Backwards Gemini?

I should say right off that this isn't a thing, nor have I heard anything about it being a thing...

...but could it be a thing? I remember when I was a kidlet, they ran one train of the Racer at KI in reverse. (And it was awesome.) Could they do the same with the Gemini? Is it as easy as just turning one of the trains around, or is there more to it than that?

I dunno, it's the offseason, I've got coasters on the brain, and the idea just struck me.

I've ridden Racer backwards as well. Did you note that one of the first things Cedar Fair did when they bought KI was to turn the train around? It wasn't designed to be ridden that way. I don't expect CP (or any CF park) to do something like this.

I always thought running one side of the Racer backwards.to be a gimmick. I don'the know, but I think Cedar Fair felt the same way. Hopefully, it never happens to Gemini.

^^it actually took CF 2 years to turn the Racer back to facing forwards. CF took over in 2006, the Racer returned to forward in 2008.

That aside, I don't think it's as easy as turning the trains around, because the components under the train (chain dogs, anti-rollbacks and break fins) would line up properly

What a Six Flags gimmick- I really hope that CF never stoops so low.

The heartline could be a problem. It wasn't designed to run that way.

I rode Racer backwards and it just didnt agree with me. Something about not being able to see where im headed throws my head out of whack. No I wouldnt like to see Gemini this way.

The official reason, at least explained for the Racer @ KI was the ride has to be operated as the manufacturer intended unless otherwise stated by the manufacturer. So unless S&S Sansei approves and state certifies it as such, it's not going to happen.

It's totally a dumb gimmick. Wanna ride a train backwards? Go ride a Vekoma Boomerang

To run the train backwards, the body is reversed while the chassis still runs in the original forward direction. They did the same thing when Namtab was touring the Six Flags parks; the reversed the seats while leaving the chassis in the original orientation.

Backwards rides are tricky... Some work well, others not so much. I loved Wicked Twister, Superman: Ultimate Escape, and Deja Vu. Superman: The Escape was fun for what it was. The backwards sections of Expedition Everest and Revenge of the Mummy were a lot of fun but worked because it was only a small portion of the ride. Regular Vekoma Boomerangs are awful in the reverse portion. I have no interest in Namtab or the backwards racing coasters.

I think the difference between the good ones and the not so good are the backwards lateral forces.

Oh and I still hope to experience Too Thrill Dragster backwards (also known as a rollback) one day!

Here is an old thread where this question was discussed. RideMan gives his analysis of whether it is possible.

(Warning: The following thread may be older than you are...)

http://pointbuzz.com/Forums/Topic/gemini-running-with-one-side-backwards

I wish it was older than me :)

Chuck Wagon said:

(Warning: The following thread may be older than you are...)

And we have a winner for the internet today.

Shane Denmark said:

To run the train backwards, the body is reversed while the chassis still runs in the original forward direction. They did the same thing when Namtab was touring the Six Flags parks; the reversed the seats while leaving the chassis in the original orientation.

This. I experienced Batman backwards while it was at SFMM, and it was by far the most nauseating thing I have ever experienced and will never do it again. If a ride wasn't originally designed to be experienced backwards I personally don't thing its a good idea.

I've also experienced Racer and Colossus (now Twisted Colossus) backwards and didn't enjoy either as well.

Somebody liked Racer backwards -- didn't that start back in 1982?

B&M built new chassis for Namtab, and the trains were short a seat. (I don't recall why.)

The racer backwards... I still have back pains just thinking about it.

Always wanted to ride backwards instead of forwards on the Racer. I don't think that I've rode the Racers more than once since they've changed it. I don't know if I'd want to ride Gemini backwards though just because of the helix at the end wouldn't be comfortable. To bad that times have changed that much in the last 15 years that insurance companies dictate everything now. We have to pay them, but they have found all these loopholes to where they don't pay us. Ruins everything. I can't imagine anyone ever thought they could sue KI for running the Racer backwards. But that's how the world works today. 38% in taxes and 10% in insurance coverage. It's amazing to me how the insurance companies have control of the way our countries businesses operate. They have replaced the Mafia. Every one of us pays more into insurance than we do to the church. And still are limited on what we can do because we might have a claim that they have to pay on.

Or maybe the park just doesn't want a guest to get legitimately injured on a ride that wasn't designed to run that way in order to make a few $$ on a cheap marketing ploy 🤑

Backwards Racer would likely have been turned back forwards if it hadn't been popular. It ran backwards for 25 years! While I believe the decision did have a lot to do with the manufacturer's recommendation, I think the fact that only 1 side operation during non-busy times also contributed.

25 years is a really long time. That's likely over 20 million (safe and unharmed) riders.

Chuck Wagon said:

Here is an old thread where this question was discussed. RideMan gives his analysis of whether it is possible.

(Warning: The following thread may be older than you are...)

http://pointbuzz.com/Forums/Topic/gemini-running-with-one-side-backwards

Thanks, Chuck. I was thinking of fielding this to RideMan in the first place, but he'd already answered my Witch's Wheel question and I wanted to give other people the chance to get their questions answered first.

Huh! I was born then. Heck, I'd just graduated high school the year prior and was the ripe old age of nineteen. :P

...come to think, when the Iron Dragon was brand new, I was six years old. Wow. I feel totally old now...

And it's not like someone at the park in 1982 said, let's turn a train on Racer around, and they turned a train on Racer around. People up the chain of command would have had to sign off on the idea, the park's insurers would have had to sign off, the relevant state agencies would have had to sign off...