Building a Better Vekoma Boomerang

[Harpo]

Q: How does one take a Vekoma Brain Buster Boomerang and make it much better?

A: Put on new trains.

On the drive from Hilton Head Island back to Michigan over the weekend, I made a pit-stop at Carowinds. I've been on a whole lot of Vekoma Boomerang coasters, some smoother than others, but all of them have resulted in some amount of brain bashing due to those hideous harnesses.

Well, the new trains for Carolina Cobra at Carowinds change all that. They are MUCH more comfortable, and I found them to completely eliminate the brain bashing. The coaster still has some rather abrupt element transitions, but the harnesses are very comfortable, and provide plenty of room for heads to move around without smashing brutally into hard rubber.

Because they have a larger "wingspan," I don't think it would be possible to put this type of harness on every coaster that currently has a horse collar harness, but I would sure like to see it on as many coasters as possible. Naturally, since it is a Vekoma design, it isn't likely to show up on non-Vekoma coasters, but we can always hope that other manufacturers will license the design, or come up with something similar.

Having a similarly comfortable harness on Mantis, for example, would be an absolute delight! But, for now, that's just wishful thinking.

Anyway, if you're not too wild about Vekoma Boomerangs because of the brain bashing, if you have the opportunity to visit Carowinds, don't miss Carolina Cobra. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

[carolinadude131]

Amen Harpo! Carowinds is my home park and I was definitely unsure about the whole getting a boomerang thing because I've ridden Deja Vu and before they closed GL down, I rode what is now Carolina Cobra and before it was called headspin.. Man, I hated those rides..

But since, the new trains.. It's my second favorite ride in the park, and got on it at least 14 times on opening day (March 24th), it was poring down rain the entire day so hardly anybody showed up :)

[RCTfangirl]

I hope someday more and more boomerangs will recieve these new trains. Ever since I heard about them, now I wish my home park adds a Boomerang for 2010.

I think they've become standard issue on on new boomerangs (although when's the last time a new boomerang was built?)

[CedarPointer]

Aren't ya glad that at least Boomerangs don't have Arrow Quickrete Shoulder-Smashers?

[~LoveTulie]

Ugh, that sounds so much fun! Hehe, I thought the one at Geagua Lake was always fun. I just find something extremely fun about Boomerangs (aside from the headbanging). It's fun to go backwards and stuff! :noob:

Now I want to go on a smoother Boomerang!

[Myn-o-mite]

^ AGREED!

[Harpo]

Aren't ya glad that at least Boomerangs don't have Arrow Quickrete Shoulder-Smashers?

Well, it might vary according to one's body structure, but I've generally found the Arrow horse collars to be more comfortable than the Vekoma horse collars. Now, that's rather like saying that sleeping on a park bench is more comfortable than sleeping on a rock, but I would still take the Arrow harnesses over the old Vekoma harnesses.

I would take those new Vekoma harnesses, however, over any other shoulder harness I've seen, including the Intamin shoulder harnesses.

[ytivarg]

Intamin shoulder harnesses are worthless.

[-LiLDaReDeViL5-]

Intamin shoulder harnesses are worthless.
They're not that bad at all.

And as for boomerangs, I've been on one, Sidwinder, and it's a really fun ride. A top ten coaster? Hell no. But is it better than people make it out to be? Absolutely. Just sit towards the front and it's a fun ride.

[ytivarg]

On sit down models? A la' Maverick & Kingda Ka? Yes.. they're absolutely worthless.

[CedarPointer]

Well, it might vary according to one's body structure, but I've generally found the Arrow horse collars to be more comfortable than the Vekoma horse collars. Now, that's rather like saying that sleeping on a park bench is more comfortable than sleeping on a rock, but I would still take the Arrow harnesses over the old Vekoma harnesses.

I would take those new Vekoma harnesses, however, over any other shoulder harness I've seen, including the Intamin shoulder harnesses.
I've found both to be bad, but the Arrow ones take the cake on Vortex and Flight Deck (where they're not really needed, anyway). The HUSS ones (Crypt and Delirium) are far worse, though.

[-LiLDaReDeViL5-]

On sit down models? A la' Maverick & Kingda Ka? Yes.. they're absolutely worthless.
How so? I don't think they're as bad as everyone says.

[~LoveTulie]

On sit down models? A la' Maverick & Kingda Ka? Yes.. they're absolutely worthless.

Yeah, Mavericks are a bit weird.. don't like them very much. I prefer Raptor's though, the seats on Raptor are so comfy! :heart: :p

[ytivarg]

They're worthless because they're not doing anything to restrain you. It's just the lap bar doing the work. The shoulder bits are there for a "visual sense of safety", and little else... other than bashing the side of your neck.

[-LiLDaReDeViL5-]

Yeah, Mavericks are a bit weird.. don't like them very much. I prefer Raptor's though, the seats on Raptor are so comfy! :heart: :p
Word. I want a B&M seat just to sleep in. Nitro and other B&M hypers' seats are heaven for your ass. Although with all the floater air, they're not necessary... :P

[~LoveTulie]

They're worthless because they're not doing anything to restrain you. It's just the lap bar doing the work. The shoulder bits are there for a "visual sense of safety", and little else... other than bashing the side of your neck.

You're right, thinking about it! They really don't do much, and I hold on to the things on the lap bar anyways. It's probably required, though.. also maybe because of the turns after the hill?

[ytivarg]

Nope... still just lap bar... even on Maverick's big air hill, do your shoulders ever get high enough to touch the restraint? Nope.

[~LoveTulie]

Nope... still just lap bar... even on Maverick's big air hill, do your shoulders ever get high enough to touch the restraint? Nope.

Haha, true.. you know, Mavy would be amazing with just a lap bar. :p

[cpkidOH]

They're worthless because they're not doing anything to restrain you. It's just the lap bar doing the work. The shoulder bits are there for a "visual sense of safety", and little else... other than bashing the side of your neck.
The main problem I have with the Intamin sitdown OTSRs is that they crush your thighs. Makes it very uncomfortable when you're sitting on the brake run after your ride.

But IDK if they're completely worthless. Some of those elements on Maverick, like the stengal dive or the first set of turns, are pretty crazy (hence the neck chopping) and seem like they could really shift your upper body around dangerously without the OTSR.

B&M restraints in general rule though:up:. That's part of the reason that Diamondback is at my #1 spot right now.

[CedarPointer]

Diamondback has the best restraints EVER. They barely interfere with the airtime. And, no seatbelts!

[Harpo]

I don't know if they've replaced them since my visit in the late 90's, but the absolute worst shoulder harnesses I've ever experienced were on Mindbender at Galaxyland. I generally like Schwarzkopf coasters, but those harnesses were just obnoxious. They weren't headbangers -- they were spine-crushers.

[CedarPointer]

My personal worst are The Crypt's at KI (generic HUSS restraints). Since the two (!) flips in the new ride program are taken at a very slow speed, you really get smashed into them at the bottom of the flip. It's a horrible design.