Revised Boomerang from Vekoma

Reasonably reliable source claims that a Finnish amusement park Powerpark will build a Vekoma Boomerang for 2005 season. What's interesting is that it will apparently utilize Vekoma's new looping coaster trains and have magnetic brakes. Track will probably be the same old Arrow track though as that's what has been delivered for the Boomerang opening this year in Lebanon (which along with another mideast Boomerang opening this year may well have similar trains and brakes)

Any idea on how this will affect the usual Boomerang experience? I've yet to test a Boomerang, but I have tested a Vekoma Whirlwind and on paper this seems like a definite improvement over its trains.

Anyway, nice to see the newcomer Powerpark continue its development that has been very radical during the last two years. If this new breed of Boomerang proves to be a considerable improvement over the older ones, we may see some old Boomerangs retrofitted with these changes.

Vekoma's new looping coaster trains

*** Edited 9/15/2004 9:02:25 AM UTC by Drift***

Wouldn't it be weird if we started seeing Boomerangs and SLCs with the new track and trains popping up?

Wouldn't it be weirder if Vekoma became known for their smooth and popular rollercoasters like the SLC and Boomerang models?

The world is a strange, odd place to live in...

I just can´t see how those new trains could improve the ride experience. They are hideously ugly TTD-Ripoffs!

The only advantage I see is faster loading/unloading. But this should be enough to send Six Flags managers on a shopping spree. ;)

The thing that makes them better is what isn't seen, actually. Its in the wheel assemblies. I'd say the rest is mostly cosmetic(though I could be wrong), but it does look like they have alot of leg room.

But on the new trains, Veko is supposed to have finally come up with a new way they can do spring loaded wheel assemblies without imposing on B&M's and other's patents. Either that, or they've purchased the rights to said patents from someone, or someone's patent ran out.

If parks want smooth Vekomas, they should go to Morey's Piers and find out how they make their Boomerang and SLC run so well.

I like the trains myself.

^^ I sure hope that was sarcasm Rob.

I wonder if Vekoma is going to be the last manufacturer to abandon the ear-bashing shoulder bar...

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

What happened to the second revision of the Vekoma Train? did they redo it again?!?

No sarcasm. I was serious! I think Morey's has the best examples of those rides in operation... smooth as glass. Well, almost.

Morey's and Wild Adventures both have pretty good Vekoma coasters.

I hear the ones at Wild Adventures are good too. One of these days!

Its pretty interesting that Morey's rides are so good considering both of theirs are amongst the earliest versions of each ride. The Sea Serpent is 20 years old yet it runs like a brand-new coaster! Hard to believe the Nor'easter is almost 10.

I was going to add in a smoothness vote for Wild Adventures "Hang Man" SLC too.

When I visited I had originally planned on giving it one, perhaps 2, rides "just for the count", but wound up doing about 5 because it was so smooth and so much fun.

*** Edited 9/15/2004 6:15:05 PM UTC by SLFAKE***

That's the way I feel about Morey's Vekoma coasters. I actually ENJOY riding them instead of taking a lap or two because they are there. I think that the Vekoma SLC layout is just as good, if not better, than most B&M inverted layouts.

Am I allowed to be an enthusiast if I've never ridden a boomerang?

We have gone over this before... NO! And you can't be an enthusiast unless you attend a Phunfest. ;)

Wild adventures boomarang was rebuilt last year after the rebuild it is much smoother (new wheel assbly ?)

The Boomerang at Wild Adventures was so good that I *rerode* it three times and would have ridden it again if it wasn't my first time at the park and Cheetah wasn't staring at me... Sadly (or maybe not?), the Vekomas (Hangman, Ant Farm, Boomerang) were the best coasters in the park and actually fairly enjoyable. Hopefully I'll be as easily impressed with their junior suspended.

+Danny

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tricktrack said:
I just can´t see how those new trains could improve the ride experience. They are hideously ugly TTD-Ripoffs!

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I couldn't have said it better myself.

I'd love for one of these "smooth sounding" Vekoma boomerangs to replace Viper at SFGadv...hell, anything is an improvement over Viper! I'd actually venture back into that area a few times to ride it...otherwise, me and my g/f just skip that area to go ride Medusa instead.