bobsled rides

I've been wondering if there are/were any problems with bobsled ride's as originally built. Great Adventure's bobsled vanished about the same time that Cedar Point converted Avalanche Run into Disaster Transport. I know that looking at just two parks hardly speaks for the entire population of bobsled rides but it does get me wondering. Are there bobsled rides still operating?

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**Joe**

Disaster Transport is a bobsled coaster, and still operating for now. ;) That's about all I can tell you.

I personally LOVE bobsled coasters! I think if someone could build them larger and taller and make the cars just a little bit different, I think they would be a strong market. I think they are just plain scary! NO TRACK! AH!!!! :)

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http://www.flightcommunity.com

Blackpool Pleasure Beach (http://www.coasterbuzz.com/coasters/coaster.asp?CoasterID=324) has a ride called Avalanche built by Mack. If my memory serves, it looks like a long twisting water slide. It has trains of cars, a la RCT, and the chute is actually a series of thin rails so water can pass through it instead of flowing down it.

I suspect that Avalanche Run at Cedar Point had some problems with wind and water, but I don't know that for certain.

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Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com

Also, remember that the bobsled at Great Adventure became "Rolling Thunder" at Six Flags Great America and is now Alpine Bobsleds at The Great Escape.

My home park, SFoT still has a bobsled running. It used to be called the Avalanche (I, personally, still call it that), but now it's called La Vibora or something like that. I guess that name fit better since it's in the Mexico section of the park.

I love bobsleds too, if only they'd make 'em like they used too! The original Lake Placid Bobsled looked ferocious!

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Phantom's Revenge:
The Legend Lives On

The best bobsled rides were the Norman Bartlet designed Flying Turns. The best known example was the one at Cleveland's Euclid Beach Park.
You can't build like that anymore. Once the trains were released at the top it was just like riding a bobsled. In otherwords there were no brakes until it came into the station. Just like the old coasters, no trims. They ran multiple trains,too.

The only bobsled I've been on is the DISpatch mASTER TRANSPORT, formerly the Avalanch Run, and it was a pretty fun ride. I looked at some pics of it before its enclosure, and I think it would scarier to go on it in the open, and see yourself just "bobsleding" along, seeing your car look like is almost going off the track. Can't say that from experience though :(.

~Joe
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Ride 'Till you drop

How can you forget PKD mack's Avalanche. I like it. And aslo Parc Asterix is building the world largest tallest and longest bobsles coaster. it is made by Mack, the macks are better the Cedar points cause the cars turn better you are low slung.

The Mack rides are a nightmare for capacity, but they sure do capture the feel better than the old Intamin model (CP's Avalanche Run/DT). The only problem I had with PKD's ride is that it's over just when it starts to get going!

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Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com

Personally, I would take PKD's type of bobsled over dt/rolling thunder anyday. The DT type bobsleds were just too uncomfortable on my knees. I was more concerned with avoiding pain than enjoying the ride (I have Osgood Schaltter's (SP?))