Can you ride Colossus 'backwards' for 13 straight hours?

[Sir Clinksalot]

Got this email from SFMM this morning in case anybody is interested.

 

Dare to ride Colossus, backwards … for 13 hours on Friday the 13th of October!

 

This year, to celebrate Friday the 13th, the 13 days of Fright Fest 2006 and the 13th AnniverSCARY of Fright Fest, Six Flags Magic Mountain is holding a 13 hour coaster scare-a-thon on our signature Fright Fest coaster, Colossus – BACKWARDS!

 

Participants left after 13 hours will win a pair of 2007 Xtreme Season Passes and VIP access to SFMM Fright Fest.

 

Call 661-255-5917.

Space is limited.

 

EDIT!

 

PHOTO TR ADDED: http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=30061

[redfoot12]

Hmm. Shouldn't the prize be a free pair of tickets to the chiropractor? I'm not a fan of going on woodies from the 70's backwards.

[FlyingScooter]

Can you? Sure.

Would you? Not me.

 

i think the only coaster i'd consider going backward on for 13 hrs would be Dominator/Batman KnightFlight GL/SFWOA.

 

Good ad idea though. very PETA friendly.

[Guest]

I would do it but im working and I cant ditch

[ParkTrips]

Im not even sure I could do Thunder Road backwards, and its much smoother!! Good luck guys, ha.

[ginzo]

I really dislike riding backwards for the most part anyway. I've never understood why people like it. I like to see where I'm going. Going backwards through a loop, however, is totally awesome.

[YoshiFan]

I also don't like riding backwards so I could never try this. I can tolerate a little bit of backwards riding like the return trip on a boomerang but that's about it.

[Bush985]

I could barely stand one ride forwards when I rode a few months ago... Yet alone backwords. I like the ride but wow 13 hours.

-RD

[Thrasher]

They shouldve upped the ante a little more. Thirteen hours is a long time. At least throw in some free stuff from the park like swag, food, etc.

[SharkTums]

LOL...let me think about this...NO!

[gotdane]

I thought Collosus fealt smoother backwards...At least from what I remember the one time I rode it backwards.

[FLIPDUDE]

OH god... they're turning it backwards AGAIN?!

 

Didn't last year's experience teach them never to mess with colossus again?! I mean... I stillget nightmares about it

[CoasterGoblin]

Anyone know the rules? Don't they usually give you a 5 minute break every hour or something in these coaster marathons? I would imagine they would have to provide food or drink of some sort unless they want people passing out..

[verticalzero]

Easy to ride backwards for 13 hours, but it would cost me £600 for the flight

 

How about doing it on TTD or KK

[Wes]

Didn't last year's experience teach them never to mess with colossus again?! I mean... I stillget nightmares about it

 

They've been turning Colossus backwards for years and years now.

[socalMAN123]

This sounds strangly...painful. Wouldn't mind doing it though, even though I would have permanent brain damage.

---Brent

[pvcoasterguy]

Hell no!

 

When I went on American Eagle backwards, it was fun, but we all got the crap beat out of us. That helix is not kind to backwards riders. One ride was enough on that. I can't imagine that Colossus could have a terribly different experience.

 

Will anyone win this? That's a really long time to be going backwards on a coaster... backwards motion has a lot more potential for nausea than forwards motion.

[Domm]

how do they do it backwards? do they put the train on the track backwards? or are there lift chains on the drops as well?

[pvcoasterguy]

^

 

In all seriousness, the trains are just reversed and traverse the track in the same way as normal... the only difference is that, well, the trains are backwards.

 

I also believe that brakes must be placed differently, anti-rollbacks placed differently, and the computer system must be updated to run the trains backwards. Also, some station work must happen... like lap bar releases must be changed around, along with any safety signs.

[ElBlufer]

They use Psyclone's trains in order to run it backward. Its actually a pretty fun ride. Can't ditch school to do this though (nor would I want to)!

[Director_Guy]

Man, if I still lived out in SoCal I'd so totally do this. I'd prefer Sream or something but hey, 13 hours on a coaster still sounds fun.

[Domm]

i cant tell if you guys are screwing with me or not.

[vjgx]

I would maybe try under 2 conditions:

 

1. I get in for free, even if I don't finish the 13 hours

2. They don't E-Stop it like the last time I rode... ouch!

[socalMAN123]

After some consideration, if I can persuade my dad to let me go and ride it, I will. I'll be the mascot for TPR and I think it would actually be a pretty fun experience! But, that is only if my dad says yes.

---Brent

[pvcoasterguy]

i cant tell if you guys are screwing with me or not.

 

We're not. Coasters are designed to be able to make it through the course one way--they can't go the opposite way. However, turning the trains backwards still allows the coaster to go through the course the same way it was designed.

 

Gravity would dictate that it would be impossible to simply bring a coaster like Colossus through the course backwards (starting with the brake run and ending with the lifthill.) It simply would never work. And it would suck too.