[Capler]

Leviathan looks incredibly underwhelming to me. I sincerely hope we don't get a clone of it.

It just looks short, the ending seems uneventful, turnaround looks meh too. And there doesn't seem to be a lot of big camelback airtime hills, or turns. Both of which I would welcome with open arms to Carowinds. But a Levithan clone? Eww.

If you start adding camel backs for air, I'm afraid you really are going to be disappointed because you will end up with a taller version of a B&M hyper, which already have. Personally I would be happier if it was more like I-305, less hills and more high speed direction changes.

[Capler]

Well, all screen drawings are very familiar. Good job guys. Kind of matches what I came up with.

If we end up with a cloneish Leviathan it will still be great for those who don't travel to other parks like the rest of us.

I read somewhere that it was stated as being a "destination" ride. To me that means enthusiasts from all around will travel here just to ride it because it would offer something other parks don't. And I mean something unique not just something a little more. A little Taller, A little Faster, A Little Longer and more Inversions just don't make it a destination ride in my opinion. So I am expecting a little more than Leviathan on all accounts.

The three B&M hypers CF last built, are 'destination' rides but they are basically taller, faster, longer versions of the same coaster. This is why Intimidation did not receive much love from the enthusiast community. I suspect our coaster will be Leviathan south, with a few slight variations on height, length, tunnel location and some of the hills and turns.

[Jonathan]

If the ride is similar to Leviathan but with a couple hills at the end instead of a giant brake run, it could potentially be the best ride B&M has ever built.

I've said it before, but the outbound run on Leviathan is the best thing I've ever experienced on a steel coaster. Unfortunately, it ends all too soon after that, but that opening sequence of elements is perfection. The underground tunnel would be great too if it ends up happening.

[DavidW]

Based on everything we know, I think its safe to say it will be a B&M Giga.

That doesn't quite mean a Leviathan "clone", but I'm damn near certain B&M is the manufacturer.

How are we so sure that B&M will be the manufacturer?

[Capler]

Based on everything we know, I think its safe to say it will be a B&M Giga.

That doesn't quite mean a Leviathan "clone", but I'm damn near certain B&M is the manufacturer.

How are we so sure that B&M will be the manufacturer?

More evidence points to the fact they will be than not. But, and this is a big but, the Ohio plant is not showing any signs of a new Giga construction. I would have expected to at least see station house pieces by now, but I guess there is still time. If Screamscape is correct in saying footer construction is going to start next month, I would expect parts to start arriving in Charlotte at that time or shortly thereafter. Anybody remember what month Intimidator's footers were started?

[Jonathan]

I think you guys are jumping the gun on track expectations. The first pieces of track for Intimidator didn't arrive until August 5, 2009.

[Capler]

I think you guys are jumping the gun on track expectations. The first pieces of track for Intimidator didn't arrive until August 5, 2009.

Yeah, I just looked up Banshee, the first tract did not arrive until early Aug. but footer construction started in May. Not sure when the station pieces arrived.

[Wormy]

Intimidator construction timeline here.

Coaster Crew Has added three photos of yellow B&M Track on Facebook
https://scontent-a-atl.xx.fbcdn.net/hph ... 0823_n.jpg
https://scontent-b-atl.xx.fbcdn.net/hph ... 6497_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/ ... 8715_n.jpg
It also Looks like there is white track in the background. Or is that just Primer?

It’s been said elsewhere that the white track is not primer, but glossy paint. Or maybe they were drinking too much moonshine…

[Edwardo]

KD won't be getting anything similar to Banshee built by B&M...

Why don't you think so? The park is in need of a good, world class invert, which is the most popular coaster design on the planet, which basically every park has.

It's been stated here recently and isn't much of a secret that BGW has an exclusivity contract with B&M, which means the company won't be building a new coaster for SFA or KD for the foreseeable future. Ever wonder why those parks have never gotten a new B&M, only relocated ones?

That's why they have Volcano, a world class invert.

[Capler]

KD won't be getting anything similar to Banshee built by B&M...

Why don't you think so? The park is in need of a good, world class invert, which is the most popular coaster design on the planet, which basically every park has.

It's been stated here recently and isn't much of a secret that BGW has an exclusivity contract with B&M, which means the company won't be building a new coaster for SFA or KD for the foreseeable future. Ever wonder why those parks have never gotten a new B&M, only relocated ones?

That's why they have Volcano, a world class invert.

There has been much debate about that exclusive contract over the years. I thought most folk chalked that up to being an urban legend. It seemed that BGW always beat Dominion to the drawing board when it came to ordering certain coaster types. Why follow BGW with same type when you are located so close together? Also Paramount was cheap as hell and did not want to spring for the signature B&Ms for any of it's parks. Carowinds was the one exception with Top Gun, but even then, they were late to the B&M invert party. I could be wrong but, I personally feel it had more to do with Paramount not willing to spend Alpengeist/Apollo money on a single coaster. It's just hard for me to believe B&M will block itself out of a market for 20 years by signing an exclusive contract. I can see them doing a 2, 3.... coaster deal within a certain number of years with a particular company. That would effectively block out the competition until the contract was filled. But again I could be wrong. I feel CF gave Dominion I-305 to differentiate it from Apollo. Then you might ask, why a Banshee like ride that would be like Alpie? B&M has thrown everything including the kitchen sink into Banshee. It is what I call the perfect invert, it has the perfect height, all the good elements.... Early reviews are saying it is the best out there. This could be enough to make it different. Volcano is good, but Volcano will always be a fun little gimmick. Ask yourself, why haven't there been another one of those built?

[Jonathan]

Ask yourself, why haven't there been another one of those built?

Because no park already had a pre-existing mountain of that size with open space behind it?

I'm with you on the B&M contract, though. I take all that speculation with a grain of salt.

[Capler]

Intimidator construction timeline here.

Coaster Crew Has added three photos of yellow B&M Track on Facebook
https://scontent-a-atl.xx.fbcdn.net/hph ... 0823_n.jpg
https://scontent-b-atl.xx.fbcdn.net/hph ... 6497_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/ ... 8715_n.jpg
It also Looks like there is white track in the background. Or is that just Primer?

It’s been said elsewhere that the white track is not primer, but glossy paint. Or maybe they were drinking too much moonshine…

That white track is very interesting. Also, if I am seeing this correctly. Are those big support pieces stacked up in the background in the first photo? It looks like they have not been primed.

[Edwardo]

There are absolutely exclusivity clauses with companies and major parks. I know that for a fact.

I don't have any confirmation that BGW has one, other than things I've been told by people that know way more than I do, and I tend to trust that they know what they're talking about.

As for Volcano, they built several smaller impulse coasters, but the fact that most other parks HAVE a full circuit invert seems to indicate why other parks didn't get a full scale model. Except for a park that perhaps couldn't get one from B&M and were looking for a marquee attraction that is still quite popular and had a mountain already built...

Carowinds was hardly late to the B&M party. Paramount installed both Vortex coasters when the company was new at GA and Carowinds.

[Capler]

I do recall there being contract issues with the Flying Dutchman that ended up in court. That was so long ago but I think the original deal was for 3 but Paramount refused to buy the other two, so Six Flags bought them and placed them close to where they were originally supposed to go to block Paramount out of the market.

[gabed]

Carowinds was the one exception with Top Gun, but even then, they were late to the B&M invert party. -Capler


Ahem... Patriot... Cough Cough... Banshee