Carowinds announces Carolina Cobra

I can't believe they're hyping this coaster this much, but the new trains look interesting. Hopefully they're more comfortable.

I wonder why they went with new Boomerang trains, but not the new SLC trains for Thunderhawk at Michigan's Adventure.

I wonder why they sent Thunderhawk to MiA and the Boomerang to Carowinds. I would've most certainly expected the opposite.

Thunderhawk wouldn't be needed at Carowinds due to Carowinds having Top Gun.

I'll probably try to stop at Carowinds again next year just to try the new trains.

I agree it would make more sense for MiA to get this and Carowinds to get the SLC, but I supposed the reasoning behind this move would be because Carowinds already has an inverted coaster? I dunno...

Edit: Er...what dragonoffrost said.

Came here to say what Mark and Jeff said. I'm not sure why they didn't send both rides to MiA, actually.

Although after hearing accounts of the new trains on The Coaster Formerly Known As Great Nor'easter, it doesn't seem like it's that much of an improvement. I'm told you no longer experience head trauma, but the ride still shuffles and bounces like an SLC.

Meh... it's got better capacity than the ride it's replacing. That's a positive.

I can live with shuffle and bounce, just not the head banging. Here's hoping the new trains can improve the boomerang experience.

I would rather have these Vekoma Lapbar Trains come to the US boomerangs. At least I think I would.

The site says it is getting new trains. Am I missing something?

I still can't believe everyone thinks Thunderhawk was too much coaster for Michigan's Adventure. If this is the case, then I guess Shivering Timbers is too much coaster for that park too. If it wasn't for Shivering Timbers, the park wouldn't be where it's at today with it's continued growth. You gotta take risks to stay in business and that's what MiAdv did in '98 with Shivering Timbers and that's what they're continuing to do with Thunderhawk.

"INNOVATIVE SCREAM MACHINE"? Honestly, who thinks this crap up? This is as innovative as my grandmother's 1980 VCR. Hey, if they can sell that to park patrons, then more power to them.

This is only exciting news in that it will take riders out of Afterburn's line.

Neuski, try clicking on Rides, then Trains again. The second time clicking on it makes the page show up properly. I had the same problem.

I agree with Mark. I can't believe how much they're hyping this. I gotta think that even to a lot of non-enthusiasts, this ride can't look that new or cutting edge.

I'm surprised no one mentioned all the duplicate links. There's 5 links to the Construction Gallery, and 3 to the Webcam.

The following is directed at everyone who has said or is thinking something to the effect of, "I can't believe they're hyping this coaster the way they are." If it was your job to market a relocated coaster and make people excited about it, what would you do? It's not like you can say, "Hey, come ride our 12 year old coaster that we got from another park. It's a rough coaster, but we bought these new trains that'll make it not so bad."

<sarcasm>I'm sure you'd be keeping your marketing position at the park after a campaign like that.</sarcasm>

Point well taken. Nevertheless, it sure is putting lipstick on a pig (or Vekoma, as the case may be) . . .

But were Dominator or Thunderhawk hyped this much? Sure there was information on the websites that they were getting new coasters, but the Carolina Cobra website looks just like the sites for the brand new coasters at Kings Island and World of Fun.

Each park has a separate marketing dept.

CF's used that same basic template for new ride sites for several years.

Edit: And for anyone having link issues... http://carolinacobra.carowinds.com/public/images/misc/misc_Train.jpg

Nice one Ensign. ;)

Ensign Smith said:
Neuski, try clicking on Rides, then Trains again. The second time clicking on it makes the page show up properly. I had the same problem.

I think Neuski was coyly pointing out that they are promoting new trains (plural). As if Carolina Cobra is going to run more then one at a time.

My question, is what is happening with the old train? Both the boomerangs at Knotts and Wonderland have been the worst I have been on so far, it would be nice to have the older train make a new home at one of those parks. Unless they are just changing the bodies, I don't know how much the mechanics will differ.

Also of note.... long before GL's closing announcement, their boomerang was to be repainted coral and light blue... I wonder if they shipped the paint to carowinds when they decided to not paint Geauga's.