Boomerangs, ride on you've ridden them all?

I know that Boomerang coasters aren't the most popular ride here on the Buzz, but in your opinion are they all the same?  I think a lot of it has to do with location on the crew, for example B:CTC at Great Esacpe is awful and slow, and closed down more often than open. The reverse trip is that I found Flashback at SFNE to be much faster and quite fun, but noticed it is on a downslope...what is your opinion of this ride (these rides?) ? And would a giant boomerang built by someone like B&M with 4-across cars be a better ride?
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Phly the Pheonix

*** This post was edited by PheonixPhan on 12/10/2001. ***

I've only been on two Boomerangs (Knotts and Elitch's), but they are pretty close.  The one at Knotts when I was there made this incredibly scary banging noise when it started going up the second lift hill, and I wasn't too fond of it because of that.
I think Deja Vu will be an entirely new monster though, can't wait to try it.
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-Robin
"Lighten up while you still can, don't even try to understand..."

*** This post was edited by Rotten Robin on 12/10/2001. ***

I don't necessarily think that if you've ridden on Boomerang then you'd ridden them all.

I've ridden the Boomerang at Knotts and Marine World and I thought they were both different experiences, the one at Marine World being the better. I actually had fun on it!

I agree with you 100% PheonixPhan.  I've also been on both of those coasters.  The one at Great Escape is really bad, (if it's running).  But Flashback was a nice bonus at SFNE.  Not a great ride, but fun none the less.  It seems to be much faster than the GE version.  My only quam with Flashback is it's location.  To me it just doen't look right in it's loacation.  Oh well, Chalk that up to SF theming dept.
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The Great Escape- Home of the Reject Coasters!

I was actually looking forward to riding Mind Eraser at SFWoA. I wanted to ride it because I wanted to see what they were like and what is so bad about them. Well when I got there, it was closed all day. People say I didn't miss anything though........Btw, I have ridden Face/Off and Two Face though....and I loved both of them!

I've ridden a dozen or so Boomerangs I think, and they are all basically the same, just some are newer or smoother that others.  I just usually ride once, and go find a woodie (or a Swiss masterpiece!)
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- Peabody

All Boomerangs are not created equal.  Location, park operating procedures, maintenance, weather conditions and trains (don't forget that there are Vekoma trains, Arrow trains, and Vekoma/Arrow hybrids) all play a role in the Boomerang experience.

Flashback has the newest trains that are made by Vekoma. They are definately the smoothest, in appearance and ride. The old trains are like the RCT trains and i don't like  them.
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Six Flags New England loses its "floor" for 2002!!!
Visit www.geocities.com/sfneguy for info. about SFNE!!!

PheonixPhan said:
I know that Boomerang coasters aren't the most popular ride here on the Buzz, but in your opinion are they all the same?  I think a lot of it has to do with location on the crew, for example B:CTC at Great Esacpe is awful and slow, and closed down more often than open.

Great Escape's Boomerang had alot of problems this year, but in previous years it hasnt been closed that much. I will admit that it does suck though, and that SFNE's Flashback does seem faster. Only thing I dont like about SFNE's is those leg dividers. lol 
BTW: I was stuck on GE's boomerang 3 times this past season. :( im stayin away from it next season lol

*** This post was edited by CalvinJ23 on 12/10/2001. ***

I've only been on one: the Sidewinder at Hersheypark. While not the greatest ride ever, I thought it was pretty fun. I really don't see why people gripe about them so much...

Don't get me wrong...I do not dislike Boomerang coasters, in fact if they are running and running with a good crew I rather enjoy them.  There is nothing like going through inversions backwards.  It is just that I have noticed they seem to have a slew of technical problems, especially in the recent couple of years.

Also...as for a new design I am not talking about the Deja Vu as a four across.  I think that if say B&M were to make a boomerang style coaster with 4 across trains not only would it have a higher capacity but also be smoother and more enjoyable.  I hope that if Vekoma gets back on track (pardon the pun) that they research and develop such a ride.

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Phly the Pheonix

The only type of Boomerang I have been on was the super boomerang and that was Deja Vu at SFGAm and I thought it was one of the greatest rides.  I don't know how it compares to regular boomerangs though.  But im pretty sure if I rode it at SFOG or SFMM it would probally be the same experience.

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*** This post was edited by CoasterDude316 on 12/10/2001. ***

I've ridden only one regular bommerang (the one at SFWOA) and I thought it was pretty intense.  I'm the kind of person though that can't take a whole lot of inversions in a row quickly.  Now Face-Off @PKI was awesome and an entirely different experience.  I'd love to try out a Deja Vu next. 
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God please let SFKK get something in 2002. ANYTHING!!

The best is Morey's Piers Sea Serpent. The first installation of the Boomerang in the US, and still the best. They have a new Vekoma train on theirs too. For some reason I dunno if its because of the location, but it just seems much more enjoyable in Wildwood.;)

SFDL's is by far the scariest... when you hook up on the chain before going backwards, you roll back a good 5-10 feet or so (as of 2001 season, that is...)

I nice touch, although, It does seem like an accident waiting to happen.....

I've riden 5 boomerangs and haven't noticed any big differences in the rides.  some bang your head a little more.  The Boomerang at La Ronde had the biggest difference.  The line was in the middle of the coaster which was kind of neat withe the coaster flying around you while you waited to ride.

Invertigos are quite different though.  Same basic layout, but inverted trains and much more intense.

The trains and the track can influence the ride to some degree - Wild Adventures has a good Boomerang AND a good SLC!  But really, they are pretty much the same - good soft padding on the OTSR's makes a HUGE difference.  But as Jim Fisher said, the Invertigos are a whole other ballgame, so to speak. 

Glad Vekoma didn't try to make the Deja Vu out of those sit-downs...OUCH!

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PoTP acolyte - remove fear to reply
Son of Drop Zone - PKI CoasterCamp I Champions!!!

I'll add my .02 cents: 

Not all Booms are created equal.  For my money it doesn't get any better than LC's Zoomerang.  That Boom has to be the best maintained and best operated of the many I've ridden.  Near the bottom of my list:  SFNE, SFWoA, and KBF.