SFGAm riddle

My take (again) on Shockwave's removal: whether you liked the coaster or not (and personally, I had a love/hate relationship with it), you can't help but be saddened by the deconstruction photos. After all, Shockwave gave SFGAm so much life. Its debut in 1988 put SFGAm on the map. Also, it is much more than just a coaster—it goes much deeper than that. People have fond memories of Shockwave and will forever cherish those memories. They have childhood memories of the coaster. They have memories of the first time they rode it. They may have met their future girlfriend/boyfriend/spouse aboard it. They may have even gotten married aboard it. You may take away a coaster, but you cannot take away these people's memories of it. Those memories are meant to last a lifetime.

Also, I find it odd that SFGAm's motto for the 2001 season was "Record Breaking, History Making." You don't make history by erasing an old piece of it. They almost learned that lesson the hard way with Whizzer. They've now made a far worse mistake by sacrificing Shockwave. They already had a rather impressive, yet somewhat under-rated, collection of roller coasters. They very easily could have increased that collection by building the B&M Flyer without having to take anything out. We may come to fall in love with this new coaster, but the sacrifice of Shockwave will leave a very bad taste in our mouths.

Wasn't SFGAm already on the map from American Eagle?

Yeah I agree with JoNoJ27. But MrHaroldG still has some good points. That if you hate or love it, it still hurts to see it go and I got a little tear when I saw the track in the parking lot. It was my first major roller coaster I have ever rode.

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Top 3 coasters at SFGAm: 1. DeJavu 2. Raging Bull 3. Viper

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JoNoJ27 said:
Wasn't SFGAm already on the map from American Eagle?

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I think at the time it got American Eagle, Great America was still owned by Marriott.

Oh right... but it's still the same park.

while I hated the experience of SW, it was a little surreal and sad to see the boomerang half gone. any updated pics of the deconstruction or new track?

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-Bob (formerly Coaster Jedi)
Do any of you know how to build a sundial out of a pen and a donut?
uh oh, sounds like someone has a case of the mondays.

Great America showed up on the map by putting in the world's tallest, fastest coaster, with the longest drop: The American Eagle. Because it's still the same park, this defineitly counts. Shock Wave was the second record breaker, but still, a park needs some consistency before it's considered a major amusment park, so it is (was ) a piece of Great American history. I never exactly loved the ride, but seeing it being taken down is painful. Please, anyone near the park, take as many pictures as you can, and post them! This is something I want to follow as closely as any constuction project.

On a note unrelated to Shock Wave, but still continuing the thread: Does anyone know exactly what records the Eagle heald, and how long she kept them? From what I could find on the RCDB, it looks to me like the Eagle was the last wooden coaster to have the longest drop in the world, but I can't be sure (and, no, don't bring up Moonsault Scramble!).

Yes, the American Eagle held the record of fastest and longest drop on a wooden coaster.

I dont remember when she lost the title of longest drop but it was awhile back. It however held the record for fastest woodie up until about 3 or 4 years ago.

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2 superheroes in Gurnee next season? Oh the humanity. :)

I agree, I will very much miss SW, it was my favorite coaster of all time. I have ridden many coasters including MF and Magnum XL 200, and IMO the Shock Wave was better then all of them put together. I know it may seem strange or someone to love a ride that was hated so much by many people, but I did love the way Shock Wave looked and the great ride it gave. Anyway R.I.P old friend, no coaster will ever be able to replace you :'-(

What about the GASM?

I brought up the topic of supports last page, and there was no direct answer as to, if supports have arrived, and if so are they "F" shaped like an inverted/flying coaster or otherwise?

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Coaster Counter: 85+...I need to sit down and figure it out :)

We don't have enough pictures to determine that. But, It's fair to say it is a flyer. If it's a floorless I will be shocked.

*** This post was edited by Colonel Sanders on 10/2/2002. ***

I'd love a floorless, flyer, or inverted....hyper.......giga........anythings possible......lol.

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Coaster Counter: 85+...I need to sit down and figure it out :)

I will be at great america Saturday or Sunday. I will try to get lots of pics of the Deconstruction of Shockwave and try to get pics of Superman Track.

I always enjoyed Shockwave and will be sad to see it go!! It was always good to end the day with 5-6 rides on the coaster without having to exit the ride, but that is why it is being removed, low ridership.

I was thinking about GASM too. Since that has low ridership are its days numbered also.

Viper would go before GASM at Great Adventure, and if I had my way, Rotting Lumber would go before it too, but I don't have my way, and sadly, the only one of the "big three" that I think will be around in 10 years is Viper at Magic Mountain.

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Formally Known as Ozzyhead.

Correction! Original big three. Because Shcockwave is being moved, not scrapped. Don't know if GASM will leave.

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"The password is, 'Nice rack,', and I'll reply 'I forgot my bra,'."
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Sworn Whizzer hater because it took Shockwave down

I wonder why SFGAm didn't go through with Whizzer's removal. They had anounced it fairly and gave everyone time to ride. It also had maintainance problems. It often got stuck at the top of the lift. It had ridership problems.

If Superman was planned for Whizzer's spot, why wouldn't they put it there? It would also increase other rides rider ship beacause it's hard to find the entrance. It may also have more people vist shops. Now it will be just as you enter the park. Putting Superman in Whizzer's spot would've save money (if they're landscaping ShockWave's spot).

SFGAm's choice makes no sense.

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"The password is, 'Nice rack,', and I'll reply 'I forgot my bra,'."
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Sworn Whizzer hater because it took Shockwave down

I really loved Shockwave, but technically, it would have been my first choice of removal too. I can tell you exactly what would help that ride in terms of being more ridable: put a trim before the first loop like Steel Phantom.

Viper at SFMM was one of the rides I looked extremely forward too, but they trimmed the crap out of it, so it did nothing for me.

As for the placement of the new Flyer, if they position it right, hopefully they can expand the midway a little more. It would be nice if they tore down some buildings, moved the road just a little bit, and created a Metropolis with some new flats and the return of some old.

*** This post was edited by john peck on 10/3/2002. ***