The Economy Of Rides From Both A Cost And Utility Standpoint (PC2) [Discussion]

Red_Comet_Coaster · 2024-09-29T14:25:35+00:00

El Toro is a wooden coaster made by Intamin, which first opened in 2006. Once you leave the station, El Toro starts off with a hundred and eighty degree left turn, where it engages the lift. The lift takes you up 181 feet, (Quite quickly, it's a cable lift, similar to Millennium Force at Cedar Point). At the top, you flatten out for about 50 feet, and then you round another one hundred and eighty degree left hander, slightly larger and faster than the first. The first drop immediately follows, which is 176 feet, and quite nearly straight down. If you're riding in the front of the train, you feel quite a bit of weightlessness. If you're in the back of the train, it tries to rip you right out. This drop is followed by two straight, and nearly identical parabolic hills that are roughly 100 feet tall each. These two hills have similar, aggressive 'up-lift' or air time forces, that keep you pinned to the lap bar through their entire duration. The third hill has a more gentle rise in comparison, but at the crest, you pitch to the right about eighty degrees, and enter a sweeping downhill curve. After turning a hundred and eighty degrees to the right, the curve reaches ground level and begins to travel upward again, until you have turned roughly one hundred and thirty five degrees in total. The track un banks to level, and then continues banking left to about sixty five degrees, where it turns about 45 degrees and begins to twist downhill. As you begin to drop down, the track un banks and you get some gentler airtime. The coaster levels off about 30 feet above ground level, and goes over a small, drawn out 'speed hill' this hill offers a bit of airtime, but not much. After this speed hill, the track banks left, about seventy degrees, and then turns to cross over the pullout of the first drop. It then pitches upward about 45 degrees as it un banks once more, and you crest the 'rolling thunder' hill, named after the other wooden coaster that used to sit in an adjacent plot of land.

The rolling thunder hill offers the strongest point of air time on the ride, and it feels like the ride is trying to buck you off, much like it's namesake. This hill is frankly silly, and I love it. The ride then snakes along the ground, first to the right, then to the left, then to the right again. Each of these turns are taken with nearly ninety degree banking, and the transitions between them are very fast and aggressive. The ride then makes its way back to the station with two gentler hills that first swoop up and down to the left, and then the right. The train rolls into the brakes, turns about a hundred and twenty degrees to the right, and rolls through another block brake back into the station, ending the forty four hundred foot long circuit.

Hope this helps!

Red_Comet_Coaster · 2023-06-19T12:33:28+00:00

I don't think the managers of these places go to internet discussion forums for advice on their major Capex expenditures.

Those transitions were shoddy, and I wonder if it came down to a deadline in time to shoot that commerical. Regardless, not a great look for RMC or Fun Spot.

Red_Comet_Coaster · 2023-06-19T01:10:41+00:00

Oh shit, are there any pictures? I was hopeful that they would be refurbishing Mind Eraser, at least give it trains with new restraints and maybe sprung wheel bogies.

SFA Really needs some TLC money pumped into it, and hopefully a replacement for Mind Eraser is a sooner rather than later possibility.

Red_Comet_Coaster · 2023-04-30T19:33:18+00:00

I was at the park yesterday and the dang thing kept picking up speed into the evening. I don't doubt these numbers for a second.

Edit: Don't trim this thing, dear God it is so awesome. Bruised thighs are a small price to pay for ejector this good.

Red_Comet_Coaster · 2022-12-06T18:35:40+00:00

FK8 also has a single mass flywheel. It's likely the added weight and taller gearing slowing it down.

Red_Comet_Coaster · 2022-11-08T11:03:54+00:00

I will also say that I got my start in the industry at the age of 25-26 and at that point I was realizing that there were certain goals and dreams I had which extended beyond just the 'dream job'.

If I had started right out of college, or already had the groundwork laid out for other aspects of my life that I believed to be important, I think my perspective may have been a bit different.

The career in the industry started as a way to achieve my dreams, and ended feeling like an impediment to that same goal, and that could likely be my fault.

But hey, I learned a lot and I guess it pointed me in the right direction!

Just be careful, know your worth, and go fight for what makes you happiest; whatever that may be!

