Drachen Fire
- Thread starter Zachary
- Start date
Zimmy said:
I'm with Zimmy on the truncated drop. Give me a straight big drop and then you can curve, invert or whatever afterwards. This is the main reason that I don't care for Alpengeist. The first drop is ruined by the downward curve. I never get that gut feeling on Alpie which is the reason I ride coasters.
Yes i am on several sites. I tend to use the same name and picture with most of them so if there are people on multiple they will recognize me. my job here is complete 
While looking around on the wayback machine I found the 1998 facts sheet for the infamous Drachen Fire.
SourceBusch Gardens Williamsburg said:
I never had any roughness issues with this ride and found it to be very fun. I have been there some days where you could just stay in the seat and ride again. I filled out the seat pretty well and maybe that's why. It also had that great corkscrew at the end, loved that!
I've always found it interesting that some people seem to have an "immunity" to coaster forces that other people might find to be painful. Naturally, it varries by ride. I know this isn't as good of an example, but some people can't ride Tempesto without feeling pain. I guess it's all about how they design the ride to fit certain body types.
I think it would be cool to sit in a Drachen Fire vehicle to get a better idea of how the ride would feel to me. Although Ron Toomer had very specific, yet strange ways of envisioning ride forces, since he wasn't really a rider himself.
I think it would be cool to sit in a Drachen Fire vehicle to get a better idea of how the ride would feel to me. Although Ron Toomer had very specific, yet strange ways of envisioning ride forces, since he wasn't really a rider himself.
When a ride jars me once, it seems like the rest of the ride is ruined from there, unless there is a breather. I have heard some say that Drachen Fire was relentless, and might have been tolerable if there was time for people to catch their breath.
On the other hand, I don't know how Alpengeist's MCBR helps or hurts the feel of the ride. I know that Alpengeist felt smoother when it glided through the brake run, but did this alone make it feel any smoother? Somehow I don't feel like the same principles applied to DF.
On the other hand, I don't know how Alpengeist's MCBR helps or hurts the feel of the ride. I know that Alpengeist felt smoother when it glided through the brake run, but did this alone make it feel any smoother? Somehow I don't feel like the same principles applied to DF.
I believe Canyon Blaster at Circus Circus in Las Vegas still has its original trains, which are as far as I could tell are exactly the same as DF's. Different paint scheme, nothing more. So if you're out that way you might stop in.CastleOSullivan said:
There is an interview out there somewhere with RMC's Alan Schilke, who notes that during his time with Arrow he found their force calculations to be pretty inaccurate. Not too surprising, given Arrow's very "approximate-feeling" rides. I think Ron, Dal, and company were both emboldened and constrained by their generation of by-hand calculation training, and also by (I strongly presume) a lack of available funding for a complete rebuild of their design and fabrication technologies in the late 80s/early 90s. That stuff ain't cheap, especially when the mindset is that the existing methods are "good enough."
Wasn't there a DF throwback tshirt at the park?
I'm not sure what your budget is, but there is a mug on eBay now. I have to say, the artwork is beautiful!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-Drachen-Fire-Roller-Coaster-Busch-Gardens-Williamsburg-VA-Coffee-Cup-Mug-/142371420681?hash=item2125ff7a09:g:uEMAAOSwpzdWrmSO
http://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-Drachen-Fire-Roller-Coaster-Busch-Gardens-Williamsburg-VA-Coffee-Cup-Mug-/142371420681?hash=item2125ff7a09:g:uEMAAOSwpzdWrmSO
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Nicole said:
Indeed. I saw it in the Festhaus gift shop Saturday.
I had the "tile design" shirt (on hunter green instead of black), and the graphic looked really fantastic in person, like a stained glass window on a t-shirt.Grant said:
It lasted a long time but eventually gave up the ghost. Wish they still sold that style, as I'd happily buy another.
The shirt was one of several classic shirt designs.
I wouldn't characterize it is "cashing in on nostalgia," however. I think it was refreshing to see the park acknowledge its history and sell merchandise for attractions that many guests miss.
I wouldn't characterize it is "cashing in on nostalgia," however. I think it was refreshing to see the park acknowledge its history and sell merchandise for attractions that many guests miss.