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Gators provide the perfect ride
Billed as the UK's most thrilling theme park, Thorpe Park at Chertsey in Surrey boasts more thrill rides than any other theme park in the country. A rather more sedate ride for the Park’s landscape staff is provided by a new John Deere TS 4x2 petrol Gator utility vehicle, their sixth Gator supplied by local dealer Golf & Turf of Wokingham in Berkshire.
Thorpe Park bought one of John Deere’s first 4x2 models sold in the UK after their launch in 1993, and now run three in the landscape department. “We always get at least 10 years hard work out of our Gators, and that’s using them every day,” says landscape manager Dave Hill. “In fact that original machine did 15 years hard labour, and it wasn’t just used for light duties. It supported the construction of all the big rides here, carrying tons and tons of soil and bark chips.
“Gators are also used in the cleaning department and at Chessington World of Adventures & Zoo – around 8000 square meters of turf at Chessington’s new hotel were recently brought in on their machine. We design, source and build everything for landscaping around our new rides, and Gators are used for all this service work, ferrying compost and other materials around, as well as carrying our John Deere walk-behind rotary mowers.
“We have tried electric vehicles, but with up to 20,000 visitors a day at peak times of the year, they really need to hear us coming, so the engine noise is necessary for safety reasons. Compared with other vehicles, the Gator’s lower top speed also suits us, as there’s a 10mph speed limit in the Park. The continuously variable transmission means there’s a gradual pick-up of speed, with no sudden bursts, so it’s very easy and safe to drive, and access is very good, as we have lots of tight spaces to get in and out of.
“We also use a general trailer, a Gator trailer and special trailed cages for cardboard collection around the shops, as we have our own recycling baler on site. The Gators can also tow the Park’s refuse bins when required. In addition to their versatility in work, they are very accessible for basic maintenance, and it’s very straightforward to order parts using the online JDParts system.
“This is why Gators have been our workhorse of choice for many years,” says Dave Hill. “We probably have more diverse uses for them than many customers – they really do go anywhere and do pretty well anything.”
For further details and/or photographs, please contact:
| Steve Mitchell | Henry Bredin |
| ASM Public Relations | John Deere Limited |
| Tel: 024 7630 8912 | Tel: 01949 860491 |
| Fax: 024 7630 5810 | Fax: 01949 860490 |
| E-mail: steve@asmpr.co.uk | | |
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