V2-dude
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Posts posted by V2-dude
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It would be fun to grab a radar gun and test various coasters advertised speeds versus actual top speeds (acknowledging that conditions can alter performance), but i'm sure the parks would not be cool with that. hardly a "myth", anyway.
I was actually at a water park one time and there were park employees with a radar gun clocking how fast people were coming down a couple of the body slides.
Having worked at SFDK, I have been operating rides where this was going on. This was most commonly done on the Go Karts, but I have personally seen the results of more than one coaster. V2 and Kong both travel significantly slower than advertised, though I don't recall what their exact speeds. After its mishap atop tower 1, Superman now runs closer to 69-70mph, though it's still advertised as topping at 62 mph. That's all I know, but I'm sure the others are a bit off too.
Anyways, forgive me if this was already mentioned, but isn't there a myth that B:TR at GADV is haunted?
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I shall now attempt my sales pitch to all of you as to why liking the show is acceptable
I'm not trying to be rude but I'm starting to think people just don't read anymore. This is what Robb said...
The people in that video are doing their own thing at their own event. I'm fine with that.It's when they start doing stuff in a public environment where there are children around that don't understand that some of these people go home and draw pictures of their ponies f**king and they jerk off to that is what bothers me.
You don't need to pitch to us about why you think it's acceptable to like the show because the general consensus is that nobody cares what you watch as long as you're not creepy around children and start conversations with them about the show. Nobody thinks it's unacceptable to like the show. We may think it's weird but I we don't think it's unacceptable.
That entire first part of my post was meant as a joke, mocking a lot of the creepy, overzealous members of the fandom. I feel like it was pretty clear, but if it wasn't, I apologize. (I do watch a show for little girls, so I wouldn't be surprised if there was something wrong with the ol' noggin).
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*Bravely Steps Up*
Greetings all!
As one of the aforementioned "bronys" I would like to say a few words (before I leave shortly as I must travel to the mall where I shall partake in extended eye contact with strangers).
I like the show. I find it very entertaining. However, I own no merchandise whatsoever *kicks dolls under table as I type*.
Now that I have established myself as a no-T-shirt wearing non-doll owning extremist I shall now attempt my sales pitch to all of you as to why liking the show is acceptable even though I am far from the target demographic....
...What? You still think it's weird? Fine then! Even though this forum revolves around a completely different subject matter, I shall talk about ponies in every thread! And when you all express your annoyance, I shall rant about acceptance and whatnot! Ha! Take that!
In all seriousness though, I do watch the show, but after seeing the antics of a lot of the adult fan base, I usually just keep things to myself pony-wise. Sure I'll discuss things with a circle of "brony lite"** friends of mine, but none of us wear shirts or own dolls or anything creepy like that. I do not condone the creepers nor do I associate myself with them. As strange as it sounds, while being a fan of the show, I share the same feeling as a lot of those who dislike the fandom.
**See what I did there? I said "lite"!!! Now that I've used this term to differentiate myself from the creepers, you guys can think of me as normal even though I watch a little girls show! Right you guys?.......
You guys?......
Right?!?!!?
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SFDK:
-On Medusa, if the combs (movable loading panels) are lowered and then raised without cycling the train, an error code appears and the ride will go down. This is because the computer thinks the trains did indeed cycle, but detected no movement.
-Also on Medusa, it is possible to stop the train about an inch short of its normal parking position. The combs will raise and the restraints will unlock, but the train will still be barely occupying the transfer block. This will cause the next train to stack in the service brake (at the beginning of the brake run).
-On Roar, it is possible to dispatch a train with the other train on the lift. The computer will stop everything when the train reaches the first censors out of the station and two trains are detected on the lift block. It is not, however, possible to dispatch a train if the other is running the course between the lift and the brake run.
-Superman, like other Premier coasters, can be monitored remotely be Premier Rides.
-Kong cannot dispatch until the other train reaches the first barrel roll.
-Kong is the only coaster in the park equipped with a transfer/storage track that does not have a train stored there at night. Unlike Roar and Medusa, where all trains are put away in the storage tracks at night, Kong keeps one in the station and one on the lift.
