rcroques

The news should reassure people that coasters are safe. The accident itself is shocking enough. That's not how it is in LA news... sensationalism is key!

Correct, KTLA is still on. My fiancee is saying ABC is too, but I can't find it...

I can see where he got confused. There's a veil like thing in front of the train to cover some of the mechanical. But I agree, totally stupid to say that on air...

This commentary on the rescue effort is actually kind of hilarious. So unprofessional... That said, it looks like the chassis itself came unhinged from the track... I doubt it hit a tree though. You know the media... coaster derails... trees nearby... BREAKING NEWS: ROLLER COASTER HITS TREE. Honestly, it just looks like a mechanical failure. And that is just speculation... I worked the ride for a while and know a lot about it but I'm not OSHA or the state inspectors...

I just got my e-mail... I will definitely be at the Media Day on March 16th!

I miss Psyclone too, but that's probably because I operated that ride for the better part of a year and rode it well over 2000 times within that time frame... I'm not saying it was the best but when you operated it, you knew exactly how to ride it so that you didn't get beaten up. I actually wrote a letter to the park asking if I could have a piece of the wood when they destroyed it but no luck. Oh well, Term... er... Apocalypse is a more than worthy replacement for it. I'm just happy that they replaced my favorite woodie in the park with my favorite woodie in the park.

Well, your trip report convinced me that next time I go down to Belmont (should be within the next few months) I need to sample some of the other rides as well. I loved the Giant Dipper though... it wasn't my first coaster, but it was my first CLASSIC coaster. And you're right about that tunnel... I seriously didn't think it was going to end when I went on it.

It did happen a couple times on Psyclone when I worked there... then again, that's no surprise because that ride was pretty haphazardly maintained. The OTSR on Viper popped halfway while I was on it... and the train was in the loop at the time. That was the closest I've come to panicking on a roller coaster.

My last coaster that I rode (not including Disneyland) was Viper on Christmas Eve 2009. That said, I'm really looking forward to Knott's next Sunday... finally getting my Silver Bullet credit. Sincerely, Ron

So, I have been looking at all available pictures of the ground markers that are online trying to decipher what it may mean for Knott's come 2011 - 2012. First of all, I find it really odd that there is even markers out in the parking lot of the Radisson (as evidenced on Westcoaster). As we all know, Knott's put the shed over GhostRider's drop due to the neighbors to the south side of the adjacent street complaining of excessive noise. That said, any coaster that is built out into that area would most likely suffer the same criticism. But, on a whole different plane, it also means that whatever this project is, it is going to be a widespread project. Keep in mind that this is all speculation on my part, but I'm thinking that, if it is indeed a coaster, it will be manufactured by Intamin. Now, as for type, I am actually hoping for a Mega-Lite (based on video and reviews of Piraten) but I have this sneaking suspicion that Knott's could possibly either go for a Giga (with a steep lift hill I believe it can be done) or possibly even some sort of Maverick-style coaster (Maverick was, after all, a pretty big hit). I also wouldn't mind seeing a B&M hyper coaster in the vein of Raging Bull go to Knott's, but I think that's the underdog right now. But, as I mentioned, anything that goes into the parking lot area or even toward the southern border of the park will have to contend with the neighborhood to the south, and we all know they're not a fan of the noises created by thrill rides. Anyway, just some thoughts that I had while looking at the markers. Sincerely, Ron

I'll admit that I still miss Psyclone quite a bit, but that's more because most of my tenure at Magic Mountain was spent running that ride. In fact, the picture of the panel that is now in the Sky Tower brought back memories...

That ride looks absolutely amazing... I knew the constant corners would be cool but that was just too beautiful. Robb blacked out on it? I know in the video he said he did and that he hasn't ever done that on a coaster... that makes me think this beast could be even more intense than Goliath.

Like Disney management is really going to care that they're starving themselves? Seriously, Disney will pay seventy-five percent leaving them with twenty-five percent, which is a pretty standard benefits package for a large company. Heck, it's the same for me working at Walmart. How much you want to bet that it's not the employees that are fighting it, it's the union leaders? It's the same situation as the grocery strike in 2003; union leaders fight "for the employees" but really, all they do is stir up anger with the employees and don't do anything constructive. They fight for them, not you. I'm not anti-union, I just don't see the point of paying someone dues in order to "protect you". Especially since California is an at-will state and from personal experience, that union membership won't shield you from the axe. -- R.C.

Didn't Ninja get XLR-8's old trains when SFAW closed? I have a hard time believing that SFMM can't get parts for those trains, since the only real parts that are unique to that ride are the absorbers between the cars and other miniscule stuff. Other than that, the actual passenger compartment and car itself are pretty much identical to an Arrow looper like Viper, from the OTSR's to the harness release pedal. If they can fix Viper, they can fix Ninja; for the absorbers, technically they could use shocks from Pep Boys (although there could be technical specifications they have to meet; I was a ride operator, not a mechanic, so I wouldn't know details on that). I'm going to speculate that the other trains have been dismantled and may be undergoing an overhaul in their maintenance shop... a freshening if you will. Those trains definitely need some love. -- R.C.

