bgwfreak

1989 - Chaos (Opryland) 1990 - Georgia Cyclone (SFOG) 1997 - Batman - (SFOG) 1997 - Alpengeist 1999 - Apollo's Chariot 1999 - Face/Off 2001 - Hypersonic XLC 2002 - Wicked Twister 2002 - Superman- UF (SFOG) 2004 - Thunderhead 2005 - Italian Job (KI) 2006 Goliath (SFOG) Voyage Kentucky Rumbler 2007 Maverick Mystery Mine Griffon

Cool pics! I guess that proves I won't be back at KI anytime soon. Sonny was bad enough with the old trains...Gtrains. No thanks. Try again.

I didn't do it justice really, it's like: Drop into the ravine Up and around a turn Drop again into the ravine Go up (get air) and up again and engage the lift (yes, air on the lift!) Katie help me out here... First big drop is into the Sphagetti bowl Then I think you go up a hill Around a corner Back down into the Sphagetti bowl (there's two sections of track). Then I think you go back in the ravine for kind of an out and back section Then head for the brakes. It's mostly built in that ravine and it's hard to get pics of.

T2 - SFKK (worst coaster experience out of 149 coasters ridden) Son of Beast (2nd worst experience. I had blue legs after my ride!) Taxi Jam (not made for adults over 5.5) There's probably a few more I'd only ride if friends were with me and wanted the credit, but those three are the top (or is it bottom) of my list. I probably wouldn't even get the Taxi Jam credits at KD or KI if I DID have a child!

Like they're reliable. Probably put in there by some silly Canadian.

^ Yeah, I didn't like the gravy ones so much, but the cheese ones. *drools some more*

Hello again, Here's my final installment...Kennywood! I've been saying I was going to get to Kennywood for ages. I wanted to ride Steel Phantom, then of course he was morphed into Phantom's Revenge...and still I wanted to go. Well I figured I was as close to Pittsburgh as I was going to get anytime soon on this trip, so I finally made it to Kennywood! Thank goodness the tunnels were open that weekend because of the US Open being in town. Otherwise Katie would have had to come get me, cause I would have never found my way through the burroughs of Pittsburgh! Katie (from ThrillNetwork.com) was my local friend and she met me at the park to show me the ropes. Kennywood is an old school park at it's best. Built in 1889 I think, it's a smaller park but what they have they do well. They have 3 wooden coasters (one of them the only Mobius racer left), all originally built in the 1920s (Thunderbolt though was changed at some point from it's original layout), Phantom's Revenge (an awesome hyper), a Reverchon (indoor) spinning mouse and jr coaster (which i didn't ride because of the line). You actually walk through a tunnel to get into the park (why didn't I take a pic???) and then you start into the park proper. Because I didn't want to add another day to my already 5 day trip, I did Kennywood on a Saturday. I hated that, because they were busy. Not bad, but they were busy. So stuff I could've reridden or flats I wanted to ride, I didn't get to. But that's why you come back to a park. And I really do plan on coming back to this park at some point! The Tammarack of Doom! OK, it's just called the Tammarack. The place is on I-77 when in West Virginia. It's an ok little place to stop, but it's so small inside! You really expect a gigantic mall or something based on their interstate signs! Oooh! The Tamarack is only 20 miles away! That's all folks! Hope you enjoyed the PTR! Katie and I pose on the way out of the park... Thanks Katie for showing me around and for Kennywood being an awesome old school park! One of the only ones left, but I didn't have the time or energy to ride it. Also did not ride, for fear that I would never have children as a result. Did not ride- but it looked perty. Noah's Ark (dark ride) - Awesome! I was totally unaware of what is in this place. One of the best dark "rides" I've ever been on! It's like a haunted house, gone so so wrong. Boo! Another short cycle. I didn't even bother after looking at them run. I love swings, but with the long lines and the fact I was dead tired, I skippe them. *SKLOOSH!!!!* Did not ride. Not Dan or Wes approved. I love you Phantom. You might have a scurry sign, but you are awesome. *drools* My first Patch Fries! (sorry I forgot to take a pic...I was too busy devouring those awesome things!) They are handcut fries and they are awesome! We also had the fried Oreos too! Yum! I wonder if the steel in Phantom's Revenge (former Steel Phantom) acutally came from Pittsburgh? Things that make you go hmmmm... Wee! Stairway to Heaven... Phantom really was excellent (although I only got 1 ride due to the lines). The ejector air on the bunny hills is INSANE! Uh why aren't you dispatching??? Oh great, someone barfed in the back seat....I'll be sitting in the front of the train! OH NO! Another scary Phantom up ahead... There they go! Oh please don't eat me scary Phantom sign! The theming is cheesy, but it's cool all the same to me. The layout is typical Reverchon, but it works being half in the dark! Why is Katie so happy? Oh yeah, up ahead is my favorite spinning mouse! (Although I didn't know it at this point). There they go into the ravine! Yay! Sphagetti bowl mooshing (smashing into your ride partner)ahead! No single riders! I really loved Thunderbolt. It jumped into my #10 wood spot quite easily. Hello friendly strangers! Thunderbolt was a big surprise. I didn't know much about the coaster except that you drop into the ravine straight out of the station. Hmmmm...I wonder what that is? But that looks like 2 to me! Racer was fun, but just OK. The good coasters are still to come. Racer was up next...yeah I know many people only say it's one credit... Jack Rabbit was a fun (if a bit short) little coaster and a nice way to start the day. Let the credits begin! Heck, I'm in Kennywood for the first time...take pics of me and Phantom? No. Me and George W! (Washington that is). Phantom's Revenge!!!!! *wets self* Which way to Kennywood!?

