Busch Tampa plans new coaster, Paul Ruben declares B&M the Mercedez-Benz of the industry

Does that mean CCi are like HONDA because they are fun, fast and real crowd pleasers??? Not to mention the reliability....

I never said that BMW and Mercedes weren't nice, I just find them to be crap on wheels due to their massive electrical problems... especially the new ones.

There should be no reason why those upscale cars with price tags upping $100,000 have any malfuntions like that at all when you can drive a $14,000 Civic for 208,000 miles while only changing out the brakes once and oil/belt changes like my co-worker has.

Then theres the 1993 Kansas Honda Accord EX Wagon that turned over 1,000,000 miles last summer with the original tranny and engine....

I'll bet Magnum has over 1,000,000 miles by now

Mark, shame you beat me to the great obstructed view quote! Tiered in the opposite order? The front row higher than the back? Looks like a typo or an error in communication rather than a Ruben quote, even if it would be good to blame him for it... save that for my next point. :)

"You're weightless the entire time because your body is falling at the exact same speed as the vehicle."

I'm falling at the exact same speed as the vehicle I'm sitting in right now (i.e. a motionless office chair). By the respected discipline of science, Rubenology, I'm currently experiencing weightlessness. Who need to visit theme parks anymore when you get all the weightlessness you need right from the comfort of your favourite armchair!

The more I read of this article, the more I love it. The article goes on to say, "Most... [modern coasters] use linear induction motors propelled by high-powered magnets to accelerate on a straightaway..."

That there says that the linear induction motors themselves are propelled along, so as to accelerate the car. Rubenology Dynamics 101 is a great unit if your local university or college offers it, I'd certainly recommend it to a friend!

Someone earlier said Busch Gardens is taking a chance by building such a ride. How so? It's a six year old ride type that currently has two installations that seemingly work perfectly, without hiccups. The article also suggests it's the same design as the previous two, so there's absolutely nothing I see as being risky about this.

*** This post was edited by auscoasterman 5/6/2004 7:39:35 AM ***

Sorry to stray away from topic on the JDPower numbers, but hey, auto reliability is my job, so it's a subject near and dear.....

Anyways, back on topic, I agree with greatwhitenorth (take off, eh!) that the slow "clank, clank" up a large lift hill helps build the sense of anticipation/fear. I remember my first ride on Millie thinking "This lift is too fast." I would like it slower like Magnum so that I could enjoy the view and anticipation. Kinda like roller coaster foreplay.;)

Even though I haven't ridden Oblivion, I'm looking forward to seeing a Dive Machine in the Florida. I know I'll head down there for it!

Later,
EV

"Can you imagine a slow clanky ride up a 400-foot lift hill?"

Maybe you would see a 400-foot chain lift if it were possible to do so. The chain would just be way too heavy to go all the way up the structure. Why do you think Intamin developed the cable lift system in the first place?

And yet those wacky people at Morgan did a 300-footer with a chain, or two, to be precise.

Just a thought here....with TWO lift chains, isn't it (at least theoretically, if not actually) possible to use each LIFT as its own block, thereby eliminating Moosh's problem of capacity by having the possbility of *another* train climbing behind you...sure would require the anti-rollbacks to be even more failsafe though. The only incident I can think of offhand where the anti-rollbacks failed was the NJ mouse coaster.

P.S. Props (appropriately THIS time...;)) given to Jeff for the phrase "lending great credibility"....I love the dripping sarcasm...smells like GRAVY...;)

Yeah, despite the Ruben thing, I hate to say it, but it probably is correct. Still seems like a strange decision to me.

I could think of something better for BGT than a B&M dive machine. I wasn't overly impressed with Oblivion. But regardless, it will offer something unique for American thrill-goers that they haven't seen or ridden before. The eight-across seating plan is a bit shocking to see for the first time.

That having been said, I'm sure BGT will do plenty to make it more interesting.