CoasterComet

It's a little *too bad* that Laser is in a CF park. Dorney has been totally neutered by CF. That aside, it's still the best ride in the park! It's very dumb that a big company like CF can't fix it up a little so you can pick your seat. I could see this other looper going somewhere like Holidayworld. I do think, though, that when they do get a looper, it will be something new and very unique (I HOPE something old skool like Mindbender or Revolution, that would be the bomb!)

This coaster is so popular due to old videos and movies, but I know, it's a dud live. Did the ride ever run 6 trains? There is a pic in Rollercoaster Fever! where you can see at least 5 trains on the coaster, I think. Since they removed that double-dip (semi anyway) have they run 6 trains? I would do anything for Great America to run 6 on American Eagle again. I think that stopped around '85 (please correct me!) and of course, only 4 of those Frankenstein/PTC trains are to be seen recently (lucky to get more than 2 running at a time!). Both rides were once truly great coasters. I think they still could be. I had a couple incredible 'top 10' worthy rides on Eagle in the last couple years. But those are NOT the norm. It was when they had both sides, 2 trains per/racing, which is rare. The steel I-beams (which some people still DENY exist) really helped out the Eagle.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PaUvZ0j2Fw&feature=related Pretty cool, huh!? Look at those 4-bench, 5 car long PTCs, complete with buttons on the upholstered seats! I'd give anything to ride that back then. My first shot at the Beast was '87, and it was pretty damn good then. Thought the years (and thanks, PTC) and mangling (pun intended) the ride is pretty much inert the way it is now. Last time I rode was '06. Didn't originally run with like 5 trains as well? Would be nice to get some of that Intamin plug-n-play track on that bad boy, fix up them PTCs (or go with something else like Millennium flyers or something) and let-her fly!

I loved watching how that ride used to be run. [Train stops in unload] "Get out, get out, get out!!" [Train moves forward, stops in load] "Get in, get in, get in!! Pull down your lapbar!" [Train begins moving out of station 5 seconds later] Guests: "Wait! My seatbelt!" "Don't worry about it! Fasten it later!" [Attendant checks each lapbar as the train moves past him toward the lift] Repeat. It was quite the operation to watch, but I knew it couldn't last. I hear ya - but it lasted through 1993! I was so freakin lucky to work on that ride those last 2 years. I think up until a couple major accidents in the 80's, that's the way many coasters were run. We actually used to announce that the seatbelts are optional! The thing was if someone was screaming about the seatbelt (that MANY people for some reason, had NO CLUE how to fasted) we could stop it on the lift. Then walk up there and fasten the seat belt for them. It was work, but at least it was a temporary manual shutdown, not on record as a 'shutdown'. The trick was to get the train out of the station (and clear the block switch, located right outside the station) before the other train's back car entered the brake run shed (start of the block). If you missed it, the ride set-up. This would push the brakes all the way up to stop to the train. So then it was an 'official shutdown'. We would have to call park op, then they would call maintenance and send out Therm or Mike to 'pull out the pin' of the brakes to let the train go. There were times when we would go manually hit that switch to prevent a shut-down (that was stupid and dangerous). But man we had that ride going! We would always really try to NOT have a shut down and also compete with shifts to see who could get the highest PPH. Sometimes we hit 1300, I do remember at least once hitting 1400. The ride at is now, I'd be suprised if it hits 800. Quite often we 'rode the running board' sometimes all the way to the lift. This was also not preferred and of course we got reemed out for doing it. It was amazing how we'd get calls out of no-where to stop doing certain things. One time I got chewed out b/c I got on the lift speakers to tell someone to stop throwing trash out of the train. It was silly, but man they watched us like hawks! We shut down at least every 2 days to go up and tell someone to NOT stand up. I'd rather do that than have the lap bar set up it has now. Magnetic brakes would have been a better choice, but what they did to the trains is just plain dumb and boring.... just lame man!

Blue Streak, until Raptor, WAS the CP experience, IMHO. It really, still could be. I've been banned from Coaster(suckup)buzz, but I will still do my article (ACE probably won't take it) on being a Blue Streak 'boy' 92-93 (RIP). The ride once was the coup-de-gras(???) of woodies. Beatifully painted and maintained, all without a computer! Ahh... Thanks PTC. It was an honored thing to be a Blue Streak guy. On good days, we would get 1,300 per hour. What is it now? Anyway, I sure miss the big blue 'benches'....

I think Raging Bull is only overrated because at one point in it's life it DID live up to the hype. But over the years those trims seem like they have gotten harder and harder. It's a shame really because you get awesome airtime on the first drop, and then the rest of the ride, right when you feel like you're going to get that awesome airtime again, it's taken away from you. There is still some airtime on the rest of the hills, but it's nowhere near what it used to be. I'd still take Bull over SFMM's Titan or Goliath since I'm not a fan of "helixes" making up the majority of the ride and I'd take Bull's multiple floater hills over the Giovanola's single floater hill, but that's just my take on things. Personally, SFGam is one of my favorite Six Flags parks. While it doesn't have quite as good of a coaster selection as Great Adventure or SFOG, it's got one of the nicest themed sections in any Six Flags park, and I find that the operations there (other than Ragin Cajun that day) are better than most other parks in the chain. And also, their Hurricane Harbor is awesome! --Robb huh! Once you get over the fact you are in a Six Flags park, Viper totally rules. It had seat belts. Then it didn't. Now it has seat belts. The ride (along with awkward American Eagle seating) has the only PTC seats/lapbars that are comfortable. 2 out of 100 rides you DON'T have to worry about your lap bar FALLING down. Viper, I believe, was built by Martin (M&V???) anyway, the ride has only improved since opening. Major airtime, side g's. it's great. That lame first drop, yes. And Whizzer! Classic. Too bad about your Revolution (just kidding, I'd do anything to have it back!) And American Eagle is better than all throught the 80's and early 90's. And Raging Bull. Basically a slower Nitro or Goliath(take ur pic) but better layout.

