Schwartzkoph shuttle loop @ SFMW parking lot

I love both versions myself, but overall, I do have to say the flywheel version packs a better punch. The only thing I liked better about Tidal Wave was the insane tickle in your stomache and major head rush you get going through the loop backwards. I just don't seem to get this on Monty, at least not as strong. Possibly the loop on the weight drop versions is more circular? They look identical, but weird that it "feels" different, at least to me.

While on the subject, if you haven't seen this yet, this guy built an exact model of the original Tidal Wave including the cool original theming. Only thing missing is the "beach" and beached fishing boat:

http://www.angelfire.com/oh4/tk173/modelsmenuindex.html

I was going to mention that butt-clench going through the loop backwards. It's probably due to the lower speed. In fact, the Tidal Wave valleyed at least once or twice a year.

"I go out at 3 o' clock for a quart of milk and come home to my son treating his body like an amusement park!" - Estelle Costanza

onceler said:
And judging from what others have written about SFKK, I don't really trust that park too much.

What? Exactly what have you read that others have written to make you not TRUST the park? Sure there are many reviews that aren't glowing reviews. But I've never seen anything to put trust into the equation. Don't equate some crappy rides with untrustworthiness.

I know! Its going to SFGAdv - there is talk of a new ride...see other post (kidding.......)

I don't trust the park would have Greased Lightning operating. And yes, I can bring trust into the equation if I am going to trust the park that the ride will be running for the short duration I would be at the park and if my sole reason for going to the park would be to ride this ride again.

jomo - that insane tickle in your stomache is what I was looking for (and missing) on Monty's Revenge. The accelleration and speed is not an issue to me with these rides as I can get that pretty much at any park now. It is that insane tickle that I loved about these things.

I head down to SFKK many times a season and last year execpt for opening day(The ride was not done) the ride was operating. If it went down it came back up pretty quickly.

Hi.....whats your name again?

My boss' husband used to own his own business and do work on these coasters. I asked him a few questions, and here are the interresting response i got back:

I rode all the shuttle loops, but i do not remember a stomach-tickle effect.

The gravity on the body changes with every seat in the train and also differs from park to park, depending on the maximum speed of the train through the loop. At Great America the gravity was +5g in the front seat going forward into the loop and +0.5g in the back seat at the back hill.

The first four shuttle loops had free falling weight (30 tons) to accelerate the train from 0 to 55MPH in 2.5 sec., at that point a clutch engaged and instantly rewound the weight. You could not see the weight stop, it was going down and right-away up.

The next three shuttle loops had flywheels, storing about 2000 HP. A clutch engaged the pusher dog behind the last car with the flywheel, accelerating to 55 MPH in 2.2 sec. when the clutch disengaged.

Change to the flywheel was for safety reasons. The flywheel would slow down during acceleration to the point that it could not accelerate the train past maximum speed. The weight on the other hand was gaining power as it fell and if the clutch did not work correctly, the train was going to fast. Most weight shuttle loops "hit the bell", a hydraulic operated bumper at the end of the track, at one time or another.

The buzzing noise you hear on the weight shuttle loops is the pusher dog, which is engaged with the weight on a one way clutch and can only go forward. While the weight is rewound, the pusher dog is pulled by a motor below the track to the back of the train and reaches the start point just before the next shut. You can hear the motor run going in or out of the train. On the flywheel the pusher dog stays on top of the track and is pulled back by the same motor right after the train reaches speed, but it takes only 1/4 of the time be back in start position, long before the train is back in the station. The motor stopped running when you get out of the train.

I hope that this answers some of your questions. The shuttle loop from Great America was moved to SFOG where i saw it last. I guess it is now in SFKK.

Have fun riding it !!

palwine said:
I know! Its going to SFGAdv - there is talk of a new ride...see other post (kidding.......)

If only that were true. Ah, to dream...

It would fit in nicely with Viper's theme and location too. I mean, they did it before in Georgia....Ahhh, to dream

Fate is the path of least resistance.

I'd give up Viper and GASM for that ride. Perhaps the theming from the SFOG Viper is still lying around somewhere?

Rob A....I tried (in vain) to purchase some of that Viper theming from SFoG....they said they were haging onto it *just in case* the coaster was re-installed elsewhere.

Viper was a great ride, I'm really sorry SFoG decided to remove it when putting in S:UF. But, it's still no Monte or SFAW's GL....they are the shizznit!

Anton RULZ!!11!!

"I can't believe my dad let you take the Viper!" ;)

"I go out at 3 o' clock for a quart of milk and come home to my son treating his body like an amusement park!" - Estelle Costanza

rollergator: Interesting thing is, they DID install the ride elsewhere and passed on the theming!

By the way, did you ever get my PM that included my e-mail address?

I'm glad to see all this undying love for TW west! If TW east can find a home (and it looks mighty nice too) then west surely has some options. It was nice to see Gurnee's stay in the country.......so many have gone overseas as it is.

jomo: I was given about 2 months to do the model, thus I didn't have time to add the entrance and queue theming. If I get out there again I'll have a few things to add, but they're mostly for the station interior. I had to ship the thing by air overnight from Ohio, and boy did that shake some things loose! Steven Wilson (from the Rides, Towers and More site) was putting together a wonderful video on the ride and some of the Marriott history. Don't know if he ever finished it, but you can see tons of pics and commercials at www.greatamericaparks.com

Speaking of theming......I had asked a couple reps at PGA about the "waves", but they didn't know what happened to them. Anyone know if those were ever given away? What I wouldn't give to have a couple of them in my coaster room. Just think how awesome it would be to hook up the blue chaser lights again. :) *** Edited 6/24/2004 6:29:11 PM UTC by Arrow Guy***

"If we can dream it, we can do it"

Hey, regardless, the model is incredible Arrow Guy! The exact detail just blows me away! And the fact that you did all this in just 2 months is even more impressive.

I also miss those white forward, blue backwards wave shaped chaser lights. Spent many hours as a kid just watching those dazzling lights switch colors when the train stalled out, was quite a sight in it's time.

*** Edited 6/24/2004 9:32:44 PM UTC by jomo***

Not to take it OT, but Brad's work is *completely* amazing....Pat Koch was overwhelmed Brad, you ROCK!

Back to Anton and his shuttles, they rock too! ;)

Well, if they took out GAdv's Viper, they could put in SFoG's Viper with no change in theming. ;)

Hobbes: "What's the point of attaching a number to everything you do?"
Calvin: "If your numbers go up, it means you're having more fun."

Guys, after my first and only ride on GAdv's version last year, I would be happy with a "History of Quilting" museum in its place (though I probably wouldn't be first in line for that either, but it wouldn't leave me in tears!).

"If we can dream it, we can do it"