Dragon Khan

Hey Benny ! Glad you enjoyed. Didn't know you were a U2 fan, and I sometimes try to combine U2 and coasters. I saw them in 97 in Werchter for the Pop Mart Tour, then in 2005 in Brussels for Vertigo, saw them on a second venue for this tour in Madrid (guess why I chose to see them there ) and decided to skip this year because I saw the first leg of 360 Degree Tour in Paris (SDF) Hey, next time, let's see them together !

Thx for the report and pics, Martin. MAkes me realise how much I visit US parks and tend to neglect Europe nowadays. I absolutely have to visit Germany again. Haven't been to this country since the opening of Black Mamba...

Werewolf at Walibi Belgium has held very well. I would even say it has improved and become "good kind of rough" and is GREAT fun ! I rode Robin Hood some years ago, it was excellent, but I heard it hasn't aged very well. Can anyone confirm ?

Hanno, you wrote you're no story teller, you just take pictures and HOPE PEOPLE LIKE THEM ??? Well, 'like" is an understatement. Your pics are like ... how can I say ? Dutch coasterporn. And I love it ! More seriously though. I'm so glad you also took part to my first trip 2 years ago. For the nice dude you are, of course ! but also because my computer crashed after the trip and I lost absolutely ALL my pictures of East Coast. Fortunately, there was the photo DVD, but as I had lost all "personal" pictures with me on them, thanks to your website, I could find pictures of me on nearly all the good coasters and with all the great people who contributed to my first trip being a blast.

Robb, you have a very SHARP EYE !!! Chuck, I have to tell you, you guy can catch my attention ! every update is as great as the former one. You really capture THE moments, and your verbosity, well... you know how much I enjoyed your "coaster of the week" updates. WE WANT MORE !!!

^LMAO ! I have to admit my "home park" may not be the best choice. Bellewaerde however, has been coaster starved for ages... Bobbejaanland would make good use of it too. (I even remember a "recreation" of the Olympia Looping had been considered before they decided to invest in their Typhoon Eurofighter) That would have been an iconic replacement to the already iconic looping star !

OMG. Habe ich das falsch verstanden ? Are you kidding / trying to scare me and a lot of European coaster enthusiasts when you say it's Olympia Looping's last stay at Oktoberfest ? What do you mean ? Is the ride being retired off the German fair circuit? Or JUST off Oktoberfest ? I got luck and rode this wonderful creation several times at different German locations (Düren Fair) and it was love at first sight, like for lots of Anton loopers, actually. But what I fear is, this coaster might be bought by some US company who might scr*w it up forever. And I'd really be sad to see that happen. Has anyone ever heard anything about the faith of this marvel ? If ONLY My homepark could buy it (and maintain it properly), it would definitely put it on the map ! Please let this coaster stay in Europe (preferably close to me lol) and if it really has to go overseas, I pray so it goes to a park which really DESERVES it and will take care of this beauty

I'll try to return later this week and make a video of it. The operation on it is INSANE and what you can't notice on this pic (but will on a video ) is that they run it both forwards AND backwards at this crazy speed. I chickened out after eating those greasy ballzzz...

^ If you visit in August, Jason, you'll be there for Brussels "Foire du Midi" (one of the 2 largest Belgian fairs, a real flat ride / greasy food enthusiast paradise !) Incidentally, I have also noted that it's currently Lille's annual Fair.(Lille is a bigger city, 20 minutes away from here, but in France this time) I don't know which coaster is there this season but I know "King" has sometimes attended. I may check it out next WE and post here again. Especially after checking Youtube, it seems there are new attractions. Just type foire lille 2010 to have an idea of the size of the fairground !

Here is the surprise cake I received for my 30th Bday. Dunno if you can notice (had a bad cam at the time) but Dragon Khan is pictured !

Today, the weather was not too bad in Belgium (after lots of rain last week) so after lawnmowing, I decided my GF wouldn't cook. I had something in mind: I wanted to eat JUNK FOOD. Not "any" junk food though... the greasy kind you find at fairgrounds. And guess what ! Incidentally, it's my hometown (Tournai) 's end of summer Fair. (we have another one in May). Both fairs last AT least 2 weeks. Depending on city events, some last for 3 weeks (this is the case for this year's edition). My son was also coaster starved, since I selfishly travelled alone last summer (Mid America, so not REALLY alone, but let's say with my "second family" ) And there was a credit for him to be had. I think it's an SDC Galaxi model, but the lift hill is kind of strange, since the first couple of feet of the lift are steeper than the rest of the lift to the top. (you'll probably figure out what I mean) All in all, some funny flats RUN CRAZY IN SOME CASES, lots of arcades and games, some trampolines, no "extreme" ride this year (we often have catapults, slingshots, or "boosters"/ skyscrapers) But a kiddie coaster (Eliot Nessie) and the "High Speed Roller Coaster". We ate some Pitta (Kebab ?) Fries (I refuse to call them French since they're BELGIAN), Candyfloss, and "Croustillons" which are made of pasta , maybe like funnel cake. You also have to choice of having Banana slices, Pineapple, and other fruit you can have dipped in boiling grease, with a pastry crust, and powder sugar scattered on those "BALLZZZ". The SDC was AWSOME in the backseat (reminded me a lot of the other Galaxy I rode last summer at Indiana Beach) Kids enjoyed, played games, and since it's 10 minutes away from home, I may get back for better pictures (tonight, the sky was quite menacing, but incidentally, i like the result of some pics) Here is a batch of pictures which I hope reflect the atmosphere of tonight. NOTE THAT the BREAKDANCE PICS WERE NOT EDITED ! the sky was actually like that. I hope you enjoy this small selection of pictures which come from my FB but wanted to share with tpr community. 1.bmp 3.bmp 4.bmp 5.bmp 6.bmp 7.bmp untitled.bmp O9.bmp H.bmp g.bmp efg.bmp ef.bmp d.bmp b.bmp

