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I've never been on a Katapult, looks like fun. Does it go forwards and backwards like a shuttle loop? How does it pick up enough speed to get through the loop?

Anybody want to hazard a guess as to what will replace it?

Thanks, I'll check it out.

The train looks like a B&M invert, minus the outside seats.

Does anyone know if there is a magazine that's focus is mainly on the technical aspect of rollercoasters and extreme rides? Like maybe an industry type magazine. With articles on stuff like the technology and design, track systems, trains, wheels, brakes, etc., and how all of that works together? I would also like it to have features in it that focus on a particular ride or type of ride, the manufacturer behind it and the park it's located in. With tons of photos of course. I think it would be good reading and fascinating to know all the behind the scenes stuff on how our favorite rides work and are maintained, and learn a little something about the design and company that created it.

Thank you all for the replies. Now it all is starting to make sense, I think that picture of Scream really shows it. Thanks again.

I could not agree more with everything you said. It is a beutiful park and could be a great park, with great rides. I've been going there since it opened and used to work there. I've seen a lot of rides come and go and was really shocked Stealth and Tidal Wave were taken out, 2 of the best rides the park has ever had! (Although Top Gun is still there, but for how long?). This is my home park and it saddens me that it seems to be going in this direction. Please please please, whomever buys the park, please make it great once more and put in more great rides (coasters). It can still be a family park with great thrill rides if it's done right and I hope someone steps forward to take on the challenge.

Did a search and could not find an answer. I'm trying to explain this to someone and need help. Alpengeist has a zero car, that is, a car with an axle and wheels but no seats. Correct? Most B&M inverts do not have a zero car. Why does Alpengeist have it? What purpose does it serve? What would happen if it was removed? This is the first B&M invert I've seen with a zero car and to me it looks strange. Any help would be much appreciated, thank you.

Well, at least it still looks nice.

I haven't been yet this year but, OMG! They took out Orbit? Is this true?

Thanks for the info.

Did a quick search didn't see it. Looking for a good Millenium Force POV video.

So I'm not the only one who has noticed that. I think with the wheels on the outside, it allows a design that incorporates a tight fit against the track, with some flexibility to let the wheels move in and out as the train goes through twists and turns, from what I have seen anyway. One example I can think of is V2 at SFMW, that type of Intamin axle. This may also be true for the inside track guide wheels, a similar idea would allow the wheels to 'lock' onto the track thus providing a smoother ride, but I can't remember ever seeing any designed this way. If you look at Arrow coasters you'll notice the guide wheels usually have a small gap between them and the track, not a tight fit, no flexibilty to move in and out which equals roughness. And as the coaster ages, it gets worse. Demon at PGA (when it was Turn Of The Century), used to be a pretty decent ride as far as smoothness. Today, it's very rough and as it goes through turns, the train bounces from side to side and I'm sure track wear has a part in that too, it's about 30 years old. But if it had a tighter wheel design to begin with, I can't help but wonder if today it would have been a lot smoother.

I think the wheels on the outside of the track looks cooler. I've noticed that coasters with inside wheels tend to be 'loose' therefore rougher. Coasters with outside wheels seem to be 'tighter' and smoother. Whether it makes a difference in design where the guide wheels go is beyond me. I'd like to know the answer too.

There is no california law about having OTSR, i hear this so often but its not true. Its simply an insurance issue, the less people that get hurt, the better. While the OTSR may be more painful, it doesn't cause actual damage or pain that lasts very long. As long as a person comes off a ride in good physical condition, the park has nothing to worry about. Example: Montezuma's Revenge has Lapbars. Here's what they SHOULD do, attach two seatbelts that connect from the lapbars to the top corners of the seats. Problem solved. I stand corrected-o.k., then, stupid insurance-whatever. That thing that has a way of ruining good rides, IMO. Doesn't cause damage or pain that lasts very long-- but it does cause pain even if it is brief, that in itself is a good argument against them. I understand they put these things on to "protect riders," but in doing so is it accetpable to actually cause pain and discomfort? Isn't that kind of like defeating the purpose? 'We're going to put these OTSR's on because they offer more protection, eventhough they hurt more. It doesn't matter that THEY HURT it only matters that you are POSSIBLY protected more. Isn't that worth it?' By adding these OTSR's the park hopes to increase ridership, because it's a 'safer' ride now and covering their you know whats. But when people ride it and figure out how painful it is, then the effort is pretty much for nothing . No one wants to go on a ride that is painful. Yeah it's a little redundant, but I think I've made my point. Something about that sort of doesn't make sense.

Are you sure? PGA's helix is pretty awesome- if you sit on the left side as you go around the helix it's over water- it seems like you are only inches above it and if you reach out you could touch it, does Carowinds have anything like that on Top Gun?

Riddler's Revenge @ SFMM Although I've only ever been on 2 standups (Vortex at PGA which is a real head slammer and this one), this one is a nice long ride and very smooth, no head banging. Plus I like the feeling of going through the inversions while standing.

Top Gun @ PGA Although it is short, it is very intense-lot's of G's. And that helix over the water is pretty cool.

Now why can't they put those on Revolution? They look comfy and it looks like there would be no head banging. Plus, it's over the shoulder so it would comply with that stupid California law. Magic Mountain hello, you need to do this! Not to mention they actually look like they belong there not like something that was scrounged up and thrown together in a hurry. Wishful thinking I suppose.

Yeah, I mean all they would have to do is install the cameras at the metal detectors, since the general public cannot enter the park without passing through them. If the software recognizes a banned person, security would be notified so they could verify it and if it's true, the person would not be allowed into the park, and I dare say NOT refunded the ticket or parking fees. (Because that's what they deserve). I think it's completely feasable and while it would probably be expensive to install, the parks would more than make up for it in savings on cutting down these rediculous lawsuits. Yeah man, casinos DO do it, why? Becuase it saves them money. Theme parks need to do the same. There is so much potential for frivalous and fake ass lawsuits anything the parks do to minimize them is in their own (and ours) best interests.

I agree with Guy. The sad thing is this moronified idiget of a loser punk ass kid, or his greedy ass parents, of which one might say it's their fault for raising a kid with such bad public behavior, will probably find some way to weasel the park out of money, or a settlement. So the park would pay because of the MFER's inappropriate actions. All the theme parks should have a black list. When something like this happens at one park, the idiot's photo and information needs to be sent to all the other parks to hopefully ban this "person" from entering any other park and possibly causing a repeat of the situation. Oh but wait, that makes too much sense! Shame on me for thinking. It'll never happen anyway.

If the covers being there are to keep grease/debris from hitting a ryder on a B&M, then why don't Vekoma and Intamin suspended coasters have them? Couldn't the same scenario happen on any of their suspended coasters? Although now that I think about it, I remember seeing covers for the up stop wheels on Invertigo, just covering the bottom portion only, not the entire wheel assembly. I don't remember seeing any wheel covers on V2, but then again I wasn't looking.

No, sorry I'm not. I wish!

Guy, It has been my experience, since I only live about 10 minutes away from PGA and spend a lot of time there, (and used to work there), that during the season it's best to go during the week-Monday thru Thursday. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday are generally "light" days. <10-30 min wait for Invertigo versus 45min to an hour or more on the weekends and Friday, for example> Too many people there during Friday-Sunday, it makes waiting in long lines to go on short rides not worth it. But towards the end of the season is probably the best time to go as the crowds start thinning out. And and hot days, lookout! Boomerang Bay gets slammed!. -It's worth the trip, for the few coasters it has (minus Fizzly) Drop Zone, and a few other attractions, the park itself is beutiful and well maintained. Whenever I need a quick coaster fix, I'll just pop over there for a few rides before work. BTW: Be warned, Vortex is a real head banger. Hope this helps.

Thanks, that looks like fun.