SOB to reopen

[TOPGUN1993]

I will take some Pictures of the loop when I go to the Beach eather Friday or Saturday.

[Avatar]

I like to see how you do that when it's not there anymore.

[Snake Attack!]

or if it is still there how you are going to see it, I tried my best

[RailRider]

I love the offseasson and all the speculation and PANIC!!!!!

Im going to smash this rumor. We can no longer see the loop because it has severly sunken this off seasson. Also the accident that occured on SoB this year was do to the same sinking. Seems the ground SoB and Magnum are built on are very similar...

(RailRider adding rampant speculation and rumors to help exaserbate the current situation.)

[Captain Picard]

I have some pics from 2003 in the campground of SoB and you can't see the loop. They was from the back as close to Top Gun as you could get.

[Gordon Bombay]

Thanks for the updated pictures Shman! This is very interesting indeed and yes, you were at about the exact same angle. Did you take them from the park and ride? I took mine from within the parking lot, like you said, so that may be why, but considering that the parking lot is not on a steep slope or anything I dont see why the distance between our spots would make that much of a difference. I wish I would've gone up today but I didnt want to brave the weather and traffic so thank you for going up. I'm gonna try saturday afternoon.

[Delirium13]

It does look like those pictures were taken relatively close to eachother and from that picture the loop appears to be gone.

The only thing is, I don't know if it's the angle or not, but Combat's picture looks like the middle of the lift hill is in front of the loop, while Shman's looks closer to the bottom. I'm not sure what effect that would have on whether or not you could see the loop, but that is just something I noticed.

[Shman]

Thanks for the updated pictures Shman! This is very interesting indeed and yes, you were at about the exact same angle. Did you take them from the park and ride? I took mine from within the parking lot, like you said, so that may be why, but considering that the parking lot is not on a steep slope or anything I dont see why the distance between our spots would make that much of a difference. I wish I would've gone up today but I didnt want to brave the weather and traffic so thank you for going up. I'm gonna try saturday afternoon.

Thank you Ronny for confirming that it was very close to the same angle as your picture. I actually stopped at the entrance to the North Parking Tolls where the yellow gate is. I don't blame you for not wanting to risk driving this morning....traffic was nasty this morning.

[screamingnight]

I was informed by Mr. Kings Island today that he is going to take down SOB himself with his bare hands.

[2oo64ever]

I was informed by Mr. Kings Island today that he is going to take down SOB himself with his bare hands.

Mr. Kings Island?

[PKIVortex]

That was a joke. Not serious at all.

[CoasterKrazy]

Thanks for the updated pictures Shman! This is very interesting indeed and yes, you were at about the exact same angle. Did you take them from the park and ride? I took mine from within the parking lot, like you said, so that may be why, but considering that the parking lot is not on a steep slope or anything I dont see why the distance between our spots would make that much of a difference. I wish I would've gone up today but I didnt want to brave the weather and traffic so thank you for going up. I'm gonna try saturday afternoon.

I am by no means whatsoever intimately familiar with surveying, so for the sake of argument, be aware that the rest of my post is based on only a very limited experience from a one quarter surveying class at UC.

Anyway, looking at those photos it becomes immediately apparent that there are considerable grade changes over the span of the parking lot. Notice that in Shman's photo the sign's footer in the in the foreground cannot be seen, and the only the sign itself in the background can be seen. In Ronny's photo, although not as obvious, the curvature of the lot is noticeable. Considering the large size of the lot, even a small slope can result in a very large change in elevation. While taking topography measurements I was very surprised to find what kind of elevation changes can propagate over short distances. This could be why different photos are revealing different "state's of removal." Considering that one photo was taken from the drop off area, and one from the parking lot itself, and from different positions as well, I don't think any definitive conclusions can be drawn until a photographer can reproduce Ronny's location.

Okay, rant over. I for one, would hate to see the removal of the loop, and hope that if the loop has in fact been taken down, this is only a temporary change.

[AZ Kinda Guy]

IF they are taking out the loop for a certain purpose, which I won't mention, then I personally love the idea of the loop going bye bye.

[2oo64ever]

if SOB is not gonna have a loop i am not riding it cause the loop was the best part

[CoastersRZ]

Now why would that be a reason to not ride it anymore? Sure, it might not have the loop element, but that isn`t the only element on the ride. I mean, that is the same type of reasoning that people were using when KI removed the Eagles. They were saying that because the park removed the Eagles, they weren`t going to visit the park. Granted, it was a bad idea for them to remove the Flying Eagles, but that ride alone did not make up Kings Island (they do however have the right not to patronize the park if they are that upset about the removal of that ride). Similarly, the loop on Son of Beast does not make up all of Son of Beast. I mean, pending any major changes, it will still be the world`s tallest and fastest wooden roller coaster.

[The Interpreter]

And it may well stay....the tallest.

--The Interpreter, speaking while in his mind's eye looking down the first drop of The Beast....or Mantis, for that matter....

[CoastersRZ]

And if that is the case, it is really quite surprising they did not try to do that sooner!

[screamingnight]

That was the only smooth part. Now if they take it out it will just be a rough wooden hyper coaster.

[Guest kwindshawne]

Can anyone tell me how to load pics? I went down there today and went to different angles, got as close as I could (without getting arrested) and took pics of Son. IT is on a camera phone-not very good quality, but folks-I can't find the loop anywhere!!!!

If I can find a way to load them, I will. Even though the pics are rotten, I never did find the loop. BTW, GWL is buzzing with activity!!!

