Status of X...
Mike Kallay
Expect SFMM to make some kind of "public announcement" soon.
Speculation is that it will be closed for at least the summer season:(
I think SF has to wait for Arrow to land back on their feet before they
can reopen the ride. SF has sufficiently screwed up the trains (with
welding and other modifications) that probably only Arrow can fix them.
This rumour comes from several different sources within Six Flags.
/mike
Shawn Mamros
>I think SF has to wait for Arrow to land back on their feet before they
>can reopen the ride. SF has sufficiently screwed up the trains (with
>welding and other modifications) that probably only Arrow can fix them.
At least that's one version of the story...
A recently-posted news article stated that SF is looking to buy all
of Arrow's assets (presumably meaning blueprints, engineering drawings,
etc.) related to X. So apparently they're looking to gather all the
know-how about the ride so they can fix it themselves, or take it to
someone else to fix it. Either way, it doesn't sound like SF wants
to have much to do with Arrow right now.
Perhaps SF's own attempts at repairs have f'd things up. But they
would probably argue in return that they wouldn't have done so if
Arrow hadn't given them a f'd up design to begin with (in their
opinion at least).
-Shawn Mamros
E-mail to: mamros -at- mit dot edu
Mike Kallay
mam...@mit.edu says...
> At least that's one version of the story...
>
> A recently-posted news article stated that SF is looking to buy all
> of Arrow's assets (presumably meaning blueprints, engineering drawings,
> etc.) related to X. So apparently they're looking to gather all the
> know-how about the ride so they can fix it themselves, or take it to
> someone else to fix it. Either way, it doesn't sound like SF wants
> to have much to do with Arrow right now.
I've got to disagree with you. These are my opinions on it, based on
everything I've seen and heard (which I think is fairly extensive):
Six Flags withheld final payment on X. Then, they entered into various
arbitration suits against Arrow for roughly $6 million dollars (to cover
lost revenue). I've seen the filings.
Six Flags figured they could maintain X, but they obviously cannot,
because the ride has never fully passed the testing stage, and now it is
tearing itself apart.
They've put the designer/fabricator in such a position that they can't
help.
SF made several changes to the carriage after the Arrow hand-off that
are now coming back to haunt them. They also began reparative and
proactive welding on the trains using outside contractors described to
me as "day laborers."
Know this: Six Flags entered their bid for X assets long before the
*major* damage done to the carriage this past week. I don't think they
(SF) were offering to buy the assets to "..gather know-how to fix it."
IMHO, they were kicking Arrow when they were down -- trying to take the
design in trade for dismissing the arbitration. Mr. Bollingbroke's
response to the offer should tell you that it was without any merit.
Early on, SF figured they could maintain the trains. They obviously
cannot. The bid for assets was to take control of the intellectual
property so as to recoup their perceived investment (perhaps by selling
it?), plus put the final nail in Arrow's coffin -- scorned, as they
were, IMO.
I'm not saying Arrow was completely in the right here. They were
pressured to sign off on the ride before it was fully tested/debugged --
and they unfortunately succumbed to that pressure. I don't think they
had a choice at that point -- fiscal pressures driving everything in
life. But, that doesn't excuse it.
I really place majority blame on Six Flags and Gary Story for the
problems with X, the (seeming) demise of one of coasterdom's most
storied companies, and the huge white elephant (or yellow/pink, as it
were) sitting in the old bus parking lot.
Whether Six Flags wants to have anything to do with Arrow is anyone's
guess. My guess is that they now don't have a choice. Arrow/Alan S. are
the only ones who can fix it. Do you think Morgan or B&M could come in
and fix it? Build a new carriage? No way in hell.
I'm guessing X will be closed all year pending Arrow's future marriage
partner -- and I'm guessing Arrow is probably more attractive today than
they were two weeks ago -- especially to Reverchon. At that point, we'll
see Six Flags swallow some bitter pill and let Alan work his magic on
this truly unique and wonderful contraption.
