Decided to make a thread about Apollo, obviously.

One thing I wanted to mention though is about it's smoothness. The ride is in general smooth, but there's lots of vibrations if you look for them. If you ask me, and I'm no brain specialist, but when your brain makes the connection; Oh, Apollo's Chariot is a B&M so it's smooth. Well, not only that, the ride is in general better and you don't notice the rumbling, but if you try hard enough, you can feel it. By no means is it painful or does it take away from the expeirence, but just though I'd point this out. Either that or the train I was on needed new wheels. Keep in mind that I still think Apollo is a smooth coaster, and the smoothest one at the park, but age catches up with ride smoothness.

I have a friend who is currently in college, but when he was younger and lived here in WIlliamsburg. He was fortunate enough to go to the park on Media Day for Apollo's Chariot because his mother worked there. He has mentioned to me that it was smooth as silk, and by no means is it as smooth now as it was before. Point is, in 5 years, remember how smooth it is now, and compare to what is will be then.
Just something to let you ponder....


Oh, one other unrelated thing. Anyone know what the banking is on the overbank? It looks to be almost around 80*.

Honestly, the ride is smooth...why complain about vibrations? That's just getting sort of picky in my opinion

Maybe it's the back too. Oh wait, now that I think of it, the only partially-maybe-semi(that good enough for ya?) rough part was on the helix turnaround at the bottom of the 3rd drop. Maybe speed had something to do with it also. I'll have to see again, because I don't actually remember it that much.

One other thought:

I'm spoiled by smooth rides.

I like a little rattling...it gives the ride some character. I noticed in the second-to-back row, there was more vibration than usual during the helix like you said, but it wasn't at all uncomfortable

By no means is it uncomfortable, I just noticed it there.

A/C trains did not receive a complete tear-down/rebuild over the winter months and they are trying out a new set of wheel materials, which may be leading to some roughness/vibration on the ride as they test for more durability on the wheels.

I was amazed how different the ride was, comparing the front to the middle back. It was more thrilling and airy in the 7th row (where I actually sat) then the front row. The drops took you by surprise towards the back whereas on each drop you had more of the cliffhanger feeling in the front. On the pre drop, in the front, it was kinda cool cause we went off of the drop then went straight when we got this burst of speed that pushed us off the edge. So Apollo's Chariot is a great ride, where ever you sit.

Thats most likely the case kumba. I never noticed it until this year.

Oh, and I agree just. If you think the 7th row is airy, try the back. Each hill has some nice ejector/floater. Then coming out of the brake run is that major ejection, which could be considered the most ejectory drop of the ride. The last two drops give some nice ejector too. Even the 16' one. Anyways, I always ride in row 9, and always try to get seat A(on the very left). Unless the line for the front is short, then I ride the front, which is more about veiw than anything else in my opinion.

Apollo's Charioy is made by Bolliger and Mabillard or B&M. B&M make smooth coasters.

What I enjoy the most is the (very) back row on the left side. For some odd reason, each time you come off the lift and the train crests over the first drop, Apollo just grabs you and takes you for a ride. And, it almost feels like an unexpected experience no matter how many times you have ridden it. Similar in comparison to that last drop before the final break-run; you "know" its there, but it happens to take your breath away..lol

In reference to the "roughness" again, the trains indeed were not 'overhauled' over the winter (but inspected as per the mfg & park guidelines). Remember that the maintenance and operation staffing and procedures have changed dramatically since the years I was working there (mainly due to increased costs). B&M is trying out a new set of wheel material as well. I wish I had some photo's of it, but if anyone likes that sort of thing as I do (mechanical-wise), take a picture of the 1st or 2nd axle (wheels) and then take a pic of the 6 or 8th axle (wheels). There are some variations in the wheels (and perhaps the bearing caps also). But, overall, this ride still kicks some "Fabio-butt!"

