Invertalon

If I heard correctly, 3 mile length? That seems huge! I must have misheard...Maybe 1.3 mile? Stream quality wasn't the best... If 1.3 mile and assuming 5mph car speed, it will take 15min for each lap around.

Looks awesome, best dive layout for sure. I think that little airtime pop after the MCBR may be a hair better than expected, at least we can hope. Wish it had the old OTSR's though... Boo to the vests on dive coasters!

Raptor to this day remains one of my top coasters of all time. My favorite ride at the park next to MF.

Was in the Sandusky area for work so made my first visit of the year to CP since media day (compared to nearly weekly in years past! Been so busy...) and it was a bust, sadly. I really just wanted a ride on Raptor and MF, but neither happened. Parking lot was fairly busy, but nothing too crazy. Once in the park, everything seemed more busy than usual. Raptor was over an hour, Valravn of course, Gatekeeper posted at an hour, etc... Then I found out MF was closed, so it started to make sense. Maverick was likely 1.5-2hrs in length given the queue and the FP line extended out in the midway parallel to the antique cars. Crazy. SV was posted at 2hrs. Continuing my loop around the park, food lines were just crazy. Chick-Fil-A had to have had a 45min wait... Line stretched into the midway down by the Yo-Yo. Even the generic food stands were swamped. Everything appeared to be open though, just the lunch time rush I suppose. Then I found the next source of all longer-than-expected wait times... Dragster was down. When walking by, a tow motor crossed the midway with a part on the forks, likely from the hydraulic room. So without MF or Dragster to suck up people, it wasn't too friendly for a quick visit. Decided to head out after a single lap around the park... Unfortunate I couldn't grab a ride on anything, but coming from work I was in jeans and such and it was too damn hot to stick around longer.

Bamberg-Style Helles Rauchbier (smoked beer, for those not familiar). I brewed it with around 70% German beechwood smoked malt. Nice and smokey! One of my favorite styles that is greatly under-appreciated. Most breweries don't make Rauchbier here in the US, unfortunately!

Here is my problem… If you don’t allow phones but wallets, car keys, pocket knives or whatever else people carry these days is OK… What the hell is the point? A cell phone is not the heaviest projectile people will have in their pocket. Either you enforce a strict no carry-on policy of any kind or don’t do it at all. How I see it, if this is strictly a safety issue… A 100% no loose article policy would be enforced and storage bins would be complimentary during the wait. If you only enforce for cell phones and charge for the lockers on the most-popular attraction in the park, it makes me question the intention. Lower attendance and trying to get that in-park spending up to please the investors next quarter, perhaps? I don’t mind the storage bin policy at Universal honestly, as they are free and I’m not being charged for safety concerns. When you charge guests to be 'safe' (that is the parks responsibility, all things considered) I just don’t buy it anymore. It’s a cash grab.

I just love the direction this year's event is going. A lot of original content, great overall theme. Can't wait!

Backwoods Bastard is year-round now, just so you are aware. No longer a seasonal release. https://foundersbrewing.com/latest-news/2017/2018-update-backwoods-bastard-and-breakfast-stout-to-be-year-round/

I’m not a structural engineering (mechanical) but I bet on paper the structure was designed properly, using properties for that type of wood (southern yellow pine?) which has all the design properties you would expect from steel… Modulus of elasticity, yield strengths, density, etc… All things taken into consideration when designing structures for deflection and load stresses. However, this is a retrofit. The wood that was used on much of the existing structure is 27 years old. Weathered, in use for many years. Likely, the structural properties of that wood has changed from the “norm”. Unless they pulled out wood in use and had it tested to reinforce their calculations, they could only estimate per-say the properties given the material. So again, while on paper this structure may have been acceptable and all deflection was taken into account… If that wood is less stiff than theoretical, now the structure begins to flex a bit more. The train may got a little faster than anticipated per design as well, adding additional loading as well on the structure. Overbuilding is expensive and often unnecessary. Now that (at least it is assumed) the structure is deflecting more than anticipated, they will find ways to reinforce it from causing damage long-term, or worse, critical failure. As mentioned previously, this happens. Structural medications occur even with new rides, let alone retrofits which are likely far more difficult in this case. Just my .02 though, correct or not I have no clue. Just an educated guess.

My list would probably go… 1.) Raptor 2.) Millennium Force 3.) Steel Vengeance 4.) Dragster 5.) Gatekeeper 6.) Maverick 7.) Valravn 8.) Rougarou 8.5) Mean Streak (if still around... I actually enjoyed it in the front seat). 9.) Magnum 10.) Blue Streak 11.) Cedar Creek Mine Ride 12.) Iron Dragon 13.) Wicked Twister 14.) Corkscrew 15.) Gemini 16.) Woodstock

That’s all the media ever does anymore, it’s terrible. Anytime there is an “event”, say a plane crash, you see every news source scanning twitter/instagram to find photos/video and immediately post: “Hey, so sorry you had to deal with this crash. Glad you are OK. Hey, this is Steve with ABC news, can I have permission to use your photo in our story with full credit?” First off, you are not sorry and just thirsty for a photo so you can show your boss you did “work”. I wish people would just say NO to these goons. Then you end up with stories such as that… Garbage.

