LOL... Well the brakes did work back then, too, but no, they weren't the headsnapping grabbers on many of today's coasters. Also braking here is accomplished by squeezing the sides of the train. If you go back to the close up of the car you can see the "brake pads" low on the sides.
Pretty sure that the long finish run is to let the trains settle out and run straight into the brake run. EBP's settled out in a spiral with the top rail squeezing the train down to the bottom of the track.
I think there's a tunnel leading the trains to the lift hill. Probably some minor swings to and fro LIKE A MACK BOBSLED....
Rob,
All I can say is that I've ridden BPB's Avalame, SFOT's La Vi-boring and a couple others. The Mack's are definitely the better ride of the two. While in the pic you posted, Avalanche looks good, the ride just did not deliver. It was just getting to FT's level when it hit the brakes.
Put it another way.. while my CF ride list ratings have the EBP FT's atop my list with a 10, Ava got a 3.
While my memories of EBP are fond, and Knoebel's does not look to be that level, I still have to sign off as...
Tour(bet-you-a-beer-you're-a-big-fan-after-one-ride)2ma