Six Flags Over Georgia will run Great American Scream Machine backwards

Cool!

The only wooden coaster I’ve ridden backwards was Colossus at SFMM, and I wasn’t a fan. It was too intense and hurt. Not sure this is a good or bad move.

I'm likewise ambivalent about this, thinking it might be too intense. Although I've ridden an invert backwards and enjoyed it, there is absolutely no way I'd be willing to ride, say, Coney Island Cyclone backwards. (When I saw that SFGA was running Viper backwards within the past couple of years, I was aghast.) Not having ridden Great American Scream Machine, I don't know where it falls in comparison with other aging woodies but I would expect a ride in reverse to be pretty rough.

GASM is mostly straight track with airtime hills, and some mid to low speed, low-banked turns. Think Racer/Rebel Yell (Racer 75 or whatever) with a few more turns. It's by no means a twister. I've ridden Rebel Yell backwards multiple times and it's actually pretty fun...and I'm not a huge fan of going backwards on roller coasters.

It reminds me a lot of American Eagle StL. or Mighty Canadian Minebuster. Basically just an L-shaped out and back. I like riding air-laden woodies backwards but haven't done so in over a decade.

I always loved backwards Racer and it was my side of choice. The funny thing was that they left their front seat queue and people lined up for it. The place to be was the rear of the train in the “old” front seat. The drops were more thrilling and the view was great. I’d laugh at the people that took the front of the train then practically break their necks trying to twist around for a forward view.
Anyway, GASM is the perfect ride for backwards and will give that ride a renewed surge of popularity.

RCMAC said:

The place to be was the rear of the train in the “old” front seat. The drops were more thrilling and the view was great. I’d laugh at the people that took the front of the train then practically break their necks trying to twist around for a forward view.

Right? I never understood that. It was the best of both worlds: the front seat view and back seat air. Yet everyone else lined up for the seat with the worst view and the least air.