^lmao, Fabio will never be able to live that down

I may actually try to get some shots of the wheel assemblies next time I'm at the park. I just bought a new lens for my Rebel XT that lets me zoom up pretty close, so I may be able to get a close-up of the wheels for everyone to see the difference

To me, it seems like a great ride. It looks smooth and I have seen POV of it, and it looks great. I heard it is also a big airtime machine. To me it seems after Apollo alot of other hypers have been a little like this.

Obviously Apollos Chariot is still one of best sitdown airtime hyper/mega coasters out there. Has it lost a little of its smoothness in its 8th year of operation, sure, especially if what a very knowledgeable Kumba9 said is accurate about the teardown/rebuild not being done & experimenting with new wheel materials.
AC's closet kin, its almost twin Raging Bull @SFGAm in Gurnee, Ill.; doesn't seem to get near the accolades, at least here in the East; and even though its newer, larger, faster Sibling Nitro @ SFGAd in Jackson NJ. has a number of rabid fans, AC, even being the least in height & shortest in length, seems to still be the highest rated in most galleries. I'd still like to know how Nitro gets 7mph more (80mph) out of its 1st drop when it's only 5' longer than Apollos. Nitro is one of my "have to do" yet coasters. Has anyone on this site done Nitro, or better yet all three of these "like" B&M Sitdown Mega coasters; I'd really like to hear how they compare to our beloved AC.

^I'll be able to compare Nitro and Apollo after next Tuesday Can't wait! I doubt Nitro will beat Apollo, but who knows. Right now, however, I think El Toro has a better chance of beating out the Chariot

B&M made Nitro after AP and they borrowed plenty from AP.

Apollo was originally supposed to be a Raging Bull design, but Busch wanted it to be like
Mamba. If B&M refused, then it would be a Morgan coaster. Apollo's Chariot pretty much set the standard for the modern B&M Mega coaster. Apollo was also the first, it opened before Raging Bull did.

What is it with the ninth row left edge seat? That's my favorite seat on the ride and seems to obviously be to many others too. I don't know if it's just me, but it seems like the left edge in any row gets more airtime than the right edge. Last year during Howl-o-Scream it was pouring so no one was there. I decided to test that trheory by riding once on one edge and then ride the other right after. It always seemed like there was more airtime on the left. I've even had friends try this out and they agree. Kind of akward to me.

Actually, B&M was the second choice for its hyper. Originally, BGE was going to contract Morgan to do the A/C hyper based on the success their sister park had with Steel Eel (SWTX). For some reason, Morgan couldn't or didn't meet the requests that BGE wanted (with the design and terrain layout) and they eventually went with B&M (thank-God). Hmm... this sounds like a similar incident with (Kumba/DF) B&M/Arrow-scenario.

It was during this time that the B&M/A-B relationship really became a sort-of a kinship. Not too long after that, Busch decided they wanted their next couple of coasters to be designed by the Swiss company and 2 yrs after AC, A-B began exploring the idea about brining the DM's to the US. Most of that was due in part because of the low-maintenance costs, reliable operation and smoothness of their coasters/track-record.

I love Apollo... it used to be my favorite coaster there, but now its Alpengiest. I had a rather bad experience with a CM or two last year on Apollo and haven't been this year yet to give it another try.

Apollo is number one to me, and the back left seat is always my place... i guess i should pay more attention durring the ride because ive never felt the difference between the other seats in that row... only reason why i like that seat is because of the 3rd drop and how close you are to the ground lol.

and as for the comparison of nitro to apollo, never been on nitro but (im a traitor for this) im thinkin its probably better. not because of the 5 foot difference lol but the drops just seem cooler, like the 2nd one where u crest the hill and turn while dropping. the turn around looks sweet too. IDK it would be a close call...

^I thought that too before I rode Nitro. However, after riding Nitro a few weeks ago, I can say with confidence that Apollo's airtime blows Nitro's away. Nitro is still a great ride, but I still think AC is the dominant B&M Mega

eh, I think it's all a tossup, depending on personal preference. I think Nitro has better quality air, Apollo's has more, and Nitro has the superior helix. Nonetheless, they are two of about five coasters that I can't really choose from as my favorites. As long as its not Raging Bull... its all good

AC is my favorite Busch coaster. If you leave your restraint one or two clicks too high, you'll get lots of airtime.

