glucky11801

For me they would be the new Thunderbolt at Coney Island, and Goliath at SFNE. Both fall into the category of "Torture Devices" for me. You know it's bad when the first element is SO painful, and you realize that you have to go through the WHOLE circuit afterwards! Honorable mention would have to go to Son of Beast, which I was so excited to ride in its first season, only to be bruised on my front and back seat rides...

For me it's Gold Striker. My butt was off the seat so many times every ride. For me, the front row was perfection!

Looks like they have it in place! These live web cams are so interesting!!!

Yes, this one looks like the most difficult one yet!

Thanks, Paula! I'm glad you're feeling better!

Paula you're the BEST!!! (Note capitalization!)

I suppose part of the reason that my ride was SO bad was that I was in the last row, as luck would have it. Maybe I'll try another row next season...

I made a trip up to SFNE yesterday. I needed to validate my 2015 Season Pass. It was a great deal- during Labor Day Weekend you could get a Gold pass with free parking at all parks for only $49.99 each. Such a deal- and I will be using it a LOT next year! Since it was raining in the morning, I was hoping that the crowds would be non existent, and was I ever right! Everything was a walk-on, except NESS which was about 30 minutes. It was my first time riding, and I enjoyed it, although I would have preferred to circle around going forward instead of backward. The view of (Wicked) Cyclone below is amazing! Speaking of Wicked Cyclone, the lift hill and first drop look SO sexy! I can see why RMC likes to get this done right away. It really builds up excitement. I can't wait until next Spring! I finally rode Goliath with the new train, and I think I have a new LEAST favorite coaster. SUCH PAIN!!! And realizing that you have to go through it again backwards is pure dread. Let's hope that they modify the train somehow. I can't imagine anyone re-riding it in its current state. Bizarro was a walk-on (!) and I rode in the very back and 2nd row. It was great, but much rougher than I remember. It feels like they should put new wheels on the trains. I never felt those vibrations before on any of the other Intamin Mega Coasters or Millennium Force. C'mon, Six Flags, show some love (and get rid of those trains with the audio not even working)! Finished off the day getting credits on Pandemonium (not enough spinning) and Gotham City Gauntlet (surprisingly intense), and left at 5:30. There didn't seem to be anyone coming in for Fright Fest. Speaking of which, the decor didn't look all that great to me...

Lightnin' Loops at Great Adventure in 1978.

47 rides on Talon at Dorney Park. It would have been 50, but a severe Thunderstorm closed the Park...

Gold Striker at California's Great America!

When I was there 2 Sundays ago, there was a problem with the computer. I was waiting to board a train when it happened. A maintenance guy was looking at a handbook of some kind to figure out what was wrong. We were then asked to leave the station, and the queue was cleared. It was only closed for a half hour so I guess I was lucky...

I have been very lucky to be on many coasters in the rain. A few high points: The Cyclone at Coney Island during a thunderstorm in the 80's. Watching lightning over the ocean while ascending the lift hill was amazing. Riding the Riverside Cyclone in its opening month in a downpour was very wild, definitely my best rides ever on that Bill Cobb monster. SROS at Six Flags America during a driving rain was VERY painful, to say the least! Marathoning on Boulderdash in the rain during the first OctBoulderfest was great- I was soaked to the skin, but who cared? At Holiday World rides on Raven during a rainy Holiwood Nights ERT were surreal, but the BEST rainy rides belong to the Voyage that same night. Those were the most out-of-control coaster rides that I have ever had! Definitely my top coaster memory ever!!!

Last weekend I was out in San Francisco for a gig, so I planned a side trip to CGA. I hadn't been there in several years, and I was very keen to ride Gold Striker. I pre-purchased my ticket and Fastlane- I didn't want to spend any time waiting on lines. The park was not very crowded at all. Most folks were heading to the Water Park, since it was uncharacteristically warm for Northern California. I made a complete circuit of the Park, riding every coaster (yes, even Grizzly). Flight Deck looks great in its new colors, and rides as well as ever. I've always enjoyed the custom layout, with that helix ending over the water. I rode it 3 times. I did try for my Taxi Jam credit, but no parents wanted to lend me one of their kids! Oh well... I got to ride my first Disk'O Coaster, Tiki Twirl. That was lots of fun. And now for Gold Striker. WOW! This really blew me away! I knew what to expect, having seen the POV, but it's even better in person! So relentless and so re-rideable! I got 15 rides in, 2/3 in the front seat, which is my favorite, although the back is great as well. Nice pops of air, and great changes of direction. Easily my favorite GCII coaster so far! The crew was especially good in rapidly dispatching the trains. It did go down for almost 30 minutes, due to a computer glitch. If not for that I would have had 20 rides. My favorite thing about GCII's is the way the lap bar connects to floor of the car. There's room to slip your feet under, and you can hold myself in that way, let go and ride very comfortably with your butt off the seat and your arms up! Very easy to anticipate the direction changes that way. I turned several people on to that, and they loved it! Everyone should try it...

