SOB loop?

I was just wondering why this is the only wooden coaster with an inversion? Is there any other wooden coasters with inversions in the works? The ride wouldn't have to be as big as SOB but another wooden coaster with inversions would be kind of cool. I don't like coasters that are a one of kind and that unique. Having only one coaster with an inversion is kind of bad for people who can't get a chance to ride it. The more looping wooden coasters the better, I think. More wooden loopers, more people that can get to ride them. It's not like the loop on SOB failed, a lot of people think that the loop is the best part of the ride, and the smoothest.

At first, I was going to disagree with your comment about disliking unique coasters, but from your perspective, yea, I can see that side of it.

My opinion is that woodies shouldn't have inversions, but a lot of people disagree. Honestly, I don't know why, I kinda thought it would have become more "trendy" to try and flip wooden riders more...

I love inversions...on steel coasters. That is where they belong. That being said the loop is the second best thing about SOB [the first being the end, because it means the pain is over].

The loop, as im sure you have heard, is definently the smoothest part of the ride. I have expected to see more wooden loopers, but none have come as of yet.

From what I've heard, saying that the loop is the smoothest part of the ride is about as big of an accomplishment as calling Tennessee Tornado the smoothest Arrow Looper.

I would think its quite the situation.

To build a loop, and have a wooden coaster going fast enough to successfully go through it, would mean the coaster must enter it most likely at the bottom of the drop, to get the speed up high enough.

Unless you build the entire ride specifically to be a drop, loop, brakes, there would have to be a bit more to it. Having it all happen, so to speak, before the loop, means you're going to have to make the ride tall. To make the ride tall almost coincides with making the ride rough, or so goes the only example we have, SoB.

Anyways, basically I'm trying to say it seems that it would only happen on these huge wooden coasters, and they have yet to prove TO THE MASSES a generally acceptable ride experience.

I have to agree with Moosh. SOB is painful to my neck. I do ride, but only 1-2 times a season, mainly to see if it's improving as Jeff Seibert said it would over the next few seasons. It's seems a bit smoother, but that tear drop shaped loop makes it pretty wild.

By the way, Moosh, I'm lovin' the calendar!

Loops are gimmicks and generally they make me dizzy (I can't ride a B&M more then 2 or 3 times a day without completely losing it). I like to think that wooden coasters are above such things. A well designed wooden coaster can do a lot of things and offers excitement that no loop can ever match.

Actually Loops get old to me. One Arrow is the same as the next with some excpetions. One of the reasons I like unicque layout woodies and non looping steel

That being said, I for some reason Like SOB's loop

Your mileage may vary.

Chuck

This past season we had a good time on SOB. I don't know if it was because we made an effort to ride it defensively or it is getting better or a combination of both. That being said there is a great sense of freedom going through a loop of that size with just the lapbar holding you in. I'd like to see more. *** Edited 1/20/2005 5:01:41 AM UTC by macho nachos***

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The loop, as im sure you have heard, is definently the smoothest part of the ride. I have expected to see more wooden loopers, but none have come as of yet.

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Amen! ;) On the smooth factor, I mean.

Some people that say that TT is the smoothest Arrow feel the same way as stated, but I thought it was a great ride, and very un-Arrow-esq.

SoB's loop and Tornado's loop are my 2 favorites, and I'm not an inversion kinda guy.

Personally, I hope they never build another inversion on a wooden coaster. The reason? Why. Why would a park want one? Disney parks aren't going to, they're content with building faux-wooden loopers.

Paramount isn't going to build another one for 2 reasons: They have one already, and it isn't what they thought it would be.

Would Six Flags build one? They're always looking for the next big thrill, but so far none of the parks have built one. Heck, how many branded Six Flags parks have added a new woodie since SoB was built?

Cedar Fair? Well I just don't see CP doing it myself. But what about other parks? It dosen't seem like their 'thing'.

I'd imagine that most smaller and/or private parks in the U.S. either dont' have the room, can't afford it, or both. Overseas parks? It could be a possibility...

But the biggest reason I could say as to not seeing another one: It was done, and it wasn't the end all/be all of wooden coasters. Some of that was due to size. It could be a good coaster if it wasn't rough. But let's face it, SoB would probably never have been #1. It just dosen't seem to be like that.

I hope it stays the tallest, fastest, and only looping woodie around for as long as I'm alive. If you want to try riding one, plan a trip to the park would be my suggestion. Then see how you feel about another one.

cyber demon said: I don't like coasters that are a one of kind and that unique. Having only one coaster with an inversion is kind of bad for people who can't get a chance to ride it.

Then, RamblinWreck said:At first, I was going to disagree with your comment about disliking unique coasters, but from your perspective, yea, I can see that side of it.

