136 replies to this topic

[Reapers Ashes]

I thought woodies were suppose to be rough....

[Ryan Shrout]

Woodies are generally expected to be on the rougher end. But most woodies still exit through the gift shop. SoB's exit was through the Cincinnati Outpatient Clinic.

[Vater]

^Truth.

[Reapers Ashes]

Shrugs I must be young then i found it to be not that bad and meanstreak isnt bad if you know how to ride it. Just ask Henry

[Tyler M]

Mean Streak isn't bad at all. Zeus or Hades at Mt Olympus can put it to shame for roughness. That's probably because Mt Olympus doesn't take care of their rides though. Thing is with Son of Beast, it was fast and rough where Mean Streak with the trims is just bumpy. It doesn't throw you around it just hurts your caboose!

[Tori Finlay]

I liked Boss! Despite it being ridiculously large. Mean Streak though...I agree with steel-Rock. Slow, uncomfortable and boring. I'm sure it was brilliant when it first opened though. I'd rather ride Thunderhawk at DP

[steel-Rock]

Mean Streak isn't bad at all. Zeus or Hades at Mt Olympus can put it to shame for roughness. That's probably because Mt Olympus doesn't take care of their rides though. Thing is with Son of Beast, it was fast and rough where Mean Streak with the trims is just bumpy. It doesn't throw you around it just hurts your caboose!

You know that you are in trouble when a park spends more time in making sure that riders see this sign everyday
than in reducing the need to have such a sign.

I liked Boss! Despite it being ridiculously large. Mean Streak though...I agree with steel-Rock. Slow, uncomfortable and boring. I'm sure it was brilliant when it first opened though. I'd rather ride Thunderhawk at DP

Boss rocks !
I do believe that Mean Streak was quite good back in the day. I don't remember it being as bad as it is now.
Could someone who has lived there from '91 until now chime in on this to give us a heads up.

[Tyler M]

The only time I keep my hands down is the second half of the ride when it shakes you violently and I have to hold on. It's a very aggressive ride! I agree though, that should be a concern.

[steel-Rock]

As I have said before, there is rough but good -- Beast, Boss, Voyage.
Then there is rough but not so good -- Georgia Cyclone, Hades, Rattler, Thunderhawk.

[The BeastFan]

Ok, this may sound like I was going out of my way a bit, but I feel this had to be done because I know that some 'save coaster' efforts have worked, and frankly, some of the things they meander on about are going into the realm of insulting. Obviously, there is a Save Son of Beast group out there. However, if you so much as present an arguement that it may not work, not only will they automatically discredit it with no logic behind it, but they'll also talk of the people not liking it due to injuries in insulting fashion, like not being 'man enough' and such. It should be discredited even more than it already is as a reputable save-the-coaster group.

Now, I'm aware that there are options that can possibly save it, but with such a bad reputation behind it, I feel its better left as a pile of wooden debris at this point as marketing it again would be a nightmare despite if its improved. I also feel its in the best interest of the victims at this point to see it gone. Again, I probably seem like I'm going a bit over the top with this and probably am over thinking a bit, I've even admited that to myself when trying to talk sense about this to that group, but the levels which this group has taken and some of the things they've mentioned they would do (I'm worried how they'll take a demolishion announcement) made me want to try and do something about it.

Anyways, I'm done with that group and you'll never hear me reference them again.

[Vater]

I'd love to know who this group is. What exactly have they threatened to do if they heard the coaster would be demolished?

[The BeastFan]

They mentioned they'd form a group in Action Zone by SOB's entrance (though it was kind of vague in details), but also just the way some of the people come off, it just has the feel that they'd get hostel. It's hard to explain exactly. I do recall them threatening to bombard the woman in the 2009 accident with mail, basically blaming her for why it's closed right now. Worst of all, the 2009 report has her name, number and address listed (the report has a copy of the first aid form filled out by the hospital she went to). That's the person I worry about the most in all of this. That's also the reason she didn't file a complaint until half a month after, she was afraid of going to the press as such a thing could happen to her.

You can go over to Facebook and find their group and read things for yourself, though I think the owner of the page is editing it to get rid of that stuff.

Edited by The BeastFan, 20 February 2012 - 11:08 AM.

[Vater]

I'd imagine even a hostile group of coaster dorks doesn't pose much of a problem. What were they planning to do there, picket? If they do that I can see them being politely escorted out of the park by security.

Not really seeing much on the Facebook page (if the one I'm looking at is the one you're referring to) that would make me worry about...anything, really.

[The BeastFan]

It was something along those lines in terms of a picket, or at least blocking the path towards SOB (and in conjunction, Flight Deck and Xtreme Skyflyer). Most of the threats to the woman in the 2009 incident and the mocking of those hurt by the ride might be gone (or a bit far back in the page history) and I was told by the guy who runs it that he was censoring that type of stuff now.

[Vater]

Yeah, there's always going to be a handful of idiots in any large group. Not that I necessarily think that a Save the Son of Beast group should even exist, but as long as they're not causing problems, more power to 'em, I guess.

[The BeastFan]

^Which is kind of sad as I don't recall that kind of stuff going on with a lot of the other 'Save-the-coaster' efforts like with Whizzer.