Contrary to what most people would say, trimming on the MCBR to burn off a little energy would likely make the second half even more enjoyable for me. There is a point where things are just too "intense/wild" and not as enjoyable as it can be. I’d rather take ejector air (lol) over the ejector air^2 it currently has. In the video, the ride still has great pacing for the ending hops. I would make a bet that moderate trimming becomes a norm to control speeds into the final brake regardless of how many trains are on the course. How much full time, obviously, is TBD. Either way, non-issue... Trimmed or not, it still will be an epic ride regardless.

Coaster Stock was great this year… Glad the weather behaved for the ERT both nights (we didn’t do morning ERT or the mid-day events/tours) compared to last year where due to storms we lost over an hour of ERT the one night. Mystic Timbers is still running as good as it was brand new, which is awesome. Wondering how it was going to hold up, even short term. Still love that ride, so much fun! Beast was running fantastic as well. First night due to haze/low clouds it wasn’t as dark due to light pollution in the woods, but Saturday night it was clearer and a bit darker which was awesome. Still one of my favorite events… A low key, nice crowd that doesn’t hinder by being too busy. Wish the park would allow re-rides during ERT, but that’s about it. Especially considering how dead it is at each ride.

Not shabby when your home IS your brewery. I have four beers on tap at all times, except recently, as I was planning for a party this weekend (Springtoberfest!). So I will be tapping a Festbier, German Pils and a NE Style IPA this Saturday to go along with the Hefe.

Didn't realize how uncomfortable those trains really look... Perhaps I am not too bummed I can't strap myself in that thing I thought the lapbar would have some padding on it, or something, considering the forces on these rides. Is it really just a pad-free bar? That's what it looks like in the photo!

I'd probably be screwed at 6'6" then! There is not a single ride I have not been able to cram into, but crossing ankles is required sometimes... I was thinking it may potentially be an issue on these rides given the size of the vehicles.

Yes, trust me, exciting things on the horizon! The days of 3D glasses are over for the foreseeable future.

It has been lately, but won't be into the future. Going back to more physical "experiences", like they used to... No 3D glasses and that type of stuff, thankfully.

A few like-aged coworkers have no idea about this ride. The subject came up when they saw my Fury mug in a meeting, which somehow led to Mean Streak and how they tore it down and such.. They no idea something else was built and it's opening in a few weeks. There was about six of them, nobody had a clue. Some know something is going on with it, but when I tell them about the ride, when it's opening and all that... They are shocked. Almost anyone I talk to has little idea of Steel Vengeance it seems, which is weird especially in Cleveland. Then I have even seen comments on photos and such how people are concerned how much it will hurt, thinking it will ride like Mean Streak. I don't think it will have the "star power" at launch like Gate Keeper, Maverick, Valravn... Just because of the conversion and the ride it replaced. Still will be packed, i'm sure... But just from my experience with the "GP" and them having no clue what's going on with the ride, I think it will be slightly more mellow in weird way.

Like giant portable space heaters to get the grease and such warmed up for cool days. You could feel the heat rising from in between the cars when boarding. Also, they had one in the transfer area as well. Can't recall what they are named (brand or whatever, but it was marked on the side).

Track was slick and they were using wheel heaters in the station.

Thanks everyone! The ride is very photogenic, but too bad the weather/lighting was so poor that morning with dense fog. It made for a cool look though, I admit, but I look forward to getting more photos under some blue skies and nice lighting! The queue line offers some really wonderful views though. Storm Chaser has nothing on SV, honestly. I rode Storm Chaser probably a dozen times in the same day and was not nearly as sore as I was after only 7 on Steel Vengeance. Seriously, on my seventh ride I literally could not ride again because each airtime hill was just too painful on my thighs/shins. The struggle is real!

Photo location is right after the third inversion.

