Why does Vortex at PKI suck so much?

I agree, Jeff this thread has gone of topic and makes no sense, how about we lock this thread
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Outer Limits: Flight of Fear Crew 2000 & 2001

 I normally considered Vortex to be one of the smoother Arrow Loopers and even though it did bop you sometimes it was usually smooth the next ride.

That was until this year!!!!!   By the end of the year I thought the darn thing broke both my jaws the last time I rode it.   I didn't ride it again the remainder of the season and will not untill I get good word.

Chuck, saying Vortex looks alot nicer but rides much rougher.  Re-guage time????/

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Charles Nungester
Park Jockey :)

The Voretx that I have always loved and rode this year is is definetrly not the ride U R talking about...........U just had a bad trip!!

April,

  Not everone finds it to be rough. I myself really enjoy the ride and have no problems riding it. I find the coaster to offer plenty of action and try to ride it at least once every visit.  If the ride bothers you that much, just don't ride it again.

Well I think it is a very good ride myself for it's time.  All I can say is this thread should be shut down ........and in closing if you don't like the ride.........don't ride it.

Funny Vortex is either my second or third favorite Arrow (behind Magnum, but about equal with Big Bad Wolf). The one thing I *dont* like is the excessively slow corkscrews. I'm about the only one here who doesnt like 'falling upside-down'. But the rest of the ride is great...and the paint job is nice too.
jeremy

Agent Johnson pretty much summed up my feelings.

When Vortex opened, it was an absolute mind-boggling display of loops, drops and twists never before seen. The volume of new elements and sensations it provided challenged even the most seasoned coaster rider.  It was and is a virtual showcase of distinct Arrow trademarks and elelments.

Why, I recall having to wait just to get up to the overlook fence to get a full view of the ride when it first opened.  To this day, it still attracts nearly as many ooohs and ahhhs from spectators and nearly as many "you'll never get me on that thing" reactions by bystanders.

Vortex is an Arrow.  And we all know that Arrow multiloopers do not hold up.  (One notable exception... I personally think Loch Ness is easily the best Arrow looper ever built) Mr Toomer is to be congratulated on his distinct contributions to the world of coasters, however his genious did end with the ability to transition smoothly from one element to another.

Ultimately, I really don't see any point in comparing a 15 year old coaster to a 3 year old coaster.  A lot has changed since then... for the better.  But without coasters such as Vortex there would be no Face/Off.

Finally, Vortex is just simply fun to watch.  With it's brand spanking new paint job, the ride still gets at least one good stare from me each time I visit PKI.

Shaggy

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Shaggy
A.K.A. John K.

This forum may be "closed material", but I've enjoyed watching it turn into a Vortex love thread! :)
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Don't.....look.....back! The Headless Horseman awaits you in 2002!
Model coasters and rides

A true classic...enough said!

Since it isn't closed yet,  Here's some more of that Vortex love.  It was my first Arrow multi-element and found it to be very good.  It's still my favorite ride at PKI.

I loved vortex because I have a thing for Arrow loopers.  I think it would be really cool for some park to get a classic arrow looper, but that probably isn't going to happen.  The last one made was Tennessee Tornado, built in 1999.
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http://sapman.homestead.com --- My stupid website

I remember riding it for the first time in '88, second season I think, summer following grade nine. It is the only time I can remember ever seeing Kings Island advertising on Cleveland TV. I rode it, and I survived it, and I loved it. In fact, I got a poster of it that occupied real estate on my bedroom wall until some time during my college years (when "my" room became less and less mine).

Weird... I guess I never realized at the time how addicted to coasters I'd be after college.

These days, it's a neat ride to look at, but the ride is very hit and miss. I suppose it has something to do with wheel condition. There are only two notrious "evil Arrow transitions" that really bother me.

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com, Sillynonsense.com
"As far as I can tell it doesn't matter who you are. If you can believe, there's something worth fighting for..." - Garbage, "Parade"

While Arrow loopers aren't my favorite rides, Vortex is not much different from the others, no better, no worse.  Certainly Vortex is a much better ride than Alpengeist which so many prople seem to long for.  Riding technique has a lot to do with how much your head gets banged.