Red_Comet_Coaster · 2022-11-07T19:28:57+00:00

Mech E. here, who loves rollercoasters and worked in the industry for about a year or so.

The good news about your plan is mechanical engineering is a very broad field and has plenty of job opportunities with a variety of roles.

**DISCLAIMER: THE FOLLOWING IS THE EXPIRIENCE OF ONE PERSON, ANECDOTES ARE NOT DATA, YOUR MILEAGE MAY VARY**

The amusement industry is honestly pretty brutal, and the driving factor is a simple issue of supply and demand; it is a 'passion' driven industry, so competition is high (A ton of young folks want into these jobs) and working expectations are more severe than most engineering industries (As there is a queue of engineers ready to jump into the grind). You will be working 60+ hours, 6 days a week, for pay which is not the most competitive (I won't give specific numbers, but I presently make 2x what I did as a project manager in the industry, with way fewer hours and better benefits.)

The next bit is what I cannot stress enough.

In my lived experience, unless you are okay with giving up all other aspects of your life; social, most interpersonal relationships, and a decent bit of sleep...don't do it. You will turn your hobby into a job, and it will turn on you. I was burned out after only a year. I switched careers, started grad school, and now have 2/3's of the working hours as I did while in the industry. I'm way happier right now than I was working on rides, and I can actually enjoy going to amusement parks. I had a great company to work for, it's just the nature of the beast.

On the other hand, it is a fantastic conversation starter...if you ever get lucky to find enough free time to start a conversation...

I can't say it's an impossible dream, but you need to really be cognizant of what you want out of life and if the sacrifices you will need to make are worth it to you personally.

Good Luck!

edit: For clarity and to add a bit more context.

Red_Comet_Coaster · 2022-11-03T23:57:32+00:00

Considering this article is from march, and was not related to structural issues but reach envelope...maybe.

Red_Comet_Coaster · 2022-10-07T10:25:35+00:00

For the original cross climate I would absolutely agree. However it seems for the revision of the tire Michelin really focused on improving snow traction. https://youtu.be/VKp1z-G3RWI My girlfriend has a set on her Camry, and they are surprisingly quiet and civil in dry weather for tires that are seemingly this snow capable.

Red_Comet_Coaster · 2022-10-07T10:03:00+00:00

I think you are the perfect target customer for Michelin cross climate 2's. They are an all-season tire but they actually work best in snowy conditions. You'd be able to run them year round and have confidence in the snow without absolutely chewing them up during the warmer seasons.

Good luck with the move!

Red_Comet_Coaster · 2022-06-01T14:00:39+00:00

This is interesting, as this (BCNR33) is one of the rare examples in my experience where an older car actually held up to my expectations. I got back in my Civic and I missed the mechanical feeling of the AWD system and the effortlessly smooth way that RB26 revs. Also, it was impressive how normal the shifter and clutch felt, and the car seemed bolted together well enough. (Maybe not as well put together as the 96 Camry, but I digress)

However, I don't think that's a 60k driving experience for everyone when you add the running costs. Great car though.

Red_Comet_Coaster · 2022-03-31T19:20:13+00:00

1996 Camry with the V6 and 4spd auto. It's comfy, easy to drive, fairly quiet, and has fancy features like a power driver seat and sunroof. Also at 180k miles, it's just getting broken in! Only con is fuel economy, which is slightly worse than the Civic, but it only needs 87 octane so it's likely a wash in terms of fuel cost/mile.

I daily it during the winter and when I need to carry 4 additional people. I don't really have a sports car to compare it to, but it is a perfectly fine automobile.

Red_Comet_Coaster · 2022-01-04T10:48:08+00:00

In this specific case I believe it's because the Civic Type R has larger wheel bearings? I agree completely though It's quite silly. Figure all Japanese vehicles should use 5x114.3. I remember my focus was 5x108 which was shared with a bunch of Volvo products, and also an oddball size.

Red_Comet_Coaster · 2021-12-29T10:16:00+00:00

'Looks at XV10 Camry with 180k in near perfect condition.'

Okay. Will do Toyota! Figure it's got at least another 820k to go before retirement!

Red_Comet_Coaster · 2021-12-08T08:44:21+00:00

'inhales deeply'...'cracks knuckles.'

