Mozart67

Great TR as usual, Robb. god..the beer tree; I have got to plant one of those this year As far as not counting the Alpine Slide as a credit: I would never, nor will I ever, presume to tell people what is a credit or what isnt. I mean, hell, I was in Loma Prieta and I count THAT as a credit...Not saying anyone has told people credit/no credit, either: just my own humble opinion. I'll say this, though. In the days and months I have been recovering from my stroke early this past Feb., I realized that not only is life too short and fragile, we should experience everything we can in the short amount of time we have. I always poo-poo'd log rides, powered coasters, etc. as "uh..seriously?" but from now on, if it's a new experience that wont kill me or give me herpes, I'm counting it. (except for It's A Small World; that ride is the pit of hell) Glad your trip was awesome and see you in the funny pages!! Scott

'Lo everyone. The trains look awesome (although the longhorns on the front of the car, while a southern staple at times, seems silly to me but I'm not Texan so my opinion may not be valid). The low-profile of the sides and back of each car practically guarantee ridiculous hairtime with little of the "assault with a deadly coaster" damage that you used to get out of it. While I have never ridden it, I know some who have and they said TG was a rough s.o.b. The revamped tracking and (ZOMG) the revamped first drop looks amazing. I'm guessing T Express/El Toro-influence in the severity of the pitch. The redone curves and other tracking look great, and I agree: the ride looks meaner than Titan. I cannot wait to ride this bad boy now! Off-topic somewhat: are they going to do any structural/train rethinking for Judge Roy? It was smooth when I rode it 30 years ago, but I imagine it's not as much now. While not an extreme thriller, would be great to see them do similar TLC and refinement for the Judge.

Wow, great thread! I had to go out and have a smoke and a glass of cabernet in order to frame an intelligent(ish) reply: Design and execution: The significant revolution in the world's wooden coasters with regards to elements that were almost exclusively steel coaster-related, such as the 90-degree turn, the high-speed station flyover, breathtaking airtime monsters (Balder, El Toro, T Express, The Voyage), raising their first drops to almost 200 feet, and so forth. Also, employing trains that are more specifically designed to cushion the shock of the woodie's classic runaway-locomotive experience without losing the experience of being out of control. The designers in the category have offered consistently amazing and innovative layouts, a far cry from the conventional out-and-back/figure-8's that dominated for decades. I always felt that steel coasters would hit the mega- and giga- status at some point; in the 90s, the revolution was B&M's floorless wonders. This time, we have insane steels (Expedition GeForce, Intimidator 305, the Bizarros and such) but the true accomplishments, I feel, rest in attractions such as the Gerstlauer Beyond-Vertical coasters (with their equally strange inversions and curves), and the truly one-of-a-kind for their time: Furious Baco, the ZacSpin, the X-Coaster, the launched vert (Gerstlauer?) like Anubis at Plopsa Coo, and so forth. I have to put an extra kudo out to the designers of the new breed of flat rides (XXL, Evolution, Shake and Roll, Airwolf, Flying Circus, Booster, etc.) I got on the small version of the XXL at the Big E, my first non-classic flat, and while I almost pissed myself, WHAT A RIDE! Simply amazing. Theming: A sudden and wonderful return to true theming rather than the stock "this is Europe, this is France, this is blah" scenery and elements that were fresh in the mid 1970s but not so much now. The addition to more stimulus-based thrills such as the additions to X-2, Bizarro, etc. added a whole new level of experience to attractions. The theming surrounding rides such as Blue Fire, Furious Baco, Fly Over Mediterrenean at Happy Valley, is masterful, and should be noted and employed by the world's major theme park chains as soon as finance permits; in my mind, it is what seperates true theme parks from fairs; it aint a theme park if there aint no theming, yanno? Philosophy: The other thing that has impressed itself on me is more abstract (hope y'all will bear with me). China's choice to relax certain political and ideological tenets and promote tourism is a massive accomplishment. Even more so is the creation of several high-quality park chains and standalones that rank as highly as parks such as Everland, Magic Mountain, Cedar Point, etc., but with their own unique identity. Identity and openness were not words once used to describe China; it's great to see them doing it! The move to either keep or revamp classic coasters, rather than viewing them as aging and razing them for the "flavor of the season." While many have disappeared, the fact that rides like Whizzer (Gurnee), Shock Wave (SFoT), Revolution (MM), The Beast (KI) are still operating in parks/organizations known for their desire to be cutting-edge no matter the cost is a breath of fresh air! The creation of FastLane, Q-Bot, and other intake/dispatch programs has created, for me, a new park experience. It was nothing to wait 1-3 hours for a coaster at parks I went to in the 80s and early 90s. WoF's Orient Express and Astroworld's Texas Cyclone had notoriously long waits. I once waited 5 1/4 hours to ride Space Mountain at WDW. Now, it's rarely more than an hour. Well done. Finally, the move to save classic parks from the wrecking ball, or if that isnt possible, find reliable homes for their attractions, in my mind, is one of the best advancements the industry can strive for. The fight for Coney Island was truly wonderful to participate and watch because the park, more than any other, defines the American theme park vision that allowed the parks to flourish and appear in every corner. While it's sad that other parks such as Joyland, Geauga, SFKK, etc. did not receive the same reception due to local indifference, corporate finance or other factors, relocating Dominator from its closed home and the purchase/moving of classic rides to other parks (Deja Vu to Silverwood, for example) is what will ultimately save the industry from a crash similar (in scope, not in detail) to the dot-com bust or the 1983 videogame crash in that it is preserving its past for future audiences. Oh..and Japan not becoming mainstream, retaining many of their weird and incomprehensible TOGO/Senyo coasters and eccentric attractions..and just being themselves. Individuality is key in this business, but retaining it despite pressure to be cutting-edge (something Japan has been part of for decades) is truly accomplished. Thanks for reading, and I welcome any comments, conversation, etc. on it. Happy January! Scott "I type way too goddamn much but one cannot have too much passion for something they love" Mayfield

