Drachenfire POV

Hey there, I read a lot about the infamous Drachenfire coaster - it had so many unique elements.
I wonder if a POV of this coaster exists somewhere - I would love to see it!
Actually reading about Arrow/Vekoma loopers is really interesting, some have really unique inversions.

Track down the first edition of "America's Greatest Coasters in 3D" Vol. 1 on VHS (it may be also available on DVD). By the way it's two words– Drachen Fire.

Thanks!
Drachen Fire - alright (I guess my native language's tendency to form compound nouns has been breaking through again)

Is there one for download somewere though? *** Edited 12/14/2003 10:00:48 PM UTC by superman***

There was one...i don't know where though. It also had Montu, Apollo, Alpengeist, and some more. Sorry, I'll search for it though.

There's one on Coasterforce

http://www.coasterforce.com/parkguides/buschgardens_williamsburg/drachen.shtml

Wow, the film actually has footage of al six inversions. Pretty cool; brings back memories.

....and, not surprisingly, that website is wrong. The first corkscrew was removed, not the second.

...as anyone can see by looking at the photo of the coaster.

I don't want to beat a dead horse and I know this topic has been discussed plenty but the layout of this ride is so reminscent of an B&M ride. I could use see the B&M track and supports looking more graceful and the train navigating such a layout with more comfort. I'm not saying B&M had anything to do with this project but still wouldn't it be great to have a B&M with this layout including the interlocking corkscrews that the original Drachen Fire contained before they took out the first corkscrew. Also i also loved the half inversion at the end, thought that was a unique element that made the ride stand out. BTW I thought this was the best Arrow ever and remember the ride being a lot smoother than any rides on Magnum or Loch Ness Monster. Also, I usually don't ride arrows often so my brain isn't damaged and I am not being nostalgic at all but Drachen fire was a top 10 coaster in its original incarnation.

Great POV! Its pretty clean, and shows the ride in its initial layout. It's nice to watch since the ride was gone when I got to BGW.

This just reminded me how much that first corkscrew sucked. Talk about hangtime.

Yes that was it Willh51. Thanks, it's quite a good POV.

Thanks... that answers all my questions :)
I think its kind of obvious in what places the ride was too rough - pretty neat idea though to put an inversion into the first drop (even though maybe badly executed)... a little like the Hulk.
Those arrow loopers really had some cool ideas going for them, even though design and manufacturing technology wasn't there to make them very rideable.
It clearly shows that B&M, ingenious as they are, are on the other hand pretty repetitive concerning their unchanged "winning team" of layouts and inversions.
With rides like the upcoming Storm Runner, it seems like the prize for creative excellence is going to be passed on to Intamin - unless B&M come up with something really surprising next. *** Edited 12/15/2003 5:26:22 PM UTC by superman***

I think Arrow was every bit as "repetitive" as B&M is (see Shockwave, GASM, SFMM Viper for instance).

-Nate

WOW! Great pics and POV!

Brings back memories for me also. :-)

-Tina

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Intamin Fan said:
Track down the first edition of "America's Greatest Coasters in 3D" Vol. 1 on VHS (it may be also available on DVD). By the way it's two words– Drachen Fire.

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Ha-That video is early 90s cheesy-ness all the way. Still pretty good though.

Actually, if I remember correctly, B&M DID have something to do with the original design of Drachen Fire... I'm remembering this from Steve Franks' track pack info sheet.

-Escher

That is a common urban legend in the coaster world. B&M had absolutely nothing to do with Drachen Fire and even wrote up a letter specifically denying any relationship with the coaster. Would you want to be responsible for it? *** Edited 12/16/2003 2:06:55 AM UTC by ApolloAndy***

Your last sentence is exacly the reason I wouldn't take that letter as absolute proof. As you said, it would make no sense for B&M to claim any responsibility for it, even if they had been involved in some way, shape, or form. But the argument has been done to death, and using the search feature will turn up some convincing aruments for both sides.

Regardless, I still have to wonder why this has to come up in every single thread that simply mentiones Drachen Fire. Nobody asks about designers, but it always comes up...

-Nate *** Edited 12/16/2003 2:37:33 AM UTC by coasterdude318***

Last time a Thread started to go in the B&M/Drachen Fire direction, Jeff came and warned us all to stop, but as nate said, its always brought up. Why can't we just let it, like the coaster, die? The supposed B&M connection shouldn't be brought up every time someone mentions this coaster.

And while we're on the subject of subjects, why does this coaster come up so much? Its dead and gone, lets let it rest in peace already.