New TR:TR Sequence?

Was there any news released at the Boomerang Bay construction tour as to whether or not Tomb Raider: The Ride at Paramount's Kings Island would have a new ride sequence for this season?

Also, I know that Delerium has it's seats removed for the off season, but does TR, considering its inside that massive building?

PKI Reps are strongly hinting at a re-program of TR for this upcoming season. But nothing official was announced.

IMO, I think it will happen. PKI likes to tweak their ride experiences over time. TR:TR is no exception. They are dedicated to making it a highly enjoyable experience.

But what makes a re-program of TR difficult is the complicated timing of effects and musical cues. It's not just an easy switch to the number of revolutions, it's more like re-choreographing an entire performance. Bottom line, it's very costly too simply because it involves musicians, effects technicians as well as HUSS Reps. By the way, do not expect numerous "top spin flips" to show up on TR... ever. The ride adheres to TUV standards which prevent consecutive flips.

Rumor has it, many of the special effects for TR are also being given the TLC treatment this off-season. Things like all the "flaming" torches, the "unlocking" of the tomb door light effect, as well as the roving eyes of the Shiva are being overhauled and changed to better the themed experience.

Both Delirium and TR, as well as all the coaster trains and other ride cars/seats are removed during the off season and rebuilt. They are inspected closely, with many even sent off-site and x-rayed for any steel/stress fractures in their assemblies (mainy the coaster train chassis.) Currently, the seats from Delirium and TR:TR are stored in the picnic shelters near HB. This area is perfect for storage because the main steel repair and maintenance shop is locted in the admin area directly in front of the picnic grove.

Shaggy *** Edited 1/26/2004 4:32:39 PM UTC by Shaggy***

Can someone please explain to me what the TUV standards are? Is the ride not capable of consecutive flips or is the park just following some weird standard. I have been on many top spins in the US that flip like this and I think having the giant one do it would be great. Anyways.... what are these TUV standards you speak of?

I'm very glad to hear that at least some of the themeing is being modified. It was really dissapointing to walk up to Tomb Raider and notice how much was missing when compared to opening in 2002.

I have had so many rides on TR:TR it seems like every time I ride it it's a different program. Sometiems the eyes work, sometimes they don't. Sometimes the lava works sometimes it sputters. It just doesn't seem to have any quality consistency to it right now. Though I can tell you on the first FearFest weekend, that ride was flipping like crazy, and then when it stopped flipping it held you upside down! Now those were some great rides :)

"The Future of Roller Coasters"
-RollerCoasterGod
http://OhioThemeParks.com

I've found that the ride sequence itself is always consistent, however the themeing and special effects are a completely different story.

Every single fire effect on the entire ride, from the flames outside to the sparks at the beginning of the ride, work sometimes, and don't work other times. Somehow, the eyes on the statue are different a color and brightness on each ride, and sometimes not visible at all.

The lighting effects, like the black-light Buddah and the lava pit, also seem to be pretty termpermental with their intensity. Even the fog at the end of the ride may be a huge billowing cloud of smoke or hardly nothing at all.

I cant wait to ride the new program, and I am happy to see they are fixing up the special effects. The only thing I dont like is the fact that after only 2 years of operation they have to go back and fix the special effects because they dont work most of the time.

TUV standards consist of a series of stringent tests on a mechanical item or device that ensure a very safe condusive operating process. TUV is more synonymous with industries such as the American Aerospace industry.

Some parks, and ride manufacturers have adopted TUV as a standardized means of regulating their product for safe consistant operation. After all, amusement rides are nothing more than complex machinery.

Now, not every manufacturer, and especially not every park, adheres to TUV standards. That is why you see more extreme rides with more extreme programs at certain parks. That is also why you see a lot of downtime on certain rides at other parks. I know that SF does not adhere to TUV, and I am sure that smaller Mom and Pop parks like HW and Knoebles do not either.

However TUV standards are often used at very large high capacity parks such as the Paramount chain. For more about TUV, I believe this is a link to a TUV site:

http://www.tuvamerica.com/home.cfm

TR:TR does indeed have the ability to flip consecutively. However, the standards that PKI follows prevent the large unit to perform in such a way. I believe consecutive flips on a machine such as a HUSS Giant Top Spin that runs (hopefully) over and over all day every day just isn't prudent. The TUV standards help it run in an even manner with minimal stress on the mechanical aspect of the ride.

A commmon myth about TR:TR is that it "varies" from ride to ride. The truth is, since day one it has run the same exact program... no longer no shorter... with the same amount of flips and hang time. Now, granted some effects have come, and gone, and come again... but the actual rotation of the ride unit has always been the same.

All of last season, the ride operated without the "roving" shiva eyes. The season prior, the Shiva's uv effect that turned the god "angry" failed mid season and had to be completely overhauled.

The truth is, rides... especially those with complex effects, often have trouble such as this. That's because amusement attractions are hard to maintain... the effects, ride mechanics have to perform over and over and over again day after day. Many rides open, and bugs have to be worked out over time. Sometimes the original manufacturers "skimp" a little on the quality of the things they use (as was the case of the uv lights and the mechanics that caused the Shiva's eyes to move) and so the park has to go back, re-evaluate and replace them with things that will consistantly operate.

