Bolliger&Mabillard

I've decided to take at least fall semester off, to look for a job and because I could use the extended break (19 units last spring! ) I only need two algebra classes to petition for an AA degree, so I'm in no real rush.

Having a grouper at the top of Riddler's stairs helps out a ton if the grouper knows what they're doing, but staffing doesn't always permit.

I'm baking cookies right now.

If I can digress...Tatsu with nylon wheels would have been vicious

^No offense taken. My main point is if you want something cutting edge and second to none, Intamin is a sure thing.

To clear a few things up first: *Millenium Force opened before SD2000, and I said in my post that MF was the tallest "at time of opening" *Though it's considered a "giga" coaster, I personally call it a hyper. it's a tomAIto, TomOTTO thing for me. Back to my input. Both companies hit more than they miss. If I managed a park, i'd add both as major attractions. B&M will give you a ride that are fun, operator friendly, capacity monsters, mechanically sound, and reliable. Intamin will give you the record breakers, the "park's best", "world's tallest", "fastest" or "steepest". Sure their safety or maintainece track record may not be as impressive as their crosstown rivals, but the company is innovative and a pioneer in the thrill industry. With innovation and a "we do it first" business plan, you're bound to have set backs and blunders. And with B&M, no matter what, you have a ride that is always ready to open on time, run all day, and don't give much trouble. You can't go wrong with either one, but I'd buy two Intamins for every Beemer I bought.

Here's my .02 on the matter, An inversion is classified as track being paralel with the ground in an upside manner, completely inverting the train that travels said track. There are of course some inversions that are debatable, most notably the incline loop on most B&M stand-up rides. What it all comes down to is what the park classifies it as. According to Knott's Berry Farm, Silver Bullet has 6 1/2 inversions. The drop on Steel Hawg is no where near an inversion, but park management gets to make that call when they make a press release.

^Every Coaster boy in LA knows about X opening for one week, then closing for six months (who opens a coaster in freakin' January?). It's simple to say you aren't building major coasters anymore because "no spending money teens fill up the park" when you build them. No matter what anyone says, or what numbers you release, you can't convince me that Rollercoasters bring in nothing but teens. KidCoaster Fan makes an interesting point I can elaborate further on. Why is it that thrill coaster attract "nothing but teens" when we all see for ourselves that the audience for these rides can and do range from youngsters just barely reach the height requirement to grandma and grandpa riding out Tatsu with their grandson. Everytime I go to California Adventure, Screamin' always has a longer line than Mullholland Madness. At Disneyland, Space Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain are two pf the longest lines in the park. X at Magic Mountain has had the longest line in the park since day one. People may go to Knott's Berry Farm for the chicken, but they stay for Silver Bullet and Xcelerator. People love rollercoasters. If they really wanted to up dollars on family fun they'd just go to a Disney or Universal park. You go to Six Flags to have the crap scared out of you.

I'm the dude playin' the dude disguised as another dude!

Congrats on 700! I'm not to far behind you with 79 Hope to see the Road Show pull into Knott's Scary Farm in October!

Went to see this contriversal movie starring and directed by Ben Stiller. I wanted to see what all the hoopla and buzz was about. Robert Downey, Jr in Black Face, Stiller's continuos use of the word "retard" and Jack Black's blatent outburst of homosexual favors for heroin and I fail to see what's the big deal with the movie is. As a Black man, I find stereotypical movies like Stomp The Yard, Step Up, and Honey way more offensive that Kirk Lazarus playing an African American in black face (in fact Downey, Jr. was the epicenter of most of the funny parts of the movie). I'd say this movie is about as offensive as a babby's buttocks on TV, sure it'll piss someone off, but it wasn't intended for the purpose its opposers critisize it for. I would probably see this movie again, but I'd more likely just wait for the DVD release. Is it offensive? Only if you're one of those people who get their knickers in a bunch everytime there's a wardrobe malfunction exposing a boob on live t.v. or a white guy uses the N word after being heckeled by a Black audience. I say "SEE THIS MOVIE", at least once 7/10

Goliath @ SFMM

Scream! SFMM-7 1. Vertical Loop 2. Dive Loop 3. Zero G Roll 4./5. Cobra Roll 6./7. Interlocking Corkscrews Viper SFMM 1-3. Vertical Loops 4/5. Butterfly Loop 6/7. Double Corkscrews

^^Millenium Force, 310'.

^^I'd like the name if four of them didn't already exist. Not to worry, the next Hyper Six Flags builds will aptly be named Son Of Goliath.

This is because both companies have nearly identical wheel assemblies with the guide wheels sitting outside of the track vs. Vekoma/Arrow sitting this wheel on the inside of the track. Also, all three sets of wheels have contact with the track at all times. See following pictures: Intamin Wheel assemblies B&M Wheel assemblies

^It's interesting you say that. Stengel no longer designs B&M's rides, but still designs evry single Intamin.

After the evaluations, X 2nd generation train will be moved to the Sky Tower museum in tact.

As much of a Beemer fanboy I am, I'm still going to have to place my vote with Intamin, Intamin AG, Intraride, or whatever they have to change their name to for lawsuit purpose. Intamin is willing to go where no manufacturer has gone before or still dares to. B&M never has, nor will they ever construct anything that will match the thunder created by Intamin. First company to break 100 mph and 400ft? Intamin. Tallest Hyper at time of opening? Intamin. Unless B&M builds a woodie or something with a launch they're just going to build rides that are cool when they open, but once the new train smell wears off, they all just fade into the background. It happened to Behemoth, no one even metions Led Zepplin, It happened to Tatsu, and it will happen to every other coaster they open.

We spent four min. in Readies and two-three in the former unload.

^Good and true point. And as much as the old SFI CEO got nailed for letting that happen, I don't see Mark Shapiro doing anythinkg different. ^^A floorless coaster, maybe, it's a stretch but very possible. I'm convinced however that Six Flags is done with B&M flyers. The'yre really expensive and aren't reliabe as one would think.

^If I'm not mistaken it was the last Saturday of June. Each train spent about four minutes baking in the sun in Readies.

^Don't feel bad. The park is saving up for a 550 ft. Intamin woodie with teired seating and a hydraulic launch after the mid course...It'll definately be worth the wait.

Judging from everyon's positive reactions of X, it prompts me to ask if anyone has been on it with three train operation?

Take a look at the following... {All photos were provided via RCDB} There aren't enough words in the english language to make a comment rude enough Silver Bullet? The track nor trains are silver, and red/yellowish orange don't sit in too well with the ghost town theme. Orange paint from last year. Why is it Knott's can't get enough of orange paint?