@ Robb and Elissa:Totally agree with the Furious Baco inside seat only. I could feel the pain of edge seat rides for MONTHS after my visit. Kumbak trains on Stampida didn't help. Khan... well, my screen name should give you a hint as if I like it or not. @ Robb: As for Black Mamba, I guess it's like some other coasters: can deliver excellent FORCEFUL rides on some days, and crappy experience on others. Probably I was lucky, but I have ridden a couple of inverts too (not as many as Robb, that's obvious) but BM really kicked ass the day I hit it ! Any coaster can give more or less awsome experience depending on lots of factors. I rode SROS at SFNE and was totally unimpressed, for instance, whereas Goliath at Walibi World blew me away. Very subjective so. Back on topic, I'm surprised Warner PArque MAdrid has not been mentioned. It's got quite good balance rides / theming and at least 2 of their coasters are decent. Superman flooless is the best floorless I've ridden, with great hangtime , some airtime, great first drop and cool smooth layout. And the (ok ubiquitous) Batman which is still one of my favourites when I want some heavy G's. And Stuntfall may well be a Vekoma, it's a Vekoma that I liked and found a bit thrilling.

BRIDGE PARTY ! an awsome souvenir ! I remember how everyone YELLED when Robb finally announced we would be getting our ERT ! And Neil lying in the rain... unforgettable ! Great video and amazing pics too !

^^ Bas, I think you may be right. I remember B&M describing Kumba's Zero G Roll as "camelback", and Busch Gardens used this terminology in their flyers, some years ago. I guess it's feasible since the track gauge is not as large as on other divers.

Nick. I love your road rage face. Also, It's thanks to TPR and guys like you who bother to write trip reports like this one that I keep discovering new magically attracting places like those parks, but also Compounce or other so charming though not "10 B&M's on property" parks. Can't wait for another TPR and/or road trip with you guys. Don't forget ! You've been invited !

If someone comes close to riding a coaster, it's either a TPR DVD or Hanno pictures of those rides. Can't believe I haven't driven there yet. It's basically a small 5 hour away. Anyone who wants to come along ?

Wish I lived closer and were able to join more regularly. Those trip reports really make me miss you all VERY BAD...

^^ maybe not best steel of the trip in my opinion, but certainly the one that surprised me the most ! I hadn't expected anything of this ride, and loved every single detainl of it. I't's definitely a thrill ride, and I'm still shocked of this high banked (but willingly not enough) turn that thraws you out of the train (you fly to the right. That's the hill / turn that follows the lift hill and big drop) Really, this park was awsome, as are your pics, Chuck. Thanks !

I'd say the only one that surprised me was Hades. But WHAT a good surprise. This part has more airtime than lots of full woodies sometimes !

Awsome trip report so far, Jason... as usual ! As for the top spin, I think we have made some much worse this summer ! Chaos, Swings, Max Air, Screaming Swings... But I have to admit you also rode quite a few towers too ! and not necessarily the shortest ! Can't wait to read the sequels. Kerry, I'm sooo sad I couldn't see you this summer...

#1 was Boomerang at Bellewaerde. #100 was Pepsi Max Big One at Blackpool pleasure Beach #200 was Rebel Yell at Kings Dominion #250 was the Arrow Mine Train at SFSt Louis 5 to go to reach 300. Hopefully on a trip with tpr next year ? (Diamondback or the Beast would be great)

My home park hasn't added rides in years. Actually, they REMOVE rides every year without any kind of replacement: a Vekoma Corkscrew put to scrap metal, an Intamin Bounty of which the park never repaired the burnt motor, this year, the removal of an enterprise, some years ago, a prototype Doppelmayr which opened, closed, reopened and reclosed for good (now everyone knows which park i live by), and a Schwarzkopf shuttle loop that hasn't run for 2 years and is probably going to be dismantled or at best, replaced with a spinning mouse... Oh, I forgot: the waterpark once included isn't anymore. Well... I'd be happy to receive the ride CP is getting, even half sized...

Nice pictures ! I remember going to Herne (Cranger Kirmesse) when Eurostar was there. I guess I have to go back one day to finally get this classic Schwarzkopf steelie. Nice pictures ! Thank you

^^ I suggest we do BOTH lol. And since we're at mid way, why don't we drive further down to Italy ?

^Very interesting. I ignored that manual unlocking was possible. Is it just something that can be done for servicing, maintenance and so on, or have you ever ridden an "unlocked" mouse ? I aslo wondered: is the spinning controlled on some of them, or are they freely rotating, according to the riders' weight ? (this question also applies to spinning coasters, not only mice)