CoasterComet

^They might as well get rid of it the way it is now. I mean, look to Lake Winnie that modified their (similar) woodie, but it's still a beauty. The ride, as it is, is a monstrosity and no fun (Rebel Yell, Racer, etc.) And even worse than those, b/c this ride was much better than those, even in their prime.

^Not at all. There was a Blue Streak, I think a place called woodside park, maybe a Miller coaster, that was like 140' and the tallest at the time. There isn't much info on that ride though. The Blue Streak was fast, sleek, smooth, beautiful. A nice big padded blue seat (as you see in the pics) with NO seatdivider, no headrest, a buzz bar and an 'optional' seatbelt. The way we loaded and ran the coaster was just too 'scary' for the corporate nature of todays big parks unfortunately. They STILL could have saved the trains from what they did to them. One could say, sarcasticly, the orange stripe now matches the lap bars There were several occasions where the train came back and 3 people got out of a seat! And noone got hurt! Everyone was happy. How cool is that!

hmmm... Not sure how to upload multiple pics here's another one

I can't seem to shake the resentment I have for CP doing what they did to the Blue Streak. I mean, the brakes, station arrangement was crappy, but what they did to those beautiful trains is just unforgiveable. I have a few pics I'd like to share, taken when I worked on the ride 92-93, hope you all enjoy!

I was hoping to find some good MStreak pics from opening year, as well as the TGiant with a blue train, and a white lead car (the ride was tearing itself apart, and they had to put the front of the white train on the blue train) but this is all I could get right now. The trains crossed on every trip. It was very cool. The ride was still top 3 at the time.

^DBru, I guess CP isn't THAT bad. I guess what I meant is that for me, it just isn't that much fun anymore. Also, I have a very large special place in my heart for the Blue Streak. I worked on it 92-93, the last 2 years before the defamation began. They could have put in the brakes and left the trains alone (as they did in '94) but what they did to the trains has totally ruined the rides. For anyone who remembers, or rode it enough, the Blue Streak was one of the best woodies anywhere. It was ALWAYS VERY smooth. It was always very fast. You always got GREAT, REAL airtime on most hill (specially that first speed bump wow!). It was beautiful. Always painted and maintained to perfection. AND when I worked on it we would sometimes manage to get 1,300 riders an hour! I have to agree with Kings Island as well. In the late 80's it was still a blast. I DO miss the Screamin' Demon. I liked King Kobra too (guess the steel was 'bad' - came from Japan). Vortex has a great drop but is a head bash-o-rama. Then the wood coaster rape began. Beast slowed down to a crawl. Racer no longer being painted red, white and blue. Getting headrests. Getting a rough track. Then the worst, getting those awful PTC ratchet bars. And mutant seatbelts than come from the outside of the cars. Racer also lost its last speedhill to more brake space. KI used to be a 'dream park'. I went when Italian Job opened and I couldn't believe what I saw/experienced. I did like the Premier launch coaster w/lapbars, but everything else just seemed to have lost its soul. I'd give a thumbs up to Hersheypark as well! Although I haven't been there much (first time was when Wildcat opened) I think Lightning Racer, Storm Runner and Great Bear are incredible additions. For being a guy that really doesn't care for B&M, I found Great Bear to be a unique suprise! Plus, they have maintained Sooperdooperlooper and Comet, pretty much as they were born. And upgrading the Wildcat trains (well, I have heard mixed reviews, but when I do ride it next, I much prefer the GCI trains). The way it was with PTC's in 2006 reminded me pretty much of Gwazi. A great ride with 'rough riding' trains.