Vortex is my baby doll!  I still think its the second best Arrow looper (right behind SFMM Viper, right ahead of Nessie) but other than that......I mean, just LOOK at it!  Its still one of the most classic, stunning sights in all of coasterdom. 

And hey, i swear everyonce in a while in the back seat on that first drop I see god.  Can't be too bad of a ride.   

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"When I come to a town I would love to see a children’s festival and children’s choirs singing my songs - maybe create a children’s day! A Holiday! With parades and songs - oh, I would love that!" - I swear to god its a Michael Jackson quote

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ravenguy98 said:

And hey, i swear everyonce in a while in the back seat on that first drop I see god.  Can't be too bad of a ride.   
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Right on Ravenguy98. That backseat ride is the absolute best there is, and what a first drop it is.  The first drop on a lot of coasters doesn't "take" my stomach too bad, but for some reason Vortex really does a number on me.  I love it!

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God please let SFKK get something in 2002. ANYTHING!!

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Backseat on any Arrow looper is awesome, the feeling of getting yanked trhough the elements just can't be beat.  I love Vortex, easily on my top five steel list but then again so is Shockwave at SFGAM I guess I have a thing for huge lateral and positive G's, oh well.

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Does CCI know how to make a bad coaster?

First off, Vortex has one of the highest numbers in the park, and runs more people per hour than many of the rides there. It also suffers little downtime.

The slow corkscrews are due to a newer control system being placed on the ride only a few years ago, before then, it went through the 'screws quite fast.

As I have mentioned on other threads I have commented on, Vortex suffers from the mid-eighties plague of under-developed transitions that Arrow produced. If you notice, many of the rides Arrow built pre 1984 and post 1994 have had really no problems with transitions.

Thats all in thanks to the computer technology used during the 85-94 period.
Vortex does not feature any roughness. Period. It does however feature violent transitions and shaky carriages. (that infernal shuffle) The ride also tries to do too much in the space allowed for it.

I believe an updated set of new running gear and larger wheels would help with many of those issues as well as reprofiling a couple of spots: the transition between the 2nd screw and the boomerang, and the straightaway banking into the first verticle loop.

SHAGGY: Though the mega loopers look as if they "don't hold up well" its really due to the way the transitions are placed together, Unfortunatly, most of the Arrow "big boys" have that issue

APRIL SAID: "It is like having an ex boyfriend email all of my friends and telling them things I do not want them to know"".

What in the heck are you talking about???? Thats about the stupidest comparison I ever heard.

The only loopers I like better than Vortex are Raptor and Flight of Fear.  I really like Arrow's sharp transitions, probably because I'm tall enough that my head (and ears especially) stick out over the top of the OTSR, which eliminates pain and enables me to enjoy the sheer craziness of that turn into the midcourse brakes.  And as for the midcourse brakes, this is one occasion where I actually enjoy the brakes being turned on so high.  It causes an unnerving "falling out" sensation through the corkscrews that no other coaster matches for freaking me out.  The boomerang, helix, and loops are intense, the first drop and drop of the block brakes produce great airtime, and it is also so darn purtyful to look at!

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"I'm just trying to find a decent melody...A song that I can sing in my own company."
- U2 - "Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of"

A couple comments - first, for everyone here over 5 foot 10, it is a lot more comfortable to ride in the front seats of one of the 7 cars on Vortex. If you are shorter than that, then ride in the back seats, as the seats have different clearences for feet, head, etc.

Second, I just love the way Vortex looks. It is a work of art, and it is one ride that I don't mind waiting for (although there is rarely a wait due to extremely high capacity) just because it gives me a chance to watch the trains traverse its course.

Finally, why oh why does everyone complain about 'rough' rides? Isn't the point of a coaster to feel out of control? If you insist on tame coasters then stick to the kiddie area. Particularly multiple loopers such as Vortex are supposed to throw you out of your seat. If you don't like it, fine, but that's how it's designed and I for one love it.

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Well, people complain about rough rides because they don't like pain.  And spending your day at a park with a huge headache isn't very pleasant.  I think the thing is that a lot of us just have higher tolerances than other (or are taller, whatever.)   Rough doesn't really equate with "out of control." 
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"When I come to a town I would love to see a children’s festival and children’s choirs singing my songs - maybe create a children’s day! A Holiday! With parades and songs - oh, I would love that!" - I swear to god its a Michael Jackson quote