rcroques

Yes, amazingly enough, she actually did like that ride and was sad when I told her they removed it. Incidentally, if you're who I think you are, I believe both my wife and I spoke to you in the smoking area for a while before the gates opened for WCB this year. If I'm mistaken, please accept my apologies, if not, it was nice talking to you there and I'm sure we'll see you again nest year, if not sooner. The final brake run was where I regained consciousness. It was probably me... did I have a grisly looking beard? If so, yeah, it was probably me. It was nice talking to you as well though as I'm sure that I met you through the course of the day in one of the smoking areas. West Coast Bash 2010 can't come soon enough... besides, I'll need that shirt to replace the 2009 one I use as my official coaster riding shirt. Has Ghostrider really gotten that rough? It's hard to believe that in a matter of a few years it has decayed so much... Sincerely, R.C.

Finally, I hear a story about someone who actually liked Psyclone... most people hated it, including me until the nine months that I worked on it. After I learned how the ride moved and how to ride it without getting brutally beaten, it turned out to be an amazingly cool ride. Cool enough that I rode it forty-six times in a row. That was the known record for re-riding on that coaster. Man, I miss that ride... at least we're getting Terminator. Oh, and I guess my reactions depend on the ride. On most coasters, I just kind of say random things like "We're all going to die" or "Oh GOD, it's EVERYWHERE". On X2, I scream like it's my first time on it and, when the train pulls out of the station, I laugh every time I hear "It Had To Be You". Sincerely, R.C.

I'll look at it again tomorrow, but it definitely does look like it dives into the structure. In fact, it looks like it might even be a nice headchopper. I was at the park today and I'd say that the lift is about three-quarters done so that leaves only the station and the flythrough to be built before the ride will begin testing. As I said, I'm going back tomorrow and I'll try to bring my camera and snap some pictures. Sincerely, R.C.

My judgement is that Terminator is no longer (meaning from the turn after lift to the turnaround at the other end) than Psyclone, but it is definitely a bit wider. A lot of track seems to occupy the former transfer track area and possibly even over to the drainage dish that borders the back of the shops. That being said, I was at the park today and realized that Terminator just looks better and better every time I see it in person. Sincerely, R.C.

Looks like y'all had a fun time out here. Oh, yeah, and that monster truck got totally PWN3D! Sincerely, R.C.

Sell sixteen, keep four. Keep SFMM, SFGAdv, SFGAm and SFOT. That way you have a park in each region of the United States, not to mention some of the most profitable in the chain (although SFOG looks to be pretty good). It's just my thought, but you could easily make a lot of money selling all of the smaller, less profitable parks and keeping the bigger parks to keep their operations lean and mean. Oh, and while we're at it, Cedar Fair, please sell KBF to a person who knows the history behind it and doesn't want to turn it into just another coaster park. Seriously, it was cool for a while but history prevails and Knott's needs to find that magic again. Sincerely, R.C.

As much as his segment seemed to be advertisement and half-hearted ghost writing, I like Mark Shapiro. I really hope that Six Flags makes it... they've gotten a lot done and I want to see them finally make Six Flags the shining company it could be. Sincerely, R.C.

I'm 113. Sincerely, R.C.

Best = Space Mountain... the set of right turns at the end are awesome. Not the fastest or most forceful, but I love them completely. Worst = Ninja. Lift at the end? WTF?! Sincerely, R.C.

Ghostrider was great when I rode it years ago, but everything that I hear about it now is that it's not aging gracefully and its roughness is starting to gain to Psyclone's level of pain. (Interestingly enough, I enjoyed Psyclone. Then again, I rode it every day for almost a year and I knew how to avoid the pain). Interestingly enough, Psyclone and Ghostrider are related... both were built by someone from the Dinn family. Sincerely, R.C.

I heard somewhere (I wish I could remember where) that the Calico Mine Ride was entirely gravity powered and the driver only had control of the brake. That could help explain why they need a chain lift in the middle of the ride. I guess that could make this a poor man's scenic railway but I don't really consider it any more of a roller coaster than a Log Flume. In fact, Splash Mountain has a roller coaster section and I don't even consider that a coaster. I'm guessing you're referencing the double down? I don't really think that Calico Mine Ride should be counted as a coaster, which takes their total down to eight, by my count. I also can't say I enjoy Cedar Fair's new advertisement campaign. It reminds me of Del Taco's new campaign... except for it works in Del Taco's case. I also don't think that Knott's is the caliber of park that should be advertised as a "ride warrior" dream. Yes, they have coasters, but there's certain small nuances (which disappear by the day, from what I hear) that make it more than a coaster park. I don't know that I'm making sense, but what I'm trying to say is that Knott's DOES NOT have ten coasters and shouldn't advertise themselves as having that. Although, Cedar Point did say that Superman wasn't a coaster when Magic Mountain held the record. Sincerely, R.C.

As much as I enjoyed my time working with some of the international workers... and the Brazilian party I went to as a result... I do have to agree that it doesn't seem to make too much sense. I was a lead, and I do have to say that my international workers were some of the best in the park. But we can't forget that the girl that was struck by Scream! was also an international worker and I believe we can also agree that accident was due to a misunderstanding on her part of what she was instructed to do. From what I hear, she didn't speak or understand English very fluently. Anyhow, I think that as much as Jay Thomas and company try to make it a family park, they have a long way to go. I think it can be done, but their heritage as a thrill park is going to be very, very difficult. I wish Jay, Neal, and Tim the best of luck... if any management can do this, it's them. Sincerely, R.C.