This one is gonna heat up fast I bet! Good question, you're gonna get a lot of good, valid arguments! It's tough. To me, Cedar Point has gone down in quality. They once had probably the best out and back CLASSIC woodie. That's gone now. I haven't been to the park since 2000, haven't really had a reason to go, but I've heard even Gemini has seatbelts and sometimes doesn't race/run both sides/6 trains. Those things (well, not the Blue Streak issue) are minor. When I was there when MForce opened, I didn't find the park to be too much fun anymore (with one horrible woodie and one robbed of it's 'funness'). I do like Corkscrew though! To me, any park with any sort of fast pass thing, is lower quality. I'm sure to others (who have the money) it's a perk. Great America (Gurnee) went down hill for years. Now, it's much better. I'm not a big B&M fan, but those rides are great for capacity and let's me enjoy my rides on Viper, Eagle and Whizzer much more. Indiana Beach has gotten better leaps and bounds over the years (I know, I know, new management, but we'll have to see). They have improved things (such as the Lost Coaster, used to be very rough). SFOGeorgia used to be one of my favorite parks. The Ga Cyclone, GASMachine were damn fine woodies. The Mindbender is and always was great, and this past summer seemed better than ever! That might be because I didn't ride it in so long, getting to used to B&M stuff. But the operation of the park was horrid this summer. I mean employees laying over gates, leaning and hitting E-stop buttons on accidents, denying there is EVEN a 2nd train on GASM; Ga Cyclone was a top 5 ride when it was built, it's a pot-hole filled headache now. Holidayworld! I mean, pop parking and sunscreen included with admission!? That's so cool. The staff there are very by the book these days, and that is a good thing. They manage to be strict but very pleasant at the same time. I've been there almost every year since Raven went in, and the only thing I don't like that has happened was when the buzzbars were taken off of Raven. Other than that, that park has only improved. I'd have to give a BIG thumbs up for Busch Gardens Africa as well. The place has blown up with pretty GREAT coasters, and is run almost Disney-like. Gwazi was a headache, but not due to rough track. It's just those PTC's - I think the ride would run like a beauty with a new set (or 2 new sets) of GCI trains. Also, thumbs up for keeping and maintaining Scorpion. Kumba is one of the very few B&M's I find to be actually thrilling! And they take good care of everything...

^Hey! Don't forget SFGA can also mean Great America! I think the best way is the call Great America SFGAm and Great Adventure cr... just kidding, SFGAd. I think Great Adventure could be a GREAT place. That big candyland thing I always thought was really cool. The Chiller was one of the best loopers anywhere (w/lapbars of course). They do have a lot of popular coasters, but the setup (especially the 2 new biggies) is just downright horrible. Last time I was there I asked employees where a bathroom was and a water fountain, and they couldn't tell me. One time I couldn't find anywhere to sit so I just sat down on the ground! In that big empty spot somewhere near that stadium thingy they have. The Geese were friendly!

^I see Great Adventure mentioned much more than I ever see Great America mentioned. I think Great America is hands-down, better than all those parks. And the coasters are better too! (that of course is just my opinion, I know, not the most popular opinion) I think it just has to do with SFGAd being so popular b/c is in such a prime spot between 2 huge cities. Also, they have the worlds tallest coaster and now, El Toro. With Chiller gone, I think it will be a very long time before I would even consider going back there. I have had downright bad experiences at the park (closed rides, rude employees, slow operations, etc.) Same pretty much goes for Cedar Point. But I can't wait to get back to Magic Mountain! Despite so many bad reports, I've never had a bad experience there.

In any way, shape or form, could this be more FUN that Tig'ger? I like being optomistic, but this doesn't look like fun. I mean, Twister out, Chaos in, I dunno. The park itself is one of the best experiences anywhere on the planet... I know they will maintain that...

^Thanks for replying Mark! I would sure like to see 2 or 3 trains running! How cool would that be. I've never waited more than like 2 minutes to ride any seat on the ride. It really is one of the best. I remember reading that Riverview Bobs ran 3 most of the time. Times are different now.

^ I agree. I mean, the whole thing with CF is money and stock. It used to be a little more 'human' but money "changes everything." sadly. If the big rides gets people through the gate, I guess that's important. Meanwhile the first 45 foot drop of CYCLOPS kicks the ass out of any 200 or 300 foot ride. And that's not even mentioning the 'big drop' on the ride.

^horsepoop. yes, the Revolution has high forces entering and exiting the loop. Mind you, the ride ran with just a lap bar and NO headrests even, for a few years. Yes, the ride could benefit from a reprofile. It would be expensive, etc. but it is possible.

This is probably my favorite coaster. I have only been there about 5 times to ride it, but man what a great ride! Does it ever run 2 trains? I know they have them, but don't remember seeing them both run at the same time.

^ I HOPE it's not that rough, as slow as they are running it. I first rode Beast in '87 and it was still pretty damn wild. I had at least 1 brake less or near-brake less ride around 88 or 89 (rode it in the snow and rain on it's 10th birthday!) That brake less ride scared the crap out of me. It was literally scary. I thought the train was going to RIP right off the track. When I worked at CP 91-93, we would always drive to KI (and Geauga and Kennywood) when we could. The ride was pretty pathetic at that point. Now, with the idiot PTC ratchet bars, frankenstein seatbelts, and pretty 'slow' ride, It's really sad. It could be improved to run fast and wild again, but it would take a lot of money. Some of those curves would not only have to be re-banked (YET again, I think most of them have had inscreased banking like 3 times) but the radii are just too small. Like the curve after drop 1 and the curve before lift 2. So that would be a HUGE project. Even if they put Intamin plug n play track, that would improve it. But with CF at the controls, I don't see any of that happening.

