I was just wondering what everyone thinks the future of this coaster is. I realize that parks don't want to take coasters out, and will do just about anything to keep them. Do you think a retracking/reprofiling of the ride would do the trick, or is this coaster just going to sit on its hillside till the day I burn it? I would think that if CCI or GCI, came in, they could do a wonderful job on the ride. What do you think?
I read somewhere that they are going to reprofile/rebuild it in the near future.
What is so bad about this coaster anyway? I only ever heard bad things about it, and i will probably never have the chance to ride it.
Let me first say, that the ride was design with some right intentions, but they never quite made it. Right out of the station you go into a small yet powerful helix and up the lifthill. The hill and drop (except for the trim break) are absolutely splendid, it is once you hit the turnaround at the bottom that you feel your spine be jottled in several spots. From that point on it is rather boring, horribly paced, and lacking airtime. The one exception is the dip below the station where the pictures are taken. That spot always creates a nice feeling and can be a surprise for the non riders.
I too have heard the rumors about this happening, and would personally love to see it come to be. I think that a new track alone would increase the speed and smoothness of the ride, therefore making it much better. If it was to be reprofiled though, with several sections of airtime added, some banked turns, and such, it would be a crowd favorite.
I rode "Jerkules" it's opening year in 89 and it was a great ride. I rode it several years after it opened as well and it was still good. It seems to me after Cedar Fair took over Dorney in the mid 90's is when it started to get bad. The first drop was great before the trims were added. The turn over the lake wasn't as nasty back then either. The final turn wasn't as slow either.
I think one of the worst things on Hercules are the hard rubber/ foam seat backs in the PTC's. Maybe if they had regular padding it would make some differance in the back and forth vibration it delivers. Retracking would probably help a good bit too.
One thing I think would be cool if they redesigned the final turn to drop back down to the first turn with a helix and some low hills for some great air time.
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I also road Hercules on opening weekend in 89. At that time it was a great ride, fast and lots of air time especially under the station. I rode it again last year after not having been to Dorney Park for quite some time and was totally shocked. The ride absolutly beat me to death from the time it left the station until the time it returned. Rough is a understatement.
