Son of Beast to be partly rebuilt

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Impulse-ive (Edit) 8/3/2006 5:29:27 AM Long lines, full trains, etc. The riding public is there.

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Well, I was there on July 3rd when the park was FULL and SOB was a walk on while everything else (including Top Gun) was a minimum 15 minute wait. I say tear it down and replace it with a more reliable hyper or giga coaster.

Was wondering if the new laminated tracks made by Intainin could be adapted for older and rougher American coasters? There are a million of us older folk who love to ride, but rides become too rough for us. Could be a wise investment.

I say tear it down.

Harry, your idea has been brought up by countless enthusiasts and there are other ideas like replacing the trains. I just don't see the whole Intamin idea working. It's not their design, therefore, I don't see them ever wanting to get involved in the whole mess. That would be a huge liability to just have their track sitting on top of the old structure.

And anyway, from what I know, very little of wooden coasters' roughness comes from the track. It's the shifting and moving of the structure holding up the track that causes much of the uncomfortable rides given by some of the most infamously uncomfortable wooden coasters (SoB, Mean Streak, Hercules, etc.). Intamin track on the original structure would be like putting a blanket on a bed of nails and calling it "fixed".

Orlando, if what you're saying is correct, then one of the last arguments for keeping SoB around is fast disappearing. I don't really support that viewpoint myself, I feel that the GP does NOT like the ride, but many around here, both supporters and detractors claim otherwise (i.e., long lines, full trains, etc.). I hope you're right!

What is Hercules?*** This post was edited by Gary B 8/6/2006 10:41:28 PM ***

Hercules was a coaster that was plagued with problems, and was very ruff at dorney park. Here are some pics...

http://rcdb.com/ig241.htm

If this coaster is going to be salvaged, the size of the first 3 drops should be cut down by about 50 feet each.

Hercules - Known affectionately as Jerkules by its victims.

Torn down and replaced by the very smooth and ultimately overtame Hydra: The Revenge. It has a unique heart-line roll out of the station and a lovely first half, but seems to lose all energy midway through. What a shame.

So that's it, turn SOB into an out and back coaster. It worked for the CB Cyclone. I wouldn't be sad to see that coaster go myself, that was definitely one of the roughest coasters I've been on.

I speculated a bit after the incident that Sonny may have given its last rides...since KI is under CF control especially. We'll see how this turns out...

Don't forget that Cedar Fair bought Dorney in 1993, and didn't close Hercules until 10 years later. If you draw the parallel, that means that we'll see SOB until 2016.

Edit: CF bought Dorney in mid-1992 -- 1993 was the first full year under CF's leadership -- so that would mean SOB will be with us until 2017 if you draw the parallel.

*** This post was edited by dannerman 8/8/2006 5:10:07 PM ***

I don't know about that whole thing of that the track has very little with how rough the ride is and that it's mainly the structure. I'd go more for the 50/50 split on that. Reason being, why is it that when you leave the station the cars bump when you reach the split between the metal tracking? Also, I don't really see Mean Streak's supports shake that much.

I have been on all the above mentioned rides SoB, MS, H... as far as the rough ride... I think many factors not just track contribute... train load... and pssenger weight... I have been MS a few times and I came off thinking I just came out of the clothes dryer. as for supports that shake.. I remember when I was on the Wildcat at Hershey that I noticed the suppports shaking more that I had seen on any other wooden roller coaster.. and it was early in the season so I am sure it had just probably been through its checks and should have loosened up that much.