Mind Melt... Bell's new ride

http://www.kotv.com/main/home/stories.asp?whichpage=1&id=69381

0-60 in 1.1 seconds sounds pretty fast. Doesn't sound like your standard S&S drop, (I realize that this isn't S&S). Anyone know if this is faster than most drop towers?

Well, the picture seems to indicate that the ride was manufactured by ARM. ARM rides rely on gravity alone, so I think it's safe to say that the ride won't surpass the rate of freefall found on other towers. Finding out whether the 1.1 second figure is correct, however, is something that a math genius can do for us. :)

If you read the article you will find:

"Then, instead of dropping to the ground, the car is forced to the ground"

To me that sounds like more than freefall, no?

--Scott

Is it just me or does almost every drop ride made by Moser, ARM, etc, feel way more powerful than the ones by S&S that are supposedly launched down?

According to the Tulsa World the ride is manufactured by A.R.M. and Larson.

I earlier posted the tulsa world information which you can find here:

http://www.coasterbuzz.com/forum.aspx?mode=thread&TopicID=39517 *** Edited 9/24/2004 11:36:39 PM UTC by Zingo***

Does anyone know if ARM has come out with a newer drop tower model? The two I've ridden on aren't forced to the ground, which is why I assumed it would be the same case with this ride.

Freefall (gravity the only force) would need 2.7 seconds to reach 60mph. So, it seems the ride will indeed be forced to the ground.

-Brian

(not a math genius, just a dorky engineer)

Holy smoke thats a fast acceleration! That would probably be pretty scary. Are there any more like it?

I went by the park today, All I can say is that the ride isn't 141 feet as mentioned in the Tulsa World article. The ride looks to be only about 100 feet tall. So the accelration could be a little exaggerated as well......

I'll try to ask Robby the next time I see him to help clarify, but I'm sure the information that was given to Tulsa World and KOTV is the "official" stats.

Zingo, do you know what's going on with the "new" coaster? Isn't it supposed to be going through appeals right now?

Also, I'm wondering, doesn't Bells make a ton of money from the state fairs every year? Wouldn't they have enough to make a small but MUCH LONGER coaster than the one proposed many years ago.. whilst still making it mostly enclosed?

likewise, is there any reason they went with a meidocrely sized tower? Yeah I mean, a 200 footer wouldn't contrast well with everything else, but it would sure bring the crowds in, theoretically making up for the costs, wouldn't it?

The new coaster is now in the Oklahoma Appeals Court. The reason it is even in there now is because the residents argued that building the coaster in that area of the fairgrounds would be in violation of the planning of that area.

However, it is only planning that it would be in violation of not any law, so technically all that needs to be done is have the Oklahoma Court hear the case.

Yes Bells makes at least 1/3 of its yearly profit in the week and a half that the Tulsa State Fair is in session. Last year's fair run was a bad year for Bells, so this is why you are seeing this new ride being built now. The fair is also the reason why you don't see the park looking at relocating.

I do know the City of Jenks has an area reserved by the river for a theme park type attraction. The Oklahoma Aquarium is already open in Jenks and is bringing in larger numbers than expected. A new retail complex with an indoor water park is proposed for the area, hotels are being built and the Cherokee Nation is planning on building a huge "family" entertainment complex in the same area. It would be a perfect area for Bells to relocate, but apparently they are not interested. Maybe Holiday World could build a sister park here - I bet the City of Jenks would even help with the financing - they could theme it to be like an old "Mark Twain" type river town.

WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE

:)