[Jay]

Lets take a look at said quote (from May 29th, 2009, 9:04 pm):

I spent the afternoon at Carowinds with my kids (also 1000's of MS and HS students). I can agree that I heard the same rumor as earlier posted on this site today. The start of the ride is with a launch mechanism. It is supposed to be over 300 feet. They want it bigger than Kingda Ka and Top Thrill Dragster. The beginning of the ride will be just like these two coasters.
***RUMOR: The announcement for the ride will take place before next Friday. Reason for this is that the merchandise people need to start preparing for this "large" attraction. That was discussed on site 2-3 days ago "announcement within 10 days". Let's see what happens.
I also do believe that the old log flume pool will be used for an ending splash down effect after looking around and from up above today.
The truth is it is getting exciting and maybe an announcement next week. Can anyone confirm an announcement with Dani at the park?

Not sure who "you all" are but the rumor that this could be launched existed well before you bringing it to the forums. I was certainly not laughing at the prospect of it being launched but everything else gave me a good chuckle.

[coasterbruh]

Jonathan,
I said months ago that we were getting a launched Mega coaster. You all laughed at me. (Yes I'm a newbe, however, I'm also over 40 years old). Can someone please find the quote if it does come true? I would love a bit of credit.
The ride is going to be themed to auto racing (not Nascar), with a launched start and a Mega coaster design. I also wouldn't be surprised if it wasn't red.......
BTW......We are all going to be very happy!

Credit for what??? Even a broken clock is right twice a day...

You also said the announcement was gonna be way back when...do you want credit for being wrong on that?

You said the flume pool would be used as a splash down...doesnt look like it, do you want credit for being wrong on that?

You said the start would be similar to kingda ka and dragster...thats kinda too vauge because that can be taken to any avenue but im taking you are talking about it being launched the exact same way and the way things are looking its shaping up very differently...do you want credit for being almost wrong (wait til the 26th) on that?

[charlotteguy02]

I was certainly not laughing at the prospect of it being launched...

I am! <--- see? In all seriousness, I have no more information about this than anyone else on here, but I would be HIGHLY surprised if this is a launched hyper from B&M...really surprised. I think people are getting a little over-hyped for what's going to turn out to be a hyper on par with Behemoth and Diamondback. Boy, would I love to be wrong on this one, but I just don't see it happening.

I have been holding out on you guys, though. Since I live down here in York county, about 3 weeks ago I filled out a freedom of information act form from the York County permitting office requesting permits Carowinds has filed. They said it would be 15 days and guess what? It's been 15 days. So, barring some unforeseen problem at the permit office I should be able to check them out tomorrow, er today now that it's just after midnight. I don't know if there is anything to see on these things, but any and all info I find out I will be sure to post.

[coasterfanbase]

Theres 2 comments I am thinking that I will voice,

One is that a launched lift-hill is not painful to riders to be going over Maverick has it and it may be a bit of a kick at the top but its a good "kick"

Second I still don't see how those look like the start of an B&M station, truely to me it looks more like the start of a small intamin station, but really I don't have any good pictures to compare with.

[coasterbruh]

correct me if im wrong but what people are leaning towards that makes its seem like a b&m project is the square concrete pad and now the u shapped rebar. That is the same fashion as the former led zep and current diamondback coaster. I havent seen it on an intamin coaster before (doesnt mean its not possible) but thats one reason it seems to be a beamer...like hulk.

[April_Fool_79]

If the name does turn out to be "White Lightning" it would be strange to have it not launched... I'd be dissapointed, honestly. Obviously, I'd still love a traditional hyper though.

Why would that disappoint you? Top Gun "The Jet Coaster" should have been a launched coaster. I mean, how many fighter jets do you see take off as slow as that lift hill? Theme it to an air craft carrier and lauch the heck outta that sucker.

