[Thorpe Park] - Stealth - Possibly Most Unsafe Ride?

[Rofo]

I was at Thorpe Park yesterday, waiting in line for Stealth.

About 3 or 4 times, all you could hear is 'Stealth is currently down due to problems out of our control' in the space of 30 minuites.

Then, the Bungee Cord snapped. The Bungee Cord is where it gets the power in the launch. It pulls back, then it lets go and it spins you off at 80mph.

The problem is, the Bungee Cords are having to be changed nearly every day (what a Thorpe Park technician told me when we was moaning :rolleyes:) but then, came the rollback.

We was sitting in the car, a little nervous thinking it could break down again - and guess what. It did.

We hurtled forwards at 80mph, hearing a snapping noise - the bungee cord had snapped. We went half way up the track (120ft) then rolled back to the station, what was probably the most scary experience ever.

So what did Thorpe Park do? Give me a T-Shirt. Typicial. All the staff clapped like it was great 'WOOH YOU WERE IN A ROLLBACK'. Baiscally they were saying 'WOOH YOU MISSED DEATH'.

Not safe at all.

[Frank459]

I would be on the next bus home to change my boxers ;l

[JackBuddy]

It's perfectly normal to have rollbacks, Stealth has been good,and only had a few so far. Rides like Kingda Ka, Xcellerator and Top Thrill Dragster get them daily, it's totally safe. It's what the magnetic breaks are there to stop you flying back into the station, i'll try find a video of a rollback. I wouldn't expect any compensation at all, you were lucky to get the T-shirt. And the staff were happy about it because many ride fanatics love rollbacks!
And about breadowns, what do you expect from a brand new ride? It's just having a few tweaking problems, which will be ironed out by the season.
Count yourself lucky. ;)

[2hd.]

For some bits i feel you are lying, for example, you say a bungee cord snapped, when stealth runs off of magnets and gas pressure, however i may be wrong. Stealth rollbacks normally happen at the very top of the ride (not half way up the track) and because it doesn't reach it's full spedd, not because of snapped cords.

You wouldn't die either, intamin launch coasters have too many brakes for you to die.

[Edge]

Hmmm.. never happened to be i found it a very thrilling ride very good.. :D.

[JackBuddy]

They are a daily occurence in some places, count yourself lucky for experiencing a rollback, you get two goes!

[Rofo]

And a free t-shirt :]

[JackBuddy]

You were lucky to get that!

[Juicette]

Free t-shirt ?
What'd it say on it ?

[GR4NT]

Free t-shirt ?
What'd it say on it ?

"WHAT IS STEALTH?
A DEATH TRAP!"

[Rofo]

LOL!

It had STEALTH written on it and a picture of me and my mate on the ride LOL

[Flap]

^^ Loool did it take the pic when it rolled back?
Wish I could be in a rollback, Looks fun

[NintendoFreak]

Heres a video of a stealth roll back :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlHDDzfP4_4&search=stealth%20thorpe%20park

[JackBuddy]

Are you from southparks by any chance? :P

[Brandon.]

Ok, just get life insurance and go on it again :D
rofl I wanna go on it again now, I'd love to be scared not dead tho.

[Flap]

Heres a video of a stealth roll back :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlHDDzfP4_4&search=stealth%20thorpe%20park


Nice video there ;] Good find

[Mitch4?]

Wth. Rollbacks are completly safe and should be treasured. I've rode it a few times hoping for a roll back. Also the cable does not SNAP. If it did, it'd hurtle actoss the riders face so fast you'd be covered in blood before you reached 40mph. So next time don't make accusations sayin OMG THE CORD SNAPPED. Because it's a very rare chance it will happen. And it only happened on Top Thrill Dragster once, and the people didn't die. Just got a few cuts to the face.

[Flap]

Having a rollback must be fun, but having a cord snapped in your face wouldnt..
I guess

[Mitch4?]

The cord wouldn't break numerous times. If it breaks once. It's down for a few months

[Flap]

I knoww, And I bet replacing it isnt easy either

[Mitch4?]

Yeah it isn't, they have to take out most of the launch track. By unassembling it then replacing it all. Could take up to 3 months. Longer than the actuall time to make the whole ride.

[JackBuddy]

Depends what you need to deconstruct the track could take about 2 weeks.

[Mitch4?]

IF they're working long hours, just to get all of the launc track off could take 3 weeks. Then they have to apply the new cable. And add the track back on. So i doubt the cord did snap LOADS of times.

[JackBuddy]

Just found this:
http://www.retroanaconda.com/james/sp_launch.avi

Really shows the acceleration of the ride!

(May take a while to load)

[-Soph-]

Just found this:
http://www.retroanaconda.com/james/sp_launch.avi

Really shows the acceleration of the ride!

(May take a while to load)


The link isnt working for me =(

[JackBuddy]

Not working, or not loading? :P

[-Soph-]

it says page cant be displayed =)

[Mitch4?]

worked for me

[-Soph-]

My internet isnt all that good.. thats probably why

[JackBuddy]

It loads in quicktime i think.

[JackBuddy]

Stealth is now back up! :)

[-Soph-]

Stealth is now back up! :)


& I wonder how long that will last for :P

[jordybumz!]

I queued for 2 HOURS to go on this today and then when i was right at the front of the queue it BROKE DOWN. We didn't even get free FastTrak passes. ]:

[AdamCookie!]

I queued for 2 HOURS to go on this today and then when i was right at the front of the queue it BROKE DOWN. We didn't even get free FastTrak passes. ]:

If you got to ride Stealth, then there is no reason why the should give you an exit pass!

I've just read through this topic and I nearly fell off my chair laughing.. Treasure a rollback, they are fantastic! Im lucky enough to have had one xD

[-Soph-]

i've never been on a rollback, Maybe I should visit thorpe park some time soon and cross my fingers.