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F1 like Football is fixed. I bet they don't want a "Black" guy to win the F1 Championship

http://www.bbc.co.uk/liverpool08/video/la_machine/ http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=XzYXubZF9K8&feature=related http://deputy-dog.com/2008/09/03/50ft-mechanical-spider-appears-in-liverpool-city-centre/ As part of Liverpool's City of Culture 2008, a giant mechanical spider, nicknamed La Princesse, appeared on the side of Concourse Tower. Since then Liverpool has seen an influx of French scientists, a crane, fire, snow and a lot of rain. Those thousands who braved the wet weather yesterday watched La Princesse being woken to an accompaniment of music from airborne musicians and, later, being bathed in Salthouse Dock. She is now resting beside the Cunard Building, ready to be woken again this morning at 11:30 and again this afternoon. The spider is quite a character and is clearly enjoying all the attention she’s getting. If you would like to say hello come to the city centre this afternoon or evening, and you’re sure to bump into her. Arachnophobes should steer clear of Liverpool this weekend, unless they want to feel like they are starring in a bad horror movie. A giant mechanical spider measuring 50ft by 65ft and weighing 37-ton will be climbing across the skyline of the city better know for the Beatles. The massive monster has been created for the La Machine exhibition - part of Liverpool's celebration as European Capital of Culture. Made of steel and wood, the £250,000 spider needs 12 people to operate it, and is said to be able to move just like the real thing. Organizers say that on Friday afternoon it will "wake up" and "begin exploring the city later that evening." Liverpudlians are said to be looking for a giant shoe to whack it with, should the beast get out of control.

Latest news and pictures of this wonderful Water Park http://www.siamparktenerife.com/latestpics.html

Please post some pictures if you decide to go to Astroland for their last day of operation.

I agree the NAD trains are the best looking coaster train styles ever. i wish PTC could make a copy of them and say use them on "Prowler" at WOF

That is sad news to hear, the people who have worked there for years will have to find another job which might not be easy for them. Does this mean the "Cyclone", classic "Dark" ride and the "Wonder Wheel" will still be operating next season or will they all be SBNO..

The swooping 1st drop is lovely, it's back to the 20's/30's style.. The ride could do with some tunnels on some of the hills so no-one can see how far down the hills go.

Wonder if "Mega Zeph" at 6FNO is going to survive another battering. most of the rides are going to be "Razed", so I guess it does not matter if they are blown apart by the Hurricane.

http://www.lpcomet.com/archives/70.html Well its August and There is still little in the way of updates to the demise or schedule. We’ve heard that there have been truckloads of debris being moved into the back of the parking lot from somewhere in the front of the property. We assume this is just the effect of preparing the site for construction (first phase), removing old pavement and digging foundations, and the like. Hopefully hte developers have had the foresight to consider preserving some of the older original growth that still exists (between the old kiddie land and the comet). There are several really large pines and maples back there, and are in excess of 200+ feet high and in very good health. Some of the older pictures show some of them and can be seen in the older Giant Coaster films (looks like that was pretty high for an old side friction coaster, it was below the treeline, but barely). The word from the field is that the Comet is still standing and not too much has changed in the core of the park. We are still trying to get updated from the developers and our emails have been largely ignored. Supposedly l’m on their ‘mailing list’ and will get updates, alas silence and no new news. We have also been trying to get a hold of the parks historian in the hope that we could get a hold of some historic pictures and film footage showing the park and its history. Some of the footage that is in the “Lincoln Park Remembered” video give us teases of what is suspected to be a much more detailed look at both the Giant Coaster and the Comet in action. We will keep trying it’s just to tempting to pass on these jewels from the past. We have also been trying to get word back from Little-A-Merrik-A on the fate of the Comets infamous NAD cars, their state and what plans they have for them. Understandably word back has been slow coming as they are in full swing for their season, and are very busy. I missed the initial window to converse with them (initially just before they were opening for the season) so I’ll keep trying. In the mean time we’ve been offered a couple of photo collections from a couple contributors (Thanks Ray and Mike ) that we’ll be weaving into the galleries and stories. A couple have already worked their way into our ‘anatomy’ section …. Well thats about all we know now, and hope to keep pressing on in our quest for details, history artifacts, film and pictures ….. Comet1.bmp Lincoln Park Overview1.bmp Lincoln Park Pavilion1.bmp Lincoln Park midway1.bmp Lincoln Park Funhouse1.bmp

Such a lovely design when it was new, shame it was stored outside for years till the new owner moved it in-doors, it might get renovated in a few years. http://www.idorapark.org/forum/viewthread.php?tid=77

I had a "backstage" tour of "Megaphobia" ( Oakwood Theme park in Wales) at the start of Aug since it broke down during the weekend I was there. My photo shows what the the top of the lift hill and 1st curve towards the 1st drop looks like from ground view, plenty of wood everywhere.