I have faith this will be a banner year for TR. Just think what time and TLC did to FOF. Paramount does not give up after a ride is built, the new blood within the parks it striving daily to improve and maintain what they have as well as add new and interesting new product. Product that will hold up and adhere to their desired quality.

Shaggy *** Edited 1/27/2004 2:59:25 PM UTC by Shaggy***

Also on TUV rides. Most European manufacturers build rides to TUV specifications, but it costs extra for TUV certification. While not exactly the same, the standards for TUV and the new ASTM F-24 are similar.

Shaggy, any idea how German showmen can run their Top Spins with 20 flips and be TUV-approved, but TR:TR can't? Is it just because the structure size is so much larger that it changes the entire equation of what the reide can do?

Adam

You know I wish I knew.

Fact is, in Europe, safety regulations and mechanical standards are a lot more "allowing." It seems that in the lawsuit infested US, mechanical devices... especially rides and coasters... have a much more intricate set of rules/boundries.

Personally, I wish TR:TR would flip on a consecutive basis. IMO that would add the climax that the ride sequence needs. However, I know it to be a pipe dream. The best ride I ever got on a Top Spin was, believe it or not, on SFWOA's Texas Twister (or whatever it's called.) During a visit to the park with Eric G. we were able to talk the ride ops into letting us sample 8 different programs. #8, I believe, flipped us at least 7 times. It was an incredible ride and you could hear the midway crowd ooooohing and aaaaahing. That is the only time I have seen the program run. I expect that the ride ops are told to rarely run such a program, not only because it deters queezy and cautious guests, but because it is hard on the ride too.

None-the-less, I think TR:TR's size does complicate matters greatly. It would make sense that a larger ride means greater limitations. Someday I hope to sit down with someone from the park and ask that question.

Shaggy
*** Edited 1/27/2004 4:35:56 PM UTC by Shaggy***

TR:TR and Delirium both were fantastic additions to PKI. I've got my fingers crossed that they can add to their set of Huss giants sometime in the coming years. Jump2, anyone? :)

I'm looking forward to riding TR:TR after it comes out of it's winter rehab.

Jerry

Shaggy-

While I agree with you that the safety standards are more allowing, I don't think the mechanical standards are. By safety standards I mean things like the fact that there is no gate along the side of a Mondial Shake or Huss Breakdance. People are allowed to get on while the table is still turning. I don't know if German people are just smarter than Americans or what, but operating procedures are more made to maximize throughput (yet people get hurt less there). For instance, notice the lack of a gate or fence in the following picture, people just sit on the deck and wait for the table to slow.

http://www.flatrides.com/Ride%20Index/MondialShake4.jpg

As for safety, the TUV standard is a German one, so I think that with the new F-24 standards that German rides and American rides have the same operating standards. The construction ones in Germany are probably a little stronger. For instance, from what I understand a Chance Zipper or Skywheel cannot operate in Germany.

As for SFWOA's Top Spin, that does not surprise me. I have heard that is one of the best-run Top Spins in the country, second only to Strates Shows'.

Adam

Paramount must not be too unpleased with the effects Teknifex did for TR:TR, since it appears they are going through them once again for the effects on the soon to open Borg Invasion 4D:

http://www.technifex.com/pages/projects/projects_tomb.html

I used to work maintenace at PKI and tomb raider was one the rides I used to work on. The seats do stay on the gondola but the seat head rest and backs are taken off to inspect the seat locks and airlines. Last time I heard they were changing the program to the basic top spin program. Not a hundred percent sure since I no longer work there. I'm hoping they do change it but still keep the shiva and volcano sequences.

Why would PKI change the sequence so much that the majority of the themeing could no longer be utilized? I think if they do happen to change the sequence, we can safely assume that all themeing will continue to be used. If they didn't, that would be a major waste of money for only using the special effects for two years. Then the ride really would be just a Top Spin in a box.

I think you might have mis-understood. All themeing will remain in-tact, and used. However it has to be tweaked (especially the ride's orchestrations) to allow for a longer/different ride sequence.

Shaggy

---

LONNOL said:
I don't know if German people are just smarter than Americans or what, but operating procedures are more made to maximize throughput (yet people get hurt less there).

---

Smarter? How about more "personally responsible".....I can't IMAGINE a judge in Europe hearing a case about how fast food made someone fat and that the restaurant should be forced to compensate that individual....just wouldn't happen...

In America, you sue for having your hands hurt from hitting a support on a coaster when the sign CLEARLY stated "keep your hands down"....can't do that in every country, LOL.

bill, wondering if the construction standards aren't more stringent due to the bloated beer bellies from Oktoberfest...;)

The TUV requires PKI to build lots of big wooden objects :)

Well I really hope the ride only gets better. Especially since I will be riding it for the first time this year! Yay BeastBuzz!

---

Shaggy said:
I think you might have mis-understood. All themeing will remain in-tact, and used. However it has to be tweaked (especially the ride's orchestrations) to allow for a longer/different ride sequence.

Shaggy

---

I see. However, this brings up another question. What aspects of the ride would be changed, if PKI does decide to make a new sequence? Would the order of the scenes be changed, the ride movements themselves be changed, or a little bit of both?