Kennyweird

PETA is a threat to the well being of the general public and must be destroyed... or we could just sit back and watch it self-destruct through stupid publicity stunts. Seriously though, I hate PETA with a passion and wish it would disband.

I would ride it, but only after I concluded it was safe. Keep in mind that this was built in the 20's; people in the 20's were crazy and would ride insano-@$$ roller coasters and not give a second thought about it.

^ ... (Goes and cries)

My interest in NL has recently been revived, so I'm currently working on my first "good" NL coaster, Strangelet. You can check out the progress I've made here. My NLDC account Crappy MSpaint logo.

I find it ironic that your stratacoaster bears the same name as a Vekoma roller skater at Sesameplace.

Track Packager, perhaps? My computer can't open .rar files.

Top Thrill Dragster. If you stand down near the end of the launch section it sounds kind of like a jetliner taking off.

^^I think you're seeing things.

Not bad at all. One thing's for certain, your hand building skills are far superior to mine. Overall, I give it a 9/10. By the way, how long did it take you to make this?

This was pathetically predictable. Here's what I think will happen, either the park won't reopen next year and will be liquidated, or it will briefly reopen next year, continue to lose money, file for bankruptcy again, and then be liquidated. I personally don't think Hard Rock Park had or has a chance in hell at succeeding. There are just so many things they didn't do right and continue to do so.

^^ Jimmy Yoshi, whom I actually know from school, wrote a pretty good AHG tutorial over at Coastercrazy.com. www.coastercrazy.com/articles/article.asp?cid=10&aid=148

That was pretty cool, I hope they keep it up. What really caught my eye, though, was their store. Gravity Group hats and mugs, anyone?

Those pictures are just too awesome.

(sigh) This is going to be one long rant... Begin technical rant/ In order to understand the differences between LIM's and LSM's we must first understand how they work. Lets start with LSM's since they're much easier to understand. LSM's consist of nothing more than a bunch of electromagnets on the track than change polarity several times per second in order to attract and repel magnets on the train's underside, thus pushing it forward. This also why they're called linear synchronous motors; the magnets must be synchronized with the polarity flips in order for the train to launch correctly. LSM's are, as Joey said, more efficient than LIM's, which is one of the reasons this system is used for maglevs rather than LIM's. A Basic Diagram of an LSM system can be found below. LIM's, on the other hand, are much more difficult to understand, despite being easier to pull off. LIM's use induction in order to launch a train. A LIM system consists of several fins made of copper alloy or aluminum affixed to the train and 2 rows of three-phase coils on each side of the train, one row on each side of the fin (I think). The system works by taking advantage of the same law that allows magnetic brakes to work: Lenz's Law. Lenz's Law states that a changing magnetic field in proximity to a conductive metal will induce an eddy current (circular electric current) within the metal with a magnetic polar orientation opposite that of the changing magnetic field. This means that a repulsive and attractive force will act upon the metal and source of the changing field. With LIM's, the coils produces this changing field. The coils are three-phase, meaning they have three separate AC currents that are off set by 120* going through them, and while I don't totally understand the concept, I do know it creates a magnetic "chaser" effect similar to the chaser lights you might see on a wooden coaster at night. This produces a changing field which induces and eddy current in the metal fins thus creating a magnetic field with a polar orientation opposite the inducing magnetic field's. This creates a repulsive force in the fins that attempts to repel the changing magnetic field, which is in this case the chasing LIM coils. Now it's just a matter of which one has more to brace itself against: the train, which is on a set of well lubricated wheels, or the LIM coils, which are solidly welded to the track? The obvious loser, the train, is thus shot out of the launch section. Of course, the train never matches the speed of the chasing fields, just like if you dropped a ball on a treadmill it wouldn't be shot off the end at the same speed as the belt. This means that, unlike an LSM system, nothing needs to be synchronized when using a LIM system, all there needs to be is a three phase power source, however it also means a tremendous amount of energy is wasted during the launch. But I don't care, because LIM launches are much more intense than LSM launches. Oh yeah, there's a diagram depicting how a LIM works right after the LSM diagram. My explanation probably has a few factual errors in it, so don't quote me. Ok, I'll shut up \End technical rant. LSM LIM

^ Actually, it's a B&M hyper.

In honor of the LHC and particle physics in general, I'm naming the NoLimits coaster I'm currently working on "Strangelet".

We have the Haunted Hills Hayride. Haunted Hills Hayride Website It's pretty good, but it tends to get overshadowed by Phantom Fright Nights.

Spinning by far, especially if it's enclosed like Kennywood's Exterminator. The dark, plus the spinning, creates a sense of complete and utter disorientation, which is something I like.

Arrr! Apparently International Talk Like a Pirate Day is considered a sacred holiday by the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. Here be the article, arrr! Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster - Wikipedia

The ultimate JJC? Look no further... Behold! It brings coaster whores to their knees. (I'm not even sure Jeff Johnson would call this a credit, maybe if he was desperate...)

Hong Kong Disneyland. Didn't Robb say they were having budget related issues due to a lack of visitors?

Maybe you'll need to cut off your foot for admission! (I know, bad joke.) Seriously though, I'm interested to see what becomes of this. If you do go, maybe you can do a TR.

Wow man, that sucks. It was pretty windy last night here in Pittsburgh, but no where near as windy as what you described.

Colgate suspended Walrusguy's account on youtube!