Coaster Joe Posted July 29, 2005 Share Posted July 29, 2005 (edited) Hey everybody! This thread is simple! Rather than having a million little threads about everything that goes on at S&S, this thread is designed to consolidate it all into one user-friendly thread. Feel free to use it to post updates, trip reports, questions, comments, and of course, general discussion. Below are some links to past updates from the manufacturer, you may be interested in. Enjoy! --Robb _____________________________________________________ 2005 July 24th, 2005 - New Freefall Tower prototype announced 2006 August 24th, 2006 - Stan Checketts and Gene Mulvihill assume control of S&S September 7th, 2006 - S&S Power opens its own Fun Park 2010 October 4th, 2010 - S&S announces ownership change, Stan Checketts is out 2012 Sansei invests in S&S 2014 January 20, 2014 - Robb and Elissa visit S&S ride a prototype of their "Free Spin" coaster August 7th, 2014 - S&S announces first Free Spin installation to occur in spring 2015 in the United States August 28th, 2014 - Six Flags Fiesta Texas to receive the first Free Spin 2017 Octobr 28th, 2017 - Single track complete circuit discovered at S&S We debuted the latest S&S ride today during the ACE tour.....not everyone was able to ride but those who did said great things. Our drop tower is 360ft tall with a 260ft freefall. At 100ft in elevation you enter the cylinder tube at approximately 90mph where a cushion of air slows the vehicle. The vehicle is essentially a piston that compresses air within the cylinder tube. Small vents along the sides of the tower expel the air to reduce the Gs. Currently, the deceleration is about 5Gs. There is seating for two people in a small capsule vehicle. The walls are steel grating with a plexiglass window on the front. The riders enter the vehicle and once secured the main cylinder door is closed. This leaves the riders in complete darkness. The ascent takes close to a minute and the view of Cache Valley is fantastic. Once at the top, the ride pauses for a few seconds and then you plummet. Hitting the tube at 90mph is incredible! Pitch dark...Loud...Fast...Great Gs. Controlled Chaos. This is the most intimidating ride I have ever experienced but it is phenomenol. I rode three times yesterday during testing. Awesome stuff! Edited October 29, 2017 by larrygator Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
it Posted July 29, 2005 Share Posted July 29, 2005 Sounds cool,Do you have any pics? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coaster Joe Posted July 29, 2005 Author Share Posted July 29, 2005 I'll try to get some pictures this weekend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ECZenith Posted July 30, 2005 Share Posted July 30, 2005 It's great to hear there's a new ride idea turned reality. Can't wait to see photos of this one. I love S&S rides, the new Screamin' Swing at Dorney is awesome, I'm looking forward to Lake Compounce's "Thunder & Lightning" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DenDen Posted July 30, 2005 Share Posted July 30, 2005 I just may take a trip back up to Kennywood next year for their big swing. Unless Boomers get's one here in Fort Lauderdale. (Which could be possible, since those are the kind of rides they have. (All up-chargable)) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mind Eraser Posted July 30, 2005 Share Posted July 30, 2005 Dennis, if you really wanna try one, hit up Wild Adventures (Valdosta, Georgia). Their swing is free too! That's closer than Kennywood -kip- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ECZenith Posted July 30, 2005 Share Posted July 30, 2005 Aren't they also intsalling one (or have they already?) at Skull Kingdom on Int. Drive in orlando? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reon Posted July 30, 2005 Share Posted July 30, 2005 They need one of these at PKI (I mean, I need SOME reason to go back next season..especially if the rumors of Vortex's demolition are true) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenshinmac Posted July 30, 2005 Share Posted July 30, 2005 Whoa... Didn't I have a post here? Can we say glitch in the matrix? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reon Posted July 30, 2005 Share Posted July 30, 2005 Whoa... Didn't I have a post here? Can we say glitch in the matrix? >.> <.< *follows a rabbit* I AM THE ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *walks on walls* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeezus Juice Posted July 30, 2005 Share Posted July 30, 2005 Holy crap, you mean the ride vehicle acts as its own brake?! I've gotta try that. What sort of backup breaks are there? This sounds pretty effin' sweet. I just rode Sequoia at Gardaland and thought it was fantastic. BTW, how is the S&S park coming? Don "Yay S&S" Garrison Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Upsidedown Posted July 30, 2005 Share Posted July 30, 2005 Yes the new S&S drop ride is pretty wild to watch. I was there yesterday for the S&S factory tours and have lots of photos from the tour and the new park. I am working on the photos and should have them up later tonight. Hey ROB I have a small video of the new ride in action do you have space I can send it and you can put on your site. It will kill my bandwidth. Video is not great but you will get an idea of the ride. Unfortunatly the booming sound that the ride makes did not record. The sound is very loud and can be heard from across the park. It sounds as if the whole ride has destroyed itself or that the car did not stop. It actually sounds like a sonic boom it is really wild to watch. Stan Checketts is a crazy man he said he has been working on this for 15 years. I will post later when I get my photos up from S&S. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DenDen Posted July 31, 2005 Share Posted July 31, 2005 I'm VERY curious to see this. It's sounds amazing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Upsidedown Posted July 31, 2005 Share Posted July 31, 2005 Okay photos are up from Yesterdays S&S factory tour and the S&S Amusement park. I have posted 54 photos from S&S and there is a write up on my site about the event. Photos can be seen at www.johnnyupsidedown.com or quick link to the photos at http://www.johnnyupsidedown.com/eventSIL.html .. Photos are set up on 4 pages the new drop ride is on page 4. Enjoy!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SharkTums Posted July 31, 2005 Share Posted July 31, 2005 Creepy! It looks like some sort of abandoned oil rig thing! You can email the video to Robb or I and we can put it up. BTW, was it just me or is Carole looking more and more like a true ACE member!?!? Didn't she used to be hot!?!? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DenDen Posted July 31, 2005 Share Posted July 31, 2005 ^I'm with Elissa. That thing looks quite spooky. Like a back yard homebrew ride of death! Great Photos John! Your site's a little confusing though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenshinmac Posted July 31, 2005 Share Posted July 31, 2005 OMG... That makes me feel ill looking at it... First off I could never get into something that freaking small. I mean look at it. Claustrophobia city... (shivers) Then it is like a radio tower. It is held up with guy wires (sp?). I mean this thing is just insane... It looks like a strong wind would blow it over... never mind actually riding it... Seriously right now my stomach is just turning... Ugh... Thats really uncomfortable... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ECZenith Posted July 31, 2005 Share Posted July 31, 2005 The more industrial-looking, the bigger the thrill IMO. Johnny Upside Down once again comes through with great pics, seriously man, great work as always showing us the new stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Upsidedown Posted July 31, 2005 Share Posted July 31, 2005 Thanks compliments always appreciated. I have more photos from the Presevation Conference. As we did a small tour of Interactive Rides but it was more of a meet and talk than like the S&S tour was. Also have some photos of the rides at Lagoon Amusement Park. Hope to have everything up later today. The main photos were from the S&S tour as they really rolled out the red carpet for us over at S&S. Wow what a great time and well worth the trip out to Utah. I have a small video that ROB is going to be posting on Theme Park Review shortly. http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=17992&sid=a9ae52dcb2240250ece3eec08d86ae63 Thanks Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahecht Posted August 1, 2005 Share Posted August 1, 2005 Very cool, although any ride that requires you to wear hearing protection worries me. BTW, most of the thumbnails on the last page are pointing to the wrong pictures. You might want to try to fix that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Upsidedown Posted August 1, 2005 Share Posted August 1, 2005 Thanks I did not notice that the couple of photos didnt publish corretly. I hope I fixed them all. Thanks again. J. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pgathriller Posted August 1, 2005 Share Posted August 1, 2005 How tall is Boomer in feet? It looks like it easily passed 400 feet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coastermoosh Posted November 21, 2005 Share Posted November 21, 2005 While in Salt Lake City for business recently I had an opportunity to drive 90 mins north to Logan and visit my friend Joe, who works at S&S. Those of you who were at CAC might have met Joe and his friend Tim, who also works for S&S. Anyway before heading up to the factory Joe had me meet him at the small "fun park" S&S is building in Logan to showcase some of their rides. While it does not open until next spring there are already a few rides built and operational including a Thrillshot, Sky Coaster, Screaming Swing, Snowshot, and a 360 foot monstrosity called the Sonic Boom - a ride they claim is the world's tallest free-fall. I asked Joe if there were plans for any of the company's coasters -- currently there are no plans to feature any of them but that may change. Sonic Boom is an odd contraption. The tower looks like a triangular ham radio tower with a track running down one side. The vehicle is shaped like a tylenol pill and features two seats with seatbelts but nothing to grab onto. The vehicle has a plexiglass front and the view of the valley from the top is incredible! There is no traditional braking on this ride. Instead at the bottom of the ride the car enters a tube that has a diameter 2" larger than that of the car. The car has a leather gasket around the circumference to fill in the 1" gap between the car and the tube. When the car enters the tube -- going over 90MPH! -- the air in the tube is compressed, slowing the car to a perfect stop. The sound of the compressed air creates a loud BOOM! -- hence the name of the ride. So after a few test rides Joe and I strap ourselves in and put on protective earplugs and another S&S employee closes the hatch. It's pitch black inside. Then suddenly we begin to rise. The lift mechanism speeds up and before I know it we're 360 feet up. Joe reaches forward and pushes the release button and we drop. There is silence as we plummet faster and faster and faster, the accelleration and feeling of freefalling gaining in intensity. The car plunges so quickly that the air rushes out of your lungs and the last 50 feet of the ride feels as if you've had the wind knocked out of you. Then suddenly everything goes dark as you enter the tube. Depsite the earplugs you can hear a muffled BOOM! The deceleration is fast at first, and then the car slowly lowers. Without warning the hatch opens and you realize you're stopped at the bottom. What an adreneline rush! Joe and I rode twice more and then let some other employees take their turns. We head up to the factory for a tour and then to a new steakhouse in town for a nice dinner. FYI, pictures of Sonic Boom can be found at the bottom of this page: http://www.johnnyupsidedown.com/eventSIL.html Due to the capacity and noise issues its doubtful you'll find this at any park. If I am not mistaken it Stan built it mostly just to show that it could be done. And yes, I realize it looks all rusty...the park does not open until Spring 2006...they have time to make it look all pretty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Real Posted November 21, 2005 Share Posted November 21, 2005 Yea, I think id do it since Im a freefall nut but that thing just looks crazy. Plus the idea on how it works using just that theory on the air also is ridiculous. So simple yet so amazing. Heres the video of it: http://www.thrillnetwork.com/boards/showpost.php?p=596843&postcount=11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angry_Gumball Posted November 22, 2005 Share Posted November 22, 2005 Unless whoever recorded it blocked out the Boom sound or the recorder's mic doesn't pick the sound up to well, this sounds more quiet. That looks sweet though. I doubt that we'd see anything like that around here because 1: Bay Area parks are limited due to local airports and 2: Neighbors and last but not least, 3: Boardwalk Bird Enthusiasts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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