I was told that SOB is done for the season for intensive track work. Is this true? A TRTR supervisor told me.

I also heard they ran a Racer train on it

Son of Beast is in fact closed for the season as they get an early start on winter rehab. They have already cut out sections of the track in order to retrack it.

interesting about someone thinking that they ran a Racer train on it... is that true? I am very unqualified for an opinion on this, but I have always felt that the absolute terrible ride was the trains and not the track. Because the trains were especially bumpy even on the moderately slow parts.

just a thought...

Highly unlikely. We're taking PTC trains running on a track that's designed for Premier trains.

There may be some truth in the fact that they ran a Racer train on it. It could be that they ran a new PTC train on the track to see if it improved over the old Premeir trains that were really bad.

I'm glad that PKI is making an effort to try to make this ride better. I think it has great potential!

I hope they can... for all the investment they have in it, not to mention real estate consumed by it.... a coaster of that stature ought to have a 2-hour wait in the middle of November.

I love coasters, and not to complain..... and maybe I'm just getting too old, but I just can't ride SOB. It's just too rough.

If some of you remember the SOB tunnel scare, then you know they tried improving the first drop, which in my oppinion isnt the worst part of the ride, the last "Helix of Doom" is the worst part.

There may be some truth in the fact that they ran a Racer train on it. It could be that they ran a new PTC train on the track to see if it improved over the old Premeir trains that were really bad.

I'm glad that PKI is making an effort to try to make this ride better. I think it has great potential!

As cool as that would be, I'd have to believe that when I see it.

any of those helix runs is as close to a beating... if the track used more of the terrain and ran more a straight course maybe it would be as bad.... but even as fast of The Beast goes in the helix...... it's not as bad.

Doesn`t Son of Beast have a larger track guage, than The Beast and The Racer, making standard PTC trains not fit on its track?

This is easily modifyible.

What was the tunnel scare? I think it's great they are trying to improve the smoothness (or lack there off). The roughness never really bothers me except during the first and last rose bowl.

The roughness has never bothered me because I have been on much much much worse coasters, but I love the fact that PKI is going to retrack the extremely rough sections. Actions like this should show all of us that PKI knows they can do better with the SOB and that they will do whaterver it takes to get an almost flawless ride. I like the retracking, but new trains like Thunderhead's would be very nice.

::Shakes head:: No racer train was ran on SOB.

They can retrack the thing all they want. It just goes to crap again after a few days. I'm sorry but how many times has it been closed for "track work"? More than I can count. You think they would just cut their losses and blow the darn thing up!

It is rough, but I agree with AZ - I don't see how they can fix it. Track is track. If the old track gets beat up and rough - and they replace it with new track - it is just going to happen again... The problem is in the design of the ride itself - which isn't something that can be readily fixed by just replacing some lumber.

Running a Racer train on SOB? come on. When would they do this? This would require taking a whole train off one ride, modifying it, running it on another ride, taking it off that ride, modifing it again, and having it ready to run by the next operation day. That means they wouldve had to have done it between after sunday night close and the day the park opened the next friday. Not im possible but come on, when theres many other things that need to be done, they wouldnt do that. As for the trains I dont see what your all complaining about, its the track that makes it rough, the trains have little effect. Your better off with those Premier trains than anything else. If those trains didnt keep you in so tightly then youd be thrown around even more, and why do the trains get thrown around? Because of the tracks state, construction, and design. Be glad that the Permiter Surveilance Vehicles hug you so tightly, it could be worse. Imagine SOB with the older PTC trains, one lap bar and no head rest.......ouch!

Running a Racer train on SOB? come on. When would they do this? This would require taking a whole train off one ride, modifying it, running it on another ride, taking it off that ride, modifing it again, and having it ready to run by the next operation day. That means they wouldve had to have done it between after sunday night close and the day the park opened the next friday. Not im possible but come on, when theres many other things that need to be done, they wouldnt do that. As for the trains I dont see what your all complaining about, its the track that makes it rough, the trains have little effect. Your better off with those Premier trains than anything else. If those trains didnt keep you in so tightly then youd be thrown around even more, and why do the trains get thrown around? Because of the tracks state, construction, and design. Be glad that the Permiter Surveilance Vehicles hug you so tightly, it could be worse. Imagine SOB with the older PTC trains, one lap bar and no head rest.......ouch!

I couldn't have said it any better combat. Besides, what would be the point of it?

I love coasters, and not to complain..... and maybe I'm just getting too old, but I just can't ride SOB. It's just too rough.

Absolutely! I'm an old coaster nut that has ridden them all over the country. In my opinion, there is no worse ride than on Son of Beast. My one ride on Son of Beasst is the only ride that I will ever take.

The roughness has never bothered me because I have been on much much much worse coasters

Much worse coasters? Now that IS bad. Which coasters' would those be?

I think intamin should put prefabricated track on it

The Texas Giant at SFOT. The Texas Giant is the coaster that Mean Streak at CP was designed after. The Giant is absolutely brutal because of the open trains and the xtreme latteral g's.

The Wolf Bobs at Geuga Lake before they were completely retracked was another painfull ride.

I think intamin should put prefabricated track on it

Why? It would still have the problems that it has right now. The design of the entire ride is what makes it rough.

Wolf Bobs was the worst I have been on. This is the last year of the 3 year repair plan to SOB, maybe this is the one that will fix it.

I was told that SOB is done for the season for intensive track work. Is this true? A TRTR supervisor told me.

I also heard they ran a Racer train on it

How come nobody ever tells me anything? All I ever get is the generic "I know whats wrong but can't tell you response"...

Yes I also heard that rumor about The Racer train on SOB. Its a rumor that has been circulating around ACE...

If I could remember, in it's first year of running. I rode it in Oct, to me it was maybe 75% ok smooth. But then in '01 it was like what happen, that rose bowl was a beat fest.

I think intamin should put prefabricated track on it

Why? It would still have the problems that it has right now. The design of the entire ride is what makes it rough.

Plus, it would require Intamin trains designed to take a loop and take the angles that SOB does.

SOB is rough but I will never complain about it ever again after riding Mean Streak this past weekend. I can not believe CP would subject anybody to such abuse. There was not one moment that I wasn't experiencing pain.

SOB closed for the season i knew it was bound to happen i guess that is one lees ride we will be riding for the rest of the season oh well i dont like it that much.

I've had some rough rides on SOB but I still love it, I think it builds character to take a beating without complaining once in a while.

Any one have a picture of a Racer train running on SOB? Last time I heard something like this a friend tould me he saw a Bat train on Top Gun the day after the crash of one the trains. While I am not sure if The Bat is still around in train at PKI anyone know?