Alton Tower's new coaster to make people sign a waiver????

No, no, Disney's specialty is turning a wild ride like a Vekoma MK-1200 into something tame! :)

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

Touchdown said:
^Not only that, it has the z shaped crossbars of those too.

Well if thats the case, I bet Disney is watching this one, because if Alton can turn a tame ride into something scary Disney might try something similar in the future.

Like Alien Encounter?

Touchdown said:
^Not only that, it has the z shaped crossbars of those too.

That is just basic two rail track structure. Intamin's version is apparently sturdy enough to do inversions (here) with the right supporting, so I wouldn't say two rail track=boring.

RideMan: yes it does have the pinch-wheel lift, but I remember when I rode this is was not the tame kiddie ride me and my friends thought it was going to be. (especially in the back seat)

Well if thats the case, I bet Disney is watching this one, because if Alton can turn a tame ride into something scary Disney might try something similar in the future.

Isn't Oblivion the "poster child" for turning a tame ride into something scary?

I'm not saying this isn't overly-hyped, but AT does some amazing things...the psychological aspect seems to be an important part in ride development (John Wardley seems to have a HUGE hand in that).

Is it just me or do the footers/supports look weak? That first turn out of the station looks like the track is simply sitting on the ground.

I'm just trying to figure out what type of features this particular ride has that requires a signature.

Did I read this somewhere, or....

Thought there was some speculation about a vertical-drop track section (thinking along the lines of a drop ride combined with the tilt-coaster concept - where a section of track that holds the car could drop instead of tilt). Honestly, it really might just be something I dreamed up...

Nope, gator, that seems to be the most popular rumor at the moment... (but is there really no other coaster that does this yet?)

The cloest thing to this (that I can think of at the moment) is the switching track on Expedition Everest.

I was under the impression we were looking at a Tower of Terror type drop, where the train moves onto a section of track that is capable of vertical movement.

Seems like Intamin and Alton took a page out of Maurer-Sohne and Phantasialand... Winjas is a dueling spinning coaster (think Steel Dragon at Waldameer) but with WEIRD stuff happening. Both tracks start with an elevator and to make it stranger, the car tilts forward at the top! Force features a block brake that actually spins to the side when the car is stopped on it. Fear got a seesaw block brake. Both tracks end with the last surprise... a bouncy piece of track on the end brakes! Sadly, Maurer only got Phantasialand to build one of those gems, since the technology is so new and complicated, its expensive and hard to maintain. A park was looking at a spinning coaster and was quoted over 10 millions US for a one track Winjas!

RideMan: yes it does have the pinch-wheel lift, but I remember when I rode this

is was not the tame kiddie ride me and my friends thought it was going to be. (especially in the back seat)

I don't think the pinch-wheel lift means alot. Doesn't the Hulk have one? And Bullet, Olympic Looping, Thriller/Tornado/whatever ? Those are 'popular' and kick-butt rides.

Now we have the "looks weak" coaster snob crowd getting bigger. Better turn on Discovery or Travel Channel ;)

The only thing the friction lift *really* means is that it shouldn't run in the rain.

The *implication* is that most of the rides that have that are Zierer Marienkäfer and Vekoma 700J and stuff of that type.

Never mind that you can also find those drives on, say, Incredible Hulk...

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

They could build some sort of shelter over the lift.

...Like they did on Hulk. :)

^Yeah! Seems like the theming isn't done.

The other thing I like from the pics - seems a little like the old speedracers - Whizzer, Big Bend layouts. I'm all for that ;)

LK, exactly.

Another thing is that we don't know how fast those friction tires are gonna take the train up.

Probably at a medium pace.

^It could speed up and shoot over the top, too ;)