HNY (aka Hiney) TPR! Looking forward to a LOT this year as I got the go-ahead from my doctor to ride coasters and things again after recovering from my mini-stroke in Feb. (thanks; am doing MUCH better now. Even performing in Chicago on the 29th. of Jan.). Anyway, enough of this smut: Several trips to my home park, Lake Compounce the new jr. woodie at Quassy SFNE for my first ride on Bizarro; havent been on the ride since it was SROS in 2005 Dorney Park & possibly Hershey Park in May with an old friend, both first time visits Coney Island for my first ever ride on the Cyclone (I'll bring VIcodin) and a first time visit to SFGA Seeing my daughter, son-in-law and newest grandbaby in June; on the way, stopping by Holiday World and...I need advice! They are in the Chicago area. Should I go to ParaMarriott's Great America, Indiana Beach, or another park I do not know about? We are also going to attempt to stop by Mt. Olympus as well. (if all goes correctly) my first parachuting adventure in the fall & the big one: it's not set in stone by any means, but there is a chance, a pretty good chance, that my latest CD could be signed by a medium-to-major record label. If that happens, I'm making any side TPR Bashes that are not trips, and socking the cash away for my first TPR experience in 2012! Big year, good times, hope I can meet some of you at the parks this year! Scott

This was a really great time! Hopefully we can do this again soon. Thanks for the laughs and, Robb, for the truly awful funny as hell movie! Scott whoever said "hick! wipe the shit off your face!" made me eject most of a good beer; well done

LOL sorry Elissa..it was too good not to use once or twice. I havent seen something this funny since "Thumb Wars - The Phantom Cuticle"

LMAO a T-Rexadactyl T-1000 whose skeleton looks like knock-off Kinex or TinkerToys!! LOVE good old American Z-movie cheese!

Title theme to "Requiem for a Dream" by Clint Mans...oops, now it's "Midijunkies 93" by Atari Teenage Riot

This is looking really cool already. I'm only about 90 minutes away from Quassy. If I can escape for an afternoon, I'll drive over there and see if there are any kosher photo ops.

Hey Robb. I've been deciding whether I should ask this question for around 2 years now, and am finally getting around to it. I wondered if you (or anyone) would have any advice, suggestions, etc. for someone wanting to get into the soundtracking/composition end of the videogame/interactive media industry. I'm facing rock and roll at age 42 well enough, but I have always wanted to cast my stones into the composition side of gaming, which I have no experience whatsoever, other than performing pieces from SquareSoft, Enix and Atlus games in my classical concerts. Feel free to message me here, PM, or my email. Scott "reinvention is the only reason I'm still sane" Mayfield

that's fascinating! (and probably vomitous, oh well) and yeah, definitely Tron. encapsulate that in a Robotron: 2084 themed attraction (insert favorite sci-fi game thing here) and that would be epic. Thanks for sharing!

LOL jesus h baldheaded...Piers, Robb, all who were in the video, thank you a thousand times for this. I was in the middle of final retakes and overdubs on the new project, and tempers were short (dillhole guitarist forgot the beer..again, etc) so I popped this on, just 'cause. The rest of the dorks in the studio were dying, and I gotta be honest, Piers: I did comedy and improv for years and very few people make me genuinely laugh. Sober, drunk, whatever, you are one of a kind. Thanks for being you, dude. [if anyone hears phantom screams on the wind, the Stratocaster dillhole forgot the beer again..i didnt do it] Scott

lol the Incredidome! That sort of thing was pretty common then: SFoT had one called "Chevy Show", I remember. It was good, but Circlevision 360 it was not. Thanks for the Orient Express pictures, though. Until I rode Superman at SFNE in 2000, OE was my favorite coaster, steel or wood. I do have to say that the "kamikaze loop" element was much rougher than the rest of the ride; sort of a scaled down version of what I imagine Moonsault Scramble might have been like..cept less brutal. Thanks again, Shane! Scott "the wussy Starflyer at the Big E almost made my piss myself" Mayfield

