From: hempling@quorum.com (David B. Hempling)
Subject: Velvet & Velcro -or- When Coaster Gods Are Smiling
Originator: hempling@parker
Keywords: Rattler and Texas Giant in one weekend
Organization: Quorum Software Systems, Inc.
Date: Tue, 1 Sep 1992 23:17:23 GMT


This weekend I had the distinct pleasure of visiting both
Fiesta Texas and Six Flags over Texas. Friday and Saturday in
San Antonio and Sunday in Dallas. But before I get to the
rides on the coasters, let me first tell you all something
you will truly not believe:

During this weekend, with beautiful weather abounding, we waited
no more than 20 minutes to ride any ride in Fiesta Texas and
the coasters in Six Flags. (We did wait slightly
longer to ride the bobsled ride - I had to log it.) We got in
over a dozen rides on the Rattler and at least eight rides on the Giant.
We still can't believe our tremendous luck!

What can I say about Fiesta Texas that hasn't been said already? This
is the most beautiful amusement park I've ever seen (I've yet to
visit any park east of the Mississippi). When we first got there
Friday after 5pm, The Rattler was running one train and they weren't
letting people ride the back car - Grrr! Still, we were happy that
we didn't wait more than one train's worth to ride. We rode several
times, testing different parts of the train, wheel and non wheel 
seats, including the Legendary Seat Six. This is very much a front 
seat coaster. Visually stunning and smoooooth. Wheel seats are another 
story. I enjoy lateral shaking on a coaster, it's the vertical slams 
I can do without. Each one sent the top of my spine forcefully into 
the base of my skull, jarring my medulla oblongata into my cerebellum.
Not pleasant. I often took my hands out from up in the air and pressed 
them flat to the top of my head to keep these shocks to a less painful 
minimum.  As the sun set, the train got faster and faster. The
last spin through the helix just flies! We finished Friday night on the
last train of the evening and enjoyed a traditional double run.

About the track on the Rattler. Anyone notice places where it looks
like they built from both sides to a connection and didn't meet
exactly like they wanted? Instant trick-track! One rather noticeable
one occurs just out of the tunnel before the flyby. Another
connects the helix to the drop into the tunnel.

We ran into Albert, the fellow who's logged over 985 rides on the
Rattler and become something of a local hero. He told us that some
folks hand gotten a lawyer and were putting a case together to sue
the park for injuries sustained on the ride. We were there while
some local TV cameras were shooting a story about this very problem.
He says it's been all over the papers. Fiesta Texas has put in giant
signs warning of the ride's "violent" nature. A sign over 7 feet tall, 
in English and Spanish, greets you at the ride's front gate. 

Albert says the park wants him to log his 1000th ride over the Labor
Day weekend, BTW. As for any injuries he has suffered, he says he's
fine. We didn't suffer any injury either.

Albert also says that a metal coaster is planned. There's a beautiful
spot for it all set to go. According to the Ride Operations Manager,
whom we met, the plan is for a Togo Bandit-like coaster with loops. 

Saw the fireworks/laser display against the cliff. Very Nice.

Saturday afternoon was spent in the park's water park. A lot of fun!
Be sure to try the Texas Tumbler (Bubba Tubs). Also, the tube track
(sit in a tube, float around a course, you know what I mean)
is a lot of fun too! The evening was spent getting some more ride time
on the Rattler - still only one train and still waiting no more than
10-20 minutes. Unbelievable! Managed to catch a ride that took us up
the chain lift as the finale firework fountains when off. Spectacular!

Sunday morning we flew to Dallas and went straight to Six Flags. We
managed to ride the front seat of the first train out on the Giant.
Even for the first ride of the day, I knew I'd found my new favorite
twister. Although the park attendance was very low, they ran three
trains all day long! We usually never waited more than two trains worth to 
ride any particular seat. We got in about 4 or 5 rides and then went
around to the other coasters before returning the the Giant for a few more.
By mid-afternoon, the Giant was cookin'! Front seat rides left dried 
tears on my face. Back seat (or any wheel seat) rides were painful but
fun. The vertical slams weren't as frequent or severe as the Rattler.
Those PTC trains on the Giant seem to handle a rough ride better than 
the Morgan trains on the Rattler. One common thread seems to tie the 
Rattler and the Giant: the difference between a non wheel and wheel seat 
is like velvet and velcro. And the front seat "is like buddah" (that's
'butter' for the Saturday Night Live imparred).

They had all the brakes on on the Giant that day. The most annoying one
has to be about a quarter into the first drop! I hear that the Giant III,
the ACE ERT is coming up this month. Something like 5 hours of ride time
with all those nasty brakes turned off. Sounds like fun! While riding
back into the station, don't forget to count your ribs!


dave
hempling@quorum.com		"Friends don't let friends vote Republican!"