Some pic's of a working "model" of the ride

I'm sure this will not happen, the Pier is more important to re-build for W.S.M.

I love the Big 'Ol Brake Levers as well, such a great way to slow n stop a coaster. The trains for Rye Playland Dragon are sexy, I bet there they don't have a seatbelt to hold you in, just hold-on to those "bars"

Colossus opened to the public once again today after it remained closed for 2 weeks for work to be carried out around the area. Fine mesh nets have been added everywhere that the train passes over, in an attempt to catch, or slow down falling objects from the ride. Many feel the new nets are a visual eyesore, and ruin the area completely by blocking views of the ride. It also raises questions whether they'll have to be taken down at times to allow cherry pickers to pass through, etc.

All of the ride colours and landscaping is wonderfully done. A very relaxing place to visit

Voyage's "Triple" down wins out-right.

It looks a wonderful addition to the Park's line-up, Good suggestion about lining up "Turkeys" in the "drink" (water) zone. How long can it take to drive from Kings Island.

The park has the rides, but no "love" in landscape n theming. is "Screamer " pool long enough to stop everyone

This is a movie clip from the 1973 movie The Clones. At the end of the movie, there is a shootout between one man on the ground and one man riding a small wooden coaster.

Since the final closing of Geauga Lake amusement park by its owner Cedar Fair in September 2007, the fate of the Big Dipper roller coaster has attracted much attention. As its final day of operation dawned on September 16, 2007, the Big Dipper stood as the 12th oldest operating roller coaster in the world and the 7th oldest in North America, older than all 17 roller coasters at Cedar Point, Cedar Fair's other northern Ohio amusement park. Dating back to 1925, it is one of the last of hundreds designed by John Miller, a prolific inventor whose innovations such as the safety chain dog and underfriction wheel are used on virtually every new roller coaster being built today. When the remaining rides and remnants of Geauga Lake amusement park were auctioned on June 17, 2008, the Big Dipper was the only ride sold subject to Cedar Fair's approval of the buyer. As a Cedar Fair spokesman stated at the time, "It's a very special ride. We want to make sure it has a proper home." After some auction day controversy, involving a statement by Norton Auctioneers that the Big Dipper had previously been offered for free to the American Coaster Enthusiasts (a claim unanimously disputed by the group's leadership), the roller coaster was sold at auction to Tom Woosnam of APEX Western Machinery Movers of Akron, Ohio. According to Tom Woosnam, he purchased the ride on behalf of an unnamed buyer who planned to preserve it, perhaps as a non-operating "nostalgia piece", although other statements also seemed to hint that it might possibly run again. Cedar Fair was apparently satisfied that the buyer would provide a "good home" for the ride because the sale was approved that same night. With the word that the Big Dipper would be preserved, the public relaxed. Tom Woosnam indicated at the June 17 auction that the plans for the ride would be announced in about a week. The end of June came and went, and no plans were announced. Demolition of the rest of the park began. On July 9, the Aurora Advocate reported that Tom Woosnam had informed it that plans for the Big Dipper would be announced "by the end of the week." The end of July came and went, and no plans were announced. The fate of the Raging Wolf Bobs, another roller coaster purchased by Tom Woosnam at the auction, did become clear, however, as pieces began appearing on ebay. The Raging Wolf Bobs will not run again. Cedar Fair, Tom Woosnam and the unnamed buyer could reap years of goodwill by saving the Big Dipper. Cedar Fair has the resources to relocate it, and in fact has done so with many other Geauga Lake rides. Keeping the ride on site in conjunction with Cedar Fair's Wildwater Kingdom water park (built in 2005 on the site of the former SeaWorld Ohio) or as part of a scaled-down entertainment district remain possibilities. Two other structures that are over half a century old, the park's Ballroom and Palace Theater (originally a Fun House built in the 1940s) could also be incorporated into future development on the site, if they are preserved. Nevertheless, fears are growing that the Big Dipper will become yet another victim of this age of disposability. Cedar Fair has enjoyed very little positive press in the wake of closing Geauga Lake forever after the end of the season without advance notice. As the world awaits the fate of the Big Dipper, rumors of protests and boycotts circulate in corners of the Internet. It is certain that images of the destruction of the ride, or its aftermath, would circulate far and wide. The future of the Big Dipper was the most widely covered aspect of the Geauga Lake closing, and its final fate will certainly attract widespread media coverage. In the meantime, those wanting to see the ride preserved can only hope that Cedar Fair's actions will ultimately be consistent with its statement that "It's a very special ride. We want to make sure it has a proper home." ----------------------------------------------------------------- I can't understand why Cedar Fair said "Cedar Fair's actions will ultimately be consistent with its statement that "It's a very special ride. We want to make sure it has a proper home." If they think the ride is so special why has the coaster not been sent to one of the other Cedar Fair Parks. They will leave it at GL for a few years then tell everyone "We will have to raze the BD cos it's cheaper to do this rather than save it". everyone get pissed at CF and boycott's Kings Island and Cedar Point for a year in protest.

