Flashback SFMM

Do you think it will ever re-open? I thought I heard something that Shaprio wants to re-open it.

It might reopen.

I talked to a mechanic up in the SkyTower yesterday that said there are currently no plans for the monorail or Flashback, from what he has heard. He did go on to say that in the final years of the monorail, the trains were extremely problematic, so he thinks it'd need new trains to reopen. Granted this was just a mechanic, but he was a pretty nice guy and it was funny seeing a whole bunch of them up at the top pointing out all the sights below. *** Edited 5/18/2006 12:31:28 AM UTC by GoliathKills***

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Mamoosh said:
It might reopen.

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Then again, it might not :)

*** Edited 5/18/2006 3:13:45 PM UTC by Rob Ascough***

There should be a rule against posts that are shorter than your sig. ;)

Oops... I'll fix that!

I hear so much bad stuff about that coaster, but it seems like it would be so fun to ride it. I love dark rides so I think it would be a good enclosed ride with some good special effects. I haven't rode it but it is on the list of rides that I would like to ride.

I'd like to ride it just so I can see how bad it really is. It at least seems like a good concept!

I think that keeping it standing, but not running, is a genius move myself.

I rode it in it's first life at Great America and then again a few years ago at Magic Mountain - it is just horrible. A rough, jerky, grit your teeth until it's over experience.

So, if it had been up and running reguarly there'd be no doubt that it would eventually end up being not only a waste of space but also a waste of electricity and staffing. The "mystery" for those that haven't ridden it is the only thing amusing about it.

As far as the monorail, I just don't get it. There is now NO "transportation" in arguably one of the toughest parks to get around in (due to all of the uphills AND the size of the park). They once had the Orient Express, Sky ride and monorail - now nothing at all (I know Orient Express is coming back at some point).

I remember riding it when it was Z-force at Great America and I loved that ride. I used to ride it all the time and it was the one coaster I kept looking forward to riding whenever I was taking a trip to the park. I was sad to see it go.

Makes me wonder what the heck happened to it...

How about tearing it out and using that small space for the world's tallest drop ride?! Just an idea, though i've never been to SFMM.

You're not missing much, mainly some B&M clones and bad wood coasters. The park could be something special but Six Flags didn't seem to want it to be anything more than a coaster-loaded hangout.

Like I mentioned, I rode it at Great America as well and didn't like it then either. While it definitely has aged poorly, I never thought it was fun (a neat "looks good on paper" type of ride). But, obviously, that's just me.

I think the problem is that they have just done enough to get it opened, when they have opened it. Faded paint, rust, dirt etc - while I'm sure there are mechanical reasons why the ride has given a rough ride in the recent past (wheels, tracking etc), there's no doubt in my mind that the aesthetics have something to do with it. Think about how much "better" your car seems to run when it's nice and shiny and clean.

I do agree about the drop-ride idea - I don't know what the future holds for Freefall (it was closed on Saturday), so a new drop tower would be awesome (either up front where Flashback is OR back where Freefall currently stands).

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MrSkyWhirl said:

They once had the Orient Express, Sky ride and monorail - now nothing at all (I know Orient Express is coming back at some point).

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Don't forget the funky cable car the went up the hill where Ninja is now. Never did ride that so I can't tell you if you could get off at the top of if it was simply a sightseeing excursion.

Flashback is one of the coolest looking coasters. I think it would be fine if the shoulder restraints were taken out. It's not a bad ride. Cool pacing. Nice anticipation after the lift. It just hurts, that's all.

I think a lot of steel coasters would be fine if the OTSRs were removed. Why are they on that thing anyway? It's not like it goes upside-down, just a lot of short, steep twisting drops, right?

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Rob Ascough said:
You're not missing much, mainly some B&M clones and bad wood coasters. The park could be something special but Six Flags didn't seem to want it to be anything more than a coaster-loaded hangout.

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Gotta love that quirky evaluation Rob. "Mainly some B&M clones and bad wood coasters." So that's what...two wooden coasters that they have and two B&M clones, one of which is a mirror image. That's 4/17. Mainly. HA.

As opposed to Great Adventure, which also falls under that description. You know, mainly some B&M clones and a bad wood coaster, because they only have one right now. :)

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Rob Ascough said:
I think a lot of steel coasters would be fine if the OTSRs were removed. Why are they on that thing anyway? It's not like it goes upside-down, just a lot of short, steep twisting drops, right?

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We call it clearance issues. The stacked layout of Flashback was poorly designed, so if not for the tall sides of the coffin-style cars and the redundant lap-bar restraints, horsecollars, and no space for arm movement, taller riders would easily hit their outstretched arms on support columns to the left, right, and above them.

*** Edited 5/18/2006 7:52:13 PM UTC by kRaXLeRidAh***

SFMM definately should do something with the ride, rebuild it, remove it or otherwise. It is a definate eyesore right smack in the front of the park.

I rode "FlashZbackforce" on the first day of operation at Marriots Great America and it was as smooth as a baby's butt. When it came to a drive tire, the motor on the tire already had the tire spinning and the train would jerk and fly down the turn. It was alot of fun. It has been running rough at SFMM?

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stoogemanmoe said:It has been running rough at SFMM?

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Nope, been smooth as SBNO for quite some time now... :(

Wow, rollergator, I wasn't aware of it's status. My bad. Whats the reason it's SBNO?