So what will Dragster do for S&S?

A little off topic, but does anyone think we will see any "flying" drop rides. Where you lay completely flat, on your stomach? I think that would be fun.

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Rob

"Some people spend an entire LIFETIME wondering if they made a DIFFERENCE. The MARINES don't have that problem." -President Reagan 1985

X has just what you're talking about!!!

I pray that the new seating options bring some much needed excitment to the S&S towers. I've always thought they were underwhelming, quite frankly BORING. Maybe it's the air cushion that makes them feel so forceless to me. The best I can say for them is, wow that's a nice view of Lake Erie or Las Vegas. They just lack the excitment of the Intamin drops.

I hope to see some great new things from the new coaster divisions. Yes I think the launch is much better suited to coasters.

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If your not the one, Then why does my soul feel glad today?
--Daniel Bedingfield

Chuck, rememebr that WA *does* have a Double Shot too...:). O2 Tower at MSAP was pretty cool too, with its *combo* ride, a shot AND a drop, right overlooking the Gulf....

bill, who prefers the airtime *pop* at the top of the shorter S&S towers (180' and shorter) to the height of the bigger ones like PT at CP...of course, I ride the SHOT side 2 times out of 3 when given the *option*. Drops give a better view IMO, but shots are the better ride...YMMV, etc.

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Jephry said:
I was wondering what will Top Thrill Dragster do to S&S Sports Power TA2K. Here you have this 400 ft monster that can get to speeds of 100+ MPH. If Top Thrill Dragster doesn't have any problems, does that mean that S&S will have to find something new to sell?

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Dragstar by no means makes TA2Ks redundant imo. TA2Ks have a faster acceleration for one thing. Also, S&S do not have to find anything new to sell, because they alread have a wide range of products. It is highly likely of course that they'll find new ride types to sell anyway, being the creative geniuses that they are.

Supreme Scream was one awesome experience, so although I have yet to experience an Intamin Giant Drop, SS would take some beating.

*** This post was edited by Mr Rush on 1/11/2003. ***

Was anyone at IAAPA this year? because they had the Sky Swatter/Sky Swing/Screamin' Squirrel seats and restraints. They were very comfortable and also they showcased the video of Screamin' Squirrel. It looks very interesting and also very thrilling. I wouldn't bet S&S out yet.

It isn't that they don't have good products. I mean, how many drop towers have they sold? They're everywhere. The problem is that 1) I doubt they have many friends at Paramount over the Hypersonic thing and 2) They're in flux with Cedar Fair over the VertiGo thing. Two of the big three don't exactly have a good working relationship with them, and the smaller players do watch.

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com - Sillynonsense.com
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But Jeff, how come Intamin and CF have gotten along just dandy since the Perilous Plunge thing....and Intamin and SF have gotten along since S:RoS, right....

VertiGo was a bummer, but I *think* isn't it true that the installation at CP was the problem, not the ride or tower engineering...I don't see where the relationship between them should be necessarily soured...SFMM apparently is re-opening Thrillshot, while CF took out the other AI...

As for Paramount and H:XLC, Paramount does seem to have a problem installing a prototype at a smaller park (see: Stealth), and disclaiming the ride after an initial trial. CP has certainly had its share of problems with Xcel, but forges ahead with TTD in the belief that they have worked WITH the manufacturer to resolve the *issues*....we'll see how it pans out...

Seems that you'd want to have a GOOD relationship with all manufacturers, and then be able to choose rides freely...;)

bill wondering if there's a lesson in there somewhere....nah, probably not!

I am not an expert on the whole Perlous Plunge incident, but I think that had little to do with Intamin so that would probably be why they are still ok.

The facts of the Perilous Plunge incident:

-Happened during a Target private party in the park.

-The woman weighed something like 270lbs, and was not even tall.

-The lap bars and seat belts did not fail.

-The restraints were not adequate for such a rider. Her seatbelt was wrapped around her tummy I THINK (Thats probably why the xcelerator video says not to wrap your seatbelt over your "6 pack"). She tuned around during the drop for some reason, and then flew out.

-The ride op that day refuses to work perilous plunge to this day (there was an article about her in the paper).

-The media thinks perilous plunge is a roller coaster.

-The family is suing Intamin as well as the park.

-Intamin warned against the 4 point harnesses. They'll hold you in NO MATTER WHAT (unless they're removed), but its just too many restraints.

-Intamin's policy was to have riders in the back to rwos be under 225 lbs. This is still not enforced all too often, and i don't know where the woman was sitting. there is major ejection air in the back (as well as any other seat).

Yeah, everything he said. At the end of the day, humans have to decide who can ride, and I think the ride ops chose poorly.

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com - Sillynonsense.com
DELETED!

Um, are we forgetting that Perilous Plunge got off on the wrong foot by opeining 6 months late? That beats even X's record. And Knott's has had a problem with the boats from day one.

I agree with rollergator, it's easy to say S&S is undesired when a park just announced a 400ft Intamin. However, a year or two from now, a few of you could be eating your words. All it takes is *one* success story to turn it all around, cough***SROS***cough.

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Superman:The Escape(1997-2002) May he one day fly again.

First it was the sway in the turnaround almost causing a complete rebuild. Then the boat crashed into the rocks (knotts fault, they ran it with too little water). then the lim brakes didn't work right. then the chain broke in the first weeks of operation. then a rider flew out of the ride as soon as it reopened. I wouldn't be suprised if that woman was only the 100,000th rider, the first summer its been open was this past summer.

S&S will continue to soar and I predict another thrust air announced in 2003. Hypersonic was an amazing prototype and I don't think that the problems it went through were as bad as those of some other coasters. It was a first and Paramount should really be quite proud to have it. (It has thrilled a lot of people and they continue to flock to it.) I can't wait to ride TTD (it looks insane!) and Intamin has done it again. But S&S will continue with the thrust air and improve on it. No telling what Stan will incorporate into it next.

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Go Jr.!!!