downunder

^I was thinking the same thing, why bother putting up a coaster if it's only going to be up 6 days a year. I know the Japanese are a very rich nation (or were) but $20 million lawn ornaments would be a bit much. I'm going to keep saying it, more megalite.

Thanks for the photo Erik, it so felt like I was Cartman in that episode of South Park where he brought the amusement park and wouldn't let anyone in. As unique as that solo ride was, I think it runs much better with a train load of people.

What I like about the Megalites is that they are kick ass ride that wouldn't cost that much for a park to put in. We could realistically even get one down here but the parks all seem obsessed with second rate, er I mean second generation booster bike style coasters.

Those megalites sound great, from what I have heard they have all the airtime without having to build a 200 foot plus lift hill, the only criticism I have heard is that they are a bit short. I went on Vortex at Canada's Wonderland at night and that was absolutely insane, so it doesn't surprise me that Eagle's Fortress is rated so highly.

I thought the poll was fair, and at the end of the day what people like in a coaster is subjective though some things have broader appeal like airtime. I'm pretty standard in my tastes, I've ridden 5 coasters in the top 10 and 4 of those 5 were my my top 4 coasters (Phoenix, Boulder Dash, El Toro, Ravine Flyer II).

Thanks for the correction, I always thought Catwoman was a powered coaster for some reason, it just feels like it is not using gravity. Riding that coaster was like driving with the handbrake on.

Six Flags New England This is a really relaxed, pretty and pleasant park by the Conneticut River with a surprisingly large collection (9) of coasters for a relatively small park. The B & M Floorless Batman is compact and fun, Thunderbolt - the WWII era woodie wasn't bad, the SLC was passable, and the Gerstlauer Spinner was a good ride. But why beat around the bush, if they didn't have Superman Ride Of Steel I wouldn't be there, it would be like No Doubt without Gwen Stefani, the Stones without Jagger, U2 without Bono - I think I've made my point. I love this coaster. Our day started with ERT on Batman, and the SLC, and then what I was waiting for - SROS (if you don't know that acronym means, shame on you, you are demoted from coaster geek to Matrix geek). I arrived early for the SROS ERT and then put me on by myself, so I rode front row with an entire train to myself. One last look at Superman, why so sad, we'll be back tomorrow. Not as super as my last visit in 2004 but the off season nip/tuck should have Ride of Steel back to it's best in 2009. Cyclone was mildly amusing but mostly painful, there were plenty of upside down smiles after a lap on this coccyx cruncher. Now that's better, not too many people were keen on riding Catwoman, well the statue yes, but the coaster was like having to listen to Phil Collins. Catwoman's Whip, worth it just for the statue. Powered coasters have an oddly sedated feel to them - Ritalin the Ride, now there's a tie in. What a SILF, even the prospect of impaling myself on the fence did not deter me from considering claiming this statue credit. This is the hill. Back troubles, this hill will uncompress those vertebrae, fully endorsed by the Chiropractors Association of America as a supplementary treatment. Airtime heaven? Superman was a bit more like Clark kent until it warmed up. Clark Kent needs a little viagra. That being said, still better than any other steel I've ridden. I can see Superman and it looks glorious, like Mecca to coaster lovers. The ride formerly known as Mr Six's Pandemonium. A bit of trivia Mr Six is actually Nikki Sixx from Motely Crue without a wig and make up. Shaggy says "how much for the little girl". Her brother says "how many fingers". History will record this incident as one of the most inappropriate John Belushi (from Blues Brothers) impersonations of all time.

I liked Flight Of Fear best, Dominator was good as well.

Damn, that's another sexual orientation I forgot to put on the West Coast Trip poll.

^I didn't know Dick Kinzel wrote books under an pseudonym. Whatever, if you don't like it don't buy it. But if this books leads some poor child to want to go to KI and ride Son Of Beast. Then as a consequence the child winds up in a wheelchair for life, then damn that book.

^I care, I might take your Scandi spot.

I thought Kingda Ka was a big WANK!

Duma Key by Stephen King - it's quite interesting.

Sounds like a lot fo people will be involved - a real mass debate if ever there was one. I've ridden both plenty of times, I know which one I like better and why, and that's enough for me but I will try and tune in for some hilarity.

^^Whacky Shack and Pirate's Cove certainly were adventures that's for sure. I have a few more unusual POV's I'll put up sometime, mostly presented in This Ride Is Rupturing My Spleen Vision. Once my body starts being able to move again after 3 straight days of running I should be able to get another report up, State Champions no more - pride's hurting even more at the moment.

Petrol prices dipped below a $1 per litre which is absolutely surreal, I feel like taking a photo of the sign. In recently times petrol has routinely been at $1.50 - $1.60 a litre. I have to drive 400 km tonight to play in a sporting event so I'm loving it.

Geauga Lake is making a comeback, just ride by ride in different parks.

Here's my top 30 steel: 1 Favorite Wood Coaster Any Park Anywhere 2 Superman - Ride of St SF New England 3 Maverick Cedar Point 4 X2 Six Flags Magic Mo 5 Top Thrill Dragster Cedar Point 6 Behemoth Canadas Wonderland 7 Millennium Force Cedar Point 8 Nitro Six Flags Great Ad 9 Vortex Canadas Wonderland 10 Ride of Steel Darien Lake 11 Phantom's Revenge Kennywood Park 12 Storm Runner Hersheypark 13 Flight of Fear Kings Island 14 Flight of Fear Kings Dominion 15 Magnum XL-200 Cedar Point 16 Raptor Cedar Point 17 XCelerator Knott's Berry Farm 18 Alpengeist Busch Gardens Euro 19 Talon Dorney Park 20 Steel Force Dorney Park 21 Griffon Busch Gardens Euro 22 Superman Escape Warner Bros. Movie 23 Goliath Six Flags Magic Mo 24 Kingda Ka Six Flags Great Ad 25 Dueling Dragons-Fire Islands of Adventu 26 Dueling Dragons-Ice Islands of Adventu 27 Fahrenheit Hersheypark 28 Dominator Kings Dominion 29 Kraken SeaWorld Orlando 30 Tatsu Six Flags Magic Mo

Ben, will you bring your new friend Britney along?

^Thanks for that Robb, looks like those Megalites are a winner, you must be salivating about Piraten next year. I wish they'd build a Megalite down here, I think that would be realistic for Dreamworld or Movieworld.

Robb, so how good was Kawasemi, it looks like everyone rates it highly that has ridden it, airtime? Also, how did Eagle's Fortress compare with CW's Vortex at night, I thought Vortex was amazing at night so Fortress must totally rip, seriously forceful?

I'm surprised they are not making it only available during peak periods because that place can get so dead when it's quiet.

^^Freddie reckons they won't be putting the trim on next year, here's hoping. I'll try to get back to Compounce next year if they don't wreck the Dash. One thing I'm curious about, most of the wood coasters were much better at night. One I haven't ridden at night is El Toro - is much better at night? For me Toro is awesome but the bits in between the first drop, the two airtime hills, and the crossover airtime hill paled by comparison.

It will be interesting to see how much they charge for it? The thought of going to that park does not excite me at all. I'll be in Brissie later in the month but I won't go anywhere near Dreamworld.

So you get to get on Dreamworld's mostly lame rides faster, I would have much preferred this at Movie World. It will interesting to see how people in the regular queue react to people getting on before them, this is relatively alien to Australia.