S&S wants VertiGo reinstalled

An article in today's Sandusky Register says that S&S wants Cedar Point to reinstall VertiGo. Unfortunately, the article is available only to the Register's online subscribers.

A quote from Janice Witherow basically said the park is moving on and isn't going to reinstall. Cedar Point and S&S are in negotiations to reach some sort of settlement.

A professor from the University of Western Ontario concluded the failure was caused by vortex shedding. An engineering firm specializing in product failures examined the broken piece of the ride and determined it did not fall because of metal or welding failures.

S&S said the problem can be alleviated with a dampener, which would act to eliminate vortices formed when winds caused the structure to sway rhythmically. For VertiGo, that dampener could be a weighted, hanging chain.

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Virtual Midway
http://www.virtualmidway.com

Interesting. A month or two ago I got word from People Who Know(TM) that the park was planning to sue S&S, and S&S would counter-sue. I called them both and found out that wasn't true, but that they were talking. Stan and his gang might say everything's great, but really, public perception is damaged, so it makes sense that they not reinstall the ride.

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Jeff
Webmaster/GTTP
Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com
"There's nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, when it's all in your mind. You gotta let go." - Ghetto, Supreme Beings of Leisure

I wouldn't ride it knowing that it already collapsed once, would you?

Should they reinstall it, I'll still be there to ride it. After all it isn't some defect Cedar Point or S&S made. It was just a random act of nature. S$S solved how to prevent that random act. I beleive it is a safe ride and always has been. I really hope Cedar Point makes a stand for safety and shows the world that sometimes science may try to hurt the best, but the best will always prevail in providing great thrills.

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- Chris -
http://www.thepointOL.com/~simplycp
2002 ATL Monster/Witches' Wheel

We all know that it would be safe, but what about the rest of the guests? Maybe they can set it up in the parking lot for us to ride ;)

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Steve Sergent
MF count: 214

It wasn't a random act of nature really. I guess it was random, but it was hardly caused by extreme conditions as the winds were weak that day. THe collapse occured due to something that was unforseen in the design. I believe that with proper modifications, it'd be safe, but in all honesty, it WAS NOT safe. I'd certainly ride it if they put it back up because I know that CP and S&S wouldn't do so if they thought it was unsafe. I'm not sure my feelings would apply to the majority of the GP though.

-Matt
2001 Magnum Crew

"I"m not riding VertiGone1. It isn't safe."

People will still say that even after you renname it and give it a different paint job. In some ways, life really is like RCT. In others it's not.

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- John
I was young once...

And that's the point. Enthusiasts who know better would ride it. GP who don't aren't going to pay the added money for an attraction that "fell over even when no one was on it".

CP doesn't make their money from enthusiasts alone.

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I'd rather die living than live like I'm dead

The question is does the GP really know about the whole "VertiGone" saga?

And wouldn't the problem have been solved if CP left the cables and ride vehicle in for the offseason? That would act as the weighted chain, right?

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"Meh."
Wicked twists: 10
Danger: Hgih Voltage!

Regardless if the GP knows the story or not, we all know what they say when a ride is removed. Think of what is said about a ride that was around for less than a year....

I think they should put in a Sky Sling from S&S to replace Vertigo. Its almost the same ride, but it has improvements.

http://www.screamscape.com/html/s_s_power.html

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"Sit down right, hold on tight, and enjoy your flight on Shivering Timbers!!"

I can tell you it was on the news and in the papers in Detroit.

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I'd rather die living than live like I'm dead

I'm sure if they rebuilt it, the media would be all over it again (especially if it's a slow news day), questioning the safety of the towers and all. You know how they are...

"A ride that collapsed last year at Cedar Point has been reopened, but is it safe? That story plus the hidden dangers of strained carrots - next on Action News at 6."

Perception dictates reality. CP is making the right decision.

Jim

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"Just a little humor at your expense. Thanks for playing along!"
- Dick Dietrick

I can tell you for a fact that many members of the GP do not know about VertiGo. After working all season at Ripcord, we had literally hundreds of guests asking us what happened to the "white tower thingies"...I think I heard the name Vertigo from the GP maybe 10 times all summer. In my humble opinion, CP could reinstall it and get a good response.

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~Josh M.~
Ripcord Crew 2002

Wait a sec...Vertigo is still there?! I tought they melted it down for WT and thats why WT cracked...;)

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Six Flags: The AOL of Theme parks...

The collapse made front page news in the Toledo Blade. At least, that is how I remember it to be. It was back in January, so I'm not exactly sure. My two cents.

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Andrew L. of Waterville, Ohio
"Gentleman, you can't fight here! This is the war room!"

Majin Heero said:
The question is does the GP really know about the whole "VertiGone" saga?

A few friends of mine went to Cedar Point last summer around August. They did RipCord and everything else, but decided to leave VertiGo as "something to look forward to next year".

I was the first one they came to this year when the triple towers were missing ;)

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Tommy Penner - Variable X
Cedar Point FanBoy since 2001. || Cruiser Boy since 2002.
"Pessimistic people are the happiest people on the planet. They're either right or pleasantly surprised."

Completely off subject,where is Vertigo's resting place right now at CP? I rode it a few times and kinda want to see if I can get my picture next to it for some warped reason. If it's not locked up that is...

Fordman said:
The collapse made front page news in the Toledo Blade.

Actually, it was one of those teaser thingies at the top of the front page, and then the stroy with a giant picture of the two remaining towers was on the front page of the second news section. I still have the paper amongst all my other papers that contain CP articles.

Also, MFJedi, the remains are still in the parking lot for one of the employee dorms off of the causeway.

I would gladly ride if VertiGo was to reopen, and I also think that what others have said is right. The GP doesn't really know that VertiGo really existed, no one I've talked to at least. The only problem for CP's reputation would be if the media picked up on it, but if they kept the announcement low key, or didn't even make an announcement, they might pull it off.

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-Chris Woodard
Let's ride the "Sky Ride Sponsored By The Ohio Lottery Odds Are You'll Have Fun" Ride!

Actually, if they rename it and advertise it as new most of the GP probably won't know the difference. That is, unless the media found out about it (like, duh!).

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- John
I was young once...

Rider said:
I think they should put in a Sky Sling from S&S to replace Vertigo. Its almost the same ride, but it has improvements.
http://www.screamscape.com/html/s_s_power.html

Any of those rides on that page, like Sky Swatter or a Screaming Squirrel I think would be ultra cool for CP. I hope S&S and CP can work out their situation. They were a good match.

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cyberdman