Steel Hawg opening soon

The radar images I've seen make it seem like it's been pretty free of rain in Monticello.

We've been getting a steady drizzle - feel damp more than rainy, but the park is 150 miles NE of us as the crow flies. :)

If no official word comes online, I'll just make a call later. I don't want to head up there until Steel Hawg is ready to roll.

^Which is why I'm just going to stick with my original plans of September.

The park's answer is a definite maybe.

It is testing today and the official word is still "We anticipate opening the ride on the 4th" - they're still not willing to commit to a yes as of right now.

Hmmmm...

They created a Myspace event titled "Steel Hawg Opening/4th of July" that starts at 10am tomorrow, but still no definite "yes it will be open for sure" though.

For what it's worth, I have been to IB on a hot, sunny July 4th, and although the park was the most crowded I have ever seen it, it was not too bad. I never waited more than 20 minutes for Cornball or Hurricane.

IMO If you didn't wait 20 minutes for Cornball, then it wasn't crouded.

The place was packed, but I think there were more people crowding the midways than on the rides. I've waited 20 minutes for those rides on much less busy days.

Just for the record, Steel Hawg did not open today.

So I'm guessing it'd be safe to assume it won't open all weekend?

^Careful Gonch... You know what happens when we assume

Thanks for the opening update.

Has anyone seen the ride test - or have a video of it testing?

I was at the park yesterday, and got a chance to watch it test for awhile.

I was told by numerous members of the IB staff that it would be opening today. (But you never know)

A TR coming soon with more info.

Thanks for the update - have you seen the youtube video of the ride testing?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysspL4wicGg

I can't wait to hear the ride reviews and see a POV. As much as I'd like to think it would open today (Sunday), it's kinda hard to believe given State cirtification is needed. If they have it, I would have thought it would have opened to riders yesterday since it was testing.

That reverse banked turn looks so wrong. This ride looks like it's going to be a lot of fun. I can't wait to ride it in September.

Apparently "S & S Power would not release the ride to IB on the 4th as planned. They were not yet satisfied with it even though the State Inspectors gave a "go" as I understand the situation. The Hawg looked like it was working beautifully on those test runs. It may have quietly opened by now and the Media event is now being organized." according to the winner of the first rider contest.

Wow - that's interesting. Maybe the ride isn't as smooth as they would like. S&S could be sesative to rider comfort after comments around X2. From the video, it looks like the ride screams.

That vid is good, but I don't think it does the ride justice.

I was actually surprised at how smoothly it tracked. (obviously from a visual point of view.)

^ Did you see it track and test live? (jelous here).

Maybe it's a computer or capacity issue S&S wants to resolve. I've glad they're taking their time and doing it right.

Now bring on the POV and ride reports (please).

Maybe one of the inversions has to be removed.

(kidding, reference to Maverick)

I love the descending heartline roll thingy.... You accelerate through it...Crazy...

You know... almost all the inversions on this ride should just be called "thingy"s... That's what I think of when I watch it... Half of me wants to say "That's Awesome"... the other half wants to say "That's ridiculous..."

Maybe I will go down and try it next weekend :) Glad its only a 90 minute drive for me.

Steel Hawg opened today. A couple of my friends got to ride and said is was fantastic - No headbanging. The bad news is that it's a capacity nightmare. Loading and unloading are a huge problem.