I actually do disagree with cyber's statement. I like unique rides for the very opposite reason. It's probably selfish, and some might call it downright stupid, but I feel like I accomplish something when I ride some one-of-a-kind coaster 17 states away. If a clone of X was built at PKD this year, I certainly wouldn't complain, but it would give me less incentive to plan a visit to SFMM. So basically, the more one-of-a-kind coasters there are, the more reasons I have to travel to different parks across the country.

As for SoB, I wholeheartedly agree with Moosh.

Well, let me put my .02 in. I like everything about SOB. The loop is the best part.

However, I disagree, Vater, about unique coasters. Yeah, it's great for people whom have the money to travel to California to ride something like X. On the other hand, us poorer folks would like to see one built on our coast since we don't know if we'll ever be able to afford a trip to Cali. Keeping it unique and in one park keeps many people whom can't afford to travel a chance to get the same experience closer to home.

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Mamoosh said:
I love inversions...on steel coasters. That is where they belong. That being said the loop is the second best thing about SOB [the first being the end, because it means the pain is over].

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Agree totally about SoB....

As far as *inversions*, basically I like inclined loops, vertical loops, and zero-g rolls...corkscrews/flatspins, cobra rolls, those kind of inversions, mostly I'd prefer not, LOL...

BTW, is Hades gona be the second modern woodie with an *inversion*? ;)

No.

Vater, I neither committed an "I agree" or "I disagree" to that statement, rather, I simply said that I can see where he's coming from. I sort of abstained.

Hey, nowhere did I insinuate that I had the money to drop on a California trip. Believe me, to say that the trips I've taken so far have been budget trips is an understatement. I understand your logic, and I understand that most folks want to be able to ride any coaster type without having to travel too far. I just find that when I actually get to ride a one-of-a-kind coaster, I prefer that it remain one-of-a-kind. Just my insignificant little opinion. Doesn't mean that I'm one of those people who pitch a fit when clones appear in 12 different Six Flags across the country. ;)

Edit - RamblinWreck: I stand corrected. *** Edited 1/20/2005 5:07:49 PM UTC by Vater***

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Vater said:
I actually do disagree with cyber's statement. I like unique rides for the very opposite reason. It's probably selfish, and some might call it downright stupid, but I feel like I accomplish something when I ride some one-of-a-kind coaster 17 states away. If a clone of X was built at PKD this year, I certainly wouldn't complain, but it would give me less incentive to plan a visit to SFMM. So basically, the more one-of-a-kind coasters there are, the more reasons I have to travel to different parks across the country.

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I'll back this. I totally agree. There's just something that's more "special" about a one of kind ride. Both in terms of the ride and the accomplishment of experiencing the ride.

To me that's kind of the fun in being an enthusiast, you travel around sampling what the roller coaster world has to offer. The places, the parks, the people, the coasters - there's something very cool in that.

A ride on a coaster like MF or X or The Beast is certainly something more special than a ride on B:TR or X-Flight/Batwing or to a slightly lesser degree, even the S:ROS clones.

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Coasterbuzzer said:
Yeah, it's great for people whom have the money to travel to California to ride something like X. On the other hand, us poorer folks would like to see one built on our coast since we don't know if we'll ever be able to afford a trip to Cali. Keeping it unique and in one park keeps many people whom can't afford to travel a chance to get the same experience closer to home.

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Yeah, but that's exactly the point - to get to those coasters you only read about or see on TV. You might not be able to make it to Cali now, but if you ever do, that ride on X is going to be something great, something special, something you'll remember forever and something interesting you'll have 'under your belt' forever. Plop a clone on the east coast and the experience instanly becomes cheapened in the adventurous, exotic sense - you just headed over to the local park and rode a coaster. The same one people in California can ride.

It works in the opposite way too. A ride like MF or X or The Beast isn't cheapened if you're local, it now becomes a badge of enthusiast honor.

"Dude, you're so lucky you live so close to that coaster. I wish I could get out there and ride it."

Cloning it has the same cheapening effect in the opposite direction. That super cool coaster in your neck of the woods immediately becomes less exotic or desirable. It's nothing unique, I'll just ride it over on my side of the world.

I can think of plenty of coasters I can't wait to get a chance to ride and I hope they never get cloned. Much of the fun is the 'hunt', the experiencing something that you can't always do.

EDIT - Still can't type quickly and correctly at the same time. :)

*** Edited 1/20/2005 6:09:32 PM UTC by Lord Gonchar***

In my opinion, the loop is the reason SoB sucks so much. The loop forced them to make tighter restraints which in turn forces my knees into the metal seat back in front of me. Right now, SoB is just garbage.

Heck, how many branded Six Flags parks have added a new woodie since SoB was built?

None, although Wild Waves & Enchanted Village got an S&S Woodie the year SF bought the property.