How many Boomerangs have you seen or gone on? This is just for a park to cut a corner. The first time is fun, but face it, Vekoma's aren't the smoothest things around and all that head-bumping isn't what i would call fun. I mean a few is enough. No need for the full on assault of all these boomerangs.
I think I stopped counting after my 10th boomerang. I've probably done just as many hang-n-bangs. They're even harder to keep track of because so many have the same name! (Mind Eraser)
It's not just the enthusiasts that grow tired of clones: I recently went to SFA and Hershey with a friend from Japan, and a CA native that had only been to SFMW and PGA. When we went to SFA my friend was disappointed that there were 2 of the same coasters he had in San Francisco (Invertigo and SLC), and didn't even want to ride them! I offered to go on them with my Japanese friend and he declined, as he said he had been on two of the same rides in Japan. Then in his poor english (which is WORLDS better than my Japanese!) he said that he found that coaster "very hurting". I agreed with him big time. We eneded up spending much of our time on S:ROS and the woodies. (At Hershey, again, they had both been on a boomerang and didn't want to ride!)
I can understand why parks buy cookie cutter rides, especially really small parks, but with the price of a Vekoma SLC well over $10,000,000 now, I don't know why the big guys don't shell out a little more and get something better. (Swiss, perhaps?)
-------------
- Peabody
I think it is bad if you complain about having too many coasters. I don't believe in such a thing:)
-------------
©Bruce's Posting Co.
Just a thought, many of my friends/family refer to ANY inverted coaster as "just another Batman" (referring to B:TR @ SFGAm).
Vekoma is designing a new SLC design, the old designs of the Boomerang and the SLC will be changed to bigger and better designs, with 4 in row trains (same train as the Super Boomerang). Furthermore Vekoma will introduced their first Hyper Coaster next year.
I knew Vekoma were going to start hypers, where is it gonna and got any stats?? I'll dy my knee and elbow pads in advance!
I don't know. Has any park ordered a Vekoma hyper? From past experiance, expect it to be bumpy.
-------------
Shootmamas
I just rode my first Vekoma boomer.... and I will have Deja Vu in a few weeks.
Pathetic pun intended.
---------------
I hate boomers.
I agree...Vekoma needs to cool it down a bit. I agree with Bruce though, There is no such thing as too many coasters. But I'm really ticked at Vekoma for the Deja Vu fiasco @ SFoG. I'm pretty sure you all heard of that incident..
--------------------------------------------------
Deja Vu- Fast Forwards, Blast Backwards
I think the roughest Vekoma I've ever been on is the Ninja @ SFoG. That thing gives you a hideous headache after riding.
We have to remember that not all the Vekomas are rough! Stealth and X-Flight aren't rough at all! Though I think the flying dutchman coasters are the only ones that are smooth.
Well, our Vekoma's are fine, and very impressive in their locations. They are a great company, and until you have to decide on how much of your own money is at stake, you need to have an open mind. I think B&M's are great, with the self adjusting wheels and all, but then you need to have trained maintenence to repair, and lots of parks don't have the staff or financial resources to do that. Our park knows the limits. All of our rides are operating when we open.
Yah, it must be that Xtra chest harness padding. But remember, that 5 mph part from the brake run to th station is actually a bit shaky
-------------
Shootmamas
Well, X-flight and Stealth are new. T2 was not too rough when it was new. Now I'd rather bash my head against a brick wall than ride that thing again. I hate to think that the new flyers might very well deteriorate too.
A Vekoma hyper: Better stock up on pain killers before riding that thing!
When are they going to take lessons from other companies? MANY people (especially them Swiss folk!) have figured out how to make smooth rides that STAY smooth, and have learned how to bend good transitions.
I could understand so many SLCs if they had really competitive pricing. But consider this:
Talon (2001, B&M): $13,000,000 including track silencing. A WORLD class ride. I bet it will still be great in 10 years!
Serial Thriller (1999, Vekoma) $10,000,000. Already suffering and becoming rough. I hate to think where this thing will be in 10 years.
If I was buying a coaster...I'd shell out the extra money! It's not THAT much, and look at the diffference!
In my opinion the only thing Vekoma has really gotten right is their Roller Skaters.
-------------
- Peabody
I can't believe Stealth cost 19 million, and after all that money spent on testing, Paramount decided to break their contract with Vekoma and not build Flying Coasters at all the other parks.
Unfortunately, I haven't been on the Roller Skaters. Looks cute though
-------------
Shootmamas
If I had a park I'd buy a Roller Skater! Heck, I wouldn't mind one in my backyard! Woodstock's Express, Reptar at PKI, they are all great.
Now Vekoma's bigger coasters are a different story...... :)
-------------
- Peabody
lol. I must agree with coastercrazy and Peabody. Some of these Vekoma Invertigos and Boomerangs are found at almost any large park you go too. I don't really like it because it boxes your head in and headbanging does occur frequently...
Vekoma are good coaster, but you must maintain the train very well. The wooden coaster of Vekoma are very smooth and the new steel coasters are also smooth.