Even during the "point of no return" testing at the Hulk, (where we slammed the e-stop at various points during the launch to see what the last possible point was to hit it before the coaster would not make it to the block brake), the down time wasn't bad. That thing definitely had some consistency to it. Not like Doom's twitchy launch system that would freak out if a fly landed on your leg and upset the weight balance (well, not *quite* that bad, but you get the picture). Man, pre opening testing was fun.

[coasterbruh]

I actually can see "the jet coaster" being a feasible surname. I mean yeah its not launched but as you are going up the lift hill you do hear the engines revving as well as the maneuvers and inversions give the sense of flight.

Anyway about this new attraction. Man, it better be something special because I see billboards with the history making teaser slogan down here in columbia sc!

[WindsWaker]

If the name does turn out to be "White Lightning" it would be strange to have it not launched... I'd be dissapointed, honestly. Obviously, I'd still love a traditional hyper though.

Why would that disappoint you? Top Gun "The Jet Coaster" should have been a launched coaster. I mean, how many fighter jets do you see take off as slow as that lift hill? Theme it to an air craft carrier and lauch the heck outta that sucker.

Even during the "point of no return" testing at the Hulk, (where we slammed the e-stop at various points during the launch to see what the last possible point was to hit it before the coaster would not make it to the block brake), the down time wasn't bad. That thing definitely had some consistency to it. Not like Doom's twitchy launch system that would freak out if a fly landed on your leg and upset the weight balance (well, not *quite* that bad, but you get the picture). Man, pre opening testing was fun.

I just think the name White Lightning carries with it an inherent assumption. The first thing I thought when the name rumor started was "Cool, I bet it would launch." It's something like creating a sequel to a movie, but the sequel has nothing to do with the original. To test my theory I told my mother, who has been coming to Carowinds since she was little, that the name might be WL. What do you think she asked me?

But! The ride will be awesome regardless. I like your TG idea though.

[charlotteguy02]

Second I still don't see how those look like the start of an B&M station, truely to me it looks more like the start of a small intamin station, but really I don't have any good pictures to compare with.

I have two photos to show you, one being wormy's shot of the construction, the other being Diamondback's station. I numbered the footers so you can see they are identical.



Now look at Diamondback's:


And for comparison's sake, here is a shot of the footers for the very beginning of the lift hill on Goliath, an INTAMIN mega coaster - which is nothing like the footer configuration at Carowinds:
http://www.rcdb.com/1565.htm?p=3117

[coasterfanbase]

I totally see now where people get that but I happen to be looking at the other side of that U shape, where "Bigger Blocks" of concrete are. Also a lot of things seem to be missing aka the GIANT cut out from the ground where all the B&M electrical stuff goes. Personally I am not saying anyones wrong, nor will I ever brag if I end up right but it just doesn't look right in my book to be a B&M.

Oh and just a note: Cedar Fair may have a contract with B&M but that does not mean that they must build those rides one after the other. I mean look at the contract they had with Intamin for Cedar Point, given it was one park but they still were not too close together 2000 first 2007 last. I know its a bad example but they really aren't required from what I know to build them all year after year until the contract expires.

[The Jet Coaster]

^ And some how B&M and Intamin share footer markers?

It's a B&M. Same footer markers as Vortex, Behemoth and Goliath SFOG. Check out some of the old pictures where they have the markers sprayed with paint.

[bigjr872]

it looks like they have room in that land to put something else in like what is up with that black C next to the rocket power ride?

[WindsWaker]

it looks like they have room in that land to put something else in like what is up with that black C next to the rocket power ride?

I've wondered that myself. There's probably room in that area for a flat... but I doubt we're that lucky.

[chknwing]

if this is indeed a nascar themed ride, wouldn't it make sense to move the go karts ove to this area?

[bgwfreak]

I was at the park yesterday but nothing much to report. I took photos, but they are pretty much the same as what Wormy had the other day.

Oh, and I didn't get stalked by security.

Must be a Wormy thing.