Looks like the observation tower is still stuck in the same place it was on the 13th!! I'm hoping that Carowinds still is good to us at C3. We even had CHEESE CAKE for dessert last year!

I hear what you are saying, but the problem is this... Intamin designed the seatbelts so that it's very hard for riders to buckle them themselves. The buckle is on the far left/right of the seat and if you are bigger then it makes it very hard to buckle it yourself. It doesn't mean I'm going to bust the belt, it's just that I have a hard time manuvering around in my seat so that I can lock it myself. But everytime I was on the rides, the attendants were nice enough to help and they didn't like struggle with the belt to lock it. They pulled the belt and snap! I was in. I also still think it's bunk overall because, me having help snapping the belt locked and me actually doing it myself aren't going to hurt the belt either way or the restraint for that matter. If I'm so fat that it takes 2 people to pull the belt over and lock it, then yes....I need to get off the ride. But I agree with Terry though, and I did the same thing myself. I lost the weight so I could get on the ride. It's just that at the weird angle the belts are, I would have most certainly not been able to buckle the belt myself.

To me TTD and Millie were about the same length. I haven't been on any other Intamin coasters since about 2003 (excluding Volcano and Wicked Twister). And someone told me they had heard the yellow train was the shortest, but I rode yellow and red and they both seemed the same to me. Didn't get to ride on blue, even with 6 rides.

Thanks for the pics! I was wondering if they were going to do anything. Hope the redevelopment of CI doesn't mess with the coaster.

Yeah i couldn't believe all the people queueing up for Dragster that night. It was as long as the line for lunch that time Robb was there a couple years ago (at least I think it was Robb's video). These things run together after a while. Surprisingly though waits weren't bad even with all those people.

I found the test seats on Dragster and Millie to be pretty close to acurate, but that's me. Also, CP is very picky sometimes. Some rideops will help you to buckle the belt, some will refuse and say "no! I can't help you!" which is total bunk. But I didn't have anybody like that, they pulled the belt and locked it quite easily. But then I had to get 1/2 inch of slack. why? who knows. But they showed me how to wiggle it and get the 1/2 inch.

James and his bloody ear. Oh so that's what happened! And wow...SFNE sounds like it really does stink (a la James' old screen name on TN). Carowinds does a lot better than that! And James will back me up, since he's been there.

