Larson Loops Information and history - Flat Ride Of The Week 28

[@smeagolplaysgames4517]

I operated Brain Drain at Elitch Gardens a ton during my tenure as a ride operator there, and that one is manually operated. I gotta say, that manual joystick is tough to learn how to use, but it is soooooo satisfying when you give your riders 6 seconds of hang time without even touching the stick.

[@Gimeasamich]

I’ve ridden that one.

[@DylanLTindall]

At my local fair, they did it for 20 seconds.

[@CoasterRoaster]

One of the older ones with the caged vehicles showed up at my fair, and that was easily the best flat ride I've ever been on. There was no seatbelt, and the buzz bar like restraint rested about 6-8 inches above your lap😳

[@CoasterCollege]

Sounds awesome!

[@Gabes1321]

Go on a mondial topscan. Easily the best

[@aliciasnavely5109]

Dude same. This was YEARS ago for me..late 90s, early 2000s..I was little, just barely tall enough to get on, and my sister and I both bawled our eyes out screaming the whole time as we were convinced that we were literally slipping out. Which, it did truly feel that way with the “lap bar.” The ones with the shoulder restraints kinda ruins it for me.

[@toomanymarys7355]

@@aliciasnavely5109 Which is why I check the rides before I let my skinny kids on when they're young! I nearly fell out of a ride as a kid, too.

[@blindpanthervlogs]

@@aliciasnavely5109 I am a 23-year-old man and ice cream and giggling like crazy on that ride.

[@Nitrolord]

Fun Fact: The weird Pakistani one is actually, technically speaking, a coaster. It gets pulled up part of the way, but then, once it's at the top, gravity takes control and it coasts down the rest of the course. That part of the ride qualifies it.

[@K3SNE]

Yeah

[@Gabes1321]

Yeah but then that’s like saying that a Zamperla powered coaster isn’t counted as a ride as it is powered, not using gravity.

[@CoasterHorizons]

Yeah, I’ve seen it on the database

[@giancarlofelicianocastaned9316]

If it's not on RCDB it ain't a coaster

[@Houtarou_Hyouka_Unforgiven]

then fireball should be coaster too some coaster has swing launch

[@medea27]

That's a neat little bit of engineering at 2:05 getting the Loop to fold down onto a single trailer.... and using a built-in hydraulic lift to save on an external crane to fit parts. I can see why they're so popular as a travelling ride.

[@epicsomethingstore6691]

I remember your channel when it was still really small (back your debunk series was your main series), and after sometime of not following your channel and then coming back to it to see how big it has grown, I must say, I'm amazed and happy that you've been able to get this far.

[@MonsterFlame1]

I personally don't like the Larson loops that much but I will admit that they give impressive hangtime; especially the one at Six Flags Over Texas.

[@toomanymarys7355]

They stink when your sinuses are stuffed though....

[@xathira]

I didn't realize that the joystick models needed an air compressor hose to unlock restraints! I wonder if that's the case on other flat rides, or only the Larson Loop?

[@markjensen7091]

I had my share of riding these, and the fair companies that come to our area stopped bringing them. It makes a lot of sense about the poor operation in the rain, because the fair operator would always cease running the ride in fog or rain. They are fun, and a must for kids that hit the 48 inch height. My motto has always been "you must ride a ride ONE time to determine if you like it or not."

[@GentlemanJon]

When I was a little kid, the carnival that would come to my childhood local Labor Day weekend street fair (Santa-Cali-Gon) featured both a Zipper and a Larson Loop. I was too intimidated by both to ever ride either, even if/when I met the height requirement. Plus my parents were paying anyway, and they would buy a quite finite number of ride tickets. But I do remember that the Larson Loop at Santa-Cali-Gon seated guests inside a cage. To this day, I have never ridden a loop ride with a circular track, whether made by Larson or anyone else. I look forward to the kamikaze episode, as my local permanent park, Worlds of Fun, had a ride that they called Omegatron. I DID ride that a few times before it was removed. I remember liking it.

