Was Son of Beast a Bomb?

Did PKI go too far with SOB? I don't think wooden coaster are meant to be built over 150 ft. I usually like the ride but I rode it 2 days ago and it beat the hell out of me. It seemed a lot rougher than usually (if that's possible). Does anyone think that PKI is satisfied with the results?

Ya know, i like the ride. It proves a good amount of thrill for me, and for first-timers.. it will provide LOTS of thrills. I think all in all it was a good investment. It's something unique. maybe not the best, but unique.

With all the new woodies that have been built since 1988, I don't know why they built that ride they way it is. We found out in 1981 that you're gonna have big problems with a woodie over 120 feet (American Eagle). Actually was it 1978 with Colossus? Then Texas Giant came in 1990 and literally shook itself apart (whatta kick butt ride that first summer though!) I mean, the trains were falling apart as people rode it!?

Then Cedar Point wanted a Texas Giant, but reduced it's 'hill count' by half, but kept the height and speed, thus reducing any 'ride forces' to almost nothing. Hmmm... still a maintenance nightmare and now a very lame(r) ride. Then, PKI wanted to build this ride. I couldn't believe it when I saw the rendering. All these huge, energy wasting, boring looking hills.

It would have really been cool if it was like the Beast, but longer, add some airtime hillls (just a couple come on!) and kept the loop. Maybe even 2 loops. Corkscrew, that'd be something unique. Add underground tunnels, wild helixes. Use the land and trees. Basically, put a little heart into it!

IMHO (well my spoiled selfish coaster freak opinion) it was really a big waste. It was just plain dumb to build a woodie that big. It's just gonna get worse and worse too with age. I mean, they should have learned with the first Beast! They really really could have done something great. Something LEGENDary and prolific, like when the Beast came out... but no. Too bad they didn't ask for coaster enthusiasts' opinions before they built it, we couldda 'learned em' a few things.

Yes.

-Nate

But how do you really feel, Zombie? ;)

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www.coasterimage.com
Dorney Park Visits in 2003: 5

Rode it. Liked it. Can't wait to ride it again.

If it's not your cup o' tea, may I suggest the Timberhawk;)

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I've gotten the Point of life, and can now pass away a happy man!.......

I like it. The second half of the ride after the loop is a little tame, but overall I think it's a great coaster.

The Beast is still my number one woodie, though, especially at night.

Jerry

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Pinball and Coasters...Any Questions?

My upper back (and neck) still hurt from my one ride on it early on in BeastBuzz last weekend. I thought the first half of the ride was pretty thrilling and exciting, but over the long haul it just got too jerky, and has now caused a semi-serious health problem.

I rode the ride in the front seat, thinking this would be the best place to ride. Is there a better place to ride the ride that might not be so rough? I liked a lot of the ride and might ride it again if I knew there was a place that wasn't so rough. Thanks!

Take care and God bless!

SOB is one of the most *beautiful* coasters I have ever seen but although it's been running somewhat smoother (or not) it is NOT one of my favorites.

The loop and the visuals are the only things that keep it from boring me to death.

-Tina

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Feel The DragsterGasm....
www.intenserides.com

Would I be near to correct in thinking that there needs to be some ground-breaking revolutionary advances in wooden coaster engineering and construction for woodies over 120 feet to really be successful? This talk of the taller ones shaking themselves apart, becoming lame, providing uncomfortable rides, not being worth the time, hills being boring. Does something fundamental need to change? And what of Shivering Timbers? Is that over 120 feet tall?

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"The most wasted of all days is one without laughter." e.e.cummings

Word usage error in title - it should have read "Was SON THE bomb?" which we all answer "yes".

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SW:):)SH
midwestinfoguide.com

The SOB is a "one of a kind" ride, it might be a little rough on the body and some country might not have any trees left due to its massive size though no other park in the world has one. So in the coaster lovers mind you have to respect it and ride it a least once when you visit the park. Just wait till the build the DOB . Daughter of Beast, I hear she likes to beat up her older brother.