How a coaster can go to hell in a given amount of time, I think, depends on shifts in any one of the complex variables for running one: operations, maintenance, economy, weather, wear and tear, etc. I dont even know where to begin speculating on that. The earlier comment of "Ghostrider" as compared to "Boulder Dash" got me thinking though. I think the ones that survive or at least hold up well against time and tear have the jackpot combination of rough/out of control woodies from the past, a well-built/well-maintained structure, and a design that also incorporates fluidity and..sinew, for lack of a better word. I remember Judge Roy Scream in 1980 being rough but a really smooth ride, where as Screamin' Eagle being high on thrills but felt like a tavern brawl. My only Curtis Summers experiences were the opening year of Timber Wolf, which didnt really leave an impression either way, and Compounce's Wildcat, which is Assault with a Deadly Fail! Two chiro visits later... This is off topic, sort of, but the Beast seems remarkably fresh considering its age, and its origin: its makers only have made it and/or one other ride ever, and in Jeff Gramke's case, it was his only one. Al Collins was involved with the Stricker ride and Charlie Dinn's listed as the builder for the original Compounce Wildcat (before the drunken rape..er..redesign of '86). Many still compare to Beast, and the coaster itself is kind of an anomaly, since its not really part of a desinger's stable. great fluidity and contour to the terrain bits as well. Sorry; kind of rambled a little. My take, anyway.

sigh..had a question, but couldnt figure out how to transport one of the pics to this box: epic fail. Thanks for the photos Scott

WOW "In Xanadu de Kublai Khan, a Pleasuredome erect" is all I can say. Dave, I have to say that I am envious. Seeing video and still shots of Dubai, from the Burj to the World, is astonishing. To be there and see it evolve must be complete overload. I mean, my god, just the internal superstructure of the main Ferrari pavillion is immense. I admit I do not know a lot about the coasters within the park, but the large one bears resemblance to Ring Racer (except that this one will probably see a less-hindered lifetime.) and, after a fashion, Blue Fire. When is Ferrari World planning its soft opening? Cant wait for that coverage. Scott

great photogs, Hanno the woodie looks intense in that it's (fittingly) serpentine and doubles back on itself a lot. Am curious to see how it rides when it opens. Scott "too lame to figure out how to remove his signature" Mayfield

Good times Have a blast and if all works out to plan this year, artistically, I'll be joining you next year. Scott

Paramount was always Coke...it's stupid Cedar Fair that's evil Pepsi!!!! Hey..it beats Beverley, right? I just wanted to say that this is probably the most absorbing and awesome thread I have read on this site so far, and may there be many many more after this. While I dont have any opinions (my wife has them all this month), one thing I have noticed throughout the years, on a generalized level, is a loss of morale and an absence of the whole aura of entertainment in general: a willing suspension of reality that parks used to deliver, and I notice it most often at a Flags park than in the nonmega-conglomerate parks. Example: last time I was at SFNE and boarding Superman, the crew looked like they were spiked on ketamine or something..totally zombified. If the Flags can be resurrected even 50% to its former glory, and the new guy is the one to do that..awesome, but it would be unjust to state that Shapiro and Snyder did nothing to further that resurrection process. Just sayin'. Scott "I am way too wordy for a instrumentalist" Mayfield

Wow..just wow. Chuck, I have to be honest; after watching the POV, I think this is one coaster I may have to forgo, esp. if Robb has "grayed out" [i believe that was what he said when I saw it on YouTube]. I mean, you all have ridden Togo and Senyo machines before. LOL I would probably need a Valium just to get near it. Thanks for a great TR ! Scott

"...park based on years of Aviation. Too bad it never got off the ground." LOL that jumped out at me. Old pics with puns..sigh. And thanks for the PeopleMover pic; I still have fondness for that ride. Thanks as always, Shane! Scott

What an awesome little park! and I'll keep my Indian mouth shut about the show [i know it's called Native American now, and why it's called that, but when i was born in 1967, it was still Indian, so...anyway, I digress] Thanks as always for the excellent and fun-to-read TR. Scott

Soren Those fountains..so much more enchanting than the ones in front of the Bellagio [until now, my all-time favorites]; I'm a closet aquatechnics freak, so thanks a million for the uploads! As for Dubai..it's kind of like Sim City 9000, isn't it? I really want to make it there before I croak. Also, thanks for the photos of the Burj. By the way, did you get to see the moving skyscraper in action? [i apologize if this has been asked; Connecticrap wi-fi is belt-driven and run by TJ Maxx. I think] Scott

Awesome TR! The weather looked completely bipolar, though. Seeing Mindbender and Scorcher makes me want to shoot for a gig down south now. Thanks for the pics Scott

Thank god the present is still there...for those of us who are slow and have Metrocrap for an internet connection. Robb, Elissa, and everyone who was having a blast in the videos, thank you for a wonderful, weird and wacky collection. Robb, if the record sells decently when it's released, I'll spring for an Escalator Ride of your own (and maybe some monkeybar lessons for Joey..) Scott