[swampfox43]

A few of you have asked me to post some older construction photos. My friend who has the Vortex construction photos is in the process of moving and most of his stuff is boxed up for now. Eventually I will get them posted.

In the meantime, for those interested I have posted 3 old clippings of Carowinds coasters being constructed. There is some text under the clippings also.

1) <a href='http://members.aol.com/wecorhsc/carocyclone2.jpg' target='_blank'>Carolina Cyclone construction</a>

2) <a href='http://members.aol.com/wecorhsc/whitelightn_const.jpg' target='_blank'>White Lightnin' construction</a>

3) <a href='http://members.aol.com/wecorhsc/troad75a.jpg' target='_blank'>Thunder Road construction</a>

[Carowindsman]

I love those how bout maybe some hurler construction if you have those lol

[carowindsfreak13]

Thunderroad looks bigger in that pic than it is.

[coasterdude89]

^I agree. It does look bigger. 61 mph on TR? I know that that's not true. For some reason, I alwas thought that Cyclone was on 85 feet tall. Must have got my numbers messed up with another coaster. Oh well, great pics. Can't wait to see more.

[swampfox43]

how bout maybe some hurler construction if you have those

OK, I'll start off with these Hurler construction photos for now, since I already have them on my harddrive. I'll have to dig up the other photos when it was further along in construction but I'll add them later.

1) <a href='http://members.aol.com/wecorhsc/Hurler_constr1c.jpg' target='_blank'>Hurler ground clearing</a>

2) <a href='http://members.aol.com/wecorhsc/Hurler_constr2c.jpg' target='_blank'>Hurler's wooden bents</a>

3) <a href='http://members.aol.com/wecorhsc/Hurler_constr3c.jpg' target='_blank'>More Hurler bents</a>

[Dukeis#1]

Thanks for adding those! It is very interesting to see the park's older rides under construction. Pictures like those are VERY rare. B)

[Trev32]

Nice pictures!! I agree thunde road does look bigger in that pictures.


Thanks for the pics!! Did you get those Vortex pictures??

[carowindsfreak13]

Carowinds looks weird then compared to now.

[RollerBee]

Wow, Thunder Road was testing by December 1975 but the Hurler was just starting construction in December 1993. That is cool to see.

[swampfox43]

^^ I forgot to mention that this photo of <a href='http://members.aol.com/wecorhsc/troad75a.jpg' target='_blank'>Thunder Road construction</a> was taken in May of '75. True, parks do not generally start construction on next years attractions that early. By August, most of the structure was complete.

I must admit, it was a good way to promote the new coaster during the operating season. I still remember people (including myself) ooohing and ahhhing over how big it was. And of course, I was there opening day on April 3rd and it was cold!!! Tickets were just $7.50 then....

Side note: Oddly enough, Carowinds attendance did not jump all that much with the opening of Thunder Road. They had 913,000 in 1975 (Scooby Doo's opening year) and only 980,000 in 1976.

It was the addition of White Lightnin in 1977 that boosted attendance to 1,125,000, the highest since opening year 1973 (1,200,000).

[Dukeis#1]

It's funny, but White Lightnin' seemed to have had overall more impact than Thunder Road. You can mention WL to any Carolinian, and they immediately know what you are talking about. Nobody really seems to remember Thunder Road all that good.

I guess the novelty of WL is what made it more popular. The only other coaster Carowinds has built that seems to have matched WL's "word of mouth" popularity is Top Gun.

I like trev32's motto..."White Lightnin'...the coaster the Carolinas won't forget."

[RollerBee]

BORG Assimilator has done more for Carowinds than Top Gun did, at least in my area. Everyone in my school knows that I run Carowinds Zone, and the ones that have ridden BORG, say that it is the best coaster at Carowinds.

[Carowindsman]

I will be honest and no its not just because i work top gun but i believe Borg is nothing compared to Top Gun. Yes you are in a lay down position but really thats all it is good on the ride, unlike Top Gun which is really a world class coaster compared to it. Thats just my 2 and a half cents so yah.

[Jonathan]

^ I agree with you completely, and I think you'll find most people who have ridden a significant amount of coasters feel the same way.

[Edwardo]

I agree. Having ridden all 3 Vekoma flyers (and I do like them), I can say that I don't feel that any of them (and I'm a huge Trek/BORG fan) are as good as any B&M invert I've been on. Top Gun is my fave, with Raptor & Batman (the origional) close behind. But still better than the Veko Flyers.