[Vater]

Well, Whizzer likely doesn't inflict brain damage like SoB did. So, there's that.

[Bretten Bailey]

Haha at some of their comments.

I'd love to see SoB reopen as well (after major work being done of course), but I wouldn't go as far as some of them would. That protest honestly wouldn't get them anywhere....except for being removed.

I don't know....maybe we don't "walk the walk" enough

[The BeastFan]

Ok, there's something I want to check just to make sure I'm not entirely wrong about this argument.

There are a few arguments as to why SOB should be re-opened as-is. Among them are a few things, IMO, that are kind of dumb to bring up. First is the whole argument that 'wood coasters are supposed to be rough'. My thoughts, along with the info out there, would bring me to believe that SOB is in a league of its own in roughness. There are equally large wooden coasters out there and still in operation that haven't had as many incidents as SOB (to my knowledge and with a few exceptions). I don't feel that's a legitimate excuse to use to re-open it. Those who use this argument have also been quick to point out the wording on the signs that go something like 'ride at your own risk'. I feel even that looses water when you have such a bad conditioned coaster.

The other thing is about the medical conditions. A few of the victims over the years did have pre-existing medical conditions. However, allegedly they have claimed to be able to ride other woodies such as Beast and Mean Streak. I would think those examples would be a good indicator for a first timer who knows their body well enough to say they could handle Son of Beast when in reality it's proven worse than most wooden coasters. Its another argument I won't buy. Heck, if I never have ridden SOB, I'd be inclined to think I could handle it (I have a medical condition and I know for sure that I can't handle SOB, at least post-2007). It feels like it can't be coincidence that SOB has such a bad rap sheet.

Also, does anyone know who exactly did the 2007 rehab? I can't find ANYTHING on who did that. Is it safe to assume it was done in house (who also did many modifications without coaster firms like GCI and GG)? Heck they fired RCCA prior to its completion. I'm failing to see how this thing made it to opening day now.

I know there isn't much to do about it now, but just thinking this over, its mind boggling.

[PKIDelirium]

The loop removal and design/construction of the curving camelback that replaced it was done entirely in-house. The structural reinforcements on the Rose Bowl were also done in-house, along with the strengthening modifications to the Gerstlauer trains.

[Reapers Ashes]

sounds like a huge paramount fail from the get go.

[Reapers Ashes]

bye bye sob about time

http://www.kicentral...-at-ki-rip-sob/

[The BeastFan]

Replacement could mean a makeover. I've said from the start that any 'fix' would be a removal of the original hardware, being the ride and track. The Iron Horse method can technically mean a replacement. Also, given the family focus, I would think we'd see a new area there vs one ride. I can easily see an area which is a step up from Planet Snoopy, but not with things up to par to, say, Beast and Diamondback. Additionally, the person who overheard Ouimet didn't quote him directly, so we don't know exactly what he said. Also, this isn't much of a surprise. Ouimet has made it very clear with a few recent removals that he isn't working with rides that take a lot of money and work to maintain. Just look at Wildcat and Crypt.

I'm just saying, I wouldn't be so fast to jump to conclusions based on this. I'm also very glad that SOMEONE from CF or KI is being more clear with what's going on. I think parks around know that SOB is a problem for KI, so its not much secret that when KI does make a decision, they're going to be paying some hefty cash. I say do what the plan entails soon and get it over with. The park has to be getting tired of explaining the same spiel going on 3 years now. They can't keep that up forever.

Edited by Mike Strobel, 07 May 2012 - 06:58 PM.

[steel-Rock]

There are a few arguments as to why SOB should be re-opened as-is. Among them are a few things, IMO, that are kind of dumb to bring up. First is the whole argument that 'wood coasters are supposed to be rough'. My thoughts, along with the info out there, would bring me to believe that SOB is in a league of its own in roughness. There are equally large wooden coasters out there and still in operation that haven't had as many incidents as SOB (to my knowledge and with a few exceptions). I don't feel that's a legitimate excuse to use to re-open it. Those who use this argument have also been quick to point out the wording on the signs that go something like 'ride at your own risk'. I feel even that looses water when you have such a bad conditioned coaster.

Very rough woodens should NOT stay as they are "just because that is the way they run". Beast should be smoothed out some on the back section before the second lift. Son of Beast needs a lot of work with the entire second half. I can't see Cedar Fair spending this money on these two. If done in house, I wouldn't think that they would do it right anyway. At Dorney, Thunderhawk hasn't even gotten a paint job much less any real work. Again, they don't want to spend the cash. Before I continue, both Hurlers and Thunder Road have gotten some re-tracking, so the company is doing something.

Now to change operations. Hades at Mt. Olympus was wild and in its own way fun, but I really was scared to death. Something sould be done with all the coasters at that park; they are in very bad shape. This isn't good enough.



Six Flags seems to want to do what they should (at least the ones in Texas). The New Giant seems to be a big improvement. Rumors about Rattler getting the same thing are flying high.

[Vater]

At Dorney, Thunderhawk hasn't even gotten a paint job much less any real work.

Yes, clearly all the paint fell off all the bare wood here.