Teknohillbilly- you said it perfectly. Amen!

I'm watching on my Apple TV via my iPhone! 60 inches, baby!!!

The Coney Island Cyclone last week- running SO smooth!!!

Let me say that I DO think that Thunderbolt kicks A$$. And it has a great layout as well, cramming lots of excitement into a small footprint. I'm at a loss why the trains tracked so roughly. There was just such a powerful vibration and jerkiness. Not what you would expect in a new Steelie...

Not sure if you count relocations, since you rode the same coaster from Elitch, it was moved to luna park/screamzone/coney. Sorry I was unclear about that. I fixed it. And yes, I do count relocations,,,

I took a quick trip to Coney Island yesterday. I hadn't been there since before Luna Park and Scream Zone opened. Of course the primary reason was to ride the new Thunderbolt, but there were 4 other new credits for me there. Parking was plentiful, and I did park right next to the Cyclone, with a great view of all that gorgeous new wood! More on that later... Since this was a coaster trip, we decided to buy the $40.00/46 credit package- yes this park is EXPENSIVE! It is also very clean, with very courteous employees. I have been coming here since the 60's (I was fortunate to ride the Tornado, Thunderbolt, Virginia Reel, and Bobsled!), and although much smaller, the Parks are very well run. Even super-clean bathrooms! Scream Zone: Thunderbolt- I was very keen to ride this new coaster. No line to speak of, and we sat in the front seats of one of 3 trains, after dropping off some stuff in the FREE "fluffy fluffy bunny filled with medicine and goo". The restraints seemed very comfortable- almost like B&M clam-shell Hyper Coaster restraints. We were stapled in pretty hard, but there is lots of padding, thankfully. The vertical lift is very cool- neat to see and hear the brake sections go in and out as you ascend. No real pause at the top and you're off and dropping. Unfortunately, the rest of the coaster is VERY rough. I was quite surprised, expecting a smooth ride. It is very jarring, and there's lots of vibrations too. The layout is very interesting, and the train flies along the course. The "Stengel Dive"-like transition is very cool. The turnaround is fast, and the return run is FULL of negative G's and an inversion that really whips you through. I would have liked it a lot more if it didn't beat you up so much. All in all a good first attempt, but needs some finesse. This would have been the perfect spot for an Intamin Megalite, my favorite, but this is Zamperla-Land, after all! Soarin' Eagle- Your typical Volare Flying Coaster. I had been on this one at Elitch Gardens, so I knew what to expect. Here, they stop all the trains in the station, which makes the clunky boarding much easier than out in Denver, where the trains were constantly moving. Steeplechase- A racehorse themed Motocoaster with a flywheel launch. I had never been on one of these, and the launch was quite forceful. The course is full of positive G's, and a couple of spirals. It's also very short. Luna Park: Tickler- My first Zamperla Spinning Mouse. It was fun, but the second block brake totally killed the last part of the ride. I much prefer the Gerstlauer Spinners with their more interesting layouts. Circus Coaster- A Zamperla Kiddie Coaster. It's always fun to get that kiddie credit. A fun little coaster, that gives you a double circuit ride. I told my room mate that this would fit in our backyard! Cyclone- The total surprise of the trip! I have been following the re-hab by GCI and was wondering how it would be. They have over 2/3 done now, and it's a thing of beauty to see and smell all that new wood. The trains have all new upholstery with LOTS of padding. I wish all trains were this comfortable! We sat in my favorite next-to-back seat. But how would it be? GLORIOUS! The first drop was so smooth. I never thought I'd see the day! The rest was smooth too, until we hit the last section that wasn't re-tracked, on the lower section along W 10th St. OUCH!!! Talk about being slammed! But then back to new wood and glass-smooth, for a great ending. Unfortunately no more re-rides where you pay right from the train. It's just so great to see an old favorite getting some TLC! So all in all a fun trip, where I picked up 5 fast credits, bringing my total to 317! You guys are going to have GREAT time when you stop here!!!

Agreed. Navigator, hands down. I have been on 69 Atlantis Cruises. RCCL and Celebrity Ships are definitely the best!

Great photo! I can remember riding it when it first opened. It was AMAZING! My best rides were on a very rainy Spring day. We were riding in ponchos, and the rain was stinging our eyes. It was out of control fun!!! I'm dying to see what RMC has in store for us...

For me it has to be any of the Mega Lites. At just over 45 seconds, they pack in more thrills and airtime than any other coaster by a wide margin, I'm so happy I got to experience all this Intamin goodness in Shanghai!

I was lucky to get on the Kiddie Coaster in the early 80's. It's one credit that I am very proud of. Great TR and photos!

Well, thank you. It is I ... the Mayflower Madame. #RavenMavenNoMore Raven Maven how does it feel to have so many people hanging on your every word?