Looking for 1992 Rattler Pictures

While it may act to burn off speed, there is a simpler reason for the design of Rattler's helix: it was designed to resemble a coiled rattlesnake.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OAs0L-26qY

Still this is one of the wildest videos of Rattler. Excessive movement in the track to me. Enjoy!!!

That's not as unusual as it seems. Many wood coaster bend and flex that way...by design.

I agree but dont you think thats "worn". I just wonder how that affects the ride not from the ridability, but the actual speed and tracking

Starting around 2:57 I've never seen a coaster flex like that.

Thats what I'm saying!!!! How long can it keep that up?

My main point about SOB and Rattler was that the layouts are not very good. While Rattler has a good beginning and a good end, the middle section is just so bad it's unbelievable. The fact it's suppose to be coils makes a lot more sense, still it's too bad it's not more fun (again going off the majority of opinions I've heard, never been on Rattler).

^^How long can it keep that up? Its been doing that since day one. You do realize the ride is checked on a daily basis and maintained in some fashion...right?

Moosh, I am with you man. Easy boy!!!!! I am just saying that it seems that one coaster has more sway in the tracks that most. I realize forces and all that, I am merely pointing it out. Cant we all just get along and post with out bashing? This is my passion and I am glad others share this with me....

Wow, I guess no one here knows the story of the Rattler, I feel so old. I will try and tell it the way John Pierce told it at the ACE Coastercon in 1992.

Well see Gaylord Entertainment (I think that is the name of the company), they also owned Opryland USA. They were building a new park in San Antonio, a show park, the attractions play a minor role and the shows are suppose to be the main draw. But the park needed a major and showcase attraction. So the when to John Piece and RCCA with an odd request.

"The park wanted a wooden coaster with tallest lift, longest first drop, the fastest wooden coaster, it had to climb up the quarry walls and back down again at least twice and........

(Dramatic Pause)

... They wanted it to be a family ride. (Pauses again while a room full ACErs laughs out loud.)"

So RCCA did just that, and had to incorporate "family segment" into the ride. That is how you have the double helix and finale helix, they are the family sections of ride. While the first drop, the double dip and the dive off the quarry walls into the tunnel are the thrill sections.

*** Edited 5/1/2008 2:32:15 AM UTC by SONiC Senshi***

I also believe that originally the ride was going to top out at around 150 feet and then Mean Streak was announced at 161 feet, so they went up to 180 feet. I think there were other issues that they encountered along the way that they didn't expect. One of them resulted in raising the station 30 feet higher than they had planned or something along those lines. It just seems the whole ride wasn't very thought through.

I rode in 1993 and I do remember the drop being pretty extreme in the back seat. I think it was 61 degrees at the time, which was the steepest of any coaster ever.

Cant we all just get along and post with out bashing? This is my passion and I am glad others share this with me....

I wasn't bashing. My apologies if that's how it came off :)

Apology accepted. Moosh, you usually hit everything right on target so I was kinda shocked you said that. But thanks and keep up the great posting.

Wow...you make me sound like the Simon Cowell of Coasterbuzz, lol :)

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Soggy said:
Personally, I think the only thing "wrong" with Rattler is that helix. I think the first and second drops are excellent, even with the reprofile, the 2nd drop is the same as it always was. (correct me if I'm wrong here)

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The double down was removed, the banking was changed, and that drop was also raised a bit, although not nearly as much as the first drop. But you're right, it is still a very exciting dive down to the quarry floor.

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If the helix was torn out and replaced with am out-and-back run, it would be really good. Rough yes, but still good.

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Sadly the local management has proposed that, and many other suggestions to SF, Inc. to improve the ride, but they refuse to allocate funds for anything but required maintenance and repair.

*** Edited 5/2/2008 6:41:14 PM UTC by Jeffrey Seifert***

Ah yes. The 2nd drop did do a dip then the turn, now its just a gradual drop and turn. I can't seem to find any good before & afters of the bottom of that drop, but I'll take your word for it.

I had a feeling that the out & back suggestion was just a pipe dream. If it hasn't been changed by now, it ain't gonna happen.

Must not have looked all that hard, Soggy...the first two photos on rcdb.com show before and after ;)

EDIT - if SFMM can spend $10m to improve X there's still hope for some funds to improve Rattler.

*** Edited 5/2/2008 9:34:45 PM UTC by Mamoosh***

Ummmm.... yeah. Keep in mind I took 3 years or so away from the boards, so I'm still a little rusty. What is this rcdb.com you speak of??? ;)

What is this rcdb.com you speak of???

Something you should've already had bookmarked??? ;)

My father was the general superintendent of construction when “The Rattler” was originally built in 92-93. It was an awesome ride. Fast as you would want and twisty and turn as it could be. I rode it so many times when it first opened. Front car all the way to the back car.

I have not rode it since the changes nor do I think I ever would. It was cutting edge for the time. I have a huge 3’x 5 1/2’ picture of the coaster when it was very close to being completed. I had went to San Antonio for a few weeks and worked on it. It has all the board feet of lumber, amount of nails, speed and amount of drop along wit some other specs. It is a really cool pic.
My Dad worked his butt off on that coaster and has built about 10 wooden coasters around the world. His first one was “The Great American Scream Machine” in 1973 at Six Flags over Georgia.
He is a great wealth of knowledge and we talk about the coasters all the time.

Thanks for your time.