Smoothing out Arrow loopers

Is there any possibility that an Arrow mega-looper like Viper at SFMM can be made to run smoother without making major changes to the track or train? Viper is my all time favorite coaster, and I'm getting concerned that it's getting rougher from year to year. Thanks.

It would run a little better with spring-loaded wheels ala B&M but the most major flaw is in the horrible transitions, which would require some extensive retracking and even re-supporting [is that a word?] all of which costs A LOT of money.

Is it possible? Sure. Will a park do it? Not likely.

And yes, I know Steel Phantom became Phantom's Revenge...that's not what is being asked here.

I don't think Viper has become more rough though, I think we just become jaded by smoother and smoother coasters as years go by. Just my thoughts though. I know portions of Viper were reprofiled (mainly the bottom of the first drop) in the early or mid 90s. Guess there was a pretty hard snap there when it opened.

No doubt it's a headbanger. I did it once years ago, that's all it took. :-/. I had a headache for hours.

During my last SFMM in March I sat that one out (I had enough minor headaches from X to last me throughout the day). ;-)

-Tina

Wow, I lived Viper, and got no headbanging. My height, perhaps?

Yeah, I did Viper, I couldn't compare it to Shockwave at SFGAm (R.I.P.). The wierd thing is, I experience headagning throughout most OTSR rides, but Its only for the time im on the ride. Once I get off, I'm fine, no headache. But when I was younger I would get them. But now, I can ride anything without having to carry some extra IB or Excedrin with me.

-Colin-

You lived Viper, Tek? ;)

Or they could trim the heck out of it and see if that makes it smoother.... Wait they did that to GASM @ GAdv and it's worse....

Adjustable height horsecollar ...... fixed!

When PKI repainted Vortex. They also started the season with new wheels on every train. The ride was drastically smoother abeit a bit slower.

Since then it's become rougher than crap again.

Chuck

Moosh: Bite me :-P

Chuck: I thought you were boycotting PKI?

But Moosh, you're missing the point.

I agree with Ted, it works pretty well for X, but didn't Schwartzkopf have some that looked like accordians on Texas Tornado when it was at Astroworld?

Probably the most economical way to improve old Arrow loopers would be to modify the trains in a manner similar to what Premier has done on their coasters.

EXACTLY!

Thigh/shin restraints are *near-perfect*...:)

I went on Vortex at PKI in .. May [31st I believe], and I didn't think it was rough at all. Just terribly slow and plodding.

My method of avoiding headbanging is usually to just hug the OTSR's as hard as I can and push my head forward, so my ears can escape the pain. If it doesn't hurt your neck [I've never had the problem], then it's almost a surefire way to avoid headbanging.

I'm 5'10", 155, btw.

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harutaper said:
Is there any possibility that an Arrow mega-looper like Viper at SFMM can be made to run smoother without making major changes to the track or train? Viper is my all time favorite coaster, and I'm getting concerned that it's getting rougher from year to year. Thanks.

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Arrow actually offered this service pre-S&S. While "major changes" to the track were necessary, they claimed that the alterations would be confined to problem spots so that cost would be reduced. They even had a page on their web site explaining that new advances in computer technology can help fix the problems of their older coasters. There were pictures provided showing the changes made to a coaster, but I don't know what it was.

I don't remember anything about changing the trains (except on suspended coasters) but that doesn't mean they didn't offer something like that.

Well IMO the first half of Viper is fine it's the second half after the MCBR that's killer. The lead in, into the butterfly has a sharpe curve right before you enter the first half loop that need major work. Then the curve after the butterfly that leads into the first corkscrew needs major work also, even with brakes in this curve it's still killer imo.

Imo it's only those two sharp curves that make viper painful, the rest of the ride is great to be an arrow mega looper. It's funny to be waiting in line for X and hear people screaming in pain once they hit those to curves, all you hear is OUCH !! OMG OUCH!! lol

It's also fun to listen to people getting off GASM at SFGAdv they are all doing the same OUCH!! OMG!! OUCH!!!

what does IMO mean?

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TeknoScorpion said:
Wow, I lived Viper, and got no headbanging. My height, perhaps?

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Me too. (loved Viper, that is.) I'm only 5'8" - it's that Togo tolerance gene, I think. It applies to old Arrow coasters as well.

I'd put Viper among my top 25 or 30 coaster (of 243) - I'm cool like that. ;)