downunder

In order - Raptor, Duelling Dragons, Deja Vu, Wicked Twister and then the Batmans, Silver Bullet - Vekoma hang and bangs: ouch. I haven't been on Montu or Alpengeist, I think they would challenge for my top spot.

I have only been on Riddler's Revenge, Mantis, and Le Cobre at La Ronde. Riddler's for me, though Stand Ups are far from my fave type of coaster. I thought the Intamin Stand Up at La Ronde was especially unimpressive. I wish they would turn Mantis into a floorless, and get rid of the trim on the first drop - Mantis the Revenge.

Anything on Stratosphere Tower in Vegas gets my vote. The anticipation was bad on the Sky Coaster at Old Town but the ride itself didn't really freak me, G Force at Old Town surprised me. The crawl up the lift hill on Millenium Force especially on the lake side can be a little nerve racking. Those walk throughs like Fortress Van Helsing at Universal Hollywood can be freeaky with people jumping out at you.

Looks like a possible future TPR trip to Japan became ten times more desirable, Robb will be able to charter a jumbo to fly everyone there from LA. Really like the look of this I hope some more parks like Cedar Point get one of these.

12 straight rides on Millennium Force in torrential rain, why - there was no line and not much else was running. 10 straight rides on SROS at SFNE, could have kept going all week but I had to leave. 10 straight on top thrill dragster, xcellerator, and ghostrider because there was no line. They are probably my best marathons, I get a bit bored after 10.

Unfortunately I haven't been on any of the great woodies, Lightning Racer and Ghostrider are the the two highest rated woodies I have been on. I prefer Superman Ride of Steel at SFNE over any other coaster I have ridden, I like it better than Millennium Force because it has more to it, and better airtime, and over Hypers like Nitro because I like the ejector airtime and forcefulness over floaters like Nitro. I have to say Balder, Hades, and Thunderhead look awesome and might challenge ROS if I rode them.

That's scary, if Cheney gets a little too ambitious he may invite George W out for a hunt. The guy probably had a heart attack when he saw the hospital bill. Comedians are gonna have a field day, and Cheney rhymes with Janey, so it will be: Cheney gotta gun, George W better run.

A lot of people tell me that wood coasters are cheaper to maintain than steel coasters, generally speaking. Is this true, and if so, why?

And Springsteen's Born in the USA is actually about disillusioned six flags employees, the vietnam thing was just a metaphor for Six Flags Great Adventure in his home state of New Jersey. Talking About A Revolution by Tracy Chapman was about her favourite terrain looper at Magic Mountain, and how cheap season tcikets allowed poor people to go to SFMM. Ah, the things people can make out of songs, I enjoyed Knott's I must have been there the best day of the year, two years in a row. It raises an interesting question, are there any songs actually about rollercoasters? Probably not.

The now closed Australia's Wonderland in Sydney was pretty poor, when your marquee ride is a Vekoma Boomerang you're really starting to scrape the bottom of the barrel. The only other coasters were an awful forceless woodie and it's junior offspring. I know someone who went by there on a weekday in the afternoon once, and they were told they were the first person to come into the park all day.

I thought it was Nikki Sixx from motely crew without the makeup and hair, and that's the way he looks in real life, an indictment against the perils of a life of rock and roll excess.

I thought it was Nikki Sixx from motely crew without the makeup and hair, and that's the way he looks in real life, an indictment against the perils of a life of rock and roll excess.

What a dumb name for a 600 foot drop B & M flyer, I hear they have been putting miniature Tom Cruise's in flight gear all over the park, wait a minute, that's not a miniature, it's a life size Tom Cruise. Maverick just isn't working for me at the moment, but they can call it what they want, if it's a great coaster.

I haven't been on Expedition GeForce, so it's Superman Ride of Steel at SFNE for me by the length of the straight. Trailing behind Supers, Millennium Force, Top Thrill Dragster, and X - some will sneer but they're the one's I liked.

Robb Alvey as TPR's Mr Six, he just does the dance so well. An alcohol themed section to compete with Busch. Buffet's every 50 yards to keep some sections of the coaster community happy. Abduct SFNE's Ride of Steel, Expedition Ge Force, and Millennium Force and call it Mitch Hawker's coaster poll land, leave your vote at the exit. Make taking a video camera with you mandatory on all rides. Copies of X, Chiller, and Deja Vu that actually run all the time with maximum train. ERT for everyone, everyday.

I think the actual height of the structure should be all that counts. Superman Escape up on the hill or High Roller (RIP) at Stratosphere would have the coaster record then. Is the scenic railway a coaster, better see if that is a credit on coaster counter. I wish they would get that Orphan Rocker coaster at Katoomba working. It's been sitting there for yonks now.

Let's hope steel dragon is back up by then, there are rumours, can't vouch for their validity though. I've heard a lot of good things about Disneysea, while I'm not a huge Disney fan like I don't want to go to their parks over and over again. I'm always up for a new Disney experience.

Oh well, I'll have to keep my eye out for a TPR Japan tour in the future if it happens, now that I know so much more about England's coasters and parks the June tour looks great too. DisneySea sounds like an excellent park, is it the best Disney Park?

It's nice to have one record holder downunder. It's a nice view from the top of Giant Drop, it's just a shame the loading seems to be very slow. Big Shot at stratoshere is terrifying being a thousand foot up before you even get on the ride.

Is there a POV video of Journey to the centre of the Earth? You Alvey's make me want to go to Japan, only been there once for sport but I didn't have time to check out parks.

I have only been to 6FMM, 6FGadv, La Ronde, and 6FNE. My vote goes with New England because it is very pleasant park, and why ride the rest when you can ride the best - Superman Ride of Steel. The same gate waterpark doesn't hurt either even if Mind Eraser does (most appropriately named coaster of all time).

The Vomitron, Surfer's Paradise, Australia - not the most complex ride but it can reduce even the toughest man into a dry retching, blubbering mess. Cha Cha, Funland in Ulla Dulla, Australia - a pretty standard ride but they seem to run it at warp speed, you can't even see the people in the other cars.

It looks like Big Thuder Railroad git drunk and woke up with the Matterhorn, and regretted it 9 months later. Doesn't look like a great coaster but fun. Maybe they should have had an animatronic Robb Alvey fighting the yeti.

Oops my bad, I should read more carefully, 95 kph. Still looks like a lot of fun. That is the kind of coaster that might fit in well at Luna Park Sydney, if the complaining residents don't shut it down, again. SCR1.BMP

Gee, that looks good, makes me want to sign up for the TPR trip. 95 mph - that is pretty fast for a coaster of that size.