I've been hoping for this to happen ever since I've heard good reviews from Carolina Cobra.

Quote:

(4/5/11) Screamscape sources have confirmed that Sidewinder will have a special new surprise for everyone this season. One of the rockin’ new trains from Vekoma, with the ultra comfy and open restraint systems just like the ones put to use on Carolina Cobra at Carowinds in 2009. Your going to love this train.

SWEET!!!! If the reviews turn out to be great and the ride is smooth, I "finally" may be able to get my first Sidewinder credit this year! We'll see....

This probably explains why it was taken off the list for STITP.

Sidewinder was always one of the better Boomerangs out there as far as brain hemorrhaging goes so this is awesome!! Those trains look pretty sexy!

This is very exciting news. I've heard good things about the new Vekoma restraints. They really breathed new life into the Great Nor'Easter.

One thing I hope remains is the drop back into the station after the ride is over. That may seem silly, but it's something that I've always enjoyed. The newer Vekoma trains are either lighter or their brake fins are thicker. But either way, the new trains don't escape the grasp of the station brakes on the return run like the older trains do.

Either way I'm excited to give Sidewinder a ride this summer. These trains look great, but how cool would these trains have been?

(Link) Wiener Prater Boomerang

Still waiting for them to arrive in the states.

It looks good, I can't wait to ride in the new train.

It's about time is all I can say! I'll definitely have Sidewinder as a must-ride this year.

Any chance of it being open for Springtime In the Park? I know it isn't on the list but Fahrenheit wasn't either last year and it was open.

This is why I have every intention of riding Sidewinder this year.

^ It could go both ways. I don't see a real need to advertise too much about the new trains. I find that regulars at the park as well as enthusiasts will know about the train and try it out, and see the difference for themselves.

But ordinary visitors and the like probably won't be going on it for the same reason as enthusiasts might. Sure, they may see a difference in the feeling of the ride, but I don't think they will make a big deal about it. It's just riding the coaster again to them.

This looks absolutly amazing! This was a much needed and reletivly cheap improvement. Also did anyone see this coming? I wanted it to but didn't at all!

I didnt really think about this until today, But Sidewinder opened in 1991 which 2011 would be the 20th anniversary. I think that Hersheypark could advertise something like Celebrating 20 Years with a new train for Sidewinder or something of that nature... Almost Like 2007 when it celebrated 100 years with the addition of the boardwalk

I'm looking forward to trying the new train later in the summer, and I hope it improves the ride. However, I only rode Wildcat once when it got new trains, and I've avoided it since. It was still painfully rough for me. Did I have an unfair experience with Wildcat's new trains? Do others actually think the ride is more comfortable than it was previously? I'd be willing to give it another try if others think it's worthwhile. Then, in essence, I'd have two new coasters at HP this year.

I agree. They did the same thing to Wildcat when it received the Millennium Flyers. It takes time to adjust whenever a coaster is receiving new trains.

I rode sidewinder on saturday, and let me say, it will be the last time that I ride it! I found the new restraints to be a huge improvement, I found out that they also hold you in nice and snug which is a plus for this ride. But the major dissapointmet was the head banging. During the time that it was going forward it was ok, but going backwords was awfull. The padding on the back where the head is, is rock hard, it was so bad that I had to try to hold my head forward to prevent it from banging the back of the seat. When I got off I had a major headache, that is why I will never ride it again. I even found wildcat to be smoother than it.