X Flight PKI?

SOB is the only thing I've ever been on that I wished I could get off of mid-ride. I've never felt that kind of pain before. Even if they can improve it to be Mean Streak smooth, that would be a world of difference. If removing the loop is what it takes to do that, then so be it.

Before I ever laid eyes on Son of Beast I didn't think it was possible to have a looping wooden coaster of that magnitude.

Before I rode Son of Beast I didn't think it was possible for a ride to shimmy on the lift. I also didn't think it was possible for a rider to get off the ride with a painful groin area, in two very tender places.

Truth is definitely stranger than fiction.

Didn't/doesn't SOB hold a high rank in the total track footage? Now with the removal of the loop I wonder how much shorter the track length will be?

I know that isn't a major thing, I am just curious I about how many feet of track are in that loop.

Obviously, the loop will be demolished, but what about the trains? Will they just rework them, again or trash em?
*** Edited 12/14/2006 9:03:42 PM UTC by Sledge4cp***

Off-topic... but speaking of doing things to rides...

http://www.italintl.com/detail_page.php?record_id=937

I've heard it wasn't that great of a ride and was a maintenance headache anyway, though I'm not sure how true that statement is.

It seems like Cedar Fair is really being aggressive with the parks right off the bat. Changing record-breaking rides, moving them, selling them...I'm very surprised.

Granted, I've never ridden it, but I've heard the same thing.

BlueStreak64 said:
It seems like Cedar Fair is really being aggressive with the parks right off the bat. Changing record-breaking rides, moving them, selling them...I'm very surprised.

I'd hardly call it aggressive. They've owned Geauga Lake for three years now. Putting in the new $30 million waterpark was pretty aggressive, but that's not what we're talking about. Getting rid of X-Flight, in retrospect, was probably something they played around with a great deal before pulling the trigger.

As far as SOB goes, removing the loop was apparently the only way to get the ride back up and running for 2007. And we've heard nothing substantial in new investments for the other Paramount units. If you ask me, they're being quite conservative, actually.

It makes me wonder, how much of the track they are gonna have to alter with this removal. The ride was boring with an awesome moment in that loop but now it will just be boring, I'll still ride it though.

What I don't get is how removing the loop fixes the problem. It seems to me that the wooden structure is the problem, not the loop. I just don't get how a sturdy, apparently perfectly fine steel structure (the loop's structure) is affecting the wooden support structure in such a negative way that removing the loop would fix that problem.

Oh, and hall, I was talking more about selling Hypersonic than X-Flight, though I do think it rather odd that they decided to move X-Flight to another CF park.

Apparently, in order for the trains to make it through the loop, they need to be so heavy. By eliminating the loop they can use lighter trains. Lighter trains will exert less force on the track. Less force exerted on the track will cause less wear and tear on the structure supporting the track.

So, removing the loop will help fix some of the structural problems. (or so say their engineers).

Hopefully they are different engineers than the ones that designed the ride in the first place. LOL!!

Hopefully, there won't just be a little dip there. It might be a chance to add even a little blip of airtime, seeing as a ride that large lacks ANY as is.

Now it's hardly appropriate to put Villian in the same conversation with SoB Ensign English. At least Villian was one of the best wooden coasters in the country before it became a chiropracters wet dream. Does anyone else remember how good that ride was in 2000? Unlike the Villian, the Son of Beast has always been a boring layout with no air and average laterals; it doesn't even impress you with the speed since the valleys of the coaster are the worst parts for compressing your back. I too wanted off mid-ride (for the first time ever).

Here's to hopes that Villain will be nice and smooth again next year!

Gener, I think this is probably a matter of subjective opinion. My rides on SOB were quite enjoyable and hardly what I would categorize as overly rough. Put it this way: I rode SOB three times in a row and would have gone again if the lines hadn't started building up. Villain, which is at the closest park to me, I've never ridden more than once in a row. Oww city! Even in its opening year I didn't care for it, although I will agree with you that it does have an interesting layout and lively action. And as Loopy says, hopefully the rehab will help next year.

to the villian! *cheers*

I'm with Ensign on this one. When I rode SoB back in July of 2000, I loved the ride and thought it was rather smooth for a wooden coaster. The drop was insane, as the largest coaster I had been on up till then was the Beast. I even thought the prelift section was interesting.

I really have a feeling SOB is going to have a major turnaround next season. With all the work and probable new trains, I think we are in for an unexpected treat for next year.

Yes I know that rides are subject to many different variables including weather, what seat you're in, etc. I just like to overstate things. I do know that I was completely underwhelmed with SoB; no air minimal laterals for the speed it runs at and violently rough (certainly one has to conceed that this is the general opinion expressed online). And while i cannot ride Villian at this time for the same fear for my health it was at one time a great ride.

If the loop is gone why is it still in the original link of this thread?

http://photos.pkicentral.com/thumbnails.php?album=177

*** Edited 12/20/2006 11:23:37 PM UTC by AbsofBeer***
*** Edited 12/20/2006 11:24:15 PM UTC by AbsofBeer***