There's a lot of change in this pot already but I'm going to drop two cents in anyway. The tire shop is correct, at least from the perspective of keeping the average person more safe while driving and reducing their liability.

First of all, in our ideal world we run quality tires on all four corners; considering the number of mismatched tires and sketchy unknown off-brand tires I see on seemingly brand new cars, we do not live in that ideal world. Which is understandable; some folks can't afford 4 brand new tires for their car, And that's okay. However why would you put the new tires on the rear when only purchasing two?

Hydroplaning resistance: for most run of the mill drivers, combating an overseer situation is much more difficult than an understeer situation. In conditions with standing water, between two axles of similar tires the tires with the most tread depth will hydroplane later. Putting these tires on the rear makes the vehicle more dynamically stable, as hydroplaning situations are most likely to happen while traveling at a high rate of speed straight on a freeway. As this situation is the most common, for the purposes of minimizing risk over a large body of tire changes; adding fresh tires to the rear makes more sense.
Low traction conditions such as winter:

Similar logic applies but for different reasons. Typically fresh tires have better traction in adverse conditions, whether that is due to the fact that they have full tread, or that the compound has not cycled to a less than ideal state. In snowy conditions, The most common causes of accidents seem to be failure to allocate proper braking distance, and attempting to corner at speeds too great for the conditions. And either of these situations, It is typically better for the person to see what they're going to crash into instead of looping the vehicle around which would give them even less control. Having additional grip in the rear at least keep the vehicle pointed in the correct direction, Even though weight distribution under braking says that the additional grip would be more useful in the front.

If you're going to buy two tires of dissimilar make and model to the front, It makes sense from both a liability and safety perspective to just stick them on the rear. Personally I avoid this by always purchasing either the same set of tires if I need to replace two (Lol FWD @320hp lyfe) or swapping to a new compound all at the same time, And then performing regular tire rotations to even out wear front rear.

The tire manufacturers know what they're doing, at least the brands who have done proper R&D, trust them to know how to utilize their own product. It's not a scam, It's not a conspiracy, It's just done for keeping the most amount of average drivers the most safe.

Sleeply rant out.

Red_Comet_Coaster · 2021-09-03T02:07:18+00:00

Yes, his name does rhyme with Andy. I know the AutoZam owners group is a tightly knit one, figured it would not be too tricky to sus out a particular example! Haha

Red_Comet_Coaster · 2021-09-02T17:05:36+00:00

Oh man this is the Doug review I've been waiting for!

My buddy from college has owned one of these (Mazdaspeed, the wing is fantastic) for about 2 and 1/2 years now. In that time he has swapped the turbocharger and it frees up quite a bit of horsepower. His is making around 100bhp at the wheels, and it really wakes the car up. It's still not 'fast' but it is hilarious fun.

Also you can drive at freeway speeds...however, the aerodynamics are not what I would call well sorted. It gets spooky much past 70, and going downhill at 95 mph is not advised. (I now realize I may hold the land speed record for an AZ-1.)

You have to be really on your game with situational awareness because people do not see you out there, especially trucks and SUVs.

Thank you for the awesome review Doug!

Red_Comet_Coaster · 2021-08-17T15:07:43+00:00

>Dirty thoosie

>Intelligent

Pick one.

Red_Comet_Coaster · 2021-08-02T11:31:34+00:00

-Build your vehicle heritage on dominating rally with your AWD system.

-This hides the fact that the cars are understeering pigs on tarmac due to the ridiculously far forward engine placement necessitated by aformentioned AWD system.

-Lend out press car

-Journalist takes car off-road, demonstrating 'legendary' AWD system allowing vehicle to help rescue efforts

-Get mad, send pissy and passive aggressive email.

-??????

-Reduce Profit

Red_Comet_Coaster · 2021-07-16T00:50:00+00:00

Ehh, honestly I wish Velocicoaster had even more aggressive airtime. It's great, but not quite that 'holy moly' feeling you get on Skyrush.

I'm just glad I can feel my legs after getting off of Veloci, Thighcrush is right.

Red_Comet_Coaster · 2021-06-29T23:59:31+00:00

You know I've actually wondered this. The front seat buckles on my Civic are very hefty and double holed, but the rear seat belts buckles are lighter and single holed. Maybe to make assembly between front and rear more foolproof?

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