Since it's official now, this news is no longer a rumor. So, I thought I would start a construction thread for Thunderhawk at Michigan Adventure.

I got very excited about this yesterday as I happened to be driving West on I96 here in Michigan. I stopped breifly at a rest area and saw a nice big piece of rollercoaster track loaded on a flat-bed Semi truck that was parked on the trucker's side of the rest stop. I took a real good look and thought it must be Thunderhawk on its way to its new home.

Very exciting stuff. I can't wait until next summer.

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Jim says; "The Potential energy of the system at the height of the lift hill is equal to the Kinetic energy at the bottom of the hill...."
Jim's friends say; "Just shut up and ride it would you."

Shouldn't the rumor thread have its title changed and be moved here?


Either way, I'm super pumped for Thunderhawk. It's the perfect addition to a park of this caliber. Glad this addition came in time for my 2008 revisit of the park.

Track = rollercoaster. Rollercoaster =

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Timbers Crew 08...
Timbers crew 09..!

Well, if MIA was my home park, I would rather have a scrap of dirt.. Thunderhawk is amazingly painful. Unless they get new trains or retrack it to death, then it'll still probably be the deadly SLC it is.

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^Really? I was on it when it was Serial Thriller at SFWoA and it was fine. A little bumpy because of the transitions but that's about it. I thought it was fine. And no, I think I'd rather have this than dirt. Dirt is what we've had for several years.

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When you put an artist in the figurative box, they no longer remain an artist.

Thunderhawk has gotten really bad. Also, how do you re-track a steel coaster? You would need all new track sections to be designed. The only option for it is new trains which might help a bit. I think the GP will eat this new ride up but I don't think it will make CF look at MIA more than it is already.

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Well, One thing that would greatly help Thunderhawk would be these new trains Vekoma has come out with...

http://www.capemaycountyherald.com/a...r-coaster-seat

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^Definitely.

So far Noreaster appears to be the 2nd SLC that they're testing the new seats on along with El Condor.Now if only SFI would take notice & order them for their SLC's.

Pictures taken by my wife on the way home today of the Track at the park. More on my blog. Enjoy!


http://miablogonline.com

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^^^Thunderhawk needs to get those trains. They appear as though they may fully eliminate headbanging since it is more of a vest than anything. If they got those trains (assuming it takes away most, if not all headbanging) the ride will be much more well received (in ratings).

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^^ Great pictures. They look just like the one I've seen at the rest area. I just it can be confirmed that what I was seeing was a piece of Thunderhawk. If I get over as far as Muskegeon I'll take a peak at MA from the road.

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Jim says; "The Potential energy of the system at the height of the lift hill is equal to the Kinetic energy at the bottom of the hill...."
Jim's friends say; "Just shut up and ride it would you."

I saw another two trucks carriing roller coaster parts on I96 (I travel this highway alot) yesterday. One of the trucks had some support poles as well as another piece of track.

My question is why are the support pole colors so close to the track colors? Is that the way it was when it was at GL? or did they paint them before moving them.

If they haven't painted it seems like thay would while it is disassembled. It just seems to be an opportune time.

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Jim says; "The Potential energy of the system at the height of the lift hill is equal to the Kinetic energy at the bottom of the hill...."
Jim's friends say; "Just shut up and ride it would you."

NO the colors have always been Yellow supports with orange track. I cant wait to see the coaster starting to be put up. Ok, I know its going by Grand Rapids but where and in what direction do you think it will be?

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Timbers Crew 08...
Timbers crew 09..!

I see it facing the walkway, sort of an end of the walkway at that part of the point. there is a large sitting area there, and it could go over the train. just take out the chairs, make an entrance there and have it facing the pathway. or, it could be parallel with the walkway allowing for future growth in that area. the latter option seems the most unusual, but wouldnt be surprising.

TH would look much better with yellow track/orange supports than the other way around IMO....funny thing is why did MIA give a logo & artwork on thier site for the announcement while KD hasn't done so with Dominator when they recently announced it? Even Voodoo has a logo posted to the DP site already.

my guess is that it will be a big draw for the park and that they wanted to get a head start on things. I know the top brass there and they are very motivated people, dedicated to everything they do to the park. It certainly will be a more motivated year for the locals (cough me cough) and will result in more time spent in the park. I used to be able to finish riding everything within an hour and a half, now i will probably stay for a lot longer.

Hopefully it will bring in the crowds so we can see more big years.

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Timbers Crew 08...
Timbers crew 09..!

I dont see it setting any records, but it should be a good year none the less. Hopefully i get hired before opening weekend so i can go ride it before it opens to the public. I also hope that they have first rider T-shirts like maverick had.

Wow a lot of excitement for an SLC. Not a fan of them myself. but any new coaster must be a plus. Great pic of the track in the lot.

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Michael C

Why is it yellow? Isn't this the Thunderhawk?

^It was recently painted to yellow when Cedar Fair bought the park.

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Here is thunderhawk

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Timbers Crew 08...
Timbers crew 09..!

I like the previous color scheme better, though this would go well with the corkscrew, even though its not even close to it. its in the only logical place in the park. unless they wanted to be extra awesome and put it over the water there by the challenge park on the way to the water park. that would be unbelievably awesome, but unbelievably expensive.

Like I said before the yellow track/orange structure looks better than the colors CF chose for it.

True, but those collars don't look good faded. When the park was sold the coaster didn't look that good. They could have chosen better colors but a repainting was needed and a good idea. simply to show change. Wouldn't be surprised if it was freshly painted before it was installed into MI

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Michael C

Well I'm sure it'll need some touch ups after construction,lord knows Dominator is gonna need it.

if they can keep up on those colors it will look good. Just dont let it fade to badly. I would rather see new trains then new paint job.

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Timbers Crew 08...
Timbers crew 09..!

Well the Great Nor'Easter is supposed to be getting new trains, so perhaps that may be in the future but I highly doubt it will be in the upcoming season. Vekoma trains seem to be getting replaced on a couple of coasters this year. It's kind of exciting I think. Does anyone know where TH will be going in the park?

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I like the Zingo a lot.

By Grand Rapids and Adventure Falls

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Timbers Crew 08...
Timbers crew 09..!

Its going to be out past GR, theres no room between the two rides, the little area there is a service drive so maintanence vehicles can get into the park at night.