Viper- slower?

[DanM64]

Just something I thought I'd put out there. Every time I've ridden Viper this year it feels like it's running a lot slower to me. At first I figured it was just because it was cold outside, but now that's it's hot it still feels a lot slower than it has been the last few years. Is it just me, or have other people noticed the same thing?

[Paradise]

Last time I rode it (opening day) It felt like the same crazy viper to me.

[onyxhotel08]

Just something I thought I'd put out there. Every time I've ridden Viper this year it feels like it's running a lot slower to me. At first I figured it was just because it was cold outside, but now that's it's hot it still feels a lot slower than it has been the last few years. Is it just me, or have other people noticed the same thing?

...No, it is just you

[yamcha]

could it be that is is going so fast you think it is slower?

[thedemonclown]

Didn't viper have a brake at the top of the lift hill, because last Tuesday there was none

[BrianPlencner]

^ No. There is, and never has been a brake at the top of the lift hill.

What is going on is that the lift motor will be in what I will call "Fast Lift Mode". All that means is that instead of the lift motor slowing down as the train nears the top, the lift will continue at the same speed all the way up the hill until the train is all the way over the top of the hill.

The first 5 or so rides first thing in the morning the lift will be in that mode. After that, the lift motor will slow down as the train gets near the top of the lift, and will continue at that speed until the train is all the way over.

So, my guess is that last Tuesday, you were on Viper between opening at 10:20 AM. This is why I will normally go to Viper first thing when I'm at the park for opening, so I get a ride when the lift is running that way.

--Brian

[DanM64]

Guess it's just me then. It's still one of my favorite rides in the park anyway.

[FParker185]

It's been running a bit slow for a few years now, needs some track work on the lower levels of the ride, still runs fairly good though. And yes the first half hour of every day the lift runs at full speed the whole way up and over.

[david]

Nope. Rode today and it was the same ole' Viper.

[DanM64]

It looks like they had already done a bit of track work prior to this season near where the camera used to be. Glad they're giving it some TLC. They've also done a lot of work to AE it seems like too, both sides (red especially) have been running better in the last few years than I can ever remember!

[FParker185]

yeah they replaced a few laminates here and there in the track, but mainly that turn before the final bunny hop, right by the station on the lower level, that needs some more major work, you can feel the train start to shuffle, bind up and slow down on that turn, really hurts that last bunny, but I get the distinct feeling they are in no hurry to fix that, they should at least speed up the lift because of it

(the final turn into the brakes is why the lift is slow, it crosses over so much track there is no room for structure to support the turn and there for in it's early years needed a lot of work)