Maverick Track Replacement

Excellent point Halltd, in every industry where something is designed and created, it needs to be "beta" tested. And of course, with a coaster, that can't happen until construction is complete. That's why I've never got my panties in a bunch over past issues like WT's spike, MF's cable, and all the issues with TTD.

IMO the issues with Maverick set it appart from the other Intamin/CP installations, and imo puts it in a very small worldwide class of problems joining DF, SoB, and Moosault Scramble. (Did I miss one?)

Maverick will be a resounding success for CP's bottom line (especially with this great weather) and I personally can't wait to ride it. With that said, I do think CP is beside themselves and very disapointed with the heartline's removal, and hope some of the behind the scenes discussions come to light. If nothing else, it will be interesting to watch on who/what will get the next coaster contract for CP. (Regardless of reputation and results, there is a limit to what a business like CP can take from a manufacturer).

I can tell you all with certainty that CP wants to open Maverick for Memorial Day! I cannot tell you how I know, lets just say I will be working on that ride this Friday and my work requires that the ride is operational.

I am scheduled to be on site Friday morning.

^..Boy i hope so because im going on Memorial Day and that would be awesome if it opened then..and when is the media day for it now?

Well I hope you are right because I am going to be there on Memorial Day.

I have a question which I don't know has been asked so forgive me for not keeping up on the conversation boards. Do they have to install new footers for this S curve or can they use the existing ones? Thanks!
*** Edited 5/19/2007 3:32:21 PM UTC by Marty***

We don't know the answer to that for sure. But, since it appears they've left them in tact, they will most likely reuse them.

Yeah, I've though about it, and it seems like if they could get the track shipped to them by Wednesday or Thursday, they can definately open it before the middle of the week after that (if testing goes well, of course, but they've also already fully tested everything about the ride except the new S-curve), which is when I'll take my only trip to Cedar Point.

Even if it's open, I don't know if I'd be okay with waiting in the 3+ hour lines it will have for its first two weeks. It seems like time better spent on the other 16 coasters.

I'm sure Tony's Early June date had some fluff built into it. With the removal of the old track, I imagine the new track will be there anytime now. If they had been working on it before opening day, it should be completed if it is just an s curve.

Shipping is no big deal at all. I suspect they could have it on site within 24 hours after completion. Their are plenty of cargo planes that could carry it from Europe within hours.

Also, think about Intamins desire to have it open as soon as possible. EVery contract like these have incentives to have the ride open on time or at the least, penalties if it doesn't. This is cleasy a design issue not a construction issue. I'm sure Intamins losing money every day the ride stays closed so the cost of air freight is not that much of a consideration.

At this point, I'd be surprised if it isn't open by June 1.

signed, eternal optimist

I wonder if this means that the opening of the ride may be sooner than planned. I know they were training the crew, so why would they tear the heartline roll out so soon?

crazy horse said:
I wonder if this means that the opening of the ride may be sooner than planned. I know they were training the crew, so why would they tear the heartline roll out so soon?

The decision to remove the heartline was simply because it placed too much stress on the trains. Which, it can be assumed, that too much stress on the trains = too much stress on the people.

Cedar Point has an amazing safety record and maintainance is a point of pride at CP, I am sure they don't want to compromise the safety of people just to get a ride open when they said it would.

I understand why the element is being removed, it's the time frame of it re-opening that I was refering to.

I think you vastly misunderstood his question. He was asking why they took out the heartline so soon (i.e. without track arriving yet)....not why they removed it in the first place.

crazy horse said:
I wonder if this means that the opening of the ride may be sooner than planned. I know they were training the crew, so why would they tear the heartline roll out so soon?

I think the track will be arriving sooner than expected.

Sorry for the edit. I can say no more
*** Edited 5/20/2007 12:19:35 AM UTC by Don C***

Don C, can't you get in trouble for disclosing that kind of info at a place like this? Granted, that would be awesome, but not worth losing one's job.

PREMiErdrum,

That is what I am being so vague in my posts.

:)

Maybe you are right - I will say no more.

I think you've said enough - might be good to edit some posts.
BTW, thanks for the info. Much appreciated.

crazy horse said:
I understand why the element is being removed, it's the time frame of it re-opening that I was refering to.

So I read the question really wrong. Apologies. At any rate, I would imagine that they removed the track without the other track being there so that they can get it done faster.

So the new track will arrive and they can put it right on, they don't have to wait for the track to arrive AND THEN take the other track out.

Was anything of note happening at the site this afternoon? The last webcam image is from 1:09. I wasn't sure if it was a technical glitch or something more... let the conspiracies fly.