Jump to content
VOTE NOW FOR ALL YOUR FAVORITES FROM G.A. 2023 ×

Viper


Recommended Posts

The Manhattan Express in New York New York Casino in Las Vegas was renamed simply The Roller Coaster in 2007. I'm not 100% sure why they renamed it such as boring name. One of the only TOGO coasters I like is the Ultra Twister in GA. I never went on it because I wasn't born until 1994, and despite the issues the coaster suffered, the ride looked pretty cool, especially the logo (not to be confused with Astroworld's version).

1989-Ultra-Twister.jpg

 

It's sad that many TOGO coasters don't appeal to Americans very much. However, the SkyRider at Canada's Wonderland and Shockwave at Kings Dominion are pretty popular to guests.

p5603.jpg

Picture copyrighted by RCDB

 

p159.jpg

Picture copyrighted from RCDB

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The track is what made Viper so uncomfortable. The restraints would have been just fine if the transition from ride element to element was better designed.

 

On the other hand, the track on Ultra Twister was fine. After all, there aren't that many turns on a straight out and back track. The killer part of Ultra Twister were the neck harnesses. Those were designed to tighten as the ride progressed, especially pulling out of the first drop. By the time riders got back into the station they were severely stapled into their seats.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 months later...

I've been working on some material for an update to our postcards pages and spotted something. The publishers of the Viper postcard took the easy way out and simply rotated the same photo to make it appear like the riders were traveling through the heart-line spiral.

 

Both the images are the same... you can see the catwalk is on the bottom of the first photo and rotated 90o counter clockwise for the second shot.

 

gallery_2_43_202634.jpg

 

Here is the second image realigned!

gallery_2_43_963434.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 months later...

Hehe, I like that postcard.

 

I went on Viper maybe 10 times over it's existence. It was actually my second upsidedown coaster after Batman...it also made me avoid sitdown looping coasters for a couple of years because I thought they were all rough like Viper. lol The ride was definately too short and too rough but it had its little hallmarks like the drop and two odd inversions. I really liked how both inversions seemed to suck you off the seat, the first one by means of hangtime and the second, I guess, because of its center of rotation. I was a bit sad to see it go since it was one of those odd little coasters (which I find kind of charming in a way lol) but El Toro is far better, so no big loss.

 

I also didn't think Manhattan Express was that rough, but it did have its moments like the transition into the dive loop... :blauwoog:

 

Btw, don't TOGO coasters over in Japan look a lot better than the ones here in the US? It's like we get the spare track pieces left over from rides like Fujiyama and Bandit!

Edited by cygnus12
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Probably the only thing I liked about Viper was the trains. The color and curves of it made it seem so much more modern than the boxy and older Scream Machine trains. A themed train is hard to come by nowadays, but to me Viper always had the best in the park (when you actually saw them outside the storage shed)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Always wanted to ride the Viper, in my early years at the park (96/97/98/99) I was a little to short, but even after I passed the hight requirements, It was only open a few time, that along with rumors I herd from various people about it breaking down and such, I never got up the courage. It always looked so cool though!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 year later...
  • 3 months later...

I doubt Six Flags has kept the trains when there is no chance of them ever getting another TOGO coaster. I bet they were either scrapped or sold to a park in Japan where TOGO coasters are still common...

 

I wish I was able to ride the Viper. Although it was rough, that dive loop and heart line roll look amazing. The first drop also looks awesome too.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 years later...
  • 1 month later...

Got to ride this once, back in 2004. Didn't realize how rare this ride operating was back then. Looking back, I view riding this as a privilege, even if it was a death trap.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 10 months later...
  • 1 year later...

Viper was a piece of crap, but did have redeeming qualities. The first drop was fantastic, and while the pain from the restraints killed most of the joy out of the heartline rolls, they were pretty unique.

 

It is the one coaster I truly do not miss, though, because of the brilliant ride that replaced it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 months later...

As mentioned in the Viper spotlight (which by the way needs a major updating and expansion!), it is noted that Great Adventure's Viper was assembled and tested at the manufacturer's facility prior to being sent to the park. Here are some photos of Great Adventure's Viper at the Togo site.

 

gallery_2_35_758823.jpg

 

gallery_2_35_380880.jpg

 

gallery_2_35_291344.jpg

 

gallery_2_35_682410.jpg

 

gallery_2_35_283084.jpg

 

gallery_2_35_223252.jpg

 

gallery_2_35_443300.jpg

 

gallery_2_35_425117.jpg

 

And here are some pictures of the pieces which will hold the ride's coils on the lift - a feature that wasn't installed until being assembled in NJ.

 

gallery_2_35_36105.jpg

 

gallery_2_35_59796.jpg

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 year later...

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...