2022 season.
It is a Tivoli Extreme spinning flat ride and sits within the X-Sector area of the park. Although run on a tamer setting than would normally be found when on the UK fair circuit, it provides the most intense experience of the three RetroSquad rides in the 2022 lineup.
Riders sit on seats grouped in pairs, with three pairs connected to one of four spinning arms, which are in turn connected to a central spinning column. The arms can be lifted into the air, causing riders to spin at various angles up to near vertical at times. During the climax of the ride, the speed is increased and riders experience some intense positive G-forces as they are pressed into their seats.
Spinjam is owned by UK showman Mitchell Wilmot and usually travels around UK fairs where it is known as Air Raid. It was originally owned by Garry Evans, who toured it from 2013 to 2015 before selling it to Mitchell Wilmot.
The RetroSquad are a number of temporary fairground thrill rides originally hired in for the 2021 season to relieve pressure on the theme park's permanent rides due to capacity restrictions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. They all share a backstory of being sent from the Planet Retrograde in response to a call from Alton Towers for more thrills in the 1980s, but they got lost en-route and have only just arrived at the theme park. As such they feature a retro-80s vibe with some mild theming overlays and eighties pop song soundtracks. The original RetroSquad lineup featured Roller Disco, Funk'n'Fly and Mixtape. Spinjam was brought in to replace Mixtape, which returned to tour the UK fair circuit at the end of the 2021 season.
Spinjam is located in X-Sector
About to begin
In full spin
Queueline entrance
Ride information board
Spinjam is one of the RetroSquad rides
Waiting for riders
Arms up
Going for a spin
The ride is from UK manufacturer Tivoli
Pairs of seats are connected in threes to spinning arms
There are four spinning arms connected to the central column
Seats spin as the arms tilt up into the air
Spinjam generates some intense G-forces
Riders are pushed into their seats
Spinjam is fast and intense, but lots of fun
The ride is owned by UK showman Mitchell Wilmot
Oblivion passes next to Spinjam
The ride nestles underneath Oblivion's final hill and brakerun
