Worst "Shot" ever fired into the coaster "War"
PointMan said:
I'd say Drachen Fire is the biggest loser. How many years was it open before it became SBNO?
It was open from 1992 to mid 1998. In july of 1998 it became SBNO. It was scrapped before to 2002 Season.
'89? How do you figure that? If you're defining Long Burn Drachen's oddly fabricated term 'coaster wars' as the competition between parks to build the biggest, tallest, or fastest, etc., Cedar Point was breaking height records in 1978. Busch Gardens then beat it that same year (along with claiming the world's first interlocking loops). Then Kings Island shattered the longest drop record the following year.
PointMan said:
In my opinion, the current age of coaster building didn't begin until 1989 with the construction of Magnum.
Well, take into consideration that many of those injuries were small cuts or bruises sustained while riding, and even some were reported as heat exhaustion or even a bee-sting while waiting in the queue. However, these certainly don't outnumber the amount (about 80%) of head, neck, and back injuries caused by the ride itself, mostly sustained on the first drop or fan curve. Also, according to Amusement Ride Accident Reports and News, "By 1998, it was reported that over 250 personal injury claims had been settled for nearly $16 million."
DorneyDante said:
250 injuries in 3 months? That's almost hard to believe, wow, I did not know that. That's incredible. No wonder it got reprofiled so many times.
I agree with Olsor that the Rattler definitely put Fiesta Texas on the map, but the ride in its current state is nowhere near what the designers and the park had hoped for when it was first conceptualized.
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-Mike B.
Son of Hulk
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*** This post was edited by SpiralingShape 8/29/2003 10:21:34 AM ***
I have yet to have a bad ride on TTD, and have yet to wait less than 2 1/2 hours to get on it (I probably should have went this week, from what I hear). It is quite an adrenaline inducing coaster (with three tricks, in my opinion...the launch, a great view from the top, and the twist on the way down). It does exactly what a lot of coaster enthusiasts said MF should have done. Apparently CP was listening.
My question to coasterdude318 is, have you actually ridden it, or do you make this claim about it on sight alone? Regardless, you're still entitled to your opinion, even if it's unpopular (and let's face it, that's all that good and bad coasters are, a person's opinion).
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Goccvp1
My referal to the date the coaster wars began is due to the fact that in 1989 the 200' barrier was broken and shortly afterwards the number of coasters being built each year greatly increased.
I consider this period to be over due to the fact the coaster building has once again decreased. Record breaking coasters are still being built, however the total number of coasters being built each year is on the decline. I believe the peak year was 2000.
That's just my opinion. Others will state that the coaster wars began when PKI opened the Racer. Your date of 1978 can be pushed back to '76 when both the Corkscrew at CP and the Great American Revolution at MM opened. Cp claimed the most loops while MM claimed the longest coaster and first loop (other than KBF's corkscrew).
i will toss the steal phantom out there. a 220 ft drop into a loop that HURT so much they ripped out the entire second half of the ride and redesigned it into one of the best shots in the "war". i would almost say, every arrow coaster built after magnum was a bad shot.
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http://www.eightdotthree.net
Homey G. said:
I think Cedar Point only has about 4-5 good coasters, but let me tell you TTD IS one of them. One trick pony? Hardly, the launch is the BEST trick of them all and it takes place.. oh about a good 20 feet off the ground.Lines will NEVER diminish for TTD even if every park installs one. The thrill of the launch is almost too mammoth to comprehend. Then of course, you go over 400 feet in the air.
I don't care how long it takes to get 100% reliable, and I will NEVER be a huge mark for Cedar Point, but BRAVO with Top Thrill Dragster.
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CCI Coasters!! The best rollercoasters WORLDWIDE!! **only applies in the state of Indiana**
and pretty much the same exact thing could have been said at STE's opening.....
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Swat at the sun alongside El Diablo in 2003!
Only at Six Flags AstroWorld!
http://www.houstonthrills.com
*dons flame-retardant suit*
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Harry Baer IV
"It's not going to stop 'til you wise up..."
I think some of the best examples of "shots" occurred in sequence, like a true volley: Magnum and Steel Phantom; Hercules, Texas Giant, Mean Streak and The Rattler; Goliath and Millennium Force.
Now, back to the topic. I'd say a bad "shot" would be a ride that flopped somewhat quickly after its big debut. Most rides lose popularity eventually, but some sink quicker than others, for whatever reason.
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Ask about my references
I rode the Bat several times. I enjoyed it. It was pioneering and fun. In some ways it reminded me of Talon with lots of stuff happening close to the ground. It wasn't a great coaster, but it was a good, fun ride. Unfortunately it had serous design problems that forced its removal.
I only rode Drachen Fire a couple times. I couldn't stand more. It was a ride where you were in too much pain to enjoy it. It wan't even Arrow's best inverter.
And put me down as one who rode the Bat and is glad it's gone. It was the most painful coaster I ever rode during its first year, before Arrow added additional shock absorbers and fixed the lousy seat backs.
I was at CP during the 4th....and once it did open, it seemed like half the park was running towards the entrance. Every launch, people would stop mid-step and just stare with a glazed-over look in their eyes. People would clap and cheer every time a train made it over the top.
Complete strangers were clapping and cheering and giving out hi-fives to eachother after every ride. Maybe its just me but the crowd's reaction that day didn't have me thinking that Dragster was going to have a drop in popularity any time soon. I just don't see it happening.
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Cedar Point countdown: 28 Days.
Now I along with some other Buzzers recieved a trimless ride on Mean Streak Wednesday and we all agreed it was pretty darn amazing.
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If given the choice I'd choose a hamburger over a hotdog anyday of the week.
Baeritone said:
I must be the only person in the world who doesn't like Phantom's Revenge. It's got no air, the seats are typical morgan (read: uncomfortable, like sitting in a fiberglass box), and it's too short. I enjoyed the Arrow portion of the ride, and the drop, but after that, it was just boring, by me.*dons flame-retardant suit*
interesting pov.
the phantom must have thrown his cape over you because his ride is filled with airtime after the two large turns. ive sat everywhere on the ride and i have never managed not to be thrown out of my seat.
i will give you the trains though, they are lousy.
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http://www.eightdotthree.net
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Harry Baer IV
"It's not going to stop 'til you wise up..."
Bartman
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"Do what you believe in and believe in what you do," Jeffrey E. McCants
coasterdude318 said:
Did you bother to read what I wrote?S:TE was built in 1996...*seven years* ago. A ride like that was fine seven years ago. A ride like that *isn't* fine now. Yes, S:TE is lame now. I'll be the first to admit that. But I'll also argue that Dragster is just about as lame.
Fujiyama is 260, yes, but drops just 230. S:TE stands 415' high (and, when it opened, the car *did* just about reach that 400' level). Those are not *nearly* as close as you claim. Heck, take a look at the speed of the rides (100ph vs 80mph) and it's obvious that there is a much larger difference between those rides than 40'.
-Nate
ok ignore everything except the first part. ok just a correction, S:TE was built in 1997 not 96
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