Launched coaster question...

last week at IOA, the launch speed on Hulk SEEMED to be considerably increased...my guess is by about 8-10 mph.  The launch sequence also seemed to "kick in" earlier during the incline.  I know in RCT it's easy to change the speed, but I was wondering if IOA really "boosted" Hulk, or if I just had been too long without my favorite Florida B&M...
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PoTP acolyte - remove fear to reply
Son of Drop Zone - PKI CoasterCamp I Champions!!!

When I was there last month I was expecting the launch to happen further up the lift, at least that's what I remembered from the various video clips I had seen. I was in the back seat, and it seemed to "go" as soon as we were off from level. Has it always been that way?

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com, Sillynonsense.com
"As far as I can tell it doesn't matter who you are. If you can believe, there's something worth fighting for..." - Garbage, "Parade"

not to the best of my recollection.  I BELIEVE the launch used to happen further up the "lifthill" and that the launch propelled the trains at a lower speed out the top...I cannot confirm this, but it is a STRONG suspicion...anyone else ?
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PoTP acolyte - remove fear to reply
Son of Drop Zone - PKI CoasterCamp I Champions!!!

When I rode the Hulk 2 years ago, we proceeded at a steady pace until we reached just about the top, then there was a sudden acceleration.

An earlier launch may not make the coaster go only a little faster, but it may seem faster reaching speed farther back  in the tunnel.  Loopers are so speed critical, that I wouldn't think they would change the speed over the top much.

I can think of a couple of reasons that they might have made this change.  1) It would reduce the cycle time.  2) Done right it would reduce the load on the motors at the top resulting in longer life.  I doubt that it would be done to prevent valleying etc. since Hulk has run for some time with no reported problems.

I went 2 years ago and it was almost at the top of the incline that it launched you, as soon as the "oh now its not going to work" voice came on. If now it does come sooner? do they still have the voices when you are going up or is it to short of a time to have them now?

*** This post was edited by MFRULES23 on 12/27/2001. ***

I've never been there, but what do you mean by voice? Like an intercom thing?

The Original MFRULES.
Really, not to get off too much here, nice name MFRULES23. Did you know that you signed up exactly one year after I did?  Cool name ;)

*** This post was edited by MFRULES on 12/27/2001. ***

That's true, people have told me about some kind of audio you're supposed to hear in the lift tunnel. I heard no such audio. I was in the tunnel, then inverting out the top a few seconds later.

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com, Sillynonsense.com
"As far as I can tell it doesn't matter who you are. If you can believe, there's something worth fighting for..." - Garbage, "Parade"

no it wasn't an intercom. is was like Jeff said an audio recording.it was something like this

scientist talking: "this is finally going to work! Here we go! Wait a minute oh no! its not going to work"

then there is a voice saying "warning warning warning....."

then you get launched up the tunnel.

The voice must be gone now if they launch sooner than they did 2 years ago when i was there. Well I am going again in march so I'll see for my self.

more like " i think. i think this time it's gonna work  computer voice: cooling levels dropping 5 (screaming.4.3.2.) then it launches   then if your standing under the tunnel right after it launches you hear it say cooling levels stabilizing

*** This post was edited by sexynina on 12/28/2001. ***

Talked to a couple friends who said they believed the launch was earlier AND stronger.  Another friend of mine just came back from IOA this weekend and said Hulk was down for the day.  Hmmmm....

Voice1:  "this time it's going to work"

Voice 2: "Warning, fluid levels dropping"

Voice 1: "no, no, noooooo"

Launch!

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PoTP acolyte - remove fear to reply
Son of Drop Zone - PKI CoasterCamp I Champions!!!

I just got back from florida today and was on hulk yesterday. It definitely seems to have a faster launch and i do believe it starts earlier, usually it launches about 2/3 of the way inside the tunnel, but now it seems like it launches in the middle of the tunnel. The launch does seem more intense, which in turns makes the zero-g roll even more insane.

The few rides I got on Hulk during last week, definitely confirms my opinion that hulk is a world -class coaster, one of my favorites. It has some flaws but it still delivers an exceptional ride, comparable to the classic Kumba.

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The world's a roller coaster and I am not strapped in, maybe I should hold with care, But My hands are busy in the air- Incubus