Great America Demons and Tidal Wave w/no back spike?

White Lightnin' at Carowinds was one of those "first generation" shuttles with its brother King Kobra at Kings Dominion. I know that White Lightnin' ran up the back spike.

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OrientExpressKid said:
If you are going to just tell me no after an honest response, then why ask the question?

Look at the support structure of the first drop, it is the very same as Turn of the Century. The spine of area is welded together. *** Edited 6/29/2007 6:37:26

PM UTC by OrientExpressKid***

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You gotta point there, kid. Sorry bout dat. What I'm trying to find out is why they changed the drop, and I belive the drop on Demon - CA was changed back to be less severe.

(for the sake of coaster geekness, and friendly debate, not trying to argue or have a go at anyone's ego here, this is all in fun!)

Ok, take a look at this picture:

http://www.rcdb.com/ig76.htm?picture=3

now look at this one:

http://www.rcdb.com/ig76.htm?picture=6

see the difference? 1/3 to 1/2 way down the drop, it gets steeper.

Now for the Gurnee ride, same thing:

http://www.rcdb.com/ig3.htm?picture=9

then:

http://www.rcdb.com/ig3.htm?picture=3

See it?

I have a good pic somewhere of the 'misalignment' of the backbone on the Gurnee Demon, but can't find it. I'll take a close up next time I'm at the park.

*** Edited 6/29/2007 8:03:22 PM UTC by J7G3***

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J7G3 said:

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OrientExpressKid said:
If you are going to just tell me no after an honest response, then why ask the question?

Look at the support structure of the first drop, it is the very same as Turn of the Century. The spine of area is welded together. *** Edited 6/29/2007 6:37:26

PM UTC by OrientExpressKid***

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You gotta point there, kid. Sorry bout dat. What I'm trying to find out is why they changed the drop, and I belive the drop on Demon - CA was changed back to be less severe.

(for the sake of coaster geekness, and friendly debate, not trying to argue or have a go at anyone's ego here, this is all in fun!)

Ok, take a look at this picture:

http://www.rcdb.com/ig76.htm?picture=3

now look at this one:

http://www.rcdb.com/ig76.htm?picture=6

see the difference? 1/3 to 1/2 way down the drop, it gets steeper.

Now for the Gurnee ride, same thing:

http://www.rcdb.com/ig3.htm?picture=9

then:

http://www.rcdb.com/ig3.htm?picture=3

See it?

I have a good pic somewhere of the 'misalignment' of the backbone on the Gurnee Demon, but can't find it. I'll take a close up next time I'm at the park.

*** Edited 6/29/2007 8:03:22 PM UTC by J7G3***

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We'll be there tomorrow. I'll definately look for this! If I can get a good shot in I will.

If you see a bunch of rabid anime geeks at the park being led by a brunette in glasses and khakis, come over and say hello ;)

On a side note, looking at those pics makes me miss the sky wheel. I loved the 'tweety cages' when I was a little girl.

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Kenmei said:

We'll be there tomorrow. I'll definately look for this! If I can get a good shot in I will.

On a side note, looking at those pics makes me miss the sky wheel. I loved the 'tweety cages' when I was a little girl.

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Sounds great, would love to see what the park is like nowadays on a Saturday. I haven't dared that since the early 90's I think.

Well, here: http://www.coasterchild.com/rollercoasters/demon/627395_13A.jpg is a good shot of the side of the drop on Demon at SFGAm. The profile is quite parabolic. I think the other picture may have just been a weird angle...and upon further inspection it looked as if the supporting structure itself was bent at the top. Which profile lines up with the parabolic arch of this: http://www.rcdb.com/ig3.htm?picture=11 picture as well. Then look at the heights of the superstructure holding up the ride on the drop, you will find the vertical supports to be the same as on TotC, which cannot be possible if the drop was made steeper.

I'm thinking the questionable picture of an obvious looking abnormality in the drop is clearly just the coaster not having the TLC it needed maintenance wise. http://www.rcdb.com/ig76.htm?picture=6

I'll take pics next time I'm at the park. I guess I really don't need to prove that the drop was changed, aw forget it.

If you look at and study all the pics of the TOTC drop, then all the pics of the Demon drop, it is clear they are different.

The Demon has about a 55 degree drop, does not have any "straight track" during the drop, and has the harsh "snap" that Bill Cobb happend to use on the Riverside Cyclone and Texas Cyclone...

http://www.rcdb.com/ig3.htm?picture=3

http://www.rcdb.com/ig76.htm?picture=6

http://www.rcdb.com/ig76.htm?picture=5

Also, note all the additional track ties in the new track on the drop pull-out.

The TOTC drop was a 45 degree drop; at the 45 degree mark, the drop had a good straight section of track: http://www.rcdb.com/ig76.htm?picture=3

http://www.rcdb.com/ig3.htm?picture=11

http://www.rcdb.com/ig3.htm?picture=15

http://www.rcdb.com/ig3.htm?picture=9