[@gaeh4708]

I've only ridden one of these when I was very young with a friend, it was one of the older models with the cage. The amount of hangtime was terrifying, thinking we would fall out the entire time, but probably one of my favorite flat rides behind the Zipper.

[@calebeedude5331]

BuT iTs NoT a FlAt RiDe ItS a RoLlEr CoAsTeR - sincerely, six flags

[@frenchtoast4491]

*Taylor has equipped a shotgun*

[@johnfoltz8183]

tHe nEw LoOp CoAStER cOmiNg To sIx FlAgS.

[@BumbletheBea]

My first experience with one of these had the cage overhead + lap bar restraint. I remember sliding up and damn near hitting my head on the top of the cage. Haven’t been on one since

[@stellaVista]

In the late 1990´s there used to be concepts floating around the industry that showed a giant Larson Loop with suspended seats. The train actually looked like a premoitionn of the B&M wing coaster trains. The ride would have been stationary and not designed to be portable. The diameter would have been over 100 ft. and the concept-ad depicted an airplane flying through the loop to show its enormous size. I guess that never came to fruition.

[@jonathonfreeman9233]

I really like having the multiple guests and operators chime in. Helps break up the vid and keeps it fresh. =) I enjoy watching the channel improve.

[@DeathMetalDerf]

The Larson Loop that used to come to my local county fair was called The Rocket Revolver, and was one of my favorite rides. Thanks for a great video!

[@coreyzachrj]

Having operated one at my local Six Flags park, I can say it's pretty fun. I love being able to control it and send it around 1 or 2 extra times. From a rider perspective, I don't see the big deal, but regular guests seem to love it. The worst part about it is how loud it is- it's the loudest thing in the park, by far.

[@msidc1238]

That's why the one in darien lake is called the rolling thunder. You can hear it across the park.

[@VortexVR2010]

its insane how loud rolling thunder is

[@leolunchbox4543]

HIROLLER THATS WHAT ITS CALLED. I've been looking for what those are forever. We had them at my local fair last year.

[@dawsonbutler7677]

We call it ring of fire

[@ethanamazing]

I think some of them are also called "Crazy Train".

[@leolunchbox4543]

@@ethanamazing yep that's the one.

[@bigburgerboi2005]

My local theme park wild wild waves used to have this unfortunately it’s long gone now

[@collinparsons3363]

All of the Six Flags ones have manual controls. The one at Great Adventure was actually "deported" and sent to La Ronde because the State of New Jersey didn't like the manual controls. You'd think Six Flags would've gotten an IOE version for Great Adventure, but they often don't think things through. Also, the New England version is now defunct, damaged beyond repair after a tree fell on it last summer.

[@Colaholiker]

Fun addition: At some parks (not mentioning which one I got the information from to protect my source of information) operators of this type of ride are actually not allowed to make it stop and wait longer than it takes to reverse direction upside down with guests in there. Being someone who doesn't like hang time, I can see why.

[@coyote_bravo2723]

Yes! I was waiting for this Flat Ride! It’s personally one of my favorites because of the insane hang time! Thanks and keep up the great work!

[@keisisqrl]

There's a Ring of Fire with the original lap bar and cage train at Wild Waves outside Seattle. I didn't realize that style of ride was endangered!

[@bigburgerboi2005]

Unfortunately it was removed this year and sent to the scrap yard :(

[@DisneyMarkUK]

I love these things, when we went to Sic Flags over Georgia last year it was a highlight for me. Great video, cheers

[@sebastianllaurador8495]

Video idea: Debunk the Ferris wheel scene from Death Note.

[@MoreSkaterJon]

Debunked is done

[@WorldwideWyatt]

I remember when this thing first dropped at the local fair, it was the cage and lap bar model. Really fun and really scary as a kid.

[@dindog22]

I just love the music you use at the end of the video

[@haze_productions9715]

Never thought I'd see a H-Roller mentioned. Very extreme!

[@ashleymalamute]

I can remember dreaming of riding the Super Loops as a child. It looked so scary intimidating.