What a great video! It was always very heart-warming to see Lucille White (RIP) the "eldest ACE member." I remember seeing here at parks and she was so full of life! How bout those twins ! hubba hubba! The Cyclone is still my favorite ride.

^I love the park (even thought I haven't been there since 1999) and the REAL issue, in my mind, would be lack of family rides. Despite what Snyder says, I think having a Tilt-a-whirl is important. We're so lucky here at Great America to have a troika, calypso, scrambler, train ride, carousel, etc... AND great coasters too. And the whole Revolution thing... I DO believe some day the ride will run w/o shoulder bars and reclaim glory as one of the funnest steel coasters out there. I know they said NO, but I am optimistic. Do they ever run 6 trains on Colossus?

I've only been there once. It was a year or so after Ghostrider was built, and the park was pretty good then. I even got a ride (only one side I believe) on the Togo goodness of Wind Jammer (that first drop was downright scary, seat drops out from under you). I mean, they have Montezumas - isn't that the bomb? I have a very special place for older Anton/Werner/Intamin rides. Minus the obnoxious seatbelts, isn't that a good reason to visit?

CP is TOTALLY (yes, I grew up in the 80's) to amusement parks what Northface is to fashion. Mom and pop parks still kick their ass !

One thing about Magnum XL-200: it feels LIKE A ROLLERCOASTER! It's fast, bouncy rough, has airtime, faults, it's skids alot. It gives you something that all the new B&M and Intamin rides can't. A kick butt ride! Magnum is great, it actually feels like a rollercoaster. Gemini is a smaller version of Magnum. Blue Streak has left the house. Corkscrew is kick butt, ride the front

^Good point Robb! ok ok... I guess if you can't make fun of yourself, you can't make fun of anyone right! I find TPR to be MUCH more forgiving, accepting and just plain fun that CB (has NOTHING to do with me being banned from the site, including NOT even being able to LOOK at that page).... I mean, that is so cowardly and very um.. how do u say... strong arm? But I do love ACE And now, TPR.

^Come on guys, don't bash ACE. I mean, its like getting on Coasterbuzz.com and bashing TPR. I mean, you can find any fault from anyone and bash it. ACE was the first big coaster club. Sure, many members had *cough cough* problems (like me, I'm an addict) but where would coasterdom be now? I mean, there are lots of faults of current 'big coaster geek' groups. The biggest one I can point out is snobbishness and the whole 'corporate mind' thing. Really, anyone can look a fool if their faults are highlighted Such is american (north american, that is) culture. I mean, American Idol, all that crap. Lets just ride some coasters and peace and love and all that stuff...

Go to Great America, Gurnee! hehe Really, though, if you have never been to CP, go. It's big, nice, well-run. A HUGE selection of mostly visually impressive mediocre rides. Great Adventure? I've had mostly bad luck with that park. Last time, while waiting for my flash pass to tell me to ride El Toro (I am totally against the whole idea of flash pass, but I was alone and the combined wait of Toro and Ka was 5 hours, I wanted to ride them, and get out of that hole!) I actually couldn't find a place to sit! I ended up sitting down on the pavement by the geese by the ferris wheel. (b/c I could not find a bench to sit on, also so many rides were closed, employees didn't know where bathrooms were, it was horrible.) I've had 2 good experiences at the park, one was when Chiller (Robin only) was running, with no line and lap bars. Go to CP, just not on a saturday. You will get MUCH MORE BANG FOR YOUR BUCK at places like Indiana Beach and Holidayworld, but if you are easily swayed by big places that cost alot, go to CP or GAdventure. In between in Great America, the best of both worlds. Kick ass woodie and kick ass steel.

The Viper originally had an 'underbanked' twisting pullout to that huge drop. There is a video somewhere of the train going through it (off ride) and the SNAP is very visible. I think they must have just put track that was banked more on the existing footers. Another re-profile that some don't know about is the Demon at CGAmerica. When the Turn of the Century coasters were converted into the Demon, the first drop was steeper. We still have our SNAP (a vertical one, compared to the lateral one that was on Viper) here in Gurnee. The California model was converted to a more TOCentury type of drop - just not as steep and w/o the SNAP. As a matter of fact, you can see spots in our Demons drop track where the 12" tube spine is 'offset'. So obviously, they had problems during installation

I do think that picture is from 78 or 79, with a white framed eyeglass light up at night.