SFNO Megazeph

Generally I am not a big fan of lateral forces which Megazeph was NO DOUBT, CLEARLY designed with.After being so close to this ride for a while now I do have to give it some good credit. From the vantage point of the station, the train comes barreling back this way off the second drop, I literally hear thunder! Six Flags New Orleans certainly has one fast and furious wooden coaster.From the time you leave the lift, Megazeph hits its top speed and for the most part just keeps going with sustained high speed.There are the two areas where it slows, one being the second turnaround and the other the double up before the trick track. Some other unique aspects of this ride seems to be that instead of the usual gradual shorter drop to shorter drop , in most of the runs you go from shortest and work your way up. Then of course there is the Trick Track that CCI incorporated into Megazeph’s design in which I think there are only a few coasters today that have this such as Shivering Timbers. I believe most don’t really get how fast this ride is throughout due to the fact that it is in wide open area with nothing really close by to give the cues as to how fast you are traveling when on the train. Anyway, Just some random stuff

To head off questions of how can it go from shorter to taller.
Of course meaning big drop to short speed hills and working up as shown in the pick in this link.

http://www.sixflagsneworleans.com/images/galpics/DCP_0804.JPG

Yes, it's awesome.

But you don't literally hear thunder, unless there happens to be a thunderstorm taking place.

No, Really!

It is quiet, then when the train crosses over from the left side to the right side of the first drop i swear it sounds like thunder!

:-)

Key words: "Sounds like" thunder.

That would be figuratively, not literally.

:)

I'm with ya calcajun. Megazeph was my first CCI and still ranks up there as one of the most furious of that breed I've ridden.

Several of CCIs have the trick track element though. :)

Villain, BoulderDash, and Timbers are the three I've ridden that come immediately to mind as having trick-track. I've yet to find a wooden coaster that really *bumps* the train hard to one side...

Long live King Cobra, LOL! :)

I actually found MZ to be somewhat tame with the lats, at least compared to something like Legend. The double-out-and-back design gives it a lot of straight track, providing tons of airtime. The turns are taken with good speed, but I thought the airtime was this coaster's claim to fame.

And yes, I agree that this is one of the best woodies out there, and definately underrated.

I must agree. Megazeph is an awesome woodie. I had the pleasure of riding it July of 2003, and it totally blew me away. The laterals are brutal, but I still loved it. Being 5'9, and only a 150 pounds it really threw me around. My travel and coaster buddy, Ivan only rode it once. He said it was too intence for him (lol). I did get to marathon it at park closing. I think I did about 12 laps without getting up. Oh and that double up is a true killer,(guys guard your jewels)! I have been on 318 coasters and Megazeph made one of the biggest impressions out of them all!

Went to park this past weekend and rode MZ, retracking on double up has stopped the jewel crushing and was running as fast as ever around the turns and the trick track section catches you off guard every time, running awesome ..a must ride if you are ever in the Deep South. Park is well manicured and seems to be running up to par as far as rides are concerned..

But it's got Gerstlauer trains so it has to suck, Right Bill?

LOL, Chuck, only if it has strong laterals and Gersties. Villain, I had NO problems with those trains....Cheetah on the other hand, was JUST fixed up and runs like a pig on stilts ALREADY.

Honestly, I think SFNO is more like PCW, a park I need to get to for the FLATS...;)

I'm glad to see the good reviews. I'm heading down there to ride this thing for the first time in July. I can't wait...always love the first time on a good woodie!

You guys nailed it when you called the double up a jewel crusher. Sheesh. Overall, I think MZ is a good ride...lots of airtime. I just wish it wasn't steel framed with Gerstlauer trains.

Meh, SFNO does have a lot of flats but none of them are that special. There is one ride there that I like a lot, but due to some complications it isn't run to its fullest potential. Many of the flats you can find at parks closer (but maybe not ALL in the same park!). Though there are a few unique rides, but none totally stand out. Catwoman's whip is a ride that's not exactly easy to find, but its cars are pinned and are not allowed to do 360 degree flips. I wasn't really impressed by the Schwarzkopf Polyp, it's more of a kiddie ride with a ridiculously high height requirement (makes little sense). Lex Luthor could be absolutely spectacular if it would run a better program. Right now it's run like a weak Top Spin with only a little bit of its twisting abilities being used. Well, that is when it's actually working! It's more reliable than SFKK's late Quake, but I still wouldn't bet money on it ;)