What will The Gravity Group do next?

Well, I've been sick with a sinus infection all this week so I've had some/ALOT of time to just sit around and think, and I thought this might raise some ideas. In my eyes, The Gravity Group made Voyage the ultimate roller coaster. So I'm wondering how they could take a coaster to the next level. Now, so far their coasters have been steel supports, wooden track. In the future will they make coasters that are all steel or wood? Or if they continue with the wood & steel like they are now, what will they do to raise riders adrinelines even higher?

I, personally, could see TGG designing a coaster with an 80-90 degree drop........

Please express your thoughts and ideas.

Whatever their next customer pays for.

Well seeing the Boardwalk Bullet in person compared to picture is totally different. That ride is crazy with the helix like thing right after the lift.

For the future I could see new trains maybe, but I think they are doing fine for the next few years.

TGG is in a great possition. If someone wants to build a Voyage, They'll build a voyage. If someone wants to build a one acre woodie. They'll build a one acre thrill machine. If someone wants to build something they've had plans for for 20 years. (Waldameer) They'll build a coaster that...........

They also have the Lost Coaster style and other creative things. I was told by a birdy that they were even considering going past 90* on a banking and that the very first 90* they did was never part of the original design, It was a *I WONDER IF WE COULD DO A 90* after the structural complications were worked out (Bolting it to a concrete wall) The forces were caculated and passed.

Don't ever count out TGG.

Chuck

^LOL...overbanks were my first thought too.... ;)

Once you're AT 90*, what's a little MORE banking....gotta have some SPEED to carry it off though... :)

The Boardwalk Bullet doesn't have steel supports... it's all wood.

Hopefully they'll do Project 2009 at CP. ;) But I guess if it's going to be wood, odds are it'll be GCI.

If it wouldn't require a train/restraint anymore confining than Anton trains with lapbars, I would love to see a good layout with a vertical loop or two. I know, I know...blasphemy.

^Blaspheme on!

LOL, always thought a good out-n-back type layout *coulda* meant a long and even enjoyable life for Sonny. Who thought a helix on wood at THOSE speeds would make for a nice smooth ride? Not likely!

But a good GG design, with nice wooded hilly terrain, a few powerful airtime hills and a dive down into a loop (tunnel at the bottom of the loop, please). A turnaround that looks somthing like Voyage, and a nice airtime hill threading the eye of the loop. Yeah, I'm ALL about that... ;)

Hey, Matt, maybe HoliLooper was supposed to be WOOD? :)

*** Edited 6/7/2007 2:10:04 AM UTC by rollergator***

Right now, GG is working on Ravine Flyer 2 at Waldameer. There has been an extensive thread on this coaster and the plans for it.

I doubt that GG would build a coaster at CP for 2009 for two reasons. First, GG prefers to build coasters in smaller parks. Second, it is unlikely that they would build a coaster within day trip distance of a coaster that they had completed during the previous year. They would want Waldameer to get maximum impact from their new ride and so there wouldn't be a GG coaster that soon at a park such as CP, KW, DLk, etc.

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Charles Nungester said:

I was told by a birdy that they were even considering going past 90* on a banking and that the very first 90* they did was never part of the original design, It was a *I WONDER IF WE COULD DO A 90* after the structural complications were worked out (Bolting it to a concrete wall) The forces were caculated and passed.

Don't ever count out TGG.

Chuck

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On Hades, when the lights are not on in the tunnel AND you are gp who doesn't know the 90* is there, you would never know because it is such a smooth transition. I knew it was in there somewhere and had to guess when it happened my first time on. I was acutaly a little disappointed to not get some lats from it.

AS far as GG's future? Stay the course. If it ain't broke...

I could see them designing trains for their own tracks (sorry, PTC) since it did work so well for GCI.

The only variables now are the scope of work and clients intent.

I thought about that, Bill. HoliLooper as a woodie...hmm.... :)

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Arthur Bahl said:
I doubt that GG would build a coaster at CP for 2009 for two reasons. First, GG prefers to build coasters in smaller parks. Second, it is unlikely that they would build a coaster within day trip distance of a coaster that they had completed during the previous year. They would want Waldameer to get maximum impact from their new ride and so there wouldn't be a GG coaster that soon at a park such as CP, KW, DLk, etc.

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Why would a baby company turn down work, especially from a flagship park? Claiming that they prefer smaller parks and want to distance their coasters is crazy talk.

Believe It or Knot (woodie pun intended), the next big thing for GG probably will have more to do with the Group than the Gravity - now that they're getting busier and Ravine Flyer II is underway don't be surprise if they hire the other former CCI designer (Dennis) who is missing from their personell equation, at least as a consultant since he came up with the original concept design published for the RFII.

I googled his website the other day and it is definately worth checking out if you're a fan of his work www.myspace.com/dennismcnulty - personally I love The Boss, Rampage, Raven, Legend, Megafobia, etc. so I'm sure GCII will take him on board if they don't.

Now that Son of Beast is loopless, I'm sure one of those two companies will Flip-Flap to get on that marketing bandwagon and reintroduce the world's only loopin' woodie (with no shoulder harnesses!).

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Arthur Bahl said:

I doubt that GG would build a coaster at CP for 2009 for two reasons. First, GG prefers to build coasters in smaller parks. Second, it is unlikely that they would build a coaster within day trip distance of a coaster that they had completed during the previous year.

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I didn't think the company had any say in where they build their coasters. They'd build for any park that asked them to. You say why would they buid a coaster within a day trip of a coaster built the previous year, what about the parks that have say 2 or more B&M's. Its the same thing.

I do balieve that GG will eventually start building in larger parks but there is a reason for avoiding construction in competing parks soon after a new coaster is built in a park -- increasing the value of the new ride to a park. Would RF2 have the same impact at Waldameer if GG were to build a coaster at Kennywood or Darien Lake the following year? Of course not.

This same policy is followed by some flat ride manufacturers. Kennywood Entertainment got a 2-year exclusive deal on the larger Screaming Swings in the northeast. This meant that the ride would go in at KW and LC but not at HP, SFNE etc.

I would be surprised if Gravity Group had any sort of exclusive deal with any park. Maybe if there was some novel design (dive machine, large Screamin Swing as you mentioned), but I think wood coasters are generic enough that there isn't an exclusive deal. The general public won't be able to tell an Intamin from a John Miller.

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Arthur Bahl said:
First, GG prefers to build coasters in smaller parks.

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First off, hahahahahahaa.

Second, hahahhahhaa.

Third, the thing about GG not wanting to build at Cedar Point because of Waldameer, WALDAMEER of all places, (really? Waldameer?)is just about the funniest thing I've read here in weeks.

No offense Arthur but half of your posts here are "Arthurs Daily Dose of Random Speculation" but this one is just about the most over-the-top thing you've ever come up with.

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Arthur Bahl said:
Right now, GG is working on Ravine Flyer 2 at Waldameer. There has been an extensive thread on this coaster and the plans for it.

I doubt that GG would build a coaster at CP for 2009 for two reasons. First, GG prefers to build coasters in smaller parks. Second, it is unlikely that they would build a coaster within day trip distance of a coaster that they had completed during the previous year. They would want Waldameer to get maximum impact from their new ride and so there wouldn't be a GG coaster that soon at a park such as CP, KW, DLk, etc.

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Your so wrong here Art its pathetic. Not trying to be mean but if a park wants a TGG, They'll get a TGG coaster.

I wouldn't say GG won't build for CF because of GG's preferences...but I might say they won't build for CF cuz CF is much too happy with GCII. You would, too after Renegade!

But one of the other 11 park GMs may see things differently. You never know.

-'Playa