SFNO's Jester lift hill is nearing completion

Jester is rising rapidly. Check out the photos of the lift hill:

http://www.sfno.com/gallery/mar02_2003

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Coggy
www.sfno.com

That color scheme doesn't really go well with the name "Jester." A mix of colors such as yellow, green, or orange would have suited better.

Have we *decided* direction of travel for the trains. I'm pretty sure that I read somewhere *reliable* that riders would be able to travel backward, but I'm not sure if they're thinking of turning around a car on each train, one whole train, or both trains. Anyone know either way for sure, I really am psyched about riding a full-circuit steelie backwards...(no matter how painful, LOL)...

Coudl you turn around just one car on an Arrow/Vekoma looper train?

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Da Poodle

Coming in 2003-The Spawn Of Magnum!

Could I...probably not unless I ate my spinach...;) Could the park...I'd imagine so, but it would depend on the coupling mechanism of the cars. We'd have to wait for someone who *knows* to tell us...

Is 'gator' having fantasies of being Popeye? :)

Going backwards on a full circuit steel would be different.

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Arena football has arrived in the Windy City. Go "Chicago Rush"

I really wouldn't look forward to this thing....trust me. Sure, it looks pretty, but it feels like getting torn apart limb from limb by a sasquach.

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Fight war, not wars

Awww come on it's not THAT bad. I thought the cork was entertaining, considering that's the only corkscrew type element I've ever taken backwards. The vertical felt like a boomerang's vertical, so nothing much different there.

I got a kick out of the "square helix," too. :)

I can't wait to go back to Jazzland this year! Anyone know if they did any trackwork on MegaZeph?

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"No honey, the monkeys have already done enough damage on this trip." - Guy coming out of front gate at SFGAd

Onesided,

Is that anything like not giving up the gate key and having Fezzig tearing your arms off?

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I'm not an enthusiast, I just play one on message boards.

I was just viewing the SFNO commercial and it specifically points to Jester running its entire train backwards. (Not that commercials always tell the truth.) If both trains do this I don't know, but SF seems to be using the "backwards running train" as one of the selling points to SFNO. Just as the "ALL NEW BATMAN COASTER" is.

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CBCon Quote "We didn't even get wet"......30 seconds later you hear plop, then splash!!!!
*** This post was edited by lumpy72 3/3/2003 9:56:21 AM ***

The reason I asked (other than *not-so-idle curiosity*) is because of the ACE newsletter's vague description of riders "having the opportunity to ride backwards", pardon the paraphrasing. But it sounded like they meant you COULD ride (like I wouldn't, HA), or perhaps that you could CHOOSE to ride backward. Wasn't sure if that vagueness was the wording of the writer, or if the park was vague in the description...

bill, who's been accused of being unclear himself from time to time...;)

You would either have to have every car backwards, or every car forwards, because the linking mechanism between cars fits together like a ball joint: One side has the ball, one side has the dish that holds the ball. You obviously cannot have two dishes connected together, or vice versa.

My guess is that one train will ride normally, and the other train will hold passangers backwards.

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Jes
Jes's Roller Coasters DJ Jes
Six Flags Worlds Of Adventure Ride-Ops Crew 2002-2003(Have Fun Trying To Find Me!)

Zero-G said:
You obviously cannot have two dishes connected together, or vice versa.

...MUST...RESIST...OBVIOUS...DOUBLE ENTENDRE.... :)

Seriously though, if they were serious about this, I would think that they could adjust the linking mechanisms such that they alternated in the correct manner. See old pictures of the Crystal Beach Comet for example. Still though, I dont think it will happen.

lata, jeremy
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"I will break away, I'll find myself today"

Thank jeremy, I needed that....it *does* seem to make the MOST sense to run one train each way, so that riders can get a varietey of experiences...

Now as far as ALL these Shockwave rumors, I'm not buying it...a park that JUST got two inverting coasters, and now has three total. I'd think of them as an obvious choice for a mine ride, some new flats, potentially an impulse since it features inverted seating....a Talon clone sure would be nice...but Shockwave...I'd look elsewhere...;)

Legendary, ha ha yeah I hear you. That "square helix" is pretty different. What is up with that? To me it seems like they just fitted together spare helix parts that they had lying around the factory. "Different sizes? Oh well just slap it on anyway." ha ha ha
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Fight war, not wars

I dont really buy the "One forwards, One backwards" bit either. Think of the confusion that would cause in the station. Pretty much every coaster that has both options, it is clear whether you are lining up to go forwards or back wards. With alternating trains, it would pretty much be luck of the draw. Unless they had two separate lines, which would cause chaos, IMO, in the station.

I think both trains will travel backwards. I'll be sure to tell you all after my visit :)
lata, jeremy
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"I will break away, I'll find myself today"

Not sure exactly when I'll get there, but it WILL be this year...sometime...somehow...I want the *opportunity* to ride backwards on a non-shuttle coaster...

There are a few coasters in Japan with different trains running, and they seem to handle it fine...of course, I think reading is considered essential in Japan, so that would make a BIG difference...;)

2Hostyl said: ...MUST...RESIST...OBVIOUS...DOUBLE ENTENDRE.... :)

No kidding. It's a good thing I proof read my posts, otherwise I might be the next pancake boy.

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Jes
Jes's Roller Coasters DJ Jes
Six Flags Worlds Of Adventure Ride-Ops Crew 2002-2003(Have Fun Trying To Find Me!)
*** This post was edited by Zero-G 3/3/2003 6:40:58 PM ***

Is there any reason to believe they would change the way it operated at SFFT? When it was Joker's Revenge, it operated both trains backwards. That fact was suppose to be the "Joker's" joke after you went through the fun house queue. I've ridden JR at SFFT and it was certainly a different experience but it really wasn't that special.