I have been on four RMC’s prior (Wicked Cyclone, Joker, Storm Chaser, Goliath) so I had an idea of what to expect, although on a much grander scale of course. It met those expectations (and then some). To sum it up in short, it has the strongest ejector air I have ever experienced… And it happens over, and over, and over again. It mixes laterals, crazy air time and a super smooth, thrilling layout. The first half is just awesome! The outward bank hill is great fun and that zero-g, turn and reversal stall from around the lift is the highlight for me. A great trio of elements. After the MCBR, it turns up to 11. The S-turn hill before diving into the structure was a surprise and probably my favorite airtime moment on the ride as it’s a bit more sustained over a longer period of time than most of the other hills which are more abrupt in typical RMC fashion. The turns, zero-g-rolls and airtime pops within the structure are disorientating for sure. The pacing doesn’t let up any and you race through the structure are crazy speeds to the finale of the “mechanical bull” hop finale, as I call it, those quick airtime hills before the brake run. It’s one crazy ride and will be a HUGE hit for the park, no doubt. Hard for me to place the ride in my “rankings”, which is basically non-existent anyway… But it’s for sure a ride that will be regarded as one of the best in the world. Steel Vengeance is an enthusiasts coaster, for sure. One of the most intense, ejector-air filled rides. It hit’s all the things that make for a great coaster (drop, speed, smoothness, laterals, airtime, inversions, head choppers, ride length, etc…). It has it all. Oh, and there is not a bad seat on the ride. You hardly notice any difference between the front, middle and back rows to be honest (aside from the view from the front, of course). The ride just goes so quickly and is so intense that it just really, really doesn’t matter. Seriously. After lap number six, I was done. The ride experience is so intense the thighs/shin started to get sore from all the airtime and myself personally, couldn’t really “handle” another ride yesterday. It’s nothing like say Millennium Force, Raptor or hell, even Maverick… This is a whole different beast of a ride. There is no doubt that this ride will likely be top of almost any poll for every single applicable category this year. It’s inevitable! Now, for the photos... Enjoy! 1B5A4337_DxO by Steve Franczek, on Flickr 1B5A4339_DxO by Steve Franczek, on Flickr 1B5A4349_DxO by Steve Franczek, on Flickr 1B5A4350_DxO by Steve Franczek, on Flickr 1B5A4351_DxO by Steve Franczek, on Flickr 1B5A4352_DxO by Steve Franczek, on Flickr 1B5A4362_DxO by Steve Franczek, on Flickr 1B5A4366_DxO by Steve Franczek, on Flickr 1B5A4371_DxO by Steve Franczek, on Flickr 1B5A4376_DxO by Steve Franczek, on Flickr 1B5A4380_DxO by Steve Franczek, on Flickr 1B5A4381_DxO by Steve Franczek, on Flickr 1B5A4365_DxO by Steve Franczek, on Flickr 1B5A4341_DxO by Steve Franczek, on Flickr 1B5A4383_DxO by Steve Franczek, on Flickr 1B5A4393_DxO by Steve Franczek, on Flickr 1B5A4404_DxO by Steve Franczek, on Flickr 1B5A4374_DxO by Steve Franczek, on Flickr 1B5A4433_DxO by Steve Franczek, on Flickr 1B5A4448_DxO by Steve Franczek, on Flickr 1B5A4449_DxO by Steve Franczek, on Flickr 1B5A4441_DxO by Steve Franczek, on Flickr 1B5A4456_DxO by Steve Franczek, on Flickr 1B5A4470_DxO by Steve Franczek, on Flickr 1B5A4473_DxO by Steve Franczek, on Flickr 1B5A4477_DxO by Steve Franczek, on Flickr 1B5A4479_DxO by Steve Franczek, on Flickr 1B5A4481_DxO by Steve Franczek, on Flickr 1B5A4501_DxO by Steve Franczek, on Flickr 1B5A4504_DxO by Steve Franczek, on Flickr 1B5A4545_DxO by Steve Franczek, on Flickr 1B5A4566_DxO by Steve Franczek, on Flickr 1B5A4575_DxO by Steve Franczek, on Flickr 1B5A4586_DxO by Steve Franczek, on Flickr 1B5A4573_DxO by Steve Franczek, on Flickr 1B5A4553_DxO by Steve Franczek, on Flickr 1B5A4595_DxO by Steve Franczek, on Flickr 1B5A4615_DxO by Steve Franczek, on Flickr 1B5A4619_DxO by Steve Franczek, on Flickr 1B5A4624_DxO by Steve Franczek, on Flickr 1B5A4647_DxO by Steve Franczek, on Flickr 1B5A4649_DxO by Steve Franczek, on Flickr 1B5A4672_DxO by Steve Franczek, on Flickr 1B5A4678_DxO by Steve Franczek, on Flickr 1B5A4692_DxO by Steve Franczek, on Flickr 1B5A4714_DxO by Steve Franczek, on Flickr 1B5A4711_DxO by Steve Franczek, on Flickr 1B5A4700_DxO by Steve Franczek, on Flickr 1B5A4722_DxO by Steve Franczek, on Flickr 1B5A4735_DxO by Steve Franczek, on Flickr 1B5A4739_DxO by Steve Franczek, on Flickr

I got six rides on it yesterday and as of today, have huge bruises on my shins.. If that is any sign of the extremely forceful airtime!... Crazy awesome ride. It's not a ride you can marathon, in fact, most people I spoke with yesterday had about 5-8 laps when you could have easily did double or triple that if you wanted. General consensus was that people needed a break given it's intensity after a ride or two for a bit. Once you go down that first drop, it doesn't let up until it hits that brake run. Even the MCBR you hardly notice as at that point, as you need a minute to brace yourself for the finale sequence which is just insane. I look forward to hearing what the "GP" reaction will be when they get off this thing... Will be a huge hit, no doubt. Cedar Point got an epic, signature attraction from RMC to the likes of Millennium Force and Maverick, that's for sure! As far as the bunny hops at the end of the ride, it honestly feels like if you were riding a mechanical bull. It's abrupt ejector air to back in your seat over, and over, and over again very quickly. The best way I can describe it. Out of control.