[swampfox43]

I was digging through some of my old photo album books (yes, we use to use those), and found a couple pictures from 1998 I thought were worthy of sharing. Mainly, just to see how the paint schemes on them looked then, but also to show how much the park has changed in 15 years.

[Jay]

That paint scheme for Cyclone was fantastic. Certainly better than the schizophrenic mess that it is now.

[RollerBee]

I think that is the best paint scheme Cyclone ever had.

[NCtdBear]

Personally I loved the original look from when it was built. Plus I liked the wood on the lift hill that was there until hurricane Hugo came through.

[Merthecat]

I like the Cyclone paint scheme...
The Vortex is okay, but I think the supports look better in white

[pproteinc]

I love them both. I prefer the black supports on vortex vs the grey now and cyclone's scheme is definitely better than the current.

[swampfox43]

Speaking of paint schemes on Carowinds coasters. Here's a YouTube I just discovered today showing Thunder Road in 1997 with it's yellow hand-rails and black painted track and dark gray catwalks. It looked really sharp before it all faded.

This video was taken during a visit from RCCGB (Roller Coaster Club of Great Britain) when they visited Paramount's Carowinds on their US Tour of 1997. The neat thing about this visit was that the park was only open on weekends, and RCCGB happened to be passing through on a weekday. Seems like it was a Thursday.

So, with the kindness of former PR Director David Mandt, he managed to open 4 coasters (TRd, Hurler, Vortex and Goldrusher) just for the club and feed them lunch to boot. Very generous of him to arrange that with Paramount. I was a member of RCCGB at the time (as were several other locals) and we were all invited as their guests at Carowinds that day. It was really fun and I remember how surreal it was having the run of the park with only 50 people.

http://youtu.be/3eYltFptbeE

[swampfox43]

And more colors.....
Here are the 1994 Cyclone colors. Actually not bad.
Notice Hurler still under construction in the distance.

[mccraw]

Has anyone else noticed that on the park map vortex has black supports

[pproteinc]

I kind of like Cyclones color scheme in 94.

[Mr.Nitro]

RIding the cyclone when it was green are some of the earliest childhood memories I have. I love it that way

[bobbyfoster]

Look at all the trees....