questions about Rotor and powered coasters

I have a 2 questions about some flat rides.

Does the Sierra Twist at SFMM still go backwards? The Beserker at PGA doesn't anymore. That bugged the hell out of me, that's like a Himalaya not going backwards. For those of you who don't know what this ride is, I am not sure who makes it but I've seen them all over. It is a powered coaster with self-banking cars(the cars upright themselves for loading). The track is a single circle (not like the Dragon Coasters) with a high bank on one end, which is usually enclosed(Sierra Twist is not however).

My friend and I were talking about Chance Rotors. I mentioned how the girl got her toes cruched, and he said, "Wait, the one at SFMM doesn't raise, it has another door down below for exiting." I haven't gone on the Rotor at SFMM since I was a teenager, so I don't fully remember it. Is the Rotor that caused the injury an older model?

As for the first part of your question, it sounds like you're talking about a Schwarzkopf Bayern Kurve or Swiss Bob. As those come from the factory, it's probably not a good idea for them to run backwards as that would be a good way to scatter riders all over the midway, since the thing has no active restraints (most of the ones I have seen have had seat belts or retractable lap bars added).

Can't offer much help on the Rotor question, though...

--Dave Althoff, Jr.


RideMan said:
As for the first part of your question, it sounds like you're talking about a Schwarzkopf Bayern Kurve or Swiss Bob. As those come from the factory, it's probably not a good idea for them to run backwards as that would be a good way to scatter riders all over the midway, since the thing has no active restraints (most of the ones I have seen have had seat belts or retractable lap bars added).

Yeah, that's it. It's a Schwarzkopf Bayern Kurve, with a partial enclosure. Wow, I didn't realize it was a Schwarzkopf. Someone at Marriot was really thinking, because when they owned Great America, they were buying almost exclusively Schwarzkopf, and that's one more. There is also an Enterprise (Orleans Orbit), a Calypso (Centrifuge), Weight-Drop Shuttle Loop (Greased Lightnin'), and there used to be a Speed Racer (Whizzer).
It does have seatbelts installed as well. They certainly used to run it backwards, and they don't now, I hope no one was hurt!
-djansi

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