[Gordon Bombay]

^Thats because their grand opening is this thursday! Kiwi to share your pics please go to www.imageshack.us, upload the pics then when they are finished uploading copy and paste the link it gives you next to the words "hotlink for forums" and paste it into your post. Then, when you post the image will appear. If you need to get the pics off your phone to your computer send a pixture message to an email adress, I'm not sure how this works with other companies but when I do this on my Verizon phone only my standard txt plan applies. Hope that helps.

[Skywriter]

^Thats because their grand opening is this thursday! Kiwi to share your pics please go to www.imageshack.us, upload the pics then when they are finished uploading copy and paste the link it gives you next to the words "hotlink for forums" and paste it into your post. Then, when you post the image will appear. If you need to get the pics off your phone to your computer send a pixture message to an email adress, I'm not sure how this works with other companies but when I do this on my Verizon phone only my standard txt plan applies. Hope that helps.

I think the most best way to solve this matter is write to Kings Island through there e-mail on there website to get the most clearest answer.Just a thought.

[Guest kwindshawne]

^Thats because their grand opening is this thursday! Kiwi to share your pics please go to www.imageshack.us, upload the pics then when they are finished uploading copy and paste the link it gives you next to the words "hotlink for forums" and paste it into your post. Then, when you post the image will appear. If you need to get the pics off your phone to your computer send a pixture message to an email adress, I'm not sure how this works with other companies but when I do this on my Verizon phone only my standard txt plan applies. Hope that helps.

I think the most best way to solve this matter is write to Kings Island through there e-mail on there website to get the most clearest answer.Just a thought.

Probably-but this way is more fun!!

[Skywriter]

^Thats because their grand opening is this thursday! Kiwi to share your pics please go to www.imageshack.us, upload the pics then when they are finished uploading copy and paste the link it gives you next to the words "hotlink for forums" and paste it into your post. Then, when you post the image will appear. If you need to get the pics off your phone to your computer send a pixture message to an email adress, I'm not sure how this works with other companies but when I do this on my Verizon phone only my standard txt plan applies. Hope that helps.

I think the most best way to solve this matter is write to Kings Island through there e-mail on there website to get the most clearest answer.Just a thought.

Probably-but this way is more fun!!

I guess so.

[Guest kwindshawne]

<img src="http://img184.imageshack.us/img184/3225/1209061601gd0.jpg" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" />

<img src="http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/3372/1209061544uo9.jpg" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" />

<img src="http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/6753/1209061539nv7.jpg" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" />

Here they are-I apologize now for the salt spots on the one pic-car is filthy!!

<img src="http://img184.imageshack.us/img184/3225/1209061601gd0.jpg" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" />

<img src="http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/3372/1209061544uo9.jpg" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" />

<img src="http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/6753/1209061539nv7.jpg" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" />

Here they are-I apologize now for the salt spots on the one pic-car is filthy!!

CRAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

<img src="http://img184.imageshack.us/img184/3225/1209061601gd0.jpg" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" />

<img src="http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/3372/1209061544uo9.jpg" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" />

<img src="http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/6753/1209061539nv7.jpg" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" />

Here they are-I apologize now for the salt spots on the one pic-car is filthy!!

<img src="http://img184.imageshack.us/img184/3225/1209061601gd0.jpg" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" />

<img src="http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/3372/1209061544uo9.jpg" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" />

<img src="http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/6753/1209061539nv7.jpg" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" />

Here they are-I apologize now for the salt spots on the one pic-car is filthy!!

CRAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

<img src="http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/6753/1209061539nv7.jpg" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" />

Hang on folks-I'm not the sharpest pencil in the box-this is quite an accomplishment for my amateur butt

Sorry about this one-dirty car as mentioned above. Security was coming around-I left after this one-didn't get any good pics to really show, but I can tell you I did not see the loop anywhere!!!!!!

[Guest kwindshawne]

Thanks for the tip on pics CombatStupendous-I learn more every day-interesting site.

[beastfan11]

OK the only thing is wouldn't the track have to be re aliened is the loop was gone for good?

[Guest kwindshawne]

OK the only thing is wouldn't the track have to be re aliened is the loop was gone for good?

I would think there would need to be changes-that is out of my knowledge totally-this whole thing has my interest.....

[Delirium13]

If they really did remove the loop that will probably up the chances of the ride getting new trains, because they won't need those tight Flight of Fear style trains to hold you in when you go up side down. Just a thought.

[The Interpreter]

Really? Please explain to me why such restraints or trains weren't necessary on Mr. Schwarzkoph's wonderful creations like Shockwave at Six Flags Over Texas, Sooper Dooper Looper at Hersheypark, Mindbender at Six Flags Over Georgia or even Greezed Lightnin at Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom nee Viper at SFOG and Tidal Wave at SFGAm!

http://www.rcdb.com/ig28.htm?picture=3

Here's a better picture of the restraints:

http://www.rcdb.com/ig75.htm?picture=23 (that was Tidal Wave (later known as Greased Lightnin) at [Paramount's] Marriott's Great America)

Perhaps it wasn't the restraints that were necessary for that loop, but that only some (one?) manufacturer(s) was/were willing to assume certain risks in selling trains for a wooden coaster with a loop...perhaps they were in fear of some sort of accident occurring, ironically in the loop....

[Captain Picard]

In the images posted I know you couldn't see the loop before as I have some images that I got that are closer and there is no loop in them. I took some that was around a 100ft from the Top Gun supports.