rolling thunder-red is sweet, green is beat.

i went to sfgadv today and was suprised by rolling thunder. i had always ridden in the green train and hated it, but today i got the red train, front row, right side. it was really smooth, fast and fun. so i rode it a few more times in red train, and eventually got the green train by chance. the green train did not feel right compared to the red, and did not feel like it tracked well at all, even going up the lift. it was really rough throught the whole ride. to make sure i was not mistaken i rode in each train again, and the red train was glass smooth, green was rough and noisy. has anyone else noticed this?
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track record-28
*** This post was edited by medusa7787 11/1/2003 9:48:57 PM ***

I've found that no matter when, where, how or why you ride Rotting Lumber the best rides you can get are the ones that don't suck. I don't think I've ever gotten off the ride, glad to have ridden it.

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Be polite and ignore the idiots. - rollergator
"It's not a Toomer" - Arnold Schwartzenkoph
"Those who know don't talk and those who talk don't know." -Jeff

The only thing I've noticed is, each and every time I ride Rolling Thunder, I walk away with an overpowering sense of disappointment. You'd think I'd learn at some point, but silly me keeps going back to give it another chance, just because its the only wood coaster at the park.

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-Rob
A.C.E. member since 1990
Posting @ Coasterbuzz since 2000
E.C.C. member since 2002

Rob I can't agree with you more. I always go in and think yeah its going to be good. Then I get up the lift and I am like Blah this sucks! But its RT. Lets cross our fingers for a new woodie in 2005! Call it the Jersey Devil and put it across the lake.

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http://coastertrackrecord.tripod.com/

I have always reserved my wishes for a new wooden coaster at SFGAdv. If they can't maintain the one they have, I don't want them to install and ruin another one. Its a park heavy on the steel, but that seems to be all they're willing to maintain. And even then, I'm not so sure they're all that great.

Thankfully, B&Ms seem to age well...

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-Rob
A.C.E. member since 1990
Posting @ Coasterbuzz since 2000
E.C.C. member since 2002

I've only had one good ride on Rolling Thunder in the three years I have been going there. Also I haven't seen it race in the last two years. I agree with you Rob, if they can't mantain Rolling Thunder they shouldn't do the same to another.

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-Sean Newman

Well, at least the retracked it. It was running well (which really meant it didn't suck, not that it was fun) right around opening time, but within a few weeks was back to sucking.

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Be polite and ignore the idiots. - rollergator
"It's not a Toomer" - Arnold Schwartzenkoph
"Those who know don't talk and those who talk don't know." -Jeff

They can re-track it all they want... if they don't maintain it, its pointless, a waste of money.

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-Rob
A.C.E. member since 1990
Posting @ Coasterbuzz since 2000
E.C.C. member since 2002

It used to fun a long time ago and I think it has a lot of potential.

I remember the trains having bench seats, no head rests and single position lapbars back in the day too. Is that just my imagination?

Never saw it race though. Seems they would always stagger the trains.

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Vist Ripple Rock Amusement Park
Flying Scooter now open!

It does have a lot of potential... lots of big hills, lots of speed hills. With some real work and TLC, it could be a good ride.

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-Rob
A.C.E. member since 1990
Posting @ Coasterbuzz since 2000
E.C.C. member since 2002

the past 3 satardays at night, it had been riding incredibly good. Moderatly smooth, fast, floater on most hills, ejector air, and just non-stop fun. It all has to do with when you are riding. The past month or so it was really awesome, but then Sunday it wasn't as good as it had been. If you are there every weekend(like me) you will be able to see that it has been improving every weekend as the weather became colder. As anybody who works therem either Andre, Aimee, Nick or Brian and they will tell you when it rides best. And the left side which finished up the season last month has killer ejector air in the front 2 cars.

Ejector air? Rolling Thunder? Are we talking about the same ride? ;)

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-Rob
A.C.E. member since 1990
Posting @ Coasterbuzz since 2000
E.C.C. member since 2002

Oh, and if anybody noticed the awesome lights at night, ride op: Nick put them up all around the track. It is in great condition, and hopefully gets even better as time goes on, my 5 front row night rides that Satarday were awesome, almost as good as B-dash suprisingly. As I pulled into the brakes I went "Holy Sh*t!* it was awesome
lol

Rob, have you ridden the left side in the front car? Ejector air on the first 2 hills. It CAN run amazingly in the right conditions, and left side is just always a good ride.

Rolling thunder rocks on the left side. I got in front row, blue train, and it was complete airtime heaven after the first drop. My friends complained of bad rides, but front row, right side, gives a great ride. It needs more lubrications though, because the train squeaks and rattles alot.

that is just from the fact that the turns aren't banked, and it's a 3 bench train. It could be better, i'm just happy that both sides raced with me on it a CC
:-)

I've ridden it all over in all kinds of conditions and my best ride wasn't even in the same ballpark as my worst ride on Dash. Everyone's entitled to their own opinions, but my opinion certainly isn't out of lack of experience on it.

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Be polite and ignore the idiots. - rollergator
"It's not a Toomer" - Arnold Schwartzenkoph
"Those who know don't talk and those who talk don't know." -Jeff

I agree... its not that trying to put down anyone's opinion, but I really can't understand that observation. I've been riding Rolling Thunder for more than a decade, under a variety of conditions, and I have never had a ride that comes close to any ride I've had on Boulder Dash, or any coaster in my top 20, for that matter.

If you were able to get a good ride or two on RT, then I am more than happy for you! But I don't think that many people around here will side with you. I wish they could (I'd love for SFGAdv to have a good wooden coaster), but not likely.

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-Rob
A.C.E. member since 1990
Posting @ Coasterbuzz since 2000
E.C.C. member since 2002