Viper's legacy lives on...

Chitown said:
'nothing' will beat the view from exiting that restroom and looking straight up at the gigantic loop of Tidal Wave as the train roars through it.

Experiencing that only once over 10 years ago, I still remember that sight like it was yesterday... How I long for the chance to ride Tidal Wave! (again? I'm not sure. I can't remember if I rode it. LOL)

One of the great benefits of the increasing rarity of the Schwarzkopf Shuttle Looper is that most folks won't realize this is a decades old coaster. In fact most will probably see it as a launched loop coaster, and be happy with it. I mean I think the next nearest shuttle loop of its kind would be Houston, TX???

As far as people remembering Vampire, I'll bet that if the locals remember Vampire they remember it as "the ride that always gets stuck and beats you head up" As long as they can get a decent reliabilty out of Tidal Wave/Viper it will probably seen as the most pleasant riding steel coaster in the park. The fact that it will help add more to the front half of the park might also help the crowd distribution.

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David Bowers
Mayor, Coasterville

Coasterville Dave said:

As long as they can get a decent reliabilty out of Tidal Wave/Viper it will probably seen as the most pleasant riding steel coaster in the park.
I guess I'm not the *only* one who thought "Chang and Bang" left a little something to be desired in terms of roughness, huh?.....;)

The only problems I've had w/ Chang is slow operations. I found it to be smooth and a ton of fun. Chang is by far my favorite stand-up, followed by Riddler, Mantis, Vortex [PGA], and Iron Wolf.

Moosh - who likes SFKK

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Coaster & Amusement Park Christmas cards & merchandise now available here.

Nope, that just makes two of you with "bolts for brains".
lata, jeremy
---Seek the Long One

Yes, Chang was single-training this year for our visit, meant ONE ride....(and a rough one at that, lol). RRv is *still* real good, but I joked with Jill last night that in 5 years, in SoCal, they'll just rename the ride "Stand Up for your Lawsuit"...Obviously, we were listening to Bob Marley....

Ga Scorcher is the Beemer standup that *should* age gracefully, not so many of the inversions and a SWEET twisty turny layout....of course, the Stand-up that really DID age well, IMO, was the Togo that departed from PKI. What a great ride, I hope it finds a home somewhere....*cough* Terra Mitica...better get a cough drop... 'Moosh's list of standups certainly SEEMS to back up my *theory* that they do age poorly...

finally...BOLTS?...is THAT what I keep hearing rattling around in there...I was wondering what was making all that noise...

edit: Viper was, is, and will be a *perfect fit* for SFKK...provided that maintenance can keep her in good shape...just when you thought the topic had been *hijacked*

*** This post was edited by rollergator on 11/15/2002. ***

How many others see the potential to recreate this park in RCT? :) Now that the shuttles operate like they should, and we can install SLCs, standups and mice, it should be easy to try and add this to the list of SF parks that already come with the game. Just be sure to paint the rides as though they were new! If only there were dragsters, and a larger-than-life wheel! And you can be sure Dave and I will be directing our "damn bridge" through the loop.

Chang does have one thing going for it, and that is the layout. But I will be among the thousands in line for TW again and again, along with the great little mouse, and that increasingly popular Thunder Run. I still can't believe this is happening. :D Finally something to really carry me through the offseason. And the nice thing about it, is that I don't have to wait another 10 years to reunite with her! I think the slogan "The Thrill Park" can once again grace the shirts and brochures.
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Brad Sherman
"I had a good summer. I went to Great America, then I got Mono" - Wayne Campbell, SNL
Model coasters and rides

Arrow Guy, you seem to be an expert with the shuttle loops- I could have sworn that Monty traveled much farther up the backspike then Greezed Lighting at PGA's did. Does that have something to do with the difference in launch techniques or something else?

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"Enjoy your voyage to the sun on the wings of Apollo's Chariot"

I think it has to do with the fact that PGA's ride has a trim brake right before the vertical loop. ;-)

-Nate

I understand it that the flywheel launches do not brake you as you return through the station and the counterweight launched rides do.

I was *thinking* it was probably either the type of launch system as Cory P. said...(I can never remember which are weight-drops, which are flywheels, etc.)....but I always LOVE the loud *clack* in the station. Of course, looking on rcdb shows different stats for several of them. The one in TX is the one I still need to round out my personal "collection" of the Antons operating in the US...;). I would almost swear, though, that some have different ANGLES on the back spike. I know Monte always SEEMED to be closer to vertical....wow does he give airtime on that back spike...:)

ANTON!

With most new rides, there is alot of downtime. With this being a proven classic, do you think dowtime will be at a minimal??? ha

du8die said:

Chitown said:

I have a feeling alot of Chicago area enthusiasts (that were old enough to ride Viper/Wave when it was at SFGAm), will be making pilgrimages to Kentucky next season.
I know I will be gracing the Blue Grass state.
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""To be the man, WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!, You got to beat the man""!!!

It's only 8 hours from me in SE WI... Not too bad...
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"Getting on Iron Wolf is kind of like going in a blender and pressing PUREE"

Milwaukee? That's where I am. I can't wait to make a holy pilgrimage to sfkk.