Whoops. Flubbed that one a bit. Have to remember that math was my worst subject in school... I was too busy trying to come up with new coaster and park ideas. Sincerely, R.C.

If I were Mark Shapiro, I would probably cool the jets on 2010. Maybe a few flat rides and a Wiggles World... after all, I don't want to see them build a coaster every year (see Premier-era for the pitfalls of that strategy) and I truly believe that by keeping cool for a year, Jay and the crew can ensure a quality guest experience and a more varied selection of rides for the family. Now, 2011 is the company's 50th and the parks 30th anniversaries, so it's hard to believe that they wouldn't take out all the stops and put something amazing in. Based on the information that Tim leaked during the Q&A, I'm led to believe that the new ride will be a record breaker and I also think that it could use a spot that is currently occupied by a preceding version of the same concept (if you get my drift). 140+ m.p.h... 500+ feet. Use the terrain of the mountain to the advantage of the ride. Tunnel through the mountain. The possibilities are endless. Tim Burkhart could have an absolute field day with the idea that is in my head. But, as for now, it's just a dream. Sincerely, R.C.

I didn't black out on Tatsu on Sunday, but I have before. And both times before, I was in the back seat. It's weird that I have heard a lot of chatter about B&M being forceless, yet every single B&M I've ridden has been forceful as all hell. Tatsu, however, is the only one to black me out. Sincerely, R.C.

I still believe that the 2010 coaster will rocket to the top of my coaster list. I can't wait until they launch the PR campaign for their new 2010 coaster. As you can tell, I'm thinking it is an obvious choice. Sincerely, R.C.

Actually, believe it or not, those orange seatbelts on Deja Vu are original equipment. They were there when I rode it on it's media day. I actually think that they serve a great purpose on the first lift... without them you'd be sliding all over the place. Sincerely, R.C.

To Team 30: Look, there may have been nothing in the rule book about hiding a clue, but there is also a moral reprehensibility to conceal a clue all in the interest of winning. I was on Team 16, also known as second place, and we got that position fair and square... not by hiding stuff or being shady in our actions. So, sorry to burst your bubble, I agree that you should be disqualified. Look, let's be honest, a guide wheel from Sierra Twist is no wheel from Goliath, but hell, I cherish that prize because I know that my team won it with hard work and prudence. I adore any part from a ride that I can get and it sits up on my TV along with my pieces of wood and my name badge from my time at Magic Mountain. And they didn't even have to give us those prizes... they did it out of kindness. The scavenger hunt wasn't about winning... it was about being a team and having fun, which is what coaster enthusiasts should be doing. Not shortchanging their fellow enthusiasts by placing a recycling bin over a clue. Sincerely, R.C.

Mine was X2 during morning ERT... What a way to begin 2009... hopefully 2009 will be a good year for me as far as coasters go... I'm already planning on going down to Knott's and Belmont and hopefully I'll get my last two rides in Vegas too. Sincerely, R.C.

^Agreed. Supports are needed on that helix. It's a good-looking coaster for RCT3, but my main nitpick about it would be that the brake run seems a little lofty. It could be just me or maybe my opinion being interjected, but it seems that lowering that brake run would add to the realism of the ride. Still, very nice design. Sincerely, R.C.

Team 16 REPRESENT! So, I officially cleared off the top of my TV and, from left to right, have my piece of wood from Ghostrider I got years ago, the wheel from Sierra Twist, and the piece of wood from Terminator. I'm still in awe of how amazing yesterday was. Sincerely, R.C.

I'd like to send out a big thank you to Robb, Chris, and Six Flags (including their amazing management) for a great WCB 2009. Right now, I'm trying to clear out space for my Sierra Twist guide wheel and signed piece of Terminator: Salvation. Tomorrow I'm going to try and upload some photos of this amazing event. Seriously, after meeting the management and seeing how the park is looking, I have faith in Six Flags again. They truly want to make this place the best it can be. Sincerely, R.C.

I pre-registered about a week ago and paid via check, which I mailed today on my way home from work. Should be to Robb by tomorrow. Am I still in? Sincerely, R.C.

I'll be sending in my registration form on Monday, most likely. I'll be there by myself as my friend that I wanted to go with me will probably have to work that day. And, on a totally unrelated note, I have an entire cabinet full of toothpick holders. Sincerely, R.C.

You make a good point. I guess it's just nostalgia, really. I had a lot of fun working that ride and I guess, after the nearly a year I worked it, I kind of grew fond of Psyclone. I rode it well over two thousand times in the year and a half I was at the park and one day, I rode it forty times in a row without getting off. But, that said, I'm excited for Terminator. The layout looks absolutely beautiful and I'm sure that, given the chance, I'll be fond of that ride as well. Sincerely, R.C. P.S. -- The secret to Psyclone was to keep the lap bar a bit loose and to not tighten up like most people tried to. You had to ride that ride defensively.