Hershey Storm Runner Advice

I've never been on one of these rocket launch coasters and I don't know much about them. I was planning to visit Hershey in May, maybe before the place gets crowded. However, I don't know how reliable this kind of coaster is. Is is anything like Top Thrill Dragster? I just don't want to go in May and find they're still working out kinks and I can't ride Storm Runner! Does anyone think it will be a problem? Should I plan a later visit?

Thank you!

It's very hard to tell at this point. This is the third coaster to use that launch system, after XCellerator and Dragster. Perhaps the lessons learned on those two will allow Storm Runner to open and be reliable from the start. Perhaps not. Our crystal balls are cloudy on this one...

Certainly if you want to be more certain of riding it, wait until later in the year. Even that isn't a guarantee, though.

Yeah, it's reliability is really anyone's guess, but it stands to reason that it should be better than either TTD or XLR8R. It's Intamins 3rd time attempting this (3rd time's a charm?) and Storm Runner's launch is not even as fast as XLR8R. Therefore there should be less stress and strain on the components involved.

If I had only one day at Hershey, I wouldn't make it SR's "opening day," I'd wait to hear how it does, and then schedule a visit when I was more likely of getting a ride.

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KKochanski said:

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Is that Kris Kochanski? Nice to have some Red Dwarf fans here :)

Well i work for HERCO and i think that i would know,

but i don't. The coaster is really publicised all around the area (i live about 35 mins. form Hershey) and i'm sure it'll run good for a few weeks at least.

You know, it's really difficult to make predictions. Especially about the future. *** Edited 3/22/2004 10:28:12 PM UTC by ThemeDesigner***

Where's Marty McFly when you need him?

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ThemeDesigner said:
You know, it's really difficult to make predictions. Especially about the future. *** Edited 3/22/2004 10:28:12 PM UTC by ThemeDesigner***

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Is that opposed to making a prediction about the past?:)

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ThemeDesigner said:
You know, it's really difficult to make predictions. Especially about the future. *** Edited 3/22/2004 10:28:12 PM UTC by ThemeDesigner***

Is that opposed to making a prediction about the past?

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Yes, and as difficult as a prediction about the present . . .

Since I have been going to the park and take pictures for the weekly update I have gotten to know several of Hershey's maintainance employees. They have all stated that there have been modifications made to the launch that the previous 2 versions don't have, and the regular employee that I speak with said that they are making the same modifications to TTD. Does anyone know what they are? He said that it should insure that Storm Runner runs much more reliably.

An oil filter, perhaps? ;)

That would be one big Oil Filter, or a lot of regular ones. ;) I know it had something to do with preventing contamination, so it could be some kind of filtration system.

*** Edited 3/23/2004 4:57:58 AM UTC by Coasterfantom2***