[@lumindoesvideos]

I went on one of these called Fireball that was mostly black with a red train. It was one of the first extreme-ish ride I ever went on. It looked like it was well taken care of, the paint didn't look chipped or repainted. Also I've been on a Hi-Roller within the last 10 years, one is often used in Illinois at the DuQuoin State Fair.

[@roastedgarlicberry6418]

I just rode on the a traveling fireball model at my local fair. Really fun ride with 4 friends. The hangtime is the best part and make sure to go at night! There was only one ride operator and he thoroughly checked everyone's restraints. I would say these rides are safe

[@Coyotek4]

The production values on the video, as always, are top-notch. As for the ride itself ... *yawn* I've been on these back in the 80s, but have little to no desire to go on one again. For me, they're just boring. Go around in a single circle and ... go each way, and ... that's it. I'll admit that I've never been on an open-gondola one, but unless my kids develop a strong desire to ride the one at the local carnival, these will likely remain a hard 'pass' for me. I like the 'Kamikazee' more, though I still haven't been on one in some time. I'll reserve further comments for the future video. Now the 'Hi Roller' ... YES, YES, YES!!! That ride is AWESOME! Sadly, I don't see these much anymore, but they're a thrill and two-thirds! Just make sure you give any loose articles to your spouse or a friend; I once had my wallet slide out of my pocket, though thankfully I didn't lose it and retrieved it after the ride was over. (One time at a carnival, the ride operator made a sign of the Cross before starting the ride; it seemed appropriate.) As always, thx for making this video!

[@carenoid]

Ring of Fire, my most favorite ride of all time! For a lot of years they were hard to find. I saw it at a carnival last year but couldn't get time to go ride it. I'm not sure which version but thanks to this video, I'll be able to see! I suspect RoF because it was not parked at the top at night.

[@princesskristan]

I've seen these at my local carnival and while they looked cool, I was too scared to ride it because it looked sketchy

[@blindpanthervlogs]

You are fine as long as Josh macaroni doesn’t buy one. You really should ride them, they are amazing.

[@princesskristan]

@@blindpanthervlogs Next time I see one, I'm gonna give it a try

[@joewalker643]

The High Roller (named "It's The Roller") used to travel the UK but has sadly since been exported to Italy. Such a fun ride.

[@zombiemosher1139]

I wish they had these in the UK. They used to be popular when i was a kid in the 80s but I've never seen one since i was old enough to go on. The one i remember most was the Super Loop in Great Yarmouth

[@natep8153]

I rode one of these at the Georgia National Fair, and it was sketchy af. Only half the train was open since the other half's restraints didn't lock properly. There was no seatbelt either which I'm pretty sure is exclusive to permanent Loopers like the one at SFOG.

[@Coyotek4]

Here's my current wishlist for future FROTW videos (with one addition I forgot about previously): Matterhorn / Flying Bobs & Trabant / Hully Gully - these were mentioned in a previous video, and I look forward to seeing them. . Round Up Rainbow / 1001 Nacht Paratrooper Flipper Orbiter Whip Miami

[@johnlovesbridge]

I've been on the lap bar version decades ago and I remember it being annoying. You have to use your arms and hands to keep your head from banging the top.

[@haiderodes]

As a kid, this was our shit. Only Fireball I’ve ridden was at Clementon Park back in like 2011, but we always had the Ring of Fire and Super Loops out west growing up. It was always so intense. That thick lapbar was always somehow crushing at first yet so loose while upside down.

[@petestrash]

I was a ride Op on an original Superloops in the 1980's. It was a good ride to be an Op on, as it was one of the few rides we had where the Op was in full control of the ride experience. It was not a great ride to be an attendant on the sawdust bucket and hose was used often each day. Also the original was a maintenance pig. It has dozens wheels, which often broke without warning.

[@CoasterCollege]

Thats so cool! Thanks for the info!

[@VinceHere98]

“IT’S NOT A COASTER!!!!” -Taylor Bybee of Coaster Studios.

