Sure, it has a lot to do with the four years I worked there as a sound technician. But it’s stuff like this, combined with what I know about the way those roller coasters are put together, that scare the crap out of me. For instance:
-The “Viper” coaster at Six Flags Great Adventure was opened incomplete. A section of the ride was not assembled and the design modified (on site, I think) so that the ride would open on schedule. Also, at least in its first few years in operation, bolts regularly shook loose from the ride.
-The brakes on “Batman & Robin: The Chiller” got so hot at the end of a run that special mist machines had to be installed (after construction of the ride!) to prevent the brakes from overheating and failing. The misters didn’t prove to be effective, and the ride was closed for nearly a full year while modifications were made to the design.
I actually enjoy coasters. In my more naive years, I loved the original Batman coaster. But I’ll never ride one at a Six Flags park again – as long as I can help it.
Half the excitement of riding a roller coaster is not knowing whether or not you’ll get off of it alive. 🙂
Actually, let me clarify the “Viper” scanario once and for all. We purchased a *demo* version of “Viper”. No part of what was received at the park went unassembled. They simply put the demo version together.