Kingda Ka closed

[Joshua H]

MSNBC just announced that Kingda Ka is closed until futher notice...apparently they were having a problem with parts flying off....

That's all I know, they didn't go into detail...
I caught the very last seconds of the report...
Can anybody confirm this, or did I misunderstand the report?

[umbel_playa1]

I don't know, but I can see it closing because of pieces flying off, it's a VERY fast ride...

[Joshua H]

Ok, so I may have been tricked by MSNBC...Apperently I may have caught a segment of a show displaying interesting videos from the past, however the anchorman did say something about Kingda Ka closing today indefinitly. Sorry, I apologize for any confusion.

[FlyingPenguins]

Hmm. Seems Kingda Ka - and Great Adventure - was actually closed. Link here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingda_ka#July_3.2C_2006)

(Sorry if this is outdated news)

[fathorse]

They had to close because it was struck by lightning? Don't they ground these things at SF?

[Rohn Starr]

Even though something is grounded doesn't mean that lightning won't have an effect on it. With millions of volts in a typical bolt of lightning, it can course all through the structure/object and have a devastating effect on anything electrical or mechanical. Plus, they probably have to examine the welds to see if any of them were adversely affected by the strike.

[lakeccrunner]

I have checked on numerous websites that have very up to date coaster news and there was nothing about Kingda Ka being closed either in the forums or in the news sections, I dont think this rumor is true.

[jarhead12343]

it was closed but only for like a day or 2. check wikipedia kingda ka page. I think its mandatory to close all the rides during a lightning storm.

[Rohn Starr]

jarhead's correct. It's pretty much standard practice for all outdoor coasters to be 'closed' even when it's raining. Depending on how fast the coaster travels, rain drops hitting someone just right would be pretty dangerous and COULD cause some serious injuries.

Now add lightning to the mix with a 400+ foot tall steel coaster. Nope, ain't gonna stay open during this for any reason. Then if it gets hit by lightning, gotta check it out to make sure everything's OK to reopen it.

[lakeccrunner]

^ all outdoor coasters and some indoor coasters, lol. You would think that Disaster Transport at Cedar Point would be open when it was raining...think again. Disaster Transport is never running in the rain becasue it has holes in the ceiling and when it rains, the track floods, lol.

[KingdaKa1]

If u check my forum-KingdaKa struck by lightning, it will say something about what happened. Sorry I didn't see a thread was already here.

www.amusementpics.com has pictures of the lightning at the park. Go to July 2nd update, and scroll down until it says HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!!! and under it will be pictures of lightning behind Skull Mountain.

I think that SFGADV dosen't even open KK when there is a threat of a serious thunderstorm. (why couldn't GASM get hit).

[fathorse]

Cedar Point opens no rollercoasters (and Power Tower, and a few other select "tall" rides) when lightning exists anywhere within 5 miles of the park. I think it's five, maybe more.
But I've been there when Millennium Force was struck a couple of times and it's always back up and running when the storm is passed.
The best was when I was in line for the Power Tower and they came on the bullhorn warning us all to back away from the tower, then told the people at the top "You'll be coming down hard." They dropped down and were caught almost immediately by the brakes at the bottom, then with a bone-jarring thud, they came all the way down and were evacuated. It was pretty cool.

[IEATPASTE001]

They had to close because it was struck by lightning? Don't they ground these things at SF?

Dragster got hit the night or morning before media day. That thing is for sure grounded. But like others have said, nothing is 100%.

[Harpo]

Cedar Point will actually close all rides when there's lightning in the area, not just the coasters and tall rides. If a ride were to be hit, even a small one, it would be too much of a risk to the riders.

I was on the microphone at the Frontiertown Guessing Game in 1987 when the Round-Up restaurant was hit by lightning. The bolt sent a surge through the electrical system, which blew out all the electronics at my Guessing Game location -- the PA system, microphone, and telephone had to be replaced. So, even a non-direct hit could cause risk to riders and employees, hence the reason for closing down all the rides in a thunderstorm.

[jarhead12343]

is kingda ka still closed?

[soundgodz]

jarhead's correct. It's pretty much standard practice for all outdoor coasters to be 'closed' even when it's raining. Depending on how fast the coaster travels, rain drops hitting someone just right would be pretty dangerous and COULD cause some serious injuries.

Now add lightning to the mix with a 400+ foot tall steel coaster. Nope, ain't gonna stay open during this for any reason. Then if it gets hit by lightning, gotta check it out to make sure everything's OK to reopen it.
I experienced frequent lightning closures during my recent 3 day visit to Cedar Point. If lightning is within 5 miles of the Point, none of the coasters run.

[jarhead12343]

is kingda ka still closed?

[Alpengeist]

^Here you go, Kingda Ka's daily status is in this thread.;)

http://www.gadv.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=8205&st=180


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