I'm Sorry, Whizzer.

[david]

I want to apologize to this amazing coaster. I hadn't rode the whizzer in so long, and I feel I haven't given it a fair share. I don't want to lose this amazing coaster, which is underestimated by so many, including myself. I fit in a few rides yesterday, as the switchbacks were literally not used at all, it was a walk-on. I know that this topic is really uncalled for, but I felt I have to say something about this. The ride isn't as thrilling as something like RB, but I think it deserves to be in the "thrill" category.

[onyxhotel08]

Ok...thanks...I too fell in love with it after riding it for the first time in 2008 and while its age itself will kill it eventually I do think it deserves a few (3-5) more years of life.

[david]

Ok...thanks...I too fell in love with it after riding it for the first time in 2008 and while its age itself will kill it eventually I do think it deserves a few (3-5) more years of life.

It's looking better than ever! Did it get a pint job in the past year? It looks better than it did three years ago:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jLPYCJ_ ... re=related

[CoastsToCoasters]

aw, good job david. haha.

Now I apologize for comin at you in your tonyhawk forum.

Whizzer really is a gem for the park.

[rct2wizard360]

I too have something to get off my chest...

I'd like to apologize to Riverview Park, for not being alive when it was in operation.
I'd like to apologize to Hypersonic XLC, as I never got to ride it.
I'd like to apologize to Moonsault Scramble, as I never got to ride it.

Finally, the Russians that made all of those switchback railways that started roller coasters, as I never got to ride them.

That is all.

[onyxhotel08]

Sorry that I only got to ride deja Vu once before it was so cruely removed. August 12, 2007 was the BEST DAY EVER!!!

[david]

^^^ Aw, that's ok. It was a stupid idea anyways.

I like the direction this topic is going.

I'm sorry, I never got to ride Deja`Vu!

[SFaddiction84]

Must we REMIND everyone that WHIZZER is not on the Chopping block in the next few years because its UNDER Estimated, rather because its OLD as Hell! There are parts to this ride that simply would cost SO MUCH To find someone to make them! This ride is past its "Support" Date and will eventually break or kill someone!

It will eventually need to leave because of old age NOT lack of ridership!

[david]

Ordering those parts that cost oh so much will be cheaper for SixFlags than to just destroy it. Do you know how many people will just choose not to return the following years. If they choose to get rid of it, I hope they let it stand for a few years (Just like SSA) so I can sneak in and get some pictures. Families, Kids, Teens, Adults, we all love it! I say teens because this is one of the only rides that allows doubles.

[SFaddiction84]

Parts or No Parts, this coaster over time will need more and more parts fixed and eventually it WILL cost more to rehab it then tear it down! As much as we all WANT To be full of GREED and expect them to keep it around because WE or they want it to be there! Six Flags will never remain profitable or successful if they keep thinking Short-Term! They must think Long Term which is, in 5 years, will we have spent more fixing it or Replacing it! It sucks when a coaster has to go, just like CHANG, people are mad its leaving there park, but the owners clearly see HIGHER Profit and Excitement in the WATER PARK so thats how change happens. It sucks but it happens

[david]

Parts or No Parts, this coaster over time will need more and more parts fixed and eventually it WILL cost more to rehab it then tear it down! As much as we all WANT To be full of GREED and expect them to keep it around because WE or they want it to be there! Six Flags will never remain profitable or successful if they keep thinking Short-Term! They must think Long Term which is, in 5 years, will we have spent more fixing it or Replacing it! It sucks when a coaster has to go, just like CHANG, people are mad its leaving there park, but the owners clearly see HIGHER Profit and Excitement in the WATER PARK so thats how change happens. It sucks but it happens

Sorry, but I must say this:

WHY ON EARTH WOULD SHAPIRO REMOVE ONE OF THE MOST PROFITABLE RIDES, THAT CATERS TO ALL?! It's like Shapiro saying that, "Let's remove STT because it's old." I hope you know that Whizzer gets new parts, and gets rehabbed every off-season. Anyway,how would you know the specific parts that need replacing, and the price?

[vprlvr456]

I'm sorry, superstar limo, that I rode you and gave you the kiss of death

[onyxhotel08]

NO ride..Not Whizzer, Not Raging Bull, Not V2 not any are meant to last FOREVER. At a certain point sometimes a ride will have to go down as it reaches its peak and even people understand the park cannot keep spending underreasonable amount of $$ on a ride just because it is well loved. Stupidest idea ever.

[FParker185]

While I'm not sure where SFGAm gets them from, parts for Whizzer are easily obtained from Wieland Schwarzkopf/Gerstlauer and Premeir claims that they can support any ride ever made. Intamin may have a source also as it's technically an Intamin ride.

[Ilovthevu']

WHY ON EARTH WOULD SHAPIRO REMOVE ONE OF THE MOST PROFITABLE RIDES, THAT CATERS TO ALL?! It's like Shapiro saying that, "Let's remove STT because it's old." I hope you know that Whizzer gets new parts, and gets rehabbed every off-season. Anyway,how would you know the specific parts that need replacing, and the price?