^I would never take that chance. It's kind of dangerous.

I have been on all of them including raging bull and also Goliath at SFOG and i prefer Nitro slightly over AC. Maybe its because nitro was one of my first B&M hyper coasters but nitro also has some more unique elements like that hammerhead dive thing. These 2 coasters IMO are the best B&M hypers that I habe been on, after would come Goliath then RB.

Have you been on Goliath at La Ronde?

^^Or Silver Star in Germany? But who cares about Silver Star - it's littered with trims.

Apollo's Chariot seems to look just a good as Nitro. Looks like an awsome, out and back, airtime machine. I wouldn't say that it might be better then Nitro, I would say it' seems just as great. For me, pitch black night rides, back row, and if its your day, the trim and MCBR are off, is the place to be on Nitro. Your in complete darkness, yet you know your flying over those hills - nice ejector air (nothing like Toro's though ). Hopefully I'll get a couple of rides like this on Apollo next summer.

P.S - Goliath's helix, looks like it kicks Apollo's and Nitro's down the street. And the horseshoe or hammerhead, whatever you want to call it looks like fun.

The clearcut winner is simple for me: I much prefer Apollo's Chariot over Nitro. The better helix and awesome hammerhead turn weren't enough to compensate for the weaker airtime on Nitro. Plus you got the amazing atmosphere on AC and that amazing drop out of the MCBR

the drop out of the MCBR kills. Definitly the best drop on the ride other than the first drop of course.

Oh yes, other than the first drop, that drop and the hill after it is my favorite part. It caught me off guard the first time I rode it

Silver Star rarely uses the trims anymore, and it's the only B&M hyper in Europe.

Anyway, since I don't like Intamin that much, I think that Apollo's Chariot should get the best steel coaster in the world award.

How about the "new" version of Silver Star?
Looks like some neighbors have been complaining about the noise:

http://www.lifthill.net/gallery/pages/epba...hp?bildnummer=9

In reference towards the BGE-Fabio Express (A/C), I think it is one of the better hyper-coasters out there and the fact that Busch utilizes the terrain to compliment the layout and how it really entices guests entering the parking lot(s). I would put it easily in my top 10.

Whoever complained about the noise is who I hate

I got a short little story for ya. While my friend and I were riding Apollos Chariot this past sunday, the guy in front of us had lost his keys . As we were going down where the Rhine is to your Right, the keys just shot off the ride, then when we came to MCBR, his lighter flew off as well. So the guy beside me told him what had happended. I just felt sorry for the guy. Oh and when we rode Griffon later on on the MCBR, a cellphone was laying there. Thats why I love cargo shorts. That would just ruin my day. Well just wanted to tell my little story, since I had some downtime.

^ yeah my friend's watch fell of on Griffon, and it was EXPENSIVE! so that totally sucks!... for her lol

This one kid that I know has lost 3 phones on Apollos and 2 on Griffon and yet he still rides the same. He's a jean person so no cargo pockets! He's not too smart

well i know that stuff happens so whenever i saw someone trying to find a place for their cell i would just offer to hold it for them

Yeah. there was actually a guy that I saw last thursday who placed his phone on the MCBR catwalk cause he couldn't hold it or something! It was really awkward. Eventually we saw employee's getting his phone. Why he couldn't just put it in his pocket bewilders me!

Old topic bumping ftw. I ain't making new ones when these are perfectly fine...

I LOVE Apollo!

I've ridden Silver Star, Nitro, Diamondback, Apollo's Chariot, Intimidator and Goliath. Either Goliath or Apollo are my favourites.

Nitro is so awful that it made me sad.

Silver Star... Forceless thing, but it was smoother than most of the ones I've ridden in the USA and it's final turns were cool.

I liked Intimidator a lot. It's smooth and really cool.

Diamondback is meh.