4-20-04 Storm Runner testing video.

I work nightshift, and frequently drive by Storm Runner on my way home from work. I wasn't expecting much, but I just wanted to see what activity was taking place. I got there about 9 am.

I drove by the station, and noticed that only one train was in the station. I immediately looked over at the tophat, and didn't see any train. Just then a train full of water dummies flew by out of the snake dive, under the monorail, into the overbank, and up over the bunny hill. I pulled off the road right away to get a closer look.

I stood there in awe as I watched Storm Runner launch over and over. I called Heather on the cell to tell her what I was watching. ;) I was like a little kid in a candy store.

I watched it for about another 45 minutes. As soon as the train got back to the launch track they'd send it. People driving were practically wrecking their cars trying to get a view of it in action. It was a funny site.

I realized here I am standing here watching with a camera to document, so I hopped in the VW and headed directly to the house. I grabbed the digital camera and the camcorder, and I was out the door.

I got back to the park around 11:00 am. I stood on the bridge for about 15-20 minutes, and nothing. I walked up to the station to check everything out, and they told me that they were making some adjustments to the launch track. I didn't think I was going to get my footage, so I called Heather to tell her the bad news. She wanted me to take video so she could see it when she got home from work.

Bummed out I started heading back to the car. Just as I got back down to the bridge it started launching again. The first launch it just barely cleared the tophat. The rest of the runs after that it just flew over.

At that point I had really wished that I was one of the water dummies. The airtime over the tophat must have been amazing. I got 3 minutes of footages on the camcorder, and 10- 20 second clips on my digital camera. Can never have enough footage.

I timed the coaster from launch to the brakes at just about 35 seconds. I guess they count time out of the station to the launch, and the time in the brakes and into the station to come up with the 54 second ride time.

I have read post of people looking at my construction pictures, and saying how bad the transitions looked. I sort of agreed with you. When you watch the coaster in motion you can tell its just as graceful as any balletdanser performing the Nutcracker. ;) Maybe that was a bad metaphor.

It looked so smooth, and the cars driving past me on the road were louder than Storm Runner was. When a mechanic told me that they filled the supports with sand I was expecting a quiet ride, but not like that. I should've known that after seeing was sand did for Talon.

I will stop rambling about it. I would have posted about this earlier, but I have been so busy with our Knoebels wedding that I haven't had time to do much of anything. My construction pics are posted there as well. Enjoy!

http://www.xtremecoasters.com/video.php

*** Edited 4/23/2004 5:30:37 AM UTC by Coasterfantom2***

You have to log in as a member to view the video. Bummer. I'm not going to create a log in to some website that I am unfamiliar with. No biggie. I'll see it run when I see it.

Don't get me wrong. I DO appreciate that you went to the trouble of posting the video, Coasterfantom2.

That ride looks clinically insane

I don't know why, but the video was running slowly, so sometimes it "paused", but either way, awesome videos, and yes, the ride does look clinically insane..

Wow... Just gotta love Intamin for their insanity!

Wow...can't wait to ride in June! It does look amazing! Except the part getting back to the station-it looks kinda strange but oh well fun nonetheless.

One word. BugMeNot.com.
-R

Wow... if B&M equilibrated coasters are the "classic" coaster as in "classical music", this seems to be its "avantgarde music" equivalent.
This thing is going to feel really weird!
I wonder what they were thinking when they designed it.

Wow, I seem to be a fan of a coaster that I probably won't be able to ride anytime soon :o(

Stupid page. Each time I log in, it takes me back to their main page. So I try to go back to the video, but it logs me out when I do that and it tells me I need to log in to see the video... never ending cycle.

Edit.. Hmm.. put the site as a trusted site in my security and it started going. Go figure. *** Edited 4/23/2004 12:43:21 PM UTC by BeastFreak***

Unfortunately my work computer won't allow me to watch the video...I think I am going to have to take a little trip to hershey tomorrow.

Sean

I gave in and registered. The video pauses for me to. I have broadband and usuially have no problem with video. What's wrong?

It runs like a slidshow for me. Whatever.

Mr Bannister, I didn't see your post until it was to late. Thanks anyway.

Right Click on the link to the video and select "Save Target As"

Ya, I have it downloaded to my computer and it runs crystal clear.

Check out how fast the trains dives out of that roll. thats a pretty nasty snap...especially the back seat. nice!

Holy friggin' Moley! I'll be there in 3 weeks--- I can't wait! Clinically insane indeed!

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dexter said:
I gave in and registered. The video pauses for me to. I have broadband and usuially have no problem with video. What's wrong?

It runs like a slidshow for me. Whatever.

Mr Bannister, I didn't see your post until it was to late. Thanks anyway.

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Sounds like codec problems to me.

I registered just for that?!?!
Honestly, that was a waste of time.
The video footage is no better than a digital camera's video feature with horrible audio & a shakey camera...

...and the video footage provided was basically the same on all 3 videos.

...yes, the ride is very impressive and this is probably the selling point that's needed to get me to visit the park, but the footage isn't worth downloading if you haven't seen it yet. It doesn't show the launch at any point, and none are taken close to the coaster at all... all appears from outside the park.

That's a little harsh dood. You're telling me if the guy was nice enough to run to a CVS and buy a digital camera and take pictures, post them and you didn't like the quality you'd bash him?

You registered for what? I musta missed the part of registration where I had to pay for anything. What the hell?

This guy could have taken all the video for himself and never showed us. Lay off. I, for one, am glad he cared enough to share it.

What the heck, "Dawg"? Some of us have never seen the ride run before, and while I think the ride itself looks a bit short (Too long to be a Pony, too short to be long...), I'm glad that someone was kind enough to shoot this for us...

And how stupid would you have to be to expect anything other than amateur-quality video anyway?

Just think guys, if he let me host the video you guys wouldn't have to be registering. ;)