Whizzer is not the most profitable ride in the park (How can a ride be profitable anyway?). They don't even sell t-shirts that say Whizzer on them. They sell Raging Bull shirts though, along with Batman and Superman. Yes, there are people that really like Whizzer, but some teens are going to say it's lame. I don't think it's lame, but they might think that. If you really think about it, Whizzer line (not in time) is small. Raging Bull has 2 houses plus a walkback, Batman has an upstairs, in the city part, in the park part, and past the park. Superman has switchbacks, and a long walk to the station.

Whizzer isn't as packed as you might think it is even if all those switchbacks are full. On top of it, remember that Whizzer can seat either 1 person or 2 people per seat which means Whizzer could seat 24 people per train or only 18 (really 12 with 1 person per seat, but yet there isn't much of a time in which you see every seat have 1 person).

I really do enjoy Whizzer, and I don't want it to go away, but rides can't last forever. You might not like them, but for our park, the mice coasters are the new breed of kids coasters. You have to remember that this is the park that replaced the locks so they don't have to spend more money on fixing the Big Easy Balloons. I would gladly take something like a Space Mountain (WDW one- I don't mean an indoor roller coaster, but that type of layout, but faster if you put it outdoors), or a mine train that actually has some drops.

[BP317]

Whizzer is not the most profitable ride in the park (How can a ride be profitable anyway?). They don't even sell t-shirts that say Whizzer on them. They sell Raging Bull shirts though, along with Batman and Superman. Yes, there are people that really like Whizzer, but some teens are going to say it's lame. I don't think it's lame, but they might think that.

Rides certainly can be profitable. Do you have any idea how much Star Wars merch is sold at Disney Parks? Enough to the point where they would spend million re-doing the ride to Star Tours 2 instead of putting in a new attraction. Whizzer is still a draw, if they took it out a lot of people with kids would re-consider going to SFGAm.

[Jackluver18]

I might, Whizzer was my first coaster and I would be deeply saddened if it left. I know it's old and such and it doesn't have much time left, hopefully it lasts a few more years because I love that ride and we have a great history.

[Goku1910]

Ordering those parts that cost oh so much will be cheaper for SixFlags than to just destroy it. Do you know how many people will just choose not to return the following years. If they choose to get rid of it, I hope they let it stand for a few years (Just like SSA) so I can sneak in and get some pictures. Families, Kids, Teens, Adults, we all love it! I say teens because this is one of the only rides that allows doubles.

Like SFAddiction said, would it REALLY be worth the Risk? The amount of Riders does not matter, Look at Demon for example, it's Ridership is pretty low, but hasn't been removed. I'm not sure why, But I'd think it's probably because it's one of Great America's "Signature" Rides.

Here's SFAddiction's post:

Must we REMIND everyone that WHIZZER is not on the Chopping block in the next few years because its UNDER Estimated, rather because its OLD as Hell! There are parts to this ride that simply would cost SO MUCH To find someone to make them! This ride is past its "Support" Date and will eventually break or kill someone!

It will eventually need to leave because of old age NOT lack of ridership!

[Jcoaster95]

If it's the spiral lift hill that's a problem, then they could probably just re-design it. Currently, there is a motor in the cars that is activated by the wire on the lift hill.

They could probably make it some kind of cable lift hill, with something underneath the car to grab on to the steel cable. They could keep the same anti-roll, too.

[david]

If it's the spiral lift hill that's a problem, then they could probably just re-design it. Currently, there is a motor in the cars that is activated by the wire on the lift hill.

They could probably make it some kind of cable lift hill, with something underneath the car to grab on to the steel cable. They could keep the same anti-roll, too.

I don't think the spiral is the problem, I think it's a mini lift after one of the hills that's been giving issues. Seems as if it was turned off on Saturday.

[FParker185]

I think that's an anti rollback system. If those wheels start to turn backwards it engages the rollback system.

[tillenterprises]

I've always loved Whizzer, but I never realized how fun it was riding it in the front seat until I rode it earlier this summer- it feels like I was on a bobsled by myself. I also love riding it at night in the dark when it dives down into the trees by the ground. The best part, it's a family coaster that everyone can enjoy, not just little kids. I hope they do everything possible to keep it going for many more years.

[Coaster Justin]

First of all Mack Could Probably Build a Brand New Spiral Lift System and With Shapiro Loving Mack Lately:
http://rcdb.com/973.htm?p=3961

And since we're getting rid of Cog Motors with the Lift, New Trains would need to Be Added
http://rcdb.com/973.htm?p=3965


And So What if Whizzer T-Shirts aren't Being Sold, Neither is Rue Le Dodge, Columbia Carousel, The Wall, Loggers Run, Condor, or Big Easy Balloons; well I Guess those are being Removed Soon Too:

How Many Hurricane Harbor Rides T-Shirts Have You Seen; I Guess that Could Be Removed Soon Too.

[coastercrazy]

Wizzer isn't getting new parts. The ride was delivered with 7 trains. The only run 3 at most. I know for a fact that atleast 2 are beond repair and are being canibblized for parts. They will keep it up untill they don't have parts to keep the ride running. Then i think it will be the end of the line.

[Necropolis]

Theres no way they can take out Whizzer. It was the first coaster at SFGA. Its a staple there. This was my first year riding it and it was amazing. its smooth but fast too. if they take it out then theyre taking out a piece of SFGA history. please dont go whizzer!