"Ride or don't ride" you've all got that choice, Cedar Point has 15 other coasters which you can ride instead of MF,Mantis or Mean Streak. Problem is "Coaster" fans are never happy and there is no such thing as a "perfect" coaster cos someone will always complain. When Mantis and MF opened there was nothing like their layout's anywhere in the World, just be greatful Cedar Fair invested their money into 2 of the world's greatest coasters in their gene..

It's been just over 60 days since Geauga Lake amusement park's Big Dipper roller coaster was auctioned off for $5,000, although it will take about $1 million to dismantle and move it. Sandusky-based Cedar Fair Entertainment owns Cedar Point and Geauga Lake, among many other amudement parks. Cedar Fair's chief executive told financial analysts Thursday that two of the three bids for the three parcels that make up the 550-acre park were not high enough to make their sales worthwhile for Cedar Fair. Those two parcels make up all but 11 acres of the property. "We think the land is worth more," Kinzel said. That means that the sale of the park land is on hold indefinitely. That could be good news for those trying to save the Big Dipper roller coaster. While all but one of the other rides sold at the auction have been removed from the park, no one, including Cedar Fair, has learned who the real Dipper buyer is. The Big Dipper stands untouched and in "limbo" in the park, with no new destination in sight where it would stand unoperating as a "nostalgia piece" or be put back into operation. The undisclosed buyer's bidder at the on-site auction, Tom Woosnam of Akron-based Apex Western Machinery Movers, said June 17 that the buyer would be revealed in about two weeks. But that has changed and, since a July 11 email to Channel 3 News, Woosnam has said that the buyer has changed his mind and will not be disclosing his name. It's now Woosnam, the only visible face on the fate of the coaster -- not Cedar Fair or the unnamed buyer -- at the center of the firestorm about the ultimate placement of the historic roller coaster. Posters on amusement park fan and ride Web sites still upset that Cedar Fair closed the park at all now worry that this "undisclosed buyer" doesn't even exist at all. Woosnam sold the Raging Wolf Bobs to Clevelander Ray Edgehouse Jr. on July 8 and Edgehouse began selling the Bobs piece by piece on eBay three weeks ago. Edgehouse, who contacted Channel 3 News Thursday, also donated a section of the track and a coaster car to the Geauga County Historical Society. American Coaster Enthusiasts, a fan organization, got worried in July when someone who claimed to be Woosnam began offering the Big Dipper for sale on a Sandusky Web site. The only ride or item in the June 17-18 auction that required Cedar Fair's approval of the buyer was the Big Dipper. If they didn't and still don't know who bought it, how can Cedar Fair spokesman Robin Innes say "it's a very special ride. We want to make sure it has a proper home" and make sure it is taken care of if they had and have no idea who bought it? "We based it on his intention that they were going to keep the ride intact," Innes told Channel 3 News last week. Keeping the historic 1926 roller coaster ride intact and not demolishing it, whether it operated again or not, was ACE's hope. With today's news from Kinzel, bulldozers don't seem to be headed towards bulldozing the land anytime soon. Colliers International was marketing the parcels and is moving forward with the third bidder for the 11-acre parcel where a non-profit group wants to buy all 11 acres and the small Geauga Lake hotel on the property. The bidder for the parcel where the Big Dipper stands wants to develop the land for mixed-use retail/commercial. Innes said last week that there is "no rush" to clear any of the land quickly and that the remnants of the park buildings and facilities are also still being dismantled. Innes also commented on the fate of two other park rides that were not included in the auction -- the 1926 Illions carousel and the Americana ferris wheel. "The carousel is still at the park and it will soon be transported elsewhere for rehabilitation and it will be put in another Cedar Fair Park," Innes said. "The ferris wheel has been dissembled and transported to another location and will be put in another Cedar Fair park," he added. Innes declined to name the park or parks the two rides were destined for. Of the two rides that were auctioned off, the Big Dipper and the Itamin Skyscraper are still in place at the park. Innes said of the Skyscraper, "Eventually, it will be removed." The Skyscraper observation tower ride was sold for scrap at the auction but the buyer resold it on eBay for $50,000.

