The Tampa Tribune from Tampa, Florida • 11

TBO.com THE TAMPA TRIBUNE FRIDAY, MAY 27, 2011 METRO XI METRO Cheetah Hunt inspired by 'Star Wars' .3 K.3 I 11.. -V. oewW Coaster makes its debut today at Busch Gardens BY MACKENZIE MOUNT The Tampa Tribune Fans of Busch Gardens' newest roller coaster, Cheetah Hunt, can thank "Star Wars" creator George Lucas. Mark Rose, one of the key players in the coaster's design, drew inspiration from "Star Wars" when creating the steel coaster, which opens today at 9 a.m., along with the Cheetah Run live animal exhibit. "Six, seven years ago, I had the idea of what I called a close-to-the-ground coaster," said Rose, Busch Gardens' vice president of design and engineering.

The idea took off when he watched "Stars Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi." "They're on the planet where the Ewoks are those little furry guys and they steal those speeders, and they're racing each other through the forest, and they're going around things very close, and I wondered what it'd be like to build a coaster that could do that, that could mimic that," said Rose. "That required technology to be able to launch as close to the ground and be JAY NOUNSTAFF Cheetah Hunt, which also drew from Manta at Sea World, has magnetic-propulsion launches that thrust riders in 30, 60 and 45 mph spurts. able to go forward. Then we thought about what kind of animal display would we bring, and cheetahs was our first choice, so could we marry the two? And it's a perfect marriage." To mimic the action of a hunting cheetah, the coaster has three magnetic-propulsion launches that thrust riders forward in 30, 60 and 45 mph spurts. Members of the twisting and turning." Another inspiration for Cheetah Hunt came from sister park Sea World's an-imal-habitat-and-thrill-ride hybrid, Manta, said Busch Gardens' park President Jim Dean.

"Manta combines a world-class coaster with an animal, an aquarium, experience," Dean said. "We modeled that same thing." Cheetah Run's 250-foot- media and American Coaster Enthusiasts got to preview the experience on Thursday. "I love the launch," said six-year ACE member Alexander Blustein, 16, who enjoyed his 106th coaster by riding Cheetah Hunt at least 11 times. "The initial rush, the acceleration's great. One moment you're being launched up a tower, then you're shooting through a canyon and long stretch flanks the coaster, showcasing up to seven of its 13 total cheetahs in full view of people heading toward the ride's queue.

Park staff will race two-to-three cheetahs throughout the day by enticing them with a mechanized lure, according to vice president of zoological operations Mike Boos. you imagine finicky cats, sometimes they could care less, sometimes they're really intrigued," Boos said. "We've had to find what each animal is intrigued by. "What do you lure a house cat with? A feather on a string. The string itself goes at 80 miles an hour." Cheetah Hunt, meanwhile, hits a top speed of 60 mph.

mmounttampatrib.com (813) 259-7606 Softball coach gets four years in prison in fatal wreck sneaked out behind the ter in the wreck, which turning himself in to au Man who was intoxicated says he's 'truly sorry' worse off, not having the support he has received. None of Weaver's family spoke at the sentencing. Prosecutors said Weaver's brother, Charles Grant, was caring for his ill mother. A victim's advocate read a letter from Grant, who asked Lopez not to give Parks any breaks. "He snuck out of that party," Grant wrote, "he knew what he was doing." tbrennantampatrlb.com (813) 259-7698 Although sentencing guidelines called for at least 10 years in prison, Lopez said he was impressed by the parade of witnesses who spoke on Parks' behalf, including his wife, friends, ministers and former co-workers and boss.

"It was out of character for him," the judge said. "He has shown tremendous remorse. I think he learned a great deal from this." Parks, who had been free on $25,000 bail since wheel of his GMC pickup. About a mile away, Parks rammed head-on into a Jeep driven by Karen Weaver, who was heading home from a yuletide party on Big Bend Road. Parks never noticed the road had gone from four lanes to two and that he was driving into oncoming traffic.

Weaver, 47, of River-view, was killed. Parks, 37, pleaded guilty Thursday to driving under the influence-manslaugh happened about 11:30 p.m. Dec. 19, 2009. Tests showed his blood-alcohol content was 0.218, deputies said.

Florida law presumes intoxication at 0.08. Hillsborough Circuit Judge Manuel A. Lopez sentenced Parks to four years in prison followed by 10 years of probation. It was the minimum punishment he could impose. Parks' guilty plea came without any deal with prosecutors.

thorities in January 2010, also spoke before being sentenced. "I am truly sorry for what happened," he said. "I awake every day with a hole in my soul." Parks denied having a drinking problem, although he said he swore off alcohol after the crash and has attended Alcoholic Anonymous meetings twice weekly. He said the meetings made him feel better because other people were BY TOM BRENNAN The Tampa Tribune tampa The coach had belted down a half-dozen beers and a couple of tequila shots at the holiday dessert social for his girls softball team. Team parents became so concerned they decided to snatch his keys, but Paul Michael Parks had -Mobile Tiny price.

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