Originally Posted By leemac Fascinating concept - even if macabre! <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/02/28/euthanasia-roller-coaster-designed_n_1306151.html" target="_blank">http://www.huffingtonpost.co.u...151.html</a>
Originally Posted By leemac <<Looks less painful than MM's old Flashback coaster.>> I've never hated a coaster as much as those Flashback coasters. I can't even begin to imagine why either the now-bankrupt manufacturer Giovanola or Six Flags thought that those coasters were entertaining. Giovanola also built the terrible Indiana Jones coaster at DLP. They should have stuck to just being a coaster manufacturer rather than a designer too.
Originally Posted By dagobert Wow that coaster looks great, but also a bit frightening. My wildest coasters until now have been Top Thrill Dragster and Millenium Force at Cedar Point. But this one looks really scary.
Originally Posted By brotherdave Giovanola didn't build Flashback, that was Intamin. Generically it was called a "Space Diver" coaster. It originally opened as Z-Force at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, IL in 1985, moved to Six Flags Over Georgia from 1988 to 1990, then was moved and renamed to Flashback at Six Flags Magic Mountain in 1992 and operated there until 2003. It stayed unopen at the park until 2007 when it was finally scrapped. Giovanola did build Goliath in 2000 which still operates today.
Originally Posted By leemac <<Giovanola didn't build Flashback, that was Intamin.>> Sorry - that is definitely wrong. Giovanola built Flashback. It was technically an Intamin design but in reality it was designed by Giovanola and the design was signed off by Intamin - Giovanola were desperate to get into the design business. Only reason I know is that we have the lead engineer for Flashback on staff in Glendale. Giovanola built a fair few steel coasters in the '90s - I'm told most of them were either the odd bobsled type or stand-up coasters when they were all the rage.
Originally Posted By brotherdave Your are most certainly correct that it was designed by Giovanola, my apologies. <a href="http://rcdb.com/128.htm" target="_blank">http://rcdb.com/128.htm</a> I had always heard it was built by Intamin.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 If Giovanola built it, but Intamin signed off on it, they both have some 'splaining to do as far as I'm concerned. Least enjoyable coaster I've ever ridden (and that includes Windjammer at KBF). I rode once and thought "it couldn't be that bad. Must have had a bad seat/faulty restraint... SOMETHING..." Rode again and couldn't wait to get off. Downright painful and not even a little thrilling.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA <Giovanola did build Goliath in 2000 which still operates today.> Goliath at MM was the last hyper coaster I ever rode - I thought I was gonna die on that one. Too much for me. California Screamin' is about as extreme as I go these days.
