Giovanola, B&M obsessive? or just like their techniques?

We all know that Giovanola designed their track after B&M. But I think this is just a little to far. http://www.coasterbuzz.com/rollercoasterphoto.htm?i=2994

Now their copying B&M rides?!?!

Thats like having Toyota try to build a Beemer. Just kidding with that one. :) *** Edited 5/14/2005 6:16:04 PM UTC by Corkscrewy***

What exactly are they copying aside from the box spine for the track.

As far as I'm aware Anaconda has a completely unique layout.

If you're saying they stole the idea for an inverted coaste, well then so did Vekoma, you can even say B&M based their idea off the Arrow suspended coasters.

Also if you take a look you will see thet Anaconda has 2 across seating where as B&M coasters have 4.

I don't see what your issue is.

I'm just pointing out that Anaconda is like an almost exact copy of B:TR. I just thought it was interesting. Not trying to get any big arguement out of it. Just thought some people might find it interesting.

Ummm...corkscrewy? Did you check out the other photos of that coaster? The only thing similar to B&M's Batman is the first three inversions.

I don't see the big deal here.

The more quality manufacturers we have the better.

"We all know that Giovanola designed their track after B&M"

Do we all know this?

Some of us know that Giovanola came up with the box track (see Z-Force/Shockwave), the four across stand-up, the first generation freefalls and more or less anything that is referred to as INTAMIN up to the mid-nineties.

Gio used to build all this stuff for Intamin and Bolliger and Mabillard used to be on Giovanolas payroll before they formed their own office.

Sadly, after a history of being a huge steel manufacturer and builder for over a hundred years, Giovanola went out of business a few years ago.

Hey there's Carowinds old "White Lightning" in the forefront of those pics!!

*waves*

Does http://www.rcdb.com/ig1169.htm?picture=14 look like B:TR to you?

Two obvious differences:

1. There is a 540 degree spiraling downward helix.

2. There is a double corkscrew - something you don't find on Beemers.

And of course, there is very elaborate scenery and there are 2-across trains, not 4-across, as pointed out by Danimal - all that B:TR doesn't have.

I'm just going by what I saw in the pictures here.

Note to self -> Always check RCDB. :)

Mamoosh said:

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Ummm...corkscrewy? Did you check out the other photos of that coaster? The only thing similar to B&M's Batman is the first three inversions.

I don't see the big deal here.

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Number one: It's not a big deal, just interesting.

Number two: The first three inversions of any B:TR (and this ride, too, it would appear) are about half of the entire ride. More, if you count the lift hill and first drop.

Number three: I did look at the other pictures, and while the rest is not identical with B:TR, I found it to be highly reminisent of that storied coaster form.

Off hand, it does look quite a bit rip-offish, to me. But, since B:TR is such a great coaster, and B&M and Giovanola may have some sort of working relationship, I just think it's neat and kind of wierd to see a ride that looks so much like a B:TR but isn't.

Well IMO the Gio looks much better then the B:TR layout coasters from B&M. I've also heard that the Gio is more intense then the B&M invert. I've heard from a friend that has rode Anaconda that the elements of this coaster make B:TR feel like a kiddy coaster. Which imo is seams unbelievable considering how intense B:TR is, but this is what i was told. This is the same company who built what most consider the worlds most intense elements on a coaster, the Goliath and Titan helices. So i want know for sure until i ride it myself hopefully one day.

Stengel did both, no one is ripping off anyone.

I've never seen that track with only two seats wide

http://www.rcdb.com/ig1169.htm?picture=7

http://www.coasterforce.com/information/furtherinformation/gioinfo.shtml

http://www.coasterforce.com/info/bm/index.php

Hope these two links are able to clear up the confusion between the two companies. *** Edited 5/15/2005 6:46:52 AM UTC by Al Miner***

...because we all know how accurate Coaster Force is...

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tricktrack said:and Bolliger and Mabillard used to be on Giovanolas payroll before they formed their own office.

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Actually, they and several other employees worked for "Uncle" Sandor at Intamin before going off to form thier own company.

^The first coasterfarce link is in fact quite correct as it is basically a capture of Giovanolas website when they tried to become a global coaster player as G-Tec.

The second article however is pure fantasy and a reason why that website has its notorious reputation. I actually laughed several times when I read this hillarious story. Or did you know that the term "inverted" coaster was coined by a british kids-tv presenter in 1994 in referrence to Nemesis?!? And didn´t we all suspect that Drachenfire was originally designed by B&M but built by Arrow (for whatever reason)?!?

The myth of B&M is really becoming an urban legend in the enthusiast world.

*** Edited 5/15/2005 9:06:05 AM UTC by tricktrack***

I've ridden Anaconda and quite a lot of the B:TRs. They are nothing like each other.

In my not-so-humble opinion, Anaconda is the best inverted coaster I have ever been on for sheer relentless non stop intensity.

Wait... I thought Giovanola went out of business? Then how are they building Anaconda?

And you're right corkscrewy... if I didn't know, I would say that was a B&M Invert being built. Same track, supports, everything.

(Those seats looks UNCOMFORTABLE! They also appear to use fin braking instead of box-beam B&M brakes. *** Edited 5/15/2005 4:07:21 PM UTC by pkidelirium***

I don't even know if Giovanoa went out of business or not (thought they moved away from coasters as opposed to went out of business), but nevertheless built in 1999, I think Anaconda opened before they "went out of business"

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This is the same company who built what most consider the worlds most intense elements on a coaster, the Goliath and Titan helices

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Most intense elements on a coaster? I rode Goliath, and while the helix was intense I think it is quite a presumptuous thing to say it's the most intense element in the world.