I don't know about that... both trains were having audio problems last Friday night, yet they both worked just fine during the day. Then again, the ride was absolutely FLYING that night. Terminator on a cold, autumn night with a nice layer of condensation on the track = HEAVEN. Maybe the speed and intensity was what caused the audio to be crazy.

Colossus Backwards was running all day yesterday with two trains, although the yellow train did come off for a little bit for a problem with the lap restraint. However, the surprise of the night ridewise was Terminator. It was cold and condensation formed on the track... needless to say, it was running even faster than it ever has. As far as mazes, Lector's Slaughterhouse was probably my favorite. And if ya'll remember Brutal Planet, you'll recognize parts of both Slaughterhouse AND Bite.

I will be there tomorrow at about 3:00 - 3:30 P.M. wearing my WCB t-shirt, so if you see me, feel free to say hello. I think it should be a pretty cool event.

I may be wrong, but I don't believe that they have ownership of that land. I believe that the land behind Terminator is owned by an oil company (excluding the boneyard) and I also believe that the land to the south of the park (the aforementioned land behind Viper; across the access road) is owned by Newhall Land & Farming. I have, however, heard more than a few sources talking about a ride possibly being built behind Terminator, and, if that land is owned, I can see a few difficulties with it. The first of these difficulties is that the space back there, at least the owned space that I know of, is not all that big and they'd have to sandwich a ride into it. The second is that the access road that exists is a main access road. It is pretty much the only way that employees and maintenance can travel from the main park administration area to the main gate and front of the park. To place a coaster there would block that access road, causing a quandary in the fact that there would be no real way to navigate the park without passing through areas where guests are present; I'm pretty sure that Jay and crew would rather not have guests see that and would want to keep it in the back of the house. I can see them taking land that has been used for other, more disposable rides and turning it into valuable space, but I can't see them building behind Terminator... and, as far as I know, the area on the other side of Portrero Canyon Rd. (the name of the road that extends off into the hills behind Terminator) is owned by an oil drilling company. However, I could be wrong. Sincerely, R.C.

I don't know, Manhattan Exp... er... Roller Coaster was pretty darned good with the new trains when I rode it a few years back. Still haven't ridden Canyon Blaster and Desperado... I was really impressed with Speed though.

There's actually a lot of different places that they could put such a drop ride... if it were me, I would probably put it on top of the hill though... like where the current Samurai Summit bathroom is. Move those restrooms across the way into the Laughing Dragon building (like it's ever open anyway). This would drastically alter the skyline and, for that matter, would add a whole new level to the ride considering it would be up on top of the hill. Thus, it would increase the height factor.

The Jeep and the tow truck are props from the set of the movie. The destroyed truck while in line and the Ford Exploder (hehe... never thought I'd use that one literally) are actually old park vehicles... the truck was a maintenance truck that the mechanics used to roll around in. The Ford Exploder was used by either first aid or security at one point. I think it's rather ingenious that Magic Mountain basically turned it's trashed vehicle fleet into theming for a new coaster. Saves them money, I guess. Anyhow, I noticed that Batman is now sans cop car... I don't really miss it, however. What Batman really needs is a fresh coat of paint (I like the flat black idea) and for some of the theming elements to be restored (fan in tunnel, Batsuit lighting up, lighting in station... stuff like that). Sincerely, R.C.

If I'm correct, I may have been the TPR member in front of you... I remember meeting you that night while in line for Terminator... Anyhow, the theming is nice, but I'll admit that the pre-show is starting to actually annoy me. Then again, I've been through the show sixty times now... I guess it's good for general public though. Ride is kicking some serious you-know-what right now... rode it tonight and it's fast and furious just like a good wooden coaster should be!

^I actually quite like that layout... I really hope that you get the chance to finish it to your liking. If that were real, I'd probably want to ride it. As for my Psyclone recreation, the first drop actually isn't the rough part... the dips, however, didn't really come out as great as I hoped so I'm pretty much trying to tweak them to the real specifications. All I'm working with is an aerial photo and my memory of that ride; by those definitions, the recreation is actually really close... when I watch the simulation, everything is pretty much in its right place. It is funny that you mention roughness though; that coaster's middle name was roughness. I'm also starting a new woodie called ThunderHorse... hopefully I'll have some shots come tomorrow. Expect a really compact GCI with a couple new things... oh, and if you haven't checked it out, a couple pages back I posted my first NL coaster named Marauder. I think it's pretty cool for a first coaster and I can't get over the layout. UPDATE! More shots of Psyclone!

I've never noticed that happening, but then again, there may have been supervisors watching them a little closer than on a normal operating day. I know that yesterday I was getting some non-stapled rides on it (not too much room, but a little room to move)... everyone is right, it is completely awesome right now. Best it's ever run since it opened. Ride has worn in completely perfectly in my opinion. Sincerely, R.C.

I did hear that they have fully replaced the bumper cars with the new ones now, however I haven't ridden in them yet. Are they any faster? --Robb When I rode them last week, it was about half that were new and half that were old. No difference between the new ones and old ones other than that the new ones have all the decoration and feel of driving an overglorified Power Wheels. Not that it matters... at least they're finally improving the place.