Woodies travelling backwards (Very intense and coo

In the past at SixFlags GreatAmerica they ran the American Eagle backwards (On one of the tracks, its a double track woodie.). I heard rumors that they might do that again for the 2000 season. I have to say in the past when they did this it was a pretty intense ride. Has anybody else rode a woodie backwards and what are your thoughts on this experience? If you havent you dont know what you are missing.

I rode the Rebel Yell at PKD last year backwards. That is a racer too the one train runs forward while the other runs backwards. I saw footage of the Comet (Great Escape) while it was still at Crystal Beach, Ontario with half the cars on the train running forward while the rest were backwards.

-------------
I can't wait for the 2000 season to start!!

All the Paramount racing woodies (Racer at PKI, Thunder Road at PCW, and Rebel Yell at PKD) run one side forward and one side backwards. Riding backwards definitely gives a different sensation, especially during moments of big airtime.

-------------
Scott W. Short
sshort@mediaone.net
http://welcome.to/midwestcoastercentral

I heard of rumors for the american eagle running backwards for 2000 also. I heard is just the blue train only. Oh well, i'v never riden a backwards woodie, i hope i can this summer.

If they do run it backwards, jump on the chance as soon as possible because they have only done it twice in the past and also they do it for only the first couple of months. Personal favorite, ride in the front car which is actually entered throught the back line gate. You will see the whole track and it is intense.

I have ridden Thunder Road at Paramount's Carowinds many times backwards, and it is definitely a different sensation. It is a very bumpy ride backwards, however, because you cannot tell when the rough parts are coming. If Carowinds actually raced the trains, it would be a whole lot better. Personally, I like TR better forwards.

-------------
Yeah Baby!!!

that would be great if they did that, BUUUTTT they usually only do it to mark the Eagle's 5-year anniversaries. it will only be 19 this year, not 20. i heard it will be 2001, not 2000. i could be wrong, but i remember when they were buiklding the thing(took 2 years) and i have kept track of the "running backward years" ever since. the first was 1991. i remember because i was pregnant and couldn't ride. the other years after i never made it in time to do it. they only do it for a while and lately they almost NEVER race it either.

Actually servo the American Eagle started operating at the beginning of the 81 season so the 2000 season would start its 20th year of operation. Lets keep our fingers crossed that they run it backwards this year.

I rode the Great American Scream Machine backwards at Six Flags Over Georgia, they used to turn it around every year for about three years in a row 95-97, then they quit doing it. I loved sitting in the front, wich was the back, and watching all the streach out in front of you, I also like ridding in the front, wich was the back, because you got hung over the first hill and it was cool to watch the rest of the train rush over the top.

Chitown, i hate to keep bursting your SFGAm bubble here, but the way they count the years for the Eagle is not the way you think. they don' count it by OPERATING SEASON. they count it by the NUMBER of the YEARS...example. opened in 1981. first run backwards in 1991. 1991-1981= 10 years. 11 seasons, 10 years. next run backward in 1996. 1996-1991=5 years. 6 seasons, 5 years. so the newxt time will be 2001. 2001-1996=5 years.
see, the GP does not count things the way we(or the parks)do. the GP could care less how many SEASONS something has run for. all they see is the NUMBER of YEARS. do you add one more year to your wedding anniversary because you've been married for 10 SEASONS? it's the same with ride anniversaries. CP celebrated Magnum's 10th year in 1999, but by YOUR count, it was really supposed to be celebrated in 1998. sorry, dude, it'll probably be 2001. also a way *I* remember it is U2 tours through Chicago every five years, one year BEHIND the Eagle running backwards, and the last time they were here was 1997. means they'll be back in 2002 and the Eagle will go backwards in 2001. *** This post was edited by servo on 3/6/00. ***

Anyway, once again lets keep our fingers crossed that they run it backwards this year. "Bubble bursting or not!!"

I hope this is right since we did not have the eagle running backwards in 2000. Hopefully this prediction is right and the eagle will be backwards in 2001.
-------------
The Raging Bull #1!!

They might as well turn around the blue car and leave it that way. Of all the times I went there last year, only one of my rides was done in racing fashion. I went there a lot after work last year and they usually shut one side down right when I got in line for it (7:30pm or so).

I thought the PKI Racer was so much fun backwards (much better than the Beast or SOB, IMO) and I would really like to try the Eagle again in this fasion.

-------------
I can't wait to stand in line...

Unfortunutly, I have not ridden any Backwards wooden Coaster, but I will ride my first one this year infact at PKI and Racer, Is it still true one of the sides runs backwards, If So what is it like anyone??????

Next time you get to ride a coaster backwards. Imagine that you are watching a tape on your VCR as you rewind it - it is a very strange sensation. It also feels like you are standing still and the coaster is being pulled underneath of you.

-------------
All time Top 5: (1) Milleniun Force (2) Alpengeist (3) Hulk (4) Ice Dragon (5) Raptor

Paul, the Racer has always and should always have one side going backwards. No reason to change it. I wish one of the sides of Gemini at CP ran backwards. The Racer is really fun backwards but I like forwards better because of the airtime.

-------------
"You think ya got enough o' dem parks 'n coasters 'ere in Ohier?"

The Racer at PKI is a classic and one of the best coasters ever created. It can really be interest flying by the whole back half of the park. Lots of airtime.

Charlie Weingatner

---------------------------
It's his run to feast, when you ride the Son of Beast!

I was very surprised at the Racer at PKI. While forwards wasn't great, backwards was truly amazing. I had no idea what I was in for! Too bad my lap bar got notched down two notches too far. I hope one day they will run one side of the Gemini backwards. It would be crazy intense though.

-------------
Coasters- a little slice of heaven

We love forwards. We get like 10 rides on it every visit.

-------------
"You think ya got enough o' dem parks 'n coasters 'ere in Ohier?"

BACKWARDS RULES!!!!!!!!!!!!