Mr Bill
Well-Known Member
Yeah, just ask Car #17. Oh....right, you can't.
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Why does Test Track always Break Down?
- Thread starter RSoxNo1
- Start date
Rob562
Well-Known Member
Yeah, just ask Car #17. Oh....right, you can't.
You know, I'm still trying to figure out just how much of the Car 17 story is true... I've been meaning to ask my contact with Imagineering about it.
-Rob
PKD
Active Member
What's the story about #17 :lookaroun
majortom1981
Active Member
hmm
IS there any reason why they put an engine in each car instead of them just be moved along a track? wouldnt that have been easier and have less breakdowns?
IS there any reason why they put an engine in each car instead of them just be moved along a track? wouldnt that have been easier and have less breakdowns?
Mr Bill
Well-Known Member
The story is that WDI was testing what would happen if some of the safety features failed to function properly. Everything went fine as the car went through the high speed loop. When the car finished the high-speed run to enter the building, it didn't slow down, damaging the building and the car.
psuchad
Active Member
That would never work. The cars would have to all move around the track at the same speed. You couldn't have break tests or the high speed test. Also it would be like Spaceship Earth. That never breaks down or stops.
DisneyExplorer
Member
It's broken down on me before too. When I first went on it when I was ten, I was so scared to go on it. So the whole time I was in line, I kept wishing it would break down. It did, but only for 15 minutes so we stayed in line to my dismay. lol. But, I really loved it after, so never again have I wished it to break down.
jedimaster1227
Active Member
Actually, it doesn't break down as often as you think. When it does break down though, it is either due to the engine overheating or due to one of the system fail-safes shutting down the entire ride loop (much like Space Mountain). Considering that the ride system itself is still considered a breakthrough, I think a few breakdowns every once in a while isn't too bad... :shrug:
GM nearly did pull out during the 18 months of going nowhere. They DID pull out of sponsoring the very similar Rocket Rods - and we know what happened there.
Rob562
Well-Known Member
That's the "Car 17 Story". As someone posted a little earlier in the thread, WDI sent the car out on the track with a good chunk of the failsafes disabled on the car, to see what would happen. It came around the banked turn but failed to slow down. When it hit the top of the down ramp into the building (which is meant to be taken at only a few MPH) the connection under the front of the car broke free of the under-track wheel bogeys. The rear connections held, but the front end of the car swung out to the side and took out part of the wall of the downramp. The building was easily repaired, but the car was unusable after that (not sure how much damage it did to the track, though). But it DID give the Imagineers valuable data that they used to raise the safety level of the attraction even higher.
This does sound plausible to me (where are the MythBusters when you need them?). While I've seen video of WDI in a warehouse testing the cars through the slow portions, I don't think they had the facilities to duplicate the high-speed portions, so an on-site test would be the only other option.
Though there is a questionable addition to the story: that the vehicle in the gift shop is, in fact, that very Car 17. There's no number on it that I can see. BUT, if you duck down and look under the rear of the vehicle, it DOES have the full motor underneath. While that might just be good theming, I doubt they'd go so far as to actually put the full motor in it...
I've also heard one of the main reasons for the original delay in opening Test Track was that the control software that they had outsourced to another company wasn't performing up to the standards required, and after a lot of tweaking and failing WDI finally decided to scrap it althogether and write their own.
-Rob
mpaul32001
Well-Known Member
Mythbusters are Awesome!
Especially Her! :dazzle:
Here's the whole crew just for grins & giggles.
RANDOMNESS!!!
Etenpenny
Member
Last summer I was on TT and it broke down in the middle of the high bank curve at the end. There we were hanging at a steep angle to the left while the computer just kept saying "left.....left.....left.....left". Funny thing was on the way back to the unloading bay it kept speeding up and then hitting its breaks every few seconds. strange
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barnum42
New Member
I've not read through the whole thread, so forgive me if this has already been mentioned as a reason for the multiple breakdowns. The ride is an accurate portrayal of the development and manufacture of a modern car. Given the emphasis in modern industry on increased profit margins (translation - use the cheapest components shoved together by the cheapest labour in the cheapest factory after the cheapest development) said cars will break down more often 
Tiggerfanatic
Well-Known Member
When we were there, the line stopped for about 7-8 minutes, Then we saw a CM with a mop & bucket come through one of the staff doors. Maybe not so much equipment breakdowns and more of people not being able to keep their lunch down!!:hurl:
D
disneyrocks55
I was on it alot when it broke down.One time as soon as we got off it broke down.And one time I was outside and I saw it stop on the high speed loop and there was small kids on here..