Scaparri

^ That's one of those stories where you can try your hardest to real tell, but it's not nearly as funny as it was in person. That was freakin' hilarious. I think I peed a little. Yeah man, I saw you there too but didn't get a chance to introduce myself. I was hoping I'd run into you at some point but never saw you again. Plus, the time we spent at the park just seemed to fly by. I kind of wish I would have chilled out with everybody at KI too. And thanks man. I still can't believe those storm pics turned out like they did. And it was good to meet you too Erik. I'm glad the second day at CP worked out a little better. Go Gators!!!

Wow, not only is that awkward, but your best friend broke the biggest man law in the book.

You've now experience Northern Indiana driving. Awesome TR, Tom. Keep the updates coming. And don't worry bud, you weren't missing much by forgetting IB's flyers. They aren't anything to write home about! They don't spin them nearly fast enough.

Hands down, Raptor. I've been on my fair share of beemers, and it easily gets my vote, especially after my last ride in which I'm not sure the brakes trimmed us at all. The giant swooping drop is taken so fast, the corkscrews are crazy intense and so is that last helix. I can think of some good honorable mentions (Kraken comes to mind), but none come close to Raptor's finale.

Islands of Adventure Best: Dueling Dragons (Fire) Worst: Cat in the Hat... though it's not a bad ride, something has to take the spot Hersheypark Best: Storm Runner Worst: Roller Soaker... nominated for it's lines alone.

I know it's on the first page, but if anybody is interested, here's a link to my TR from the first day at CP: http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=38010&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

Raptor on Thursday. It was running ridiculously good.

NHL: St. Louis Blues! MLB: Chicago Cubs NFL: Chicago Bears MLS: Columbus Crew College Football: Indiana Hoosiers, Tennessee Vols, Florida Gators (long time fan, no band wagoning here) College Basketball: Indiana Hoosiers, Butler Bulldogs, Florida Gators (again, no band wagoning here)

I can't say I really disagree. I just went there for the first time this past Monday and I was really stunned at how good it was. The park is beautiful, every single coaster is solid (even the Boomerang isn't that bad!), they have something that resembles a water park, and they have a pretty good flat selection. To me, outside of Orlando, it's the best all-around amusement park I've been to. I loved it.

Yeah, the rain out sucked but it didn't. I don't even think about it just because it was so much fun even throughout the rainout. Thanks for the photo comments. Those clouds were just so bizarre. I walked up to the park and bought my ticket and it just looked like it was going to rain. Then I walk up to the gates and those bad boys roll over. It was so bizarre. I didn't know what was going to happen. Wow, I think you're alone on that one, dude.

So, I decided to head up to CP to meet up with the TPR clan, and what started out as a really crap day, became an absolute blast! It wouldn't have been a CP experience without one of the infamous lake storms, and Mother Nature rolled out the red carpet for TPR. This would get most people down, and we had our moments, particularly when five o'clock rolled around and most of us had only been on one or two rides, but it became a crazy day filled with typical TPR antics. We were finally able to ride Maverick at about 6:00. The ride was awesome!! Not the best thing I've ridden, but it was a lot of fun and very intense. The first drop is sick and the turns are incredibly quick... probably too quick though. They are great now, but I can't imagine this ride holding up well as it ages. Elissa and I were also able to score a rollback! The train was heading up the lift launch, but was moving in a sort of jerky manner, then right as we got to the top, the train came to a quick stop and slowly rolled back down the lift in a reverse arrow lift sort of manner. After about 10-15 minutes of sitting at the bottom of the lift, the ride finally went back up. I really do love this ride. It might be the best coaster in the park. It's definitely up there. Despite the weather, I had an incredible time. It was great to meet so many people from the boards, and I thank them for letting me chillax with them all day. There are more details about the day within the pics. Check 'em out! So I had to check out from the park a little early, but once I got to the parking lot, I realized I had a little problem. I definitely didn't pay any attention to where I parked!! 15 minutes later I finally found it. "Hey Tex, how was your ride on Maverick?" Really big piece of crap ride. After Elissa and I broke Maverick and scored a rollback, Tex puts it down for the count for the rest of the night and scores the evac! That's what you get for waiting for the front seat! This is kind of like having the straight A student sit next to the dumbest kid in class. I unfortunately didn't get a picture of it, but this is one of the spots on the ride where the trains actually seem to race and become 'synchronized.' That funky Stengel dive turn thingamajig should be called the 'expletive curve', because that's what it results in. Finally!!! Five o'clock and Maverick opens, which was 'wicked awesome', as the New Englanders would say. What's that!? Over there on Maverick's airtime hill!? Why... it's something happening!! They are actually testing! Let's face it, TPR is filled with a bunch of hard ass gunslingers. Albeit blurry, I scored a picture of James, though he made it difficult. No Joey!!! This weather sucks but don't take it out on Wes! Go figure... And what happens right when it looks like they are going to open Maverick? Rain. It wouldn't be a CP experience without a torrential downpour. "Hey guys, how are you liking the weather today? Or even better, CP's park operations?" Classic Robb, and Jahan is pleased because after five hours, at least his two credits are Arrows!! Tex swipes his elephant ear v-card. He had never even heard of them before! Yeah, we took care of that. Texas needs to catch up, 'cause elephant ears rock funnel cakes' shiznit! Here's another closed ride as well. Gotta raise the coaster photo count somehow. So, we got on Corkscrew, which pleased Jahan, then headed over to MF. But what happened of course? It closed while we were in line. Pshhh... it's not that big. Hey look! It's Magnum... and it's stilllll not running! Finally, the rain has quit! Time to head out to the park... Kidtums is taking down a beer! That is the awesomest baby EVER!! Wes is hopped up on the Cinnabon. Little Red Riding Chuck and Outlaw Dane. The difference between Morning Chuck and Long Island Iced Tea Chuck is like night and day. Wes after taking a bite of his Cinnabon cheesecake: "Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" Jahan does his Middle East impression. You probably had to be there, 'cause it was funny as hell. Since rain had the crappy Cedar Fair park closed, everybody headed down to the the TGI Friday's in the hotel. And I had to get a shot of Kidtums. The kid is just too damn cute. I've never seen freaky clouds like this... If you look at it right, it looks like a giant tsunami is about to wash out Cedar Point. Bring on the rain. Rolling up to the park, it's lookin' like Mother Nature is going to be a real $%@ this morning...