--
Mike "Can anyone say 'Bat?'" Kallay
inve...@ghostrider.org
www.ghostrider.org for all your fly-fishing needs
"A little nonsense now and then, is relished by the wisest men." --
Willy Wonka
Victor Ireland
nos...@ghostrider.org says...
> Whether Six Flags wants to have anything to do with Arrow is anyone's
> guess. My guess is that they now don't have a choice. Arrow/Alan S. are
> the only ones who can fix it. Do you think Morgan or B&M could come in
> and fix it? Build a new carriage? No way in hell.
>
> I'm guessing X will be closed all year pending Arrow's future marriage
> partner -- and I'm guessing Arrow is probably more attractive today than
> they were two weeks ago -- especially to Reverchon. At that point, we'll
> see Six Flags swallow some bitter pill and let Alan work his magic on
> this truly unique and wonderful contraption.
>
>
So do you know what happened to the last car? Was it stress fractures or
did an arm actually bend/break mid-ride?
All I can say is I'm glad I had the chance to ride this already. I'm
just bummed I didn't get to ride it twice. The first ride is so
completely out of the "normal" coaster experience, it's impossible to
know what's going on - all I could do was grin and laugh through the
whole thing.
--
Don't Believe the Hype -
Vic
KevinCBear
>
>Expect SFMM to make some kind of "public announcement" soon.
>
>Speculation is that it will be closed for at least the summer season:(
Thanks for the update, Mike.
Kevin
BrandonR
XCALIBRMIKE
>
Can't argue with that logic. I bet if you pay for a B&M, you get a B&M. And
if you pay for a CCI, you get a CCI. Hey, I think I understand how this works
now. Thanks, BrandonR. Your posts are always so enlightening.
Propellerhead
BrandonR
news:20020612214742...@mb-fz.aol.com...
>
> Can't argue with that logic. I bet if you pay for a B&M, you get a B&M.
And
> if you pay for a CCI, you get a CCI. Hey, I think I understand how this
works
> now. Thanks, BrandonR. Your posts are always so enlightening.
When people can't see the obvious, I feel it my duty to point it out. Your
posts are indeed enlightening as well; as enlightening as they can get for a
person who chooses AOL. I have higher standards.
Jeff Tolotti
>When people can't see the obvious, I feel it my duty to point it out. Your
>posts are indeed enlightening as well; as enlightening as they can get for a
>person who chooses AOL. I have higher standards.
I'VE GOT MAIL!! I'VE GOT MAIL!! I'VE GOT MAIL!! YAAAAAAYYY!!!!
Chris Devidal
BrandonR wrote:
Does that mean I have lower standards cuz I use I Got Mail?
Chris "Special Ed" Devidal
RCoaster
> I'VE GOT MAIL!! I'VE GOT MAIL!! I'VE GOT MAIL!! YAAAAAAYYY!!!!
Actually, that voice message is a bug. It should have said,
"YOU'VE GOT SPAM!!"
;-D
Kevin Page
The man at Working Designs? Wow, blast from the Compuserve Sega CD past :-)
Kevin Page
"Victor Ireland" <vire...@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:MPG.176e8d2ec...@news-west.newscene.com...
Ted Ansley
I use Eudora Mail client, however I set it up to use the AOL "You've got
mail" as my notice when i have mail!
Ted Ansley
**Rollercoaster Fan<atic>**
ans...@usa.com
AJ
>> And
>> > if you pay for a CCI, you get a CCI. Hey, I think I understand how this
>> works
>> > now. Thanks, BrandonR. Your posts are always so enlightening.
>>
>> When people can't see the obvious, I feel it my duty to point it out. Your
>> posts are indeed enlightening as well; as enlightening as they can get for
>a
>> person who chooses AOL. I have higher standards.
>
>Does that mean I have lower standards cuz I use I Got Mail?
>
>
>Chris "Special Ed" Devidal
I have pretty low standards.
-Andres (Adrenaline Junky)
*Upcoming Summer Trips*
-Boomers (Dania Beach Hurricane) - June 13
rvh
What a stupid email address .....
"BrandonR" <bra...@honkeynigga.com> wrote in message
news:etUN8.173232$cQ3.4609@sccrnsc01...