[@thomasedward9860]

It would have been good to include the reversing drivewheel and breaking system; maybe also a bit more on how the computer controls the ride (speed and position sensing).

[@evansmith1276]

My local yearly fair has an old ring of fire and it hurts my head every time.

[@Cat3465]

SFOG replacing their Larson Loop with Kid Flash was a smart move for them as it adds a new kiddie coaster in their Gotham City area

[@kittencuddler1072]

I love seeing rides at my home park on these episodes lol!!! I always get so excited

[@jjacques5032]

There's a Fireball model that is part of Calgary Stampede's midway every year. It's one of my favorites :D

[@craigauclair4026]

Loved Fireball at SFNE. I'd always ride it when I went.

[@bellyphat3232]

Little story here: This was the first ride I ran at Indiana Beach. I ran it every weekend [worked only weekends] for my first summer that I worked there. We called it Zero G. Very fun ride to operate. The ride is completely in control of the operator.

[@bellyphat3232]

The last few years we had one operator but the first 2 years we always had 2 operators. Just a problem with staffing is why we switched to 1 operator.

[@CoasterCollege]

@@bellyphat3232 Thanks for clearing that up!

[@nora_yasmine]

Ah yes, Larson Loops. Surely everyone's favorite flat ride...

[@CoasterCollege]

quite good coasters too..../s

[@michaeltaylor1603]

Yea!!!! From my home state of Texas! I've talked to these guys @ IAAPA many times. There was a giant working display model in later years. I saw a small version prior to the one I last saw in 2009. I was supposed to make a model for them. Alas they selected another vendor. No sour grapes though. It's a great company. I love the one @ the Galveston Pleasure Pier. It slightly overhangs the pier with the Gulf of Mexico just under you! LOL!!! Also love the "ride operator speak" I am a former 6 flags op. Many rides & manufacturers. Arrow, Intamin, Schawartkopf, Bradley Kaye, Chance, etc. Intamin Gyro tower (park it 1/2 way up the 270ft. tower. take stress off counter weight)

[@welding_guy7524]

I was a super loop operator and set up and tear down.. first thing you got wrong is it’s not a gondola it’s called a train…. Besides the wheels randomly coming off the older version and the operator getting pelted the worst part is being the guy who has to climb to the top to adjust the turnbuckles at the very top.. only did it a few times and it’s scary af looking down almost 80 ft up .. climb up the inner track to the half way point and climb out on the cable braces to climb up the outside of the ring..

[@Magromancer]

I’ve been on the original version and they’re a lot of fun, and that one I do think of it as a roller coaster, only problem is one of the ride ops that worked on the one that I went to was unfortunately killed while doing maintenance on it and it’s not returned since that accident over 20 years ago, they did bring one of the Fireball versions but it’s just not the same as the Ring Of Fire.

[@Doommaster1994]

I remember the Hi Roller used to be at the Evergreen State Fair as Crazy Train. I wanted to ride it, but I thought it was too much for me.

[@MillenniumForceMan]

they have nice hangtime but they are so uncomfortable

[@adamlitke8871]

I vividly remember this at my local fair in the early 90s was called the "Scream Machine"

[@RiderLeangle2]

I feel ripped off by seeing people in the comments talking about how much space you get on an older one as opposed to the newer ones, because the time I encountered one of those instead of the newer ones that lap bar came down as far as it could go and it was not comfortable, I know over the shoulder restraints aren't looked on super favorably but out of the two that's somehow the better option. Although I'd say the Kamikaze style ones are more enjoyable than one of these loops regardless, but that's just my personal preference.

[@woodencoasterfan]

The last one I rode was the Brain Drain at Elitch Gardens when I was there three years ago. It is one of the newer ones with OTSRs but no counterweights. It seems like it is a permanent installation but I’m not 100% sure of that.

[@dominodoge]

I really love the hi roller in Tijuana,i was impressed as a kid because of the side spin lol

[@jaovitorbecker1302]

Here in Brazil unfortunately we have just only one Larson Super Loops, and it's called Megaloop. It was probably built during the 80's and operated at the travelling amusement park called Park Tupã and it operated recently as permanent version at Mirage Park in Manaus. But today it can be found travelling in another amusement park which i forgot the name, because memory is a shit.

[@WilbertAdams1]

You used my home parks Six Flags over Georgia Joker. I've also ridden the Ring of Fire model at my local fair.

[@natep8153]

Same it was sketchy AF

[@urbex_coasters]

I rode the Larson ferris wheel that uses the frame of the looper. It was pretty cool, I'd like to see one built as a ring for a B&M wingrider to go through, it would make a cool near miss.

[@the_angry_empath]

Going to go through your channel to see if you covered Gravitron yet 👍

[@Astinsan]

There is a original in eastern NC that travels with lap bars. It’s awesome.

[@ThrillsofColdplay]

That’s sweet it must be a favorite of a lot of people

[@Astinsan]

@@ThrillsofColdplay the wife isn’t a fan.. lol

[@jacobharwood2998]

Went on a fireball a few weeks ago at my local county fair, this one was driven by tires on one end, a little sketchy.

[@adakalyoncu1913]

Another fun fact: the one at 10:55 is actually a coaster due to the fact it's driven by gravity after that lift progress

[@ThrillsofColdplay]

That looks more like a coaster

[@thrillridefreak8884]

I've ridden both versions of the Super Loop. There is 1 at my local fair called Mega Loop. Which is the modern Fireball model. Then there used to be the old school model named Chicago Loop. And I've ridden the park model version callex Flare at Kemah Boardwalk when I went to Texas for vacation. There is also Fireball at Castle Park but I didn't ride it cause it was closed during my visit.

[@SusanAHubbard]

The high roller is the only flat ride Ive ever gotten sick on. I was 12 or 13 and they wouldn't let you sit by yourself and I ended up next to a very large guy, which made it feel claustrophobic

[@Kelsay25]

Delirious is a most recent installed variation of this at ValleyFair in Shakopee MN

[@Kelsay25]

This ride is notorious for not parking correctly and issues in rain operation.

[@brain.eating.amoeba]

I was wondering why the Ring of Fire (they call it The Ring of Fire but it sounds more like the Giga Loop) at my local fairgrounds would sit upside-down! That's cool!

[@offrails]

I've never been on one (mainly since I'm in Florida and the major parks around here have generally higher standards and expectations for what rides are built. My primary experience with them has been building them in Planet Coaster and trying to figure out why the peeps wouldn't go on them.

[@eclipz4129]

Geez I agree with Alex on what he said at the end of the video about the sound these rides make, I seen them but I never heard what they sounded like. I searched a video of the Fireball in New England and boy I can say, the sound is BAD! I see what he was saying now, they do sound very intimidating rather then pleasing....

[@janiechamplin8524]

This is my favorite roller coaster

[@coastercrafter1productions300]

Taylor Bybee: Not a Coaster

[@seansanders294]

...

[@annoyingperson2255]

Same it has a ton of airtime and materials on this coaster experience you. Can not miss wish it had more hangtime

[@johnfoltz8183]

At Six Flags

[@ilovechika1]

@@coastercrafter1productions300 r/woooosh

[@j_y06]

PGAM and Wade shows has the fastest fireball rides currently. They both appeared at the NC state fair and they were fast asf

[@noothernamestothinkof5837]

Best part of this ride is the hang time. The non permanent installations are the best because the restraints are loose but safe.

[@CrestwoodRocks]

Cedar Fair parks could use this ride including at Cedar Point and Kings Island. Kennywood could use one too

[@DuckDucknoGoose]

The only Larson loop I've been on is the old one

[@ThrillsofColdplay]

The Hi Roller looks very uncomfortable

[@blindpanthervlogs]

I have dreams about the Larson loops. I even sing about them sometimes. I never got to ride the super loop, but as someone who appreciates older things, I really would like to. I actually prefer ring of fire to fireball because it is less jerky. it has a much more aerodynamic feel then fireball in my opinion, but they are both amazing rides. I really would love to ride the giga loop at six flags over Texas.

[@MicrowavedBurrito1]

I personally like them, i’ve only been on the one at KK and on the back seats its a blast!

[@rexnewcombe8337]

I think the first one was a scream machine before the super loop. The scream machine was larger than the super loop and was really noisy that's when they redesigned it.

[@zachcoastercrazy4032]

These rides are pretty dang fun, but these do not belong at bigger parks. Small boardwalk parks are understandable. Mega six flags parks are not.

[@leolunchbox4543]

Eh a ride is a ride and they make money. There's not a real reason why a big park wouldn't have one.

[@lolitamisa77]

I've only been on the cage sitting so that lap bar does nothing gotta put hands out too the roof to stop the feeling of neck snaping.

[@princessravendiamond4288]

Literally Valleyfair's newest ride is a Larson Loop. Honestly it's disappointing that Cedar Fair doesn't treat all of it's parks very well. Though I do think it's cool that it's colored purple as a reference to Prince. So it's just a little sad that it's very unpopular. Edit: Oh! Now that's interesting. I didn't know that Kamikaze is similar to a Larson Looper. Kamikaze is definitely something I've seen at my State Fair.

[@masterbuilder8849]

I used to ride the fireball at the butler fair I used to go to it was fun I'm sure to get on it again at my new fair and maybe do the other variants of them

[@ConfusedLux]

My friends and I rode a looper like this in middle school at a local fair in the US. The back of the row in front of us, in which one of my friends was riding, had the restraints come open right when the ride started. We were lucky to get the operator's attention to stop the ride immediately. I am wondering what make and model this looper would have been, since the restraints weren't the manual air lock restraints. I am also pretty sure the ride experience wasn't computerized. We rode it six times before that happened.

[@ConfusedLux]

If it helps identify the looper, I believe it was moon themed.

[@zack9777]

The funny thing is the state of NJ calls it a coaster-type attraction for some reason

[@randybooth9192]

I'll take the older style where you have to remove the pin and lift the restraint up manually.. that in itself was a show if done correctly

[@namelessgrace6319]

This channel is so interesting!!!

[@dredge62]

I dropped my phone out of one of the caged ones years ago and heard it bang all the way down lol

[@TheSlipperyNUwUdle]

My mom is terrified of this ride. Lmao she rode it at the fair and dug her nails into my sister’s leg the whole time. 😂 it’s called the Fireball in Kentucky fairs.

[@lucasmcfadyen5739]

Wait are we just going to ignore the Larson loop chirp sound effects . I would think the operator would have something to say about it.

[@plasmarc8891]

I rode a hi-roller a few years ago, it is really fun but you get thrown from side to side

[@repentantgore9105]

The fireball loop is the most common ive been fortunate enough to ride one at Lake Winnepesaukah plus one of the olds wooden coaster can be found there Cannon ball is that coaster's name

[@charismaticadventurer8448]

2:50 man I just wanted to watch it get through the loop😭

[@chillinatmach35]

Actual at my fair we have the old ride vehicle and man the restraints 💀💀💀

[@BackSeatJunkie]

They are NOT coasters and it doesn't matter what Six Flags says.

[@ThrillsofColdplay]

I rode an enclosed Larson Super Loop and I hated it so much I can tolerate the ones with over the shoulder restraints but I get dizzy riding these I think the last one I rode was El Diablo or a fair version in South Carolina

[@seanleasureracing]

I have ridden El Diablo at Six Flags Over Texas after eating a buttload of chicken...regret

[@coalcrackerchris]

Ive been on ring o fire at Bloomsburg,Pa. Fair in 1980's....hated it! Still see it there and dont ride it

[@yod4166]

Can you do a video about the indoor rollercoaster accident at Mt Olympus, Wisconsin Dells, WI? I can’t find any videos about it! I road that ride a few times and prior to the accident it was sooo unsafe and wobbly lol