Whizzer status

Any SFGAM locals know if there's any merit to the rumours floating around about this possibly being the last season for Whizzer? I'm guessing after the flack SFGAM received the last time they announced it would be removed, they won't be making any announcements again if they do indeed decide to definitely remove it this time.

Sorta important for me because if so, I'll have to do something I haven't ever done before, plan a trip for 1 coaster. Grew up and spent many summers as a kid riding Whizzer here at our Great America, and never got the chance for a proper farewell for one of my all time favorite coasters ever. So this would be the farewell I never got to do out here, and a last chance to ever ride a Swartz Speedracer. 3 1/2 minutes of Anton sweetness in those most comfortable trains ever, total bliss!

Haven't heard anything here...

After the HH install this year, I have a feeling it'll be at least another year before we get anything. They tend to go in two year phases.

d8

Haven't heard anything. It's all just rumor.

On a positive note, the ride seems to run more reliably and they are consistently using 3 train operation compared to 2 trains the last few or so years. Whizzer is on their Fastlane list of rides so that tells you the coaster generates significant lines.

I don't personally think it's going anywhere.

I was surprised by the three train op when I was there a couple of Fridays ago. I remember it always running two trains. I thought the third train was being used for spare parts. Is there a fourth train then??

Whizzer is extremely popular. I have never waited less than 30 minutes (with 2-3 train op) for it, as compared to 15 minutes for some of the bigger coasters on the same day. As long as a ride remains that ppular, I think it's wiser to invest in maintaining/refurbishing it over taking a chance on something new. Look what Disneyland did with Space Mountain. And if SFGAm can't get spare parts for the trains, why can't they hire Intamin or someone else to design new trains for it?

I'd love to see more spiral lifthills pop up here in the US. :)

AV - I think there used to be FIVE trains when the ride opened.

Whizzer is my fave ride at Great Am, next to Raging Bull and drop tower. I have heard the rumors but in all honesty I don't see it going anywhere. It's VERY popular. People made a fuss before and they will make a fuss again (which is a good thing.) Unless the ride has some safety issues which cannot be fixed then I don't see the park getting rid of it.

If they need to make room for something new I would suggest getting rid of the Iron Wolf. ;-)

-Tina

*** Edited 8/10/2005 8:35:50 PM UTC by coasterqueenTRN***

Yes, the park does still have all 5 trains. They run three trains each year and have a 2 year rehab/rotation schedule. In 2002, train 4 came back from rehab and in 2004 train, 5 came back from rehab. For 2006, train 1 should return from rehab.

That said, I really do not believe that the ride will be going anywhere for at least a few more years. About 2 weeks ago, they replaced the safety signs. Last night, I noticed they added something on the far storage track. I'm not sure what it would be used for, but it is painted green, and doesn't seem like something they would bother adding on a ride that is being removed.

At least this time they're not lying to us about it leaving as a publicity stunt!

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Mamoosh said:
AV - I think there used to be FIVE trains when the ride opened.

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True Moosh. It did run 5 trains when it first opened but IMO, that just seems like overkill and I can imagine what a headache it would have been to run all 5 trains.

Even on crowded days, running more then 3 trains wouldn't increase capacity. Same goes for Demon when they sometimes put the 3rd train on. The ride isn't long enough to keep up.

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coasterqueenTRN said:
If they need to make room for something new I would suggest getting rid of the Iron Wolf. ;-)

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Or even if they DON'T need to make room....Iron Wolf plain SUCKS! ;)

Cool, thanks guys, feel alot better now. Trying to save up for a new ride and really didn't want to spend the $$$, but definitely would've if I had to.

Jomo - as far as I know Whizzer ain't going anywhere. Yes, Gator...you read that right!

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rollergator said:

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coasterqueenTRN said:
If they need to make room for something new I would suggest getting rid of the Iron Wolf. ;-)

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Or even if they DON'T need to make room....Iron Wolf plain SUCKS!

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You know Iron Wolf ownz joo1111!!!!! :)

Seriously though, after getting Mr. Putz's (patent pending) :) method of riding a standup (feet all the way back and head hanging forward),I thoroughly enjoy this coaster now just because of its intensity. I don't think there is another coaster out there that goes through a corkscrew at Mach speeds. :)

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Chitown said:

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Mamoosh said:
AV - I think there used to be FIVE trains when the ride opened.

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True Moosh. It did run 5 trains when it first opened but IMO, that just seems like overkill and I can imagine what a headache it would have been to run all 5 trains.

Even on crowded days, running more then 3 trains wouldn't increase capacity. Same goes for Demon when they sometimes put the 3rd train on. The ride isn't long enough to keep up.

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When Whizzer did run 5 trains there were seperate load/unload areas and they would dispatch a train the second the train ahead of it cleared the lift - it worked incredibly well but it did require an awful lot of staffing. Even with five trains and no stacking it was often an hour wait, but back then they only had 3 coasters too.

Showing my age.

jimvid

Where do the trains go for rehab? It's good to hear they are taking care of da Whiz. :)

To a very exclusive rehab clinic, of course! Federal privacy laws prohibit disclosing more than that about any particular patient...

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

Chitown, face it: Iron Wolf sucks. The only good moment is that transitional dip before the mach speed corkscrew.

Still, I personally nominate Demon for the chopping block. We need to retain some type of memento from the late 80's/early 90's steel looping coaster craze.

Ahhh.... but Kevin, you don't know the mystery and power of Iron Wolf. It calls Chitown, and I like a banshee..... ;)

Kevin Max, face it: Iron Wolf ownzz jooo tooo11111!!!!!!!

Nasai? Why are all these people in denial? Do they have a 12 step program for this? :)

No, Iron Wolf doesn't suck. The only people I ever see whining about the ride are enthusiasts. If you ride a standup properly, you will apperciate the intensity they provide.

*** Edited 8/11/2005 4:21:32 AM UTC by BullGuy***