-Tony Hawk/Pandemonium had a glitch in its early days where the drive tires right before the lift would sometimes stop spinning when a car was still being pushed by them. The track between the tires and the lift was exactly level and this sometimes caused a car to "valley" between the tires and the chain. The problem of the stalled car was always quickly "solved" as it would be out of the previous block as far as the computer was concerned, but was still physically occupying that block. The computer would then have the next car in line advance forward, where it would hit the stalled car billiards style onto the lift, where the chain would catch it. It was easier than pushing it yourself, but allowing it to happen was apparently frowned upon.
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^While I can't answer for Kevin, I also spent time operating it, and I can verify that it was the most vile piece of machinery in the park. Flat window on the operator booth that reflects everything in your face, gates that break easily, a ridiculously high height requirement that would absolutely piss off guests as you tried to explain why kids need to be so tall to ride such a lame ride, a very underwhelming ride experience due to poor programming that would cause guests to take their anger out on you after the ride, seats that would literally burn people when the sun was out, you can't see half of the riders from the operator's booth, previously mentioned booth is poorly ventilated and gets extremely hot, the fault light quit working so the ride could be broken and you wouldn't know it, the cooling system produces a ridiculously loud droning sound so you have to shout at people right in front of you to be heard, whale flippers in the gondolas that stick way out causing a tripping hazard.
And those restraints. Holy Jeebus Christ those restraints. Whoever designed those never spent ANY time out of a cubicle or away from a drafting table.
I could go on, but just writing that brought back bad memories.
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I just found 50 bucks that I had stashed and forgotten about
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At least security actually did something for you. When I worked at SFDK, I would constantly call security for vandalism, line jumping, etc. There were good security guards who would work with us to rectify the problem, but a lot of them would just bitch at us for wasting their time and leave.
As for the person I know whose graffiti you pictured, I would talk to him, but he's one of those with the viewpoint "We have a right to make our artwork and anyone who tries to stop us just wants to oppress us". In other words, talking to him is like talking to a brick wall.
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Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Conway Twitty:
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I have a very strange feeling we're going to be getting a new word filter for "seat belt".
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^^^ Figures, they use the photo from the one ride where I decided to put on this unnaturally big ridiculous smile for the whole ride. It doesn't help that it looks like I have a Hitler-stache in that photo.
Also, that awkward moment when you find a picture of graffiti that says "Reina<3" and then looking at the Twitter handle and realizing that you actually know "Reina" and are friends with the person who wrote said graffiti.
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a seat belt wouldn't have helped hershe would be turned back and not be allowed to ride.
....
So, apparently not being able to ride is a less favorable outcome when compared to death.
I must say though, seat belts really add to dispatch times, which in turn result in longer lines. As stated before, they are there for redundancy. Hydraulic restraints already have back-up systems, hence a lot of them have no seat belts.
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Sorry for the double post.
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Facts:
1) The Gerstlauer trains running on NTAG use hydraulic restraints. Hydraulic restraints do not fail in such a way that it could cause the restraints to release. This is because the restraints fail in the locked position. It is physically impossible for the restraint to have released during the ride. The only way to release the restraints after they have been locked is either in the station via high voltage contacts underneath the train, or via special portable power packs that apply the necessary voltage to unlock the restraints that a mechanic can take to an evacuation location in the event of emergency stop.
2) The ride is computer controlled, and there are sensors on each restraint that measure the angle of the lap bar. The lap bar must be pushed in far enough to exceed the minimum required angle for safe operation, at which point the green light turns on. The lap bar sensor is not able to gauge HOW the bar is sitting in relation to the rider's mass and body shape, only the closing angle. Thus there is no way for the restraint to indicate whether or not the bar was in contact with the rider's legs.
3) The train cannot be dispatched (even manually) unless all restraints are secure and all green lights are on. The train was successfully dispatched, so we can effectively rule out lap bar failure from the cause of death.
4) The victim is very large in stature and appears to be very top heavy, with a larger midsection compared to hips and thighs.
5) The Superman investigation revealed a body type that would not be properly secured by the ride restraints. The typical body type is large midsection and disproportionately small waist and legs.
6) NTAG is filled with ejector air time.
8) Hydraulic restraints are fairly difficult to push down and require effort.
Having worked on coasters with hydraulic restraints (Including a Gerstlauer), I can back this up. Most of everything stated by Fender13 is true. The only thing I have experienced that differs from the quoted post is that the Gerstlauer I have worked on could indeed be dispatched with the restraints up in Manual Mode, which only maintenance has access to.