A section of the former Geauga Lake's Raging Wolf Bobs roller coaster and the chassis of an original coaster car became part of the Geauga County Historical Society's Century Village. The 16-foot long by 9-foot wide by 5-foot high section of track and the coaster car were donated by Ray Edgehouse Jr. On July 8, Edgehouse bought the Raging Wolf Bobs from Apex Western Machiner Movers, the Akron-based company that bought the coaster for $2,500 at the Geauga Lake auction in June. Edgehouse was also selling parts of the Wolf Bobs on eBay. Apex's Tom Woosnam represented the actual, still-unknown buyer of the Wolf Bobs and the Big Dipper at the June ride auction at Geauga Lake. "I want nothing more than to preserve a section of this ride for my (children) and everyone else's children," Edgehouse told Channel 3 News. The society said ARMS Trucking and Ronyak Paving Company, both of Burton, donated their time and equipment to bring the section of track and the coaster car to Century Village on East Park Street in downtown Burton. The car will need renovation and the society is seeking donations for this purpose. The society was also recently given the building that housed the Hay Baler ride at the former Geauga Lake. It's developing plans to reconstruct this building at Century Village to house a welcome center, museum store, exhibit hall, offices and storage for the museum's 15,000 artifacts. The society also hopes to develop a "Geauga Lake Amusement Park" exhibit in the Hay Baler building over the next few years with Edgehouse's gifts being the centerpieces of the exhibit. A funding plan is currently being developed. The society bought Geauga Lake's Palace Theater and its contents and a pavilion. The Palace Theater is where magic acts were performed in the later years of the park. The society plans to add a second floor to the theater and use half of the first floor for a Geauga Lake museum, offices and the second floor for storage of Geauga Lake items. The Hay Baler building was the home of the 1976 Mack Himalaya Matterhorn ride and was donated to the society. The Palace Theater was purchased for $1,000 and was the main reason the society went to Norton Auctioneers' Geauga Lake auction June 17-18. The pavilion cost $4,500, all of which was funded by a grant. Both the Palace Theater and the pavilion have already been moved to the historical society's Century Village in Burton. The pavilion will be the base for the new Ohio Maple Museum. The society is looking for donations to pay for the reconstruction of the buildings. In 1988, as part of its centennial celebration, Geauga Lake Amusement Park unveiled the Raging Wolf Bobs roller coaster. The $2 million wooden coaster was 3,506 feet long and reached a height of 80 feet above ground. With the cars obtaining speeds of up to 50 miles per hour, the ride took 2 minutes to complete. It ceased operations in June, 2007 shortly before Geauga Lake Amusement Park closed for good in September 2007. In existence since 1938, the society is the only living history center in Geauga County. Through its role as curator, it supports the Century Village Museum, consisting of 22 historic buildings and 6 support structures in downtown Burton. The museum provides tours to more than 5,000 school children from 60 schools each year and hosts numerous major annual events highlighting various cultural aspects of the Western Reserve.

No-one should compare the 2 coasters as they are 2 different types, 1 built for speed n power, the other is a very twisted Stand-up. I could not fault both MF and Mantis when I rode them.