Mexico City trip - coaster update????
Joe Riznar
Being too lazy to start detailed investigation into this ACE event,
I thought as a start I might ask whether anyone has heard RECENT reports
on how La Serpiente (the Racer) is running
since all the remodeling. This is, as I recall, the last pre-1970 wood
coaster in North America that I haven't ridden. However, depending on
travel costs and logistics, I am not seriously considering attending
this event unless the coaster is still likely to blow me away. For me
the Convention and the Preservation Conference are always the priority
events, so this one may have to slide off my schedule.
A personal reply is always welcome, but please post it for everyone
'cuz I know many are probably curious.
Thank you.
Joe "What? No more unridden coasters? Give me more!" Riznar
Matthew Crowther
: Being too lazy to start detailed investigation into this ACE event,
: Thank you.
I have heard that the re-profiling was fairly minor, and there are still
VERY good negative gs. But the trains may be a different story, as they
were radically altered by CCI, and may be rather uncomfortable...but I am
not really sure on that point. In fact, we are not sure if it is still
qualifies as a coaster classic.
Matt
Dave Althoff
If the "new" trains on the Coaster Formerly Known as La Montana Rusa are
comparable to the new train on the Screechin' Eagle (also a CCI job), then
the comfort shouldn't be too bad. The mechanics on the Americana train,
though, leave a LOT to be desired. Like return springs on the lap bars,
for instance...
--Dave Althoff, Jr.
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Eric Griswold
MC> Joe Riznar (al...@cleveland.Freenet.Edu) wrote:
MC> : Being too lazy to start detailed investigation into this ACE event,
MC> : I thought as a start I might ask whether anyone has heard RECENT reports
MC> : on how La Serpiente (the Racer) is running
MC> I have heard that the re-profiling was fairly minor, and there are still
MC> VERY good negative gs. But the trains may be a different story, as they
MC> were radically altered by CCI, and may be rather uncomfortable...but I am
MC> not really sure on that point. In fact, we are not sure if it is still
MC> qualifies as a coaster classic.
Unfortunately, I had not been on La Montan~a prior to the reprofile,
so I cannot compare it.
The new trains ride and feel pretty much like modern PTCs. I found
them to be just a *tiny* bit more roomy. The lap bars are problematic
though, they do ratchet down during the ride.
The ride itself ranges from respectable to incredible, depending on
conditions. I was there last February and it was sort of cool for
Mexico City. The coaster was delivering very nice airtime and a good
ride. Then a storm passed overhead and the tracks got quite slick.
The airtime was killer (I had massive lap bar bruises for the two
weeks following).
Based on the reports I've heard from people who had been on it prior
to the reprofile, CCI didn't ruin the ride, but they did tone it down
perhaps a bit too much. The ickiest part is the trim brake at the
turnaround after the first hill.
Nevertheless, it still sits at #3 on my top ten wood list, just below
the Texas Giant and the Great Escape Comet.
--
Eric Griswold
gris...@adoc.xerox.com
Dave Althoff
The OLD train was a NAD train, possibly a Century Flyer, but no
grillework. Anyway, the lap bars were 'traditional' double-bars. The
CENTER rail had a nice pad around it (presumably to grab, since that's at
about the right distance for grabbing). But the OUTSIDE rail...the one
against your stomach for some of us; the one that you bang your thighs
into during air-time for all of us...was left BARE METAL...OUCH! I had
bruises on my thighs following the '92 Preservation Con for about a week...
The NEW train is a CCI train, which appears to be based on the NAD
design...about the same length and width, truck spacing, etc. There is a
narrow seat divider, but (unlike on older PTC divided seats) high enough
that you don't land on top of it. The L-shaped ratcheting lap bar has a
really sloppy mechanism, and seems to have *no* return spring. Padding on
this bar seems minimal, but it is better than on the old bar...plus you
don't have to go so far to hit it. Even though I did have trouble with it
ratcheting down, I found that it wasn't as bad as the PKI Racer incident
which has prompted me to carry a 'safety belt' with me when visiting
coasters with PTC ratchet bars. Possibly this is because the bar came
down far enough in the station that it was unable to ratchet below my
thigh thickness; possibly I just got lucky. In any case, the system needs
work!
--Dave Althoff, Jr.
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