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Let me just say that I have operated multiple coasters that did not allow dispatch unless every restraint was locked and lowered to a certain point. On NONE of these would the ride stop if a malfunction occurred with the restraint system. Once the train begins to move, the contact between the train and the ride's computer is broken, and the computer has no way of telling what is going on with the restraints. Unless there is some newfangled wireless communication system out there that can relay information from the train to the computer, the train must be parked in the station to communicate with the computer. I have operated a coaster built in 2012 with the latest technology, so if such a system exists, it probably would have been on there. I have never seen any sensors out on the track that did anything other than indicate block occupancy.
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Photo by RCDB
I didn't think it was possible to get ejector air and killer positive G's at the same time, but it happens here. Also, I'm standing in the doorway in the above photo, which makes it even more awesome.
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^ Although I do agree with him in the sense that SFMM can do without new coasters for a while, I must say that having spent time working in the industry and then coming here and reading comments has led me to believe that 99% of enthusiasts have zero business sense when it comes to running a park.
Most people that work in the industry have zero business sense as well.
Ha! Can't say I disagree with that!
As for Iron Colossus, high five would be nice.
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^Eh, I've done better. During THBS's/Pandemonium's inaugural season, we were sending cars around so fast that an air tank in the brake run imploded. I'm not joking.
As for station occupancy, each ride has a unique operating procedure which includes queue management. Boomerang's first lift uses a cable and the station must be kept clear until the train disengages it. Should the cable snap for any reason, the station is kept clear of any guests for their protection.
As for opening air gates, on most coasters, a height check is performed by a crew member on the platform before the air gates can open. They must walk past every gate looking for children and leprechauns who may not be tall enough. Once they have determined that all guest are tall enough to ride, the gates are opened. Unloading guests are leaving during this process. On Superman and Boomerang, the height check is performed at the entrance to the station, so there is no need for a delay in opening the gates once the train is spotted.
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If you need another reason to get Platinum, you get two consecutive rides on all other rides that accept Flashpass (not Superman). Just show the crew your wristband, and you can stay seated.
But as stated, the Superman line moves pretty quickly. I would invest in the Platinum if the line is beyond the lower switchbacks (which happens more often than you'd think. No one here see's it because enthusiasts tend to avoid busier days).
^Funny you should mention fast dispatches. On hotter days when the ride first opened, management would slap us with a heat restriction regarding dispatches. Basically we were sending out trains so frequently that the LSM and electrical cooling systems couldn't keep up, and the computer would shut everything down to prevent overheating. We were instructed to slow down, as we were literally moving too fast. The problem was eventually patched and from what I've heard from people still working there, it's no longer an issue.
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^ Although I do agree with him in the sense that SFMM can do without new coasters for a while, I must say that having spent time working in the industry and then coming here and reading comments has led me to believe that 99% of enthusiasts have zero business sense when it comes to running a park.
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Flash Pass on Superman requires Platinum Grade, and is limited to one ride per day. You'll be given a time to show up for your ride. If you miss it, you lose your chance.
At least that's how it was when I worked there.
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^ In that situation, I would have made absolutely sure of things before buying rather than assuming.
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You guys seem to be having trouble understanding that Cedar Fair/CGA are the ones who got themselves in this mess to begin with.
While I am not a fan of owners of nearby businesses/homes built long after a loud operation has been in business complaining, Prudential is within their rights with this particular case. Yes, a loud operation should have every right to operate as they always have if new neighbors show up. The thing is though, no matter how long a loud operation has been there, if both parties sign an agreement, they are each responsible for upholding their end of the deal, even if the loud operation has legal precedence over its neighbors. CF/CGA agreed to meet noise requirements, and they are obligated to meet them. No ordinance regarding who has priority can change that once the contract is signed.
The park didn't have to agree to those terms, but they signed the contract and now have to live up to the expectations set forth by it.
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"Brake: The Ride", a 150 mph launch directly into a magnetic brake run.
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom (SFDK) Discussion Thread
in Theme Parks, Roller Coasters, & Donkeys!
Posted
I agree.
We humans are much too harmful towards whales. We should liberate them from the harsh confines of this unforgiving planet: