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New coasters are fun but at a large event like Six Flags Great America had for Goliath's opening where there were hundreds of enthusiasts at the park there are always plenty of friends to run into like Dave Wetterstroem here heading out for a ride on Goliath.



Dave's ride ended up being quite the memorable one as the polyurethane outer layer on one of the wheels disintegrated as Goliath headed up into the dive loop.  The train made it around safely although noisily.  Everyone got out of the train and then maintenance rolled the train back into the brake run and we all got a demonstration of how Goliath's transfer track works.



Unlike most transfer tracks that move horizontally Goliath's storage track is beneath the brake run so the transfer track has to move vertically.



It didn't take long for the wheel to be replaced and for Goliath to roar back into action.



Bond, Brian, Billy, John, Draven and myself ended up lucking out for our first ride.  Bond and I were in the back seat and everyone was right in front of us.  The ride was amazing and when we got back in the station we were told to stay in place as they wanted us to ride again.  They wanted the same people in the second set of shots.  Of course we were thrilled to stay there for another lap and I can say that a double shot of Goliath at 5:30 am is better than a shot of espresso any day to get you going.



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Paul B. Drabek