EuroTre Posted May 14, 2008 Share Posted May 14, 2008 Seems like Zonga aka Thriller has been saved from scrap. A park in Mexico, Isla San Marcos Temático Parque, has purchased it and plans to open it as the Tsunami for 2008. I'll try to keep an eye on it for you guys. EDIT: Found a pic on their website. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bucket Posted May 14, 2008 Share Posted May 14, 2008 What was the reason for Zonga closing at SFMW (er, SFDK) again? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean Menefee Posted May 14, 2008 Share Posted May 14, 2008 It ended up having a lot of consecutive little issues that didn't lend themselves to regular operation, not to mention it was never intended to be a permanent installation for the park. Zonga was SBNO for a year or so at the very front entrance, and SFDK decided to move on without the coaster in it's ride line up. I actually sort of enjoyed Zonga in the very front row, but for most people the restraints and cramped trains weren't a huge hit. I had heard late year that Thiller/Zonga would live to see another day out of the country. Glad to see the park is actually going to go through with the reconstruction of Tsunami. I hope it ends up having better luck in Mexico then it did in Vallejo. I know a ride op or two who used to run this ride at SFDK post here at TPR, so maybe they can chime with a bit more info if possible. -Sean You can find some older photos from 2003 when Zonga was introduced below: http://www.sm2designs.com/gallery/thumbnails-33-page-1.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tanthonyam Posted June 4, 2008 Share Posted June 4, 2008 Here are some pics. I don't know if this is it's permanent home or just temp for the fair. Anyone know? http://www.montanarusa.com/Tsunami/fotos/index.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 4, 2008 Share Posted June 4, 2008 Woah woah... what gives them the right to name a coaster Tsunami??? Us NJ folks get stuck with "Hell Cat" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Upsidedown Posted June 4, 2008 Share Posted June 4, 2008 It looks like it is a permanent installation. From RCDB. Isla San Marcos is part of the La Feria de San Marcos -- a national fair held in Aguascalientes, Mexico. While the fair does not operate year round, the park operates from Thursday to Sunday and for the full week during summer vacations. So sounds like the part where the coaster is, is in the amusement park that is open mostly year round. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 4, 2008 Share Posted June 4, 2008 Why do all the Anton's go south of the border when they retire? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ebl Posted June 4, 2008 Share Posted June 4, 2008 I never got to ride Zonga. But from what I've heard, all I missed was some pain and discomfort. Eric Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jew Posted June 4, 2008 Share Posted June 4, 2008 Warning to all who may get this credit: do not sit in a wheel seat. Zonga is the worst coaster I have ever been on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angry_Gumball Posted June 4, 2008 Share Posted June 4, 2008 I actually enjoyed Zonga. The trains were a bit on the cramped side though. I didn't find it any worse than Kong...actually felt smoother than Kong to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SharkTums Posted June 4, 2008 Share Posted June 4, 2008 I rode in the seat in front of Joey and my ride was awesome! Again, avoid wheel seats and you won't have a problem! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattnz Posted June 4, 2008 Share Posted June 4, 2008 Great news! I'm glad to hear there's life in this beast yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBru Posted June 4, 2008 Share Posted June 4, 2008 So much wasted Schwartzkopf potential... Did this coaster over operate with lap bars only? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mechanic Posted June 4, 2008 Share Posted June 4, 2008 I wonder if they un-did the modifications that Six Flags made to reduce the forces of the ride. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean Menefee Posted June 4, 2008 Share Posted June 4, 2008 I wonder if they un-did the modifications that Six Flags made to reduce the forces of the ride. From the photos it would seem the park didn't undo any of the mods Zonga received when it came to California. Besides the new paint on the trains, it looks pretty much identical to the last time I saw it operate in Vallejo. I was also a fan of Zonga in the front seat. As long as you got your head out pulled out of the restraints as much as possible, it was actually a pretty enjoyable/unique ride. -Sean Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thrillgeek Posted June 4, 2008 Share Posted June 4, 2008 ^I agree. I really enjoyed it too. It was nice to see such a unique coaster at my home park. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EuroTre Posted June 4, 2008 Author Share Posted June 4, 2008 Ooops. Tsunami ended up being a late addition to RCDB. Ride's all done! If you look closely, it looks like it hasn't got much care since being dismantled Loads of g's I always thought that this drop looked funky Back in business Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shepp Posted June 4, 2008 Share Posted June 4, 2008 It ended up having a lot of consecutive little issues that didn't lend themselves to regular operation, not to mention it was never intended to be a permanent installation for the park. Zonga was SBNO for a year or so at the very front entrance, and SFDK decided to move on without the coaster in it's ride line up. I actually sort of enjoyed Zonga in the very front row, but for most people the restraints and cramped trains weren't a huge hit. It was down a lot due to of slippage on the tire-driven lift. But honestly, all you had to do was stand at the exit and listen to the complaints about roughness to understand why, even when it was operating, it was usually empty. And yes, I actually sort of enjoyed it too. Sort of. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbalvey Posted June 4, 2008 Share Posted June 4, 2008 ^ The sad part about it is that when I rode it at Astroworld there seemed to be absolutely NOTHING wrong with it. I have no idea why they felt it was necessary to replace the accordion restraints with OTSR's or modify the track. Sure it was intense, but I didn't find it any more or less intense than a Batman close or Goliath's helix. --Robb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParkTrips Posted June 4, 2008 Share Posted June 4, 2008 I love it! I'm sooo happy to see 1. A Schwarzkopf saved from the scrap yard 2. A park using the name Tsunami, which IMO is a very cool name, unlike the politically correct cowards at Clementon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digidude18 Posted June 4, 2008 Share Posted June 4, 2008 I remember riding this at SFDK (Marine World at the time). I had mixed feelings about it. Personally, the tire driven lift hill and the weird curved drop were the best parts of the ride. Most of us who rode it that day left with a slight head ache. Nothing a good ride on Medusa didn't cure though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeaWhippet Posted June 5, 2008 Share Posted June 5, 2008 ^ The sad part about it is that when I rode it at Astroworld there seemed to be absolutely NOTHING wrong with it. I have no idea why they felt it was necessary to replace the accordion restraints with OTSR's or modify the track. Sure it was intense, but I didn't find it any more or less intense than a Batman close or Goliath's helix. --Robb I agree, Robb. The accordions were tolerable in TX. As with the WEM Mindbender, we endured them with no problem in Germany several years before. SF's unholy butchering of the first drop and the addition of those diabolical OTSRs were completely unnecessary. Most American parks (SF especially ... ) are simply unqualified to operate a ride of Thriller's caliber as it was designed by the mfg. Period. I had hoped the Mexican operator might rectify the terrible SF mistake, but I see this is not the case. The last time I saw Thriller in person was when it was scattered around a Vallejo parking lot ... see pics. At the very least the ride IS operating ... -S How we feel about Thriller being tossed aside like an unwanted four-looping German stepchild. ;( Train interrupted. Love the yellow rope. Scattered memories ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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