The Rumors on the Flying Dutchman

EVERY Vekoma I have ever ridden was a head banger. That includes SLC's, boomerangs, and sit down multi loopers. My hometown park (Jazzland) is getting a SLC. Am I excited about riding it? No. But at least it will take the long lines away from Mega Zeph.

TWO FACE at SFA was pretty smooth. It was no Riddler's Revenge or Goliath, but it was VERY tolerable. People just love to clown Vekoma because they come up with NEW ideas. Unlike B&M who just take their old ideas and make them slower and more boring.

I've never really been on a headbanging coaster. And I've ridden Rock n Rollerocaster. What's the deal?

-------------
Randy Hutchinson
You build it, I'll ride it

Come ride Kong and I'll show you...

-------------
Take a picture, it will last longer...

We can't blame Vekoma if the parks decide to not do the needed wheel replacements. They have alot to do with how smoothly a coaster runs. Even S:ROS@SFA has a few problems with roughness late in the year because the wheels were worn out. I should know, 1/2 of my rides for the year came in fall.

-------------
Everybody calm down, the coasters do not open for another fifteen minutes. *** This post was edited by WildOne on 11/30/2000. ***

Wild one, I'm think parks should except some of the responsiblity for their coasters, but Vekoma and Arrow have earned their reputation not from one, two or three headbangers, but MOST of their coasters end up the same way.

-------------
Take a picture, it will last longer... *** This post was edited by Simcoaster on 11/30/2000. ***

Simcoaster nailed it. Not just a few Vekomas and Arrows, almost all of them. I would rather ride a "boring" (according to Superbatboy) but smooth B&M (like Medusa SFMW). BTW B&M has plenty of innovation on their side, sitdown, standup, inverted, hyper, floorless and dive machine. Vekoma has sitdowns, Invertigo, SLC and Flying Dutchman. Who has more NEW ideas?

At least S:ROS has no OSTR's, it's mostly the @#*&±¢ horsecollars combined with old wheels and poor tracking.

-------------
So you want a coaster in your backyard? I hope you have a big backyard.

What kind of Flying dutchman are you talking about,is it the old one like the one that Dorney park have in the 1970's,this one was a steel coaster.

We're talking about the "flying coaster" version which was introduced last year at PGA.

-------------
Randy Hutchinson
You build it, I'll ride it

Soggy, dont forget that Vekoma also uses THEIR OWN electromagnet launch system (not someone else's tires) AND they make WOODEN coasters (let's see B&M try that!) not to mention the "Hammerhead Stall" and the "Cliffhanger" coasters. If you dont like Vekoma, I certainly cant fault you, but they are trying some new things (other than different train designs)

I really am not fond of Vekoma's stuff. It does serve its purpose. Which in my mind is to provide parks with inexpensive thrill rides and coasters. But all Vekoma coasters have their headbanging, some better than others. All in all i don't like non-complete circuit or "off the shelf" coasters. Why bother (in my elitest, enthusiast mind) spending a couple of million when you could throw a little more in (relativly speaking) and get a unique ride that would probably be far more popular across the board.

That's why i'm hoping that should SFO be building a FD that they would have the sense to change up the ride a least a little from the first.

2Hostyl, I forgot about Hammerhead Stall. But I did not know about Cliffhanger or Vekoma woodies. Where are they? (just curious) B&M have made woodie trains (Psyclone @ SFMM), not that the trains make it a good ride. You are right, Vekoma has some good stuff (repeat, I loved Stealth) but if I had to choose between B&M or Vekoma, I would choose B&M, they have far more "individualized" coasters.

-------------
So you want a coaster in your backyard? I hope you have a big backyard.

Has headbanging ever been this big of a topic as it has the last few months?

-------------
Randy Hutchinson
You build it, I'll ride it

Well I think with the new smooth as glass Gios, Intamins and B&Ms, headbanging is just not going to be tolerated any longer, not by parks or guests. The biggest sign of that is what is happening up at Kennywood. What an insult to have one company's ride removed, then rebuilt by another, removing *all* of the headbanging elements. And people say Arrow has nothing to prove?

-------------
Take a picture, it will last longer...

As far as I know, Cliffhanger hasn't been built yet (it's kinda like Giovanola's Terror Tilt). Vekoma's woodie Robin Hood is at SFHolland (I think). You can check out pics at their site (www.vekoma.com). And I agree, B&M has more indivdualized coasters, but I would be willing to bet that B:TR type rides are the third most cloned coasters (after boomers & SLCs) =].

Invertigo is getting placed at more and more parks, its giving Batman: the Ride come competion. :)


-------------
What is life without geniuses?

Vekoma doesn't necessarily clone everything they do, but it is less expensive for a park to buy something that already has a design rather then have a new design created. Remember, the park buys what they want. And what is wrong with B&M only doing certain kinds of coasters? CCI only builds wooden coasters (wooden being the cars ride on wood), but I wouldn't say they are a bad company for that. In fact they build the greatest coasters on the planet IMO. As far as Stealth goes, it is not the best ride. But that first time you flip on to your stomach is like no other coaster experience, very cool! If only they would use to holding brakes to unload one train while the other loads it might speed up the capacity some.

-------------
Say no, to lap bar nazis!

I loved Stealth and I hope they continue to make bigger versions of this style of coaster. Stealth is ranked 4th on my list out of 51 coasters.
-------------
Parks for 2000: SFEG,IOA,MGM,WDW,PGA,SFMW,SCBB,Lakeside.
#1 Park-CP. #1Steel-Montu. #1Wood-Roar(W)

I admit, Vekoma does clone very much, but my hometown park is SFGAm and it is getting an Invertigo, except for it is a SUPER INVERTIGO! Even though it isn't a totally new idea it will still be really cool. Besides, who can say they have riden a 180 foot Invertigo?

-------------
Six Flags Great America #1 Park!!!

HEADBANGING IS A BIG ISSUE!!!
-------------
What is life without geniuses?