Yeah, I'll take a few as well. I actually read this last night, but I was so stunned and sickened by it, that I didn't even know what to say. I think you summed it up pretty well though.

A security camera actually caught the collapse on video. This is just insane. Can you imagine if you were just one of the motorists on the adjacent bridge and you witnessed this? How you not cause/get into a fender bender? http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4081030565795767790&q=minneapolis+bridge+collapse+security+video&total=8&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=4

Probably about three months ago. When was the last time you went for a bike ride?

So I suppose this probably isn't going to magically open in four days? It really amazes me it's taken this long to build a 1200 ft long coaster, though I'm sure the degree of difficulty is high.

I want to know what exactly you've contacted Intamin about. If it's about an Aquatrax that is also the world's longest coaster with 11 inversions, then we'll talk. But before I contribute my $20 mill, we need to discuss naming rights. I think Scaparriland fits the bill.

EDIT: Not really sure what happened here. Just noticed this and it's too late to delete it myself.

Yeah, I swiped my looping v-card during my lone visit to Opryland in '96. I was staring at Hangman, scared to death, but eventually decided I had to try it. It just looked like so much fun. I grew the balls and rode it. It was so much fun and.... SMOOTH! And that's pretty much how I got into coasters. I had a lot of fun at the park. It really wasn't anything terribly special. Just a fun, medium-sized park. And yeah, now they have an overpriced mall in its place.

People are freakin' crazy these days! Assuming you're crazy enough to carry a gun with the possible intention of killing somebody, how do you not at some point (like the point where you actually start to point the gun or something) realize that you are about to kill somebody for asking for a raise. How does common sense and human emotion not prevail in that situation? It blows my mind. I know worse crap probably happens, but wow.

Depending on the coaster, I think I could do it. Assuming that Boomerang is actually a Vekoma Boomerang, I think I'd pass. If it was on something like Raging Bull or something though? I'd give it a run for it. I'm not sure how well I'd sleep on a coaster though.

I'm callin' the Fun Spot. Don't know why. That's my hunch. I figured my next park would be CP to meet up with the Midwest folk, but my b-day is within the next week, so I might treat myself to some place else. I'm thinkin' Beech Bend and Kentucky Krapdom. I don't know though. EDIT: I'm taking myself up on my offer!! Hershey and Kennywood it is in one week! Never been to Hershey and it's been 4 years since I last went to Kennywood. EDIT AGAIN!: I will be hitting Knoebel's for the first time the night before Hershey! This is turning out to be my greatest idea in a long time!

^Yeah, I think your description is about right. When I first went on TTD, no kidding, it took me quite a while to find my onride photo because I was just looking at the faces instead of clothes and I didn't recognize myself or my friend because are skin was pushed back so hard against our faces. Nice TR. The adirondacks looks great. Lots of good pics man. I'm really starting to think about just taking off for NJ. I haven't done much in the way of parks this summer and I'm really wanting to randomly road trip to a new park. SFGAdv might win that election if I actually decide to do it. Again, cool TR.

On your first question, I know I'm not what you asked for, but attendance trends are pretty much standard everywhere. Saturdays are the busiest, Fridays are usually the second busiest, Sundays are generally quite a bit less busy than Saturdays and tend to almost be like a regular weekday, Tuesday-Thursdays are generally the best days to go, and Mondays can be a bit busier. I don't think it changes much between parks, though I could be wrong. As for the second question, yeah, go for it dude. I'm always up for international park TRs. We don't get them too much, especially from Japan, so I'd say do it to it. Throw some of the non-coaster related stuff in there. Especially if it's bizarre cultural stuff.

I hate shoes. I really do. Sandals are far superior. They aren't confining, nor are the blazing hot.

^Yep, more money, but no results. Nothing like getting paid a crap ton just to be a backmarker, which is what he'll likely be if he goes to Toro Rosso. But whatever, I like to pretend that with his talent he could actually do something impressive, given the crap ride he'd have. Yeah, WRC is awesome. I wish it had more coverage than it does. What I'd give to get behind the wheel of one of those cars and just drive the hell out of it.