Thunderhawk restraints

Wow, it's just hard to get my head around an SLC making that much of an impact on one park, although I do remember a small park in Largo, MD making a big impact on my awareness of it when they added Mind Eraser in 1995.

While I didn't make it to Adventure World until 1998 (but had been to Wild World in earlier years), it definitely kept the park in the back of my head from the advertisements.

I guess we really are spoiled in the Mid-Atlantic region in that we have practically every major type of coaster design (except for a 4D) within reasonable driving distances.

Camille Jourdan-mark was at No Coaster Con and told attendees that the trains on Thunderhawk were not getting replaced, and they would not be receiving the new harnesses its East Coast sibling was getting.

^That's fairly definitive, LOL.

Something tells me she didn't need to be brought up to speed on the new restraint system for GNE...and I can't help but think that the *hidden ROI* would have made them a wise investment... ;)

I still maintain it would be a waste of money to replace those trains. As it is, that's a lot of coaster for Michigan's Adventure.

As a frequent visitor of Geauga Lake last year and riding Thunderhawk over a dozen times, they need new trains, without a question.

From about its third season on, Thunderhawk simply got rougher and rougher. The attention CF gave to the ride didn't make much of a difference, in my opinion. By 2006, TH was down to my "obligatory ride once or twice a year" list.

Though even at its worst it was no T2. Medic!

^T2 is horrible. I used to ride it a lot when I was younger. It was my second invert (I fell in love with them after my first...Hangman at Opryland USA...now Kong at SFDK). I didn't know any better back then, but it was rougher than Hangman, which is the exact same design as Thunderhawk (I believe...correct me if I'm wrong). Either way, I'd take a Raptor ride over any of those coasters any day!

Do I need to express my feelings about T2? ;)

---

Seahawk & the Wave said:The Nor'Easter trains weren't refurbished, they were replaced. It's not just the restraints that are new. The seats, framework, wheel assemblies, everything is redesigned. The wheels still run the same way - the'd have to, short of rebuilding the whole track. Otherwise it's a complete redesign, not just slapping some new restraints on the old seats. Morey's is the only operator that has purchased these new trains so far.

---

Your exactly right except the fact that the new Vekoma trains have steerable trucks.

:)

Waste of money for new trains? Or a nice upgrade?

You get people to come to your park, treat them right, and they will come back.

Rack their sack, bash their head, you will have less return riders in the long run. You want people to rave about the rides, not say "it beat me up" or "gave me a headache."

Nobody cares about a coaster geek like me who will ride KI's Vortex once a visit. It's still a horrible rough headache machine.

Places like Holidayworld and Morey's have the integrity to think outside of the 'little money box.' *** Edited 3/25/2008 11:28:44 PM UTC by CoasterComet***

T2 was the worst slc that I have ever been on. Thunderhawk is one of the best slc's that I have been on.

---

CoasterComet said:
Waste of money for new trains? Or a nice upgrade?

...Places like Holidayworld and Morey's have the integrity to think outside of the 'little money box.'

---

Yeah, people keep making statements like that and frankly I think it's a ridiculous comparison. You're talking about a park that gets fewer than a million guest per year spending an additional million per train after spending on a ride that's already more ride than a park that size needs.

^In 'money terms' sure. You are right!

We are products. Devo was right.

And it's ironic because Morey's maintenance staff took a lesson from GL maintenance staff on caring for thunderhawk, not sure if it worked or not.

Of course it's about money. Spending the money you suggest isn't going to make them more money, so why spend it?

Although I disagree that TH is too much coaster for MiA, I do agree spending money for all new trains would be overkill and won't make that much difference to those who ride it.

On a side note: I rode TH at GL the year Cedar Fair took over and I was pleasantly surprised because I expected a rough, headbanging experience that didn't happen. But I realize every person's perception is different.

Will TH draw more people into the park? I'd say that's very possible as there seemed to be a lot more advertising last year (in the Detroit area) and I'm expecting "Michigan's First Suspended Coaster!" might actually capture some interest.

I can't see people driving 3 hours to MiA from the Detroit Area when they can drive 2 hours to CP instead. But it will draw interest from those who drive to Lake Michigan for vacationing. *** Edited 3/27/2008 1:38:34 AM UTC by CPLady***

I imagine fans of roller coasters in MI will be somewhat excited when they see video of Thunderhawk in action on the sure to come TV ads. I don't think there's an SLC within 300 miles around MI so the general public may perceive it to be something as amazing as Raptor.

They would discover soon enough it isn't but they would still have paid the admission to go to MI Adventure and try it. Pending people have disposable income to spend on a trip. Just my .02 anyway.

I saw pictures last year of SLC trains with a version 2.0 (if you will) of the harnesses. They didn't have the earpads at all, but had a simple OTSR. I saw pictures of Vekoma engineers installing them on an Asian coaster last year. Unfortunately, I don't know if they ever ran and I can't remember which park it was at.

^^ not sure how far away Gurnee is from Muskegon, but B:TR ;)...

^too far, unless you want 2 dilapidated woodies, a beautifully painted corkscrew and of course, the new hang and bang. More fun than 'our' Batman, though ;)