haiderodes

I'm a fan of Roar! at SFDK. There was more to the pre-left than I expected. My least favorite had to be Flashback at SFMM. I was a fan of the ride, but that sudden drop onto the lift forced you out of your seat in a very uncomfortable fashion.

Desperado @ Buffalo Bills on 6/20

^ That actually sounds like it would make a cool tie-in.

I too love Kathy. I can't wait to see this week's episode! I can't stand Sarah Silverman...shes just not funny to me. Perhaps its because I just cant relate to what shes talking about. With Kathy I totally understand what she talking about and I can relate because I feel the same way about the celebrities she talks about.

^ I treat "bad" as a relative term. Whats bad for one might not be bad for the other. I too agree that companies should strive to improve their product, but all Im saying is I don't think they should forgo the ambitious, creative side of the business. As for Intamin and B&M, do we really know they haven't had their own crazy concepts? Just because they haven't gone out there and released video or set up prototypes, doesnt mean they don't have their own tricks up their sleeve. Perhaps they are just a little more cautious when it comes to these things? Arrow's culture has seemed to always push the envelope and to let people know, even with concepts that don't really work. Same with Stan and S&S. Be it the old school Arrow Pipeline or even that wacky Sonic Boom drop thing they have out there in Utah, the old company and the new one alike have given us concepts that were just plain rediculous at times. Perhaps its just the American way of doing things? To just go for it, and tell everybody about even if it may not pan out as expected. That said, I'm sure it costs the company quite a bit to develop these concepts, but with the use of computers and simulation they dont necessarily have to incur the costs of actually building prototypes so I dont think the hit is necessarily that hard on them to keep cranking out these ideas.

^Yes, I've seen Ka twice. Its my favorite of all the Cirque shows in Vegas. Its definately worthwhile to see it, especially with the discount (Cirque Club right? I got the same email). If you have some time, there's also stuff away from the Strip as well, but seeing as how you've never been here, I'd imagine you'd wanna stay in that area. Just a heads up for the rides down at Primm. The attractions are closed two days of the week. Last time I checked it was Tuesday and Wednesday and they close at 8p on Sunday and Thursday (11p on Friday and Saturday). Just something to keep in mind if planning to stop there. Also the Turbo Drop (first in the world) and Desperado are very sensitive to wind, so be mindful of that as well.

I disagree with you. I think that part of the fun of the industry is seeing what new concepts manufacturers and designers can come up with. Granted not all concepts and prototypes can, will and should be built, but having the ingenuity to put something out there that's different gets people like myself interested. We wouldnt have gotten flyers, suspendeds, inverteds, etc if these "gimmicks" weren't tried. Now, do I think this will be the next great thrill ride sensation, no. Neither was the ArrowBatic or the ThrustAir coasters, or many other concepts, but it got people talking and stirred a buzz. After watching the video again, I think the cushions are there for two reasons. One, it seems to give a "flapping" effect which reinforces the bird aspect of the ride. Secondly, i think they are there, much like the shock absorbers on the Arrow Suspendeds, to prevent fatigue on the chassis with the changes in weight distribution, but those are just my thoughts.

I got my left ear lobe pierced at 15 and then the right at 17. Then on my 18th birthday I got the left cartilage. That all came to an end during my Disney College Program. I took them all out and never went back. That was 5 years ago so everything is all closed up now. I don't regret any of it, but it was a phase and not really part of my style today.

^I believe they are trained to the singing/interactions on Acrophobia. Every youtube video I have seen of the ride has included that. Even all three time I rode it, they had something special they'd say or do.

^Thank you. I've lived here my entire life and I work on the strip but I didn't wanna come off as a jerk and take over the thread. At the same time, I think its cool to see what other people have to say about my hometown (even though I despise it )

As far as I know they lowered the "speed hill" after the second drop so it provided less ejector air and they replaced the IAD trains with PTCs.

Yes backwards all year would be nice

^ Your information is dated and inaccurate.

^For Colossus don't you think it would be cool to bring back the light show?

This looks like an instance where the restraint locked, but the sensor wasn't satisfied with the restraint being down far enough. That would suck even more than the restraint not locking at all, because at that point, you'd have to be pretty close to fitting. He doesn't look all that big, but it was prolly his belly that did him in.

Looks good, but I wonder about the continuity of it all. When the ride first opened it was called The Great American Revolution and its "theme" was obvious. Then it went to the Mexican Revolution theme when it was renamed simply Revolution (makes sense and fits within Baja Ridge). Now I'm not inmplying just because a train is getting painted it means a change in theme, but just wondering if they are thinking about changing the name back? And will they be adding the "knee pads" found on all the other Schwartz coasters. The bare metal can be kinda painful.

^ Very funny indeed. A few posts back someone mentioned In n' Out and Tommy's Original...you don't have to drive all the way to California to try those as we have both of those restaurants here in the Las Vegas Valley.

best: California Screamin' (DCA) worst: Kong (SFDK)

I don't know what it is that I saw then, but I distinctly remember seeing something that looked like magnetic brakes.

They sit near the end of the runout on top of a metal bracing, just under the water level. They look very similar to the magnetic brakes added to Manhattan Express a couple years ago. I would imagine they are only used to slow instead of stop as they are in fixed position. Still trying to find those pictures, but in the meantime check these out... Located about here...can barely see them under the water. Similar to these found on Flying Unicorn at IOA

Ya, Earthquake is still around...its actually newer than King Kong. The parting of the red sea still takes place, but in all of my visits in the past 3 years they havent referred to it as such...they just use it as a mechanism to get the tram at water level so you can see a miniature from the King Kong movie.

That doesnt sound like the brake I am talking about. I'm talking about the series of passive magnetic fin style brakes that were added. They don't sit in a pit and are just near the end of the runnout. If only I could find a picture to better explain what I am referring to. What about the Tanganyika Tidal Wave and Congo River Rapids at Busch Gardens Tampa? They have restraints and were introduced before Splash Mountain.

I'm tempted to believe this is more of a SFMM operational policy versus a manufactuers rule due to the sheer braking force that is exerted on the train in the MCBR. When the ride first opened, the brakes were never on that hard...now the train nearly stops. This is probably why they now want 15 people minimum in the train so it wont valley. At the same time, I'm not buying that it has something to do with the final brake run. Not only is it on a slope, there are drive wheels at the ready brakes/transfer. So with that I have a question...when doing morning testing do they fill the trains with sandbags/water dummies to get to that 15 person weight minimum?

I believe the groupers at SFMM's Deja are more due to the confusing nature of the row assignments. People already lose their minds when they get assigned to a row, think how bad it would be without it. Each car seats 4 but each "row" handles two with the back two being split by the middle two...very confusing for the GP. The loading side of the station isn't all that small, but its also not big enough for much more queue and I still don't think it would help anything. Keep in mind, they do have a single rider line which can significantly cut down on wait time for those that choose to use it. That's not to say you will get on instantly, however.

That was the first thing I thought of! And I too, remember when the tour used to be several hours long. You'd get off the tram and walk around. I was terrified of the Battlestar Galactica set!