Help with Magic Mountain?

Aside from some small details, heavier trains don't fall faster.

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Be polite and ignore the idiots. - rollergator
"It's not a Toomer" - Arnold Schwartzenkoph
"Those who know don't talk and those who talk don't know." -Jeff

Right, but the forces just feel stronger, not necessarily faster.

To me, the front almost feels like you're in slow motion, you seem to have a little more time to watch the drop approach before you actually enter it. Whereas the back, there's no time to prepare for anything it seems to happen so fast.

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"Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it"

Um...the forces dictate your acceleration which dictates your speed. You can't fall stronger without falling faster, and you're not falling faster. I agree that the back is insane and much better than the front, but in the world of physics, the weight of the trains has nothing to do with it.

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Be polite and ignore the idiots. - rollergator
"It's not a Toomer" - Arnold Schwartzenkoph
"Those who know don't talk and those who talk don't know." -Jeff

In a perfect world ApolloAndy, you are right. However, we live in the real world. Heavier trains cut through wind resistance better, and alas do go faster, albeit not by much, but enough to be noticeable.

Ever wonder why they have to sandbag Gemini to do block checks every morning? Oh yeah, that pesky air in our atmosphere ;-)

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Kyle

Hm....let's see how much air resistance matters on the first drop. Air resistance is proportional to speed. How fast is the train moving when it crests the first drop? A few MPH tops. Air resistance at this point in the ride is really not a factor.

I understand and agree that sandbags are needed for testing because the small difference from weight adds up quickly over a half mile of track, but it really doesn't affect the first drop.

Aside from the small running start, do you really think the trains on X fall faster than the trains on, say Oblivion or Deja Vu?
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Be polite and ignore the idiots. - rollergator
"It's not a Toomer" - Arnold Schwartzenkoph
"Those who know don't talk and those who talk don't know." -Jeff

Not that I , or anyone else without a physics degree cares. I appreciate the opinion about the front and back seats for X. I will remember them, and not so much the stuff about whether a bowling ball actually falls faster than an egg

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-Brian, who enjoys long walks on the beach, wooden coasters, avoiding being called a "jobber" while keeping it real in the 9Quad.

Heh. We have gotten off the "tips for for Magic Mountain" but I still think it's an interesting discussion. Consider it a hijacking.

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Be polite and ignore the idiots. - rollergator
"It's not a Toomer" - Arnold Schwartzenkoph
"Those who know don't talk and those who talk don't know." -Jeff

Back to your topic Slowmotion. I hit SFMM for my second time this summer. Hit X first. I made the mistake and went right instead of left after entering the park, and waited for 3 hours at 5 oclock. Hit it first. When I went it was one train ops with 6minutes of loading/ride time. Hit riddler's, it's the best stand up, ninja is a great suspended. WEAR COMFORTABLE SHOES. the park is pretty hilly, and the walk up to Superman and Ninja can get VERY annoying. I liked the park alot, albeit what alot say. goliath was a walk on, pretty good ride. SCREAM! wasn't good. Very bumpy and rattily. I don't know if it was put together too fast, or if the wheel was bad where I was sitting, but not good. Superman would have been good in 1997, but it is really slow xceleration, and gave no thrill. Airtime is good on it though. Psyclone hurts. Collosus didn't get to ride. Revolution rode years ago (but not on this trip) good ride. Take the Intamin Orient Express to get from the top of the park (by Ninja and skytower) to the bottom and vice versa.

mooseburger is a good restaurant, order bun plain if you don't like jalepeno buns. Eat a big breakfast or leave for wendy's. paid 40 bucks for chicken fingers (heed the warning!)

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I am one.
I am Turbo.
Top Thrill in the front row... anything else is lame
X...Whoa

I was just there last week on Friday and Saturday. Friday is by far the best day to go, as we had pretty much the whole park to ourselves all day.

First, the main gate to get in is comprised of a large gate in the center and 3 or 4 smaller gates next to them. Go through one of the smaller gates as the people in the large gate will form a huge mass while the people in the smaller gates are getting through.

Then, run like mad to the X pre-queue. This is at the beginning of the bridge that leads to X. Line up on the right side of this queue as they will open up the gate on that side and you'll get in faster. We got on the 1st or 2nd ride both days and it doesn't appear that it matters which side you go into the station on.

From there, head straight to the back of the park. Riddler and Batman are a mess of a line most of the day. This is when your ride queues should be at their lowest point. Scream is a better ride than Superman IMO, so hit Scream next and then Goliath which should be a walk on and lend itself to several re-rides. Then head to the front of the park, do Revolution and then get on the Orient Express to tackle Superman and then Ninja.

Ignore Psyclone.. After doing Superman and Ninja, head back down the hill on the Orient Express and head over to Viper. By this time the lines should be relatively tame.

Deja Vu and Flashback are closed. Don't ignore Gold Rusher as it is a fantastic old roller coaster. However, you can usually walk on to this coaster at most times during the day.

Also recommended, at night go back and ride X again. The queues will be long but there is nothing like seeing all of Magic Mountain with the lights and fog from Fright Fest as you go up the hill to the first drop. An awesome way to end your day.

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Rod

just a response to turbo because i know slowmotion is already at MM but I go to MM every weekend(pretty cool huh) and Scream! has always been shaky. I don't know the reason but I think the wheels are a little off. That's my best guess.

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X- the coaster designed to break all the rules

Scream! was even shaky on Media Day.