Holes in restraint rubber?!

New coasters are excellent, new paint, nice shiny trains & clean seats...why is it after a season or so you find all these holes in the restraint rubber? Its really strong stuff, and even when I've had a pick at an already established hole its impossible to pick some off! How do these holes appear, and how on earth are people gouging the stuff out? You're not in contact with the harness for very long, and for most of that you'll be getting shaken around! And i dont think most operators will allow people to carry sharp instruments on board!

The question isn't why?, as vandals will be vandals, & obviously I condone this behaviour, its simply how?LOL!

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www.ukrides.info

I never see it. What parks do you see this problem?

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com - Sillynonsense.com
"The world rotates to The Ultra-Heavy Beat!" - KMFDM

I remember seeing this on Medusa at SFGAdv a few years back, and I think the next season they replaced the harnesses. Some harnessess had the little knobby part in the front completely taken off.

Loads of UK Vekoma's, Missile at American Adv, Boomerang at Pleasure Island, esp Traumatizer at Pleasureland, those restraints are well picked at! Pinfaris at Drayton Manor, Pleasure Island and Brighton Pier. Oblivion's Orange rubber is full of holes to! Nemesis is OK as its that harder more plastic stuff! Maybe this is just a UK thing, as well as my pet hate! Anyone else seen this at all?!LOL

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www.ukrides.info
*** This post was edited by colin mcwilliam 2/16/2003 1:13:31 PM ***

I've seen this on Mind Eraser at SFDL. Restraints look like they've been chewed on. Weird since there are so many food stands around that park, the lines aren't long... Do the restraints taste that good? Maybe I'll have to sample them...

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"You think you know me..."

I've only ever noticed this on Vekomas, mostly on the SLCs.

Acid rain?

loriu said:
I've only ever noticed this on Vekomas, mostly on the SLCs.

What are you talkin about? Vekoma makes quality restraints, like their rides.;)

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People scare me.

I remember that on Medusa in 99. At the coaster celebration in the train shed there were piles of chewed up restraints. They said for 2000 they were going to switch to a different type of yellow padding that would be more resistant to wear/vandalism.

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- "I used to be in the audio/visual club, but I was kicked out because of my views on Vietnam........and I was stealing projectors" - Homer Simpson

I guess then it just depends on where vandalism happens more and where the parks are quick to replace them.

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com - Sillynonsense.com
"The world rotates to The Ultra-Heavy Beat!" - KMFDM

Bingo. I watched people sitting in the station and brake run picking at the foam!

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- "I used to be in the audio/visual club, but I was kicked out because of my views on Vietnam........and I was stealing projectors" - Homer Simpson

Blame on SF for stacking! ;)

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SFNE Central v4- Online Six Flags New England Resource
CBuzzer since September 2001 with a few bumps along the way. :)

I know ST at SFWoA always has some serious foam missing.

I asked a ride attedent at Medusda back in 1999 season at SFGAdv, how could the restrainets get so chewed up like that?, and she said it is most of the time the ride attedents with long nails, and or riders with long nails, over time they just get chewed up all around the seatbelt area. Then I remember in 2000 they fixed that problem, and ever since then the harrness are alot more hard.