Hello again... Here's the remainder of the "best of" Day 1 and Day 2. Thanks guys for all the kind words already... Enjoy! If you would like to check out all 355 photos at full resolution, visit my photo album. This was my first Coastermania, and I figured like most events that there really is no need to get there an hour and a half early for registration. I got to the park about 5:30-5:40 and was done with registration in like 5 minutes! We were in the park in no time and at 6:00 AM we started riding Millie, Maverick and some other big swing later on that morning. Thanks Cedar Point for an awesome 2 days! The weather was gorgeous and in the high 70s both days with no rain. But wait! There's more! Time for bed...that's AM. My 1st ride during ERT was FRONT ROW. I thought my skin was pealing off! See? But Dragster looks very nice indeed. Power Tower looks a little scurry at night. What state is this park in? Time to watch the fireworks. The Flash made an appearance in the park. I guess he got tired of being at Six Flags. This was either our first or second night ride. Don't give me that look! Did I mention I like neon? Pretty. I love neon. I would be a neon enthusiast if there was only an ANE club. I could be an ANEr! Thanks Brian for a GREAT shot of me and Magnum. *wink wink* Get off my freakin' beach!!!! --- I think that is Canada off in the distance. How's it going Carnage?... I've been informed that's NOT Canada. But Canada is very closeby. I love beaches. The birds: The Revenge. Time for: "Shots as the Sun goes down". (Magnum) At least they TRY and HIDE the fact that the ride sucks. Obligatory Corkscrew Shot #2 Obligatory Corkscrew Shot #1 Don't get me wrong, Magnum will always hold a place in my heart. But it's certainly not my #1 steel coaster. It's a wonder the rabid ACErs (and I'm an ACEr too, so I can pick at my fellow-ACErs) didn't start ripping apart a train or something when there was a delay on Magnum. Gemini through Snoopy! Another angle for you Dragster fans. The finish line looks different somehow. We see you oh painful one. Mmmmm Intamin yummy. The boat ride does offer some nice views though of Millie... Ted? Care to explain? *Wes runs for his life* Something stinks...and it's not that ACEr sitting next to me. A 3 hour tour...a 3 hour tour... Oh noz! The Borg Assimilator Geese have landed! Oh that's right, Carowinds is a Cedar Fair park now, so I guess it's ok. My name is birdie. I want to be like the Raptor Paint Crew someday. Dragster I must say was very reliable both days. Except for a few small hiccups, it ran all day both days. Elevator doors! I guess that proves it! There's a big silver box at the bottom (didn't get a clear shot) that must be the elevator cabin. Ever since TTD got stuck at the top, I wondered about the supposed elevator that took the guy to the top to push them over. Sky Hawk. *sigh* What a pittiful cycle. The small version I've been on was way better. This guy thought he was way too funny. Probably like me! Time for some "culture". Raptor Paint Crew in training. So how was your Wildcat ride Brian? Yeah, me too. I met up with Brian and his wife. Brian doesn't like Ferris wheels, so he was about to have a fit right here I'm sure. And Magnum XL-200...or is it 199? It's sinking you know. I decided to explore a bit and rode around the perimeter road (forgive me fanboys, I don't know what it's called). Gives nice views of Gemini... Yours for only $19.99!!! And if you buy the trash can within 20 minutes, we'll throw in this 1st Gen. Intamin drop tower! I see the Raptor Paint Crew is busy at work. See BeemerBoy...I rode it...or it RODE me! Coaster Geek Alert! So close...but yet so far away from getting off. Raptor came by to laugh at the people stuck up in the air. "I told you! I rule the sky at Cedar Point!" The sky ride broke down! Random Beach Shot. Mine! Mine! Back at the park... Intamin goodness. How's it going Elissa? Wake up dude! The ship was cool, at random it would make cannon blast sounds, the birds would talk to you and with each other...cool stuff. Castaway Bay has a neat little pirate ship in the lobby with these talking parrots. After morning ERT at Coastermania, I had a massive headache (not because of the ACErs either) so I headed out to Breakers Express to rest a bit and I had to run over to Castaway Bay for some meds. If you ever wondered..."hey, what's up at the top of Wicked Twister to keep me from going off the end?" there's your answer. Magnum XL-200 had some "issues" right before ERT at Coastermania. Fortunatly they did get it back up in time for ERT that night. And a final shot of CP at night. Thanks for the memories...Kennywood you're up next! The Bug Story...yes I think I swallowed a WHOLE bug when riding Raptor. Needless to say that I kept my mouth shut the rest of the night (on the rides). The bugs are insane at CP! Sorry for these being out of order... I messed up resizing these... Brian you don't have to massage her neck before riding. This isn't Mantis!

Thanks for the link.

I've never been charged for a map (I've only visited parks in the US East Coast and Midwest), unless it was a long time ago when some of the Six Flags, Opryland and even Carowinds use to sell large souvenir maps. Most parks give you a free map. I hate though that Dollywood went to a large sheet of paper, instead of the trifold maps.

^ yeah someone said it so well already... What they could have built with $25MM! Like 3 Voyages! Ah well, what's past is past. And it also gave me blue legs last time too!

Boo! I wanted to meet you Soren as well! Hope you make it back someday soon. I will be getting back to O-Town in the next 2-3 years hopefully.

Yes there was the sound of Elissa screaming for her Intamin love god. Seriously though, I think there is sort of an explosion sound or something when they launch you but I'm not 100% sure. All I remember are "high tech" lights in there.

Maverick has 2 loading sections in the station, 3 "stack sections" on the straightaway brake run. There can also be a 6th train on the first set of brakes (I'm assuming). You can see that section of track in the pic with Mean Streak in the background. But I don't think they ever do that, they'll stop a train in the tunnel if they are stacking that bad. It happend to me once I think. Yes. Anyone staying in a Cedar Point resort/hotel gets in 1 hour early and you get to ride 2 or 3 rides before the GP. The days I was there it was Maverick and Millennium Force. Breakers Express isn't anything fancy and I don't think they even offer a contenintal breakfast, but there is a McDonald's across the street (that sucks on service though). The rooms aren't much more than basic, but hey at least it was clean and I couldn't hear through the walls like at Microtel. lol And no, no free shuttle to the park.

Yeah, but I've been on 6 or 7 coasters with G Trains and the only one that didn't beat me up was Twisted Twins.

^ Well that makes me really want to ride SOB now! *sarcasm* Hurricane trains beat ya to death last September, I can't imagine them making SOB any better. Looks like sonny will stay firmly in my last place woodie spot.

I didn't go there first both days, well the 2nd day we had ERT in the morning so that doesn't count. It seemed to be busiest first thing in the morning (about an hour wait) and then got a little less so later in the day. At least you're covered most of the time in the queue. Thanks CP!

Maybe this has been answered already, but those do not look like Hurricane's trains. They look more like the old SOB trains (maybe it's just the angle or something). I LMAO at the fact that the stupid thing couldn't even make a full circuit.