Thunderation no longer offering backwards cars?

sanddunerider · March 17, 2011, 07:06:40 PM

OK.. its official, in case u have not seen it anywhere else..

Thunderation's seats all face forward!

shavethewhales · March 17, 2011, 08:10:20 PM

So it seems that TNT no longer has backwards facing cars, according to some comments on SDC's facebook page. Copper mentioned this would happen several months ago, but I left it to rumor and seriously hoped he was mistaken.

I'm quite saddened to hear about this, as the backwards facing cars were a highlight of the ride, and were often more enjoyable than the normal cars, IMO. The only good reason I can imagine for this change involve those ever-increasing insurance & safety liability issues that have plagued the park's older attractions and oddities.

Anyone have more insight on this?

marolinesdad · March 17, 2011, 10:39:23 PM

I talked to some of my friends that work at the park today and they said that the reason was that the cars were never made to run backwards and it was tearing them up. They had to do maintance on the backwards were 2 or 3 times more often.

Polley · March 17, 2011, 10:42:26 PM

NOOOOOOOOOoooooo!

that was part of the fun of Thunderation. I wonder what the reason was behind that decision.

shavethewhales · March 17, 2011, 10:56:25 PM

Quote from: oklaSDCfan on March 17, 2011, 10:39:23 PM
I talked to some of my friends that work at the park today and they said that the reason was that the cars were never made to run backwards and it was tearing them up. They had to do maintance on the backwards were 2 or 3 times more often.

Hmm, but wasn't it debuted with backwards cars? I would have thought Arrow planned for that instead of letting them just flip a couple of cars around. In any case, after 15 years it seems silly to end the tradition now, unless there are serious issues finally cropping up. Could it be a sign that the ride is headed out at some point?

KBCraig · March 18, 2011, 04:11:34 AM

I've never ridden it backwards. It's my favorite of the "new" rides (I'm dating myself, I know). I never saw the attraction of riding it backwards, but then I'm not such a coaster junkie. I'm sure some folks need the change to still get a thrill out of it.

Nothing wrong with that -- but I just don't get it. I want to stare death in the face, and be certain I'm about to be decapitated on that plunge into the mine.

I'd say I'm probably in the solid majority there, too. I've seen the backwards car leave empty or nearly empty lots of times when the ride was full and the lines were long. I wonder if throughput was a factor? Or is TnT so much less popular now that throughput isn't even an issue?

Curious.

StaceySue · March 18, 2011, 06:57:22 AM

I know some of you will miss it, but the couple of times I tried the backwards cars, I had a headache the rest of the day.

mhguy77 · March 18, 2011, 08:46:11 AM

They could have reduced the backwards cars form 2 to 1.
It was fun for the kids but I agree, it didn't give you time to prepare for the turns and gave me a headache.
Maybe they were afraid someone would throw a Disney Lawsuit against them, somebody there is always trying to make a buck on neck brain injuries.

saladdays · March 18, 2011, 10:55:25 AM

Quote from: shavethewhales on March 17, 2011, 10:56:25 PM
Quote from: oklaSDCfan on March 17, 2011, 10:39:23 PM
I talked to some of my friends that work at the park today and they said that the reason was that the cars were never made to run backwards and it was tearing them up. They had to do maintance on the backwards were 2 or 3 times more often.

Hmm, but wasn't it debuted with backwards cars? I would have thought Arrow planned for that instead of letting them just flip a couple of cars around. In any case, after 15 years it seems silly to end the tradition now, unless there are serious issues finally cropping up. Could it be a sign that the ride is headed out at some point?

It did not debut with backwards cars. I think they started that a year or two after.

rubedugans · March 18, 2011, 02:22:33 PM

I loved sitting in the backwards car-facing people we knew, or vice-versa. it made for great rides!

MissinTheGreenTrams · March 18, 2011, 03:11:55 PM

I was always a fan and I heard of moms sitting the oppisit of kids so they can comfort them if needed. My husband hated it due to what he calls the whiplash. all well. can all be winners.

shavethewhales · March 18, 2011, 08:08:13 PM

Quote from: saladdays on March 18, 2011, 10:55:25 AM
Quote from: shavethewhales on March 17, 2011, 10:56:25 PM
Quote from: oklaSDCfan on March 17, 2011, 10:39:23 PM
I talked to some of my friends that work at the park today and they said that the reason was that the cars were never made to run backwards and it was tearing them up. They had to do maintance on the backwards were 2 or 3 times more often.

Hmm, but wasn't it debuted with backwards cars? I would have thought Arrow planned for that instead of letting them just flip a couple of cars around. In any case, after 15 years it seems silly to end the tradition now, unless there are serious issues finally cropping up. Could it be a sign that the ride is headed out at some point?

It did not debut with backwards cars. I think they started that a year or two after.

Ah, I see. They left a comment on their facebook page stating "It was decided to take the ride back to it's original design."

Still seems extremely odd after all these years. When I was there they were popular seats, and they were a big reason I rode that thing as much as I did. The ride somehow seems a lot less special to me now...

Parson B Ready · March 18, 2011, 08:26:44 PM

My kids are going to be extremely disappointed about this. Anybody know why the ptb decided to take the ride back to its "original design"

DollarCityBoy · March 19, 2011, 12:39:33 AM

Of all the things they could bring back "the original design" to; interesting choice.

haytater · March 19, 2011, 12:54:58 AM

Awww shucks!! 1st, the green trams and now the backwards TNT cars! What are they doin' to me?? This ain't good news comin' from down in the Ozarks! I'm not sure what I'm more sad about: Not getting to ride backwards or that the hilarious signs hanging above the backwards seats will no longer be there.

It certainly added an element of thrill and came in handy when my mom, who is deathly afraid of coasters, agreed to ride TNT. She thought it would be better for her nerves if she didn't see what was coming so she rode backwards. I road in the car behind her so we were face to face and took a video of her rather torturous experience. Poor lady. Probably wouldn't have been that bad if she'd ridden forwards. Oh well. Makes for great footage!