Ride Systems - Popular & not so popular, any surprises?

^Thought I recalled Nor'Easter was the first to go from the old OTSRs to the vests like I found on Carolina Cobra...that would have been....three years ago, maybe only two?

BTW, I am a huge fan of dark rides as well. And anything "classic" (which I define as any ride older than me)... ;)

Same here.. I cant wait for the Golden Nugget to reopen at Knoebels, that was a favorite as a kid.

I grew up with all the classic dark rides, by the time my kids got old enough to take to Wildwood, I didnt recognize the place. LOL.

Looks like you were right

from Wikipedia

For 2008, the coaster received a 1.2 million dollar upgrade, which saw new-style "Freedom Seats" cars installed. "The new train features an ergonomically designed seat making the ride experience more enjoyable by holding the rider firmly, while also providing unhindered vision in all directions as well as complete arm freedom. The design utilizes a lap bar and innovative vest, to comfortably restrain Guests during the ride. Add to that a redesigned station and all new red, white and blue color theme, and you have a brand new ride experience

Come to think of it, I'm surprised there aren't more Eurofighters in the US. Mystery Mine went down pretty well didn't it? They're not the most comfortable rides but if you want the 90-degree drop gimmick, they're a decent buy.

The one at MOA looks fun, also.

The Great Nor'Easter is by far the best SLC out there. That being said, it's still an SLC so it still has the patented "Vekoma Shake" to it. No headbanging, though, so that's a plus. The restraints do make quite a difference.

(SHRUGS) I thought the GN was fantastic. The Great White nearly killed me though.

The best SLC I have ridden was Ednor at LaRonde. It is probably because it has only been re-assembled for a few months. GN was rough as hell but the restraints were great by comparison to the other SLCs I have ridden.

Re: Nor'Easter

From my TR back in June 2008:

Lord Gonchar said:
The new trains on Great Nor'Easter, while eliminating the head banging, can't make up for the fact that SLCs just ride rough and generally suck balls. In fact, without being bludgeoned the entire ride, you're free to realize how bad the ride itself actually is.

Well, yeah, I guess I left out the part about sucking balls. :(

Then maybe you shouldn't contribute if you can't include the important details.

What about ride systems that haven't been built, such as the cantilevered coaster concept? Here's my CAD simulation (more on this later).

Well put Gonch. It is hard to imagine how bad GNE would have been with the original trains. Then I remembered T2 at SFKK.
"Ouch the ride"

I put this in another thread, but I guess it applies here too

I don't understand all the hate on the Great Nor"easter. I thought it was a decent coaster. I believe I'm in a fairly coaster rich area here having ridden all the coasters at Hershey, Dorney, Great Adventure, Knoebels, and Moreys, so I think I have a fairly decent frame of reference..... I don't understand why teh GN is so bad??

I feel the new restraints weren't worth the money. I rode the coaster with the old restrains in 2005 and 2007 and the new restraints in 2008 and 2009 and while there is no more headbanging, it rattles and shakes so much the entire ride it is almost unrideable for me. I didn't think the old restraints were much worse. I rode it once each trip in 2008 and 2009 with a 1 - 2 train wait both trips and it's rare for me to ride a coaster only once with a short wait like that. It will still be a ride I go to once every time at Morey's but I'd rather ride Great White.

Haha... I thought the Great White was terrible, and that there really isn't any reason to walk up to Adventure Pier, once you have the credit.

How many trains did they buy?

Perhaps the SLC concept was flawed from the outset. I'd have to agree that the Kumbak trains for the sitdowns aren't perfect, but they are more tolerable than the old Arrow trains.

Can't help but think that *IF* Wicked had been installed at a park near a larger population center/vacation destination, there would be more like it. Seriously great compact ride, just not enough publicity for the ride. Zierer builds some realy nice rides, and Wicked is right up there (along with Hexentanz).

rollergator said:
Can't help but think that *IF* Wicked had been installed at a park near a larger population center/vacation destination, there would be more like it. Seriously great compact ride, just not enough publicity for the ride. Zierer builds some realy nice rides, and Wicked is right up there.

I don't buy that. If a park or chain of parks is interested in buying a ride (having seen it in pictures, video or heard by word of mouth) - they'll fly out, or be flown out by the company to check it out.

I really thought that Kennywood's new bummer of a coaster would have been a lot more like Wicked. It's really disappointing that it was not.

(I haven't rode either coaster, for the record.)

^^I understand what you're saying, Rick, and there's certainly validity to that argument. On the other hand, when something moves into, say, GAdv or CP or IoA or some other hugely-attended/well-publicized park, then it gets more press - both in "regular media" and on sites like this. This increased attention *tends* to lead more parks/chains into thinking "hey, that was well-received at megapark X, maybe we should get something like that".

On the other hand, the EuroFighters seem to have done really well in the UK even prior to arriving at Thorpe...for example. Clearly, it seems there's an argument to be made in either direction...