Headchoppers...

I apologize if this was asked before (I even tried searching)...

I just saw ***************'s post for Iron Rattler and I noticed in one of the POV's, a passenger's hands get extremely close to the walls. At least it looks that way (video here http://youtu.be/iGKbhydunoE?t=5m10s).

Do all roller coasters have arm length clearance both vertically and laterally? I remember riding The Beast at King's Island and being afraid holding my arms out for fear they'd touch the side of the tunnel. I imagine it has to have clearance all the way around or else we'd see a lot of lawsuits, but that video forced me to ask.

Nope.

A long time ago, I held a paper cup out against the left side of the Beast helix. I didn't have to extend my arm very far to discover that it's certainly within arm's reach. That concluded such "experiments."

Edit: So yes, if you're hellbent on degloving yourself on the Beast, there's always that option available.

I love that asterisks still appear instead of the name of that website. No need to talk about them (or him, I guess), but I just wanted to let everyone know that I laugh when I see that.

I see that an article that he wrote a few days ago for the Travel Channel hilariously hasn't been mentioned on CoasterBuzz at all. lol

About The Beast, it was always a funny rumor when I was a kid that a girl stood up in the helix and was decapitated. Cautionary tales like that taught us to behave.

LostKause said:

I see that an article that he wrote a few days ago for the Travel Channel hilariously hasn't been mentioned on CoasterBuzz at all.

...until now. :)

I've been on CB for probably over a decade now and I don't remember Rob from the old days, but I was confused as to why the name was censored. Even tried to look up forum rules to see why. Oh well.

I guess that answers my question. I remember on Beast, my roommate and I pulled our hands down pretty quickly. Not sure how there aren't more injuries, but I imagine it would be the rider's fault since you're not supposed to have your hands up at all.

Meh, I've smacked a few beams here and there...not that I recommend it.

Speaking of head choppers, GateKeeper was not as intense as I thought it'd be in that respect. I still think Gemini delivers one of the best head chopper moments among the coasters I've ridden. It's always funny seeing riders in the train duck and gasp.

Wait, not all coasters have arm-length clearance in every direction? I'm never putting my arms up again, I've been under the notion that they ensure that sort of thing can't happen.

As a tall person, when I feel the need to put my hands up, I have always reflexively flexed my elbows when going through head choppers.

rollergator said:

Meh, I've smacked a few beams here and there...not that I recommend it.

Only time I ever hit my hand on a support structure was on Lakemont's Skyliner. Ouch, but that's about it.

Wasn't the headchopper..or actually hand chopper clearance issue one of the reasons the Texas Cyclone couldn't be relocated?

May have just been a rumour but I remember it being pretty tight for hand clearance if they were up.

I've hit my hands on plenty of things while riding. Usually resulting in "Ow! Why did I try to do that?" I think one of those moments was when I clipped my finger against an overbank support on MF before they cut a notch in it. Wooden coasters have a lot more close calls, and I'm pretty sure I can reach most handrails while riding.

Jeph said:
Speaking of head choppers, GateKeeper was not as intense as I thought it'd be in that respect. I still think Gemini delivers one of the best head chopper moments among the coasters I've ridden. It's always funny seeing riders in the train duck and gasp.

I always yell from the back of the train "DUCK". And they do. It's not as funny as fiddling with my seatbelt, but close.

Once at Disneyland we were on Matterhorn Bobsled and I was shocked at how close the Skyride cars passing thru the mountain came to the sleds going up the lift. It was perfect timing, and I was able to easily reach up and knock on the bottom of the bucket. In fact if I had been a little more limber (or a stuntman) I could've easily started on one ride and ended on the other.

I agree that Gemini does have a nice chopper effect, but only in one spot. Mean Streak has a few more, and Viper at Great America has a lot. Another good one fore riding through lots of structure is Le Monster at La Ronde. Also the return run on Shivering Timbers.I took my friend Dan on Shivering Timbers a few years ago. Dan is 6'4' and he was totally freaked out while riding ST. The first thing he said was how he thought for sure he was going to take a smack to the face. I told him it was totally safe, but he ducked down on every ride. But, he loved riding ST. Though he said he liked the Wildcat better, because it wasn't as intense. But, Dan was also pretty baked, bringing along his special homemade brownies, which made for a pretty yippy skippy day. Riding ST after a few of those, and you feel like your going 200 miles an hour. LOL!!As for other rides. I'll never understand why people feel the need to grab the brush while riding the Whizzer at Great America. I also rode the Scorpion at Bush Gardens Tampa, and notice people trying to lean far enough to touch the ground in the final helix. People are just asking for an injury. Like the morons who slap hands on Gemini, two guys grabbed hands, and when the train lurched ahead, the guy almost got dragged out of his seat, because the other guy would not let go. Morons!

Finally! We come to understand your impressions of Michigan's Adventure are chemically induced.

Well, that explains everything. And then some.

I know somebody who almost got his hand knocked off on Shivering Timbers. He had his arms up the whole ride, and accidently touched the railing near the helix. His hand was swollen red and bloody. He had to go to Michigan Adventure's nurse, and she told him he shouldn't of had his hands up. Isn't it a requirement that it's impossible to touch the rollercoaster?

Nope, but it is a requirement to keep your hands and feet in the train at all times, I believe. With this declaration made at every train dispatch, the park is covered in the event of an "accident" and should probably should kick out the violating guest upon receiving medical treatment.

Not entirely true. In the real world of law all the warnings and signage on earth may not alleviate a business owner or individual of responsibility in the case of an accident.

It's not just on a sign, or the back of a ticket stub, though. It's actually written in the law books. CP is good about referencing the Ohio revised code in their warnings.