Some early morning humor.

ErinGoBraugh said:
Would I be near to correct in thinking that there needs to be some ground-breaking revolutionary advances in wooden coaster engineering and construction for woodies over 120 feet to really be successful?

It's already here... Mr Stengel has patentet a new plug-and-play type wooden coaster construction that is used by Intamin to produce wood coasters that are supposed to be almost as smooth as their steel counterparts.
The first one was Colossos at Heide Park, Germany:

http://www.coasterclub.org/photos/colossos001/img_8.shtml

I haven't ridden it myself, but if SOB would be constructed like that, it would sure be a much smoother and more enjoyable ride.

zombie said:
With all the new woodies that have been built since 1988, I don't know why they built that ride they way it is. We found out in 1981 that you're gonna have big problems with a woodie over 120 feet (American Eagle). Actually was it 1978 with Colossus? Then Texas Giant came in 1990 and literally shook itself apart (whatta kick butt ride that first summer though!) I mean, the trains were falling apart as people rode it!?
Then Cedar Point wanted a Texas Giant, but reduced it's 'hill count' by half, but kept the height and speed, thus reducing any 'ride forces' to almost nothing. Hmmm... still a maintenance nightmare and now a very lame(r) ride. Then, PKI wanted to build this ride. I couldn't believe it when I saw the rendering. All these huge, energy wasting, boring looking hills.
It would have really been cool if it was like the Beast, but longer, add some airtime hillls (just a couple come on!) and kept the loop. Maybe even 2 loops. Corkscrew, that'd be something unique. Add underground tunnels, wild helixes. Use the land and trees. Basically, put a little heart into it!
IMHO (well my spoiled selfish coaster freak opinion) it was really a big waste. It was just plain dumb to build a woodie that big. It's just gonna get worse and worse too with age. I mean, they should have learned with the first Beast! They really really could have done something great. Something LEGENDary and prolific, like when the Beast came out... but no. Too bad they didn't ask for coaster enthusiasts' opinions before they built it, we couldda 'learned em' a few things.
You forgot Hercules in 89 and Rattler in 91 with that recount on megawoodie history ;-)
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"You know its a good ride when you come into the final break run wiping tears from your eyes"-me

The public eats that thing up. They love it. It gets a little better every year, in my opinion. I thought it was a lot smoother on my ride this year, but as usual, it does depend on where you ride it.

My only real beef with the thing is those damn restraints.

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com - Sillynonsense.com
"Pray that your country undergoes recovery!" - KMFDM

I know this has been said many times but,,,,,,,,,just think of what that ride will be like in 10 years. A maintenance nightmare! I think the one charactersitic that every megawoodie(Mean Streak, Hercules, Rattler) has was that they were all good the 1st few years but quickly deteriorated after that. All I have to say is look out PKI.

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"You know its a good ride when you come into the final break run wiping tears from your eyes"-me

My first ride on SoB was at BeastBuzz '03. I didn't find it to be any rougher of a ride than Beast was, really. (I got my bruises on Beast, not its son!)

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TheRealCP :)

Only the first ride I ever took on it was painful and I think I ate too much that day anyways and then was quite nervous about riding this megawoodie, lol. After that, it became one of my favorite woodies and my favorite coaster in Ohio (tied with Screechin' Eagle and Magnum). The drop, the drop, the power, the intensity, the *airtime*,... I love this coaster and it's not a bomb in my book.

But I have a question that has been bugging me for awhile. If The Beast is the dad and SOB is the son, what's the relationship of Beastie?

-Danny
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Coaster Insomniacs

I took my first ride (and 2nd) on SoB @ BeastBuzz this past weekend and liked the ride. I'm an airtime whore so it really didnt get me too much. My girlfriend didn't realize there was a loop in it, it shook her so much. One thing that caught my attention was that there was always a line for that ride when Racer & Beast were station-waits.

I find it too be a little on the rough side and boring as hell. If you going to make a rough ride, make it exciting. Thats the same problem I have with Mean Streak.

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