Thriller, Texas Tornado, Zonga

Hi there,

Does anyone what they're going to change when they install the coaster formerly known as Thriller/Texas Tornado at SFMW?

I found some pictures depicting it's various color themes:

"Thriller":
http://mitglied.lycos.de/bremser1899/hpbimg/thriller%20in%20hb.jpg

"Texas Tornado":
http://www.sixflagshouston.com/tornado.html

"Zonga - seriously twisted":
http://www.sfmwonline.com/media/newfor2003.zonga.rendering.002.jpg

To me, the track layout looks completely alike besides the color. Are pieces of track going to be replaced to reduce the 6.7 G situation?

Greetings,

jo

*** This post was edited by superman on 1/25/2003. ***

there are rumours that something is gonna be changed on the first 2 loops to reduce the Gs, but we dont really know what that is yet

-----------------
Nemesis Inferno - The Pressure is Building!
Rare RollerCoaster Resources - http://clik.to/rrcr

According to the book "Roller Coaster - Der Achterbahn Designer Werner Stengel" Thriller had a manufacturing problem with the track section at the exit of the second loop, causing the widespread injuries at the beginning of the ride's existence.
That was changed, so that the serious injuries that could be traced back to the ride stopped.
However, the ride still features the highest vertical Gs of any coaster in some sections.

From what I have heard the rumors that the track will be changed are just that rumors. What I have heard as fact is that one of the cars will be removed to lower the trains momentum and therefore speed through the inversions. lessening the G Forces.

-----------------
Coming in 2003-The Spawn Of Magnum!
Ode to the offseason:
Offseason Offseason what shall I do? Who cares the sun is still shining the sky is still blue! GET A LIFE!

Thriller only had that completely red color for a short time.
After being repainted the first time it looked like this:

id have to imagine that'd be rather difficult - to fabricate new track for a 17 year old coaster whose original manufacturer is no longer making rides....

Yes... but Mr.Stengel is still around, isn't he?

Brent, I *like* the way you think....a somewhat minor change that will have minimal impact on the actual ride, and cost VERY little (let's be realitstic, it won't cost a dime), but will serve to reduce the forces somewhat....luckily for us, not too much...:)

Thats right Bill, I am the next Dave Althoff Jr.;)

No Offense to Rideman ;)

-----------------
Coming in 2003-The Spawn Of Magnum!

Pretty sure Dave knows his *warehouse FULL of knowledge* keeps him safe from a**holes like us Brent...;)

Got to meet Rideman at PPP '01, I think I embarrassed him a little....but he IS "too cool for school"...:). Wonder what his input on this topic would be, huh.....

I met him at Kings Island closing day this year. His knowledge is boundless when it comes to the technical aspects of a Roller Coaster.

-----------------
Coming in 2003-The Spawn Of Magnum!

I thought Astroworld painted it when they recieved it, but I guess it had that color scheme for a while. That was nice to know after it's been taken out of my home park.

Mauer Sohne advertises Olympia Looping on their website, which is the other Schwarzkopf coaster that was finished by another company. They would be a source of track.

Fabricating replacement track for any coaster is the easy part. Any reasonably skilled steel fabrication shop can do it, and it doesn't matter who did it the first time. Didn't you guys learn anything from the Phantom's Revenge? :)

The tough part, though, would be in making any kind of meaningful profile change and having it work in the context of Zonga's structure. Making the curve wider between two loops means the loop profiles have to change, and that can get really tricky.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.