Wow! Really great reading! Especially the bit about Voyage! I mean, the ride does kick butt. It's really not a complaint, I find. It's more of a 'yep, there really is a coaster than can kick my ass!' I find that Raven, well, I remember it with the 'buzz bars' and I've ridden too many times. I'm a Legend 'fanboy' - maybe I can start a site! I find it the most re-rideable and has the most variety of all 3. Plus the firey purple trains mmmm.... Thanks for the report and (dirty) pics!

I rode BKF at GL, and thought it was a nice ride. I mean, a B&M with no heartline spiral!??? But it was nice. It sure looks great at KD with that new orange track! Seems the Anaconda would be pretty much not needed anymore... A nice "Phantom's Revenge-esque make-over" would be HOW COOL!!! Think CF would every have the desire to ever pull that off!? Probably just a 'too cool' thing to do for such a sophisticated corporation.... Apparently did wonders for Kennywood though! I mean think about it. That first dive in the tunnel, no headrests and naggy OTSR's... etc.... Another thing that would someday be 'cool' is take those points where the drop-down walkway was over the water on BKF/Dominator at GL and design either a tunnel or 'light tunnel' over that section of track. How cool would that be!

^Wow! Looks like some great stuff! Any coasters?

^This is great stuff! I have somewhere (maybe, still) buried deep on a dusty un-marked (hmmm...) VHS, a group of kids given fries, burgers and shakes to eat on the REVOLUTION!! Of course, before the OTSRs... One treasure I'd love to dig out sometime is a tv video of 3 kids (yes, 3 in a seat) on a 4-bencher red PTC car riding the Texas Cyclone. I'm lazy, waiting for it to show up on youtube. Even if I did find it, I have no way (yet) of converting it or whatever you do to get em on here...

^Did they really? Are you sure? I don't know why they would do that. If any old steel coaster could benefit from a reprofile, it would be Revolution - as it would make it 'better' to remove the OTSR (not shove heads down on the intro/outro of the loop). I actually did my senior Engineering report on how it would be possible to redo the Revolution slightly to facilitate removal of the OTSRs. The professor was totally lost. The only thing I would think they did to Shockwave's track would be maybe inspect/X-ray it, replace some welds/ties. It would be really expensive to manufacture re-banked track. Why would it need it? After the 'station drop speed hill' before the left curve/helix, the ride is pretty tame.

Ok, I made the star wars guys move back - they were creeped out that they creeped others out! Here's a little better picture. Would like to see other's projects as well! I hope to run it when it's done. It may not make the circuit on it's own, but at least it will roll down the hills

Didn't mean to creep everyone out! hehehe It's balsa wood, simple balsa wood. I took the pic just having fun with my phone camera. I'll take a better pic when I pick up my digital camera (in the shop now). Guess I'll hold back on the star wars guys this time The model is 1" = 6'. The space between ribbon boards (horizontal supports) is 1". Coming along slowly, it's been years since I started a model coaster project.

There's a how-down ready to happen here. The Jawas are losing control and there is a massive spat between the old and new Power Droids. Notice big daddy Jawa trying to take control in back. Draw all your own parallels (what's the correct term, euphemysem or something?) to what's going on in real coasterdom! Enjoy! This is my model (generic name 'Wildcat') coming along here in Chicago. I hope to get it done when I get out of rehab!

or during the rollerrink! I think to really be funny, it would be cool (well, funny) to see 2 portly guys who look like the characters, dressed up, riding the ride. Hats fly off, mustaches go back (maybe those meatball sandwhiches fly - nahhh, not with liability nowadays). Now, that would be funny!

Pretty entertaining review! Loved the 'there are black people in Africa' and the figuring out there were gay people in the club - and of course the geeky 'hetero' types. It's a real insight into the boringness that is America, frankly. Disney is the king of RM (reputation management) and scrubbing clean its robots. It is basically what this guy said. Take more and you might as well become a Disney fan-boy/slave. That's what they want. Buy all the plastic good (made in China). Crap, I'd rather enjoy a day at a REAL thrill park like Lake Winnie or Indiana Beach! It sure filled for a fresh read, that's for sure!

I'm about 1/2 inch over 6'. Either way, it's a pretty bad and dangerous design - I hope they change it. It would cost alot, but I think it would help the ride tremendously. Anyone know how much they payed for it?

My big concern with the the ride is the safety aspect. The last time I rode it here at Great America, It was a 'front' seat near the back and I was scared as hell watching multi-ton thing swing right past my knee (the seat in front of me!). I sure hope they do something about that seating, etc. Seems like they are a park that really puts effort into their attractions (from what I've heard). I hope they repaint it too!

Hey Robb - can you PLLLLEEEZE post a HQ version of that Revolution drawing??? I'd love to dive in to those equations! This is soo cool - Magic Mountain has a life again! I didn't go to the park until 1995, but I'd sure like to see those trolls around with Daffy, etc. I think their stoner eyes are what make them scary looking... they could use a few changes But those Jughead hats are so cool! I have a pic of the 'original Viper' from the newspaper with the straight drop - I'll post it if I can find it (or if someone else beats me too it first ...) Vortex at KI also had a weird apex - the drawing for that wasn't too good.