djrappa

Sorry Benzo, you're missing the little bit of info that he's been doing this for weeks on the R-C forums in Oz. That's probably the reason many have been so harsh.

Geeze some harsh people come out on here!! There is absolutely nothing 'wrong' with Richard. He is a harmless guys who obviously has nothing much else in his life and gets great enjoyment out of riding his coaster. I think it is probably right to say he's not quite 'all there' but he's pretty with it. I've been to Knott's twice, 2003 and 2004. Both times I saw Richard there. The first time we had a good chat and stuff and I spent a fair bit of the day riding with him. I was happy to see him back last year when I went back and I chatted to him a bit again and grabbed the empty seats with him for much of the day. I love Xcel too, in my 2 visits I have wridden it 90 times. In a week or so when I come back over, hopefully I can add to that total and meet up with Ricard again.

I don't know what is funnier, the original post, or when Slick said that he "works with all of Australia's major tourist destinations" LMAO

I'm with those guys!!! I'm used to photos of you Ian with random folks but those chicks... COME ON, where are they from??? Now THAT is something you should have told me about today

Well I'll be there in a week and a half or so... will be sure to check it out

Yeah unfortunately just couldn't squeeze the time for SFMM this year. Other problem also being that I'm in town mid week and the park is CLOSED right?? I'm travelling with someone else who is going to NY whilst I come to Disney so just sqeezing in a few days. Pity, would have been cool if you guys were around, would help to block out how CRAP SFMM is (or at least was when I drove up for a day this time last year). Hey btw, how should crowds be at Universal and Disneyworld that time of year?

Howdy All It's that time of the year again when I'm coming to crash your wonderful country... I'm hitting Vegas from the 28th, Disneyland and Knotts from the 31st and then fly over to Orlando on the 3rd Nov. Will be doing Universal the first few days then move into Disneyworld until the 9th. I have a couple days in Orlando for the LDI trade show until I fly home on the 13th... If anyone is going to be crossing paths drop me a line and say hi

Well I got home from a nice 11 hours of work today putting in our massive music awards show down here to find a little yellow package! ... and no I didn't have some weird illness, for indeed my TPR DVDs had arrived. Now back to work till 1am to spend another several hours hanging 40 feet in the air focusing lights, oh joy! At least this time in 2 weeks, Florida

hehehe We love our girl!

I must say that I'm starting to get a little concerned that the crowds at Disneyland are still so huge... When I was there from the 17th of Oct last year the place was DEAD (like 2 min standby for Indy), thats only a week away and the place is still busy. I'll be there from the 1st of Nov and hoping for some of that zero crowd awesomeness...

I think some people have really missed the point here... I'm with Robb. I'll admit that I have only experienced SFMM so I'm going to have to speak with that bias... What I will say about SFMM is that is was clearly once a nice park that has basically been turned sh!t, it's got some good coasters but they just barely make up for the rest of the joint. The park amenity is poor, stuff is always closed, the employees are a joke at best and then... ...we get on to the patrons. The demographic that seem to populate the place make me ill. Most of them are just 'turds' plain and simple. Noisy, obnoxious kids and teenagers with no discipline. I hate to say it but most of these I find to be from a 'particular' background. If this guy can raise prices and get rid of some of the less than desirable patrons that would be a step in the right direction to begin with. Next step would be to do the same for the staff and you would be halfway there. As far as food, well the food pretty much sucks so I don't see any real harm in going down the path of letting Mc Donalds, Subway or Pizza Hut in. At least people will know what they are getting and the quality of the food may improve. Like some have said, they couldn't get much worse so why not bring on some changes.

I'm glad to hear that, I myself will be there first week of Nov and debated forking out for the on site hotels myself. In the end I sacrificed those for a nice property down at WDW after I leave Universal. We're staying at the Clarion Universal... anyone have some thoughts on that place?

For me of course it's Superman at WBMW. I think it is safe to say this is the first REAL quality coaster that the country has seen since Corkscrew opened at Sea World back in the 80s. Nothing that has been built since (with the exception of ToT) could really be considered on the world class list. This ride has everything Australia could dream for. It's being built by IMO the best, it has a unique design and a good layout at that, it is being themed and integrated well (as opposed to being dumped in a car park) and it even has a great attractive presence within the park. I think we will see a major drawcard in this one from the public and enthusiasts alike. For me I'm the most excited about this project because I think it's the first time we down here can stand up and say we have something to be proud of in the coaster world.

I can tell you all that Feb March with definately be the BEST time to come check out this new beauty... Crowds will be non-existant and the weather will still be nice and warm (not that it ever gets cold up there anyway!). I could be selfish though and say that I'll be pissed if everyone does come in feb or march as looks like I'll be tied up working on the Comm Games Well unless of course my Warner Village job comes through

That is awesome to hear that the site is doing so well that the park would do that. Really happy for you guys!

That's really cool Ian, don't know if it's quite as cool as the new Superman photos you put up today... but cool all the same! How did you manage to get yourself involved with this?

HAHAHA Robb, that's a wicked answer! That certainly puts it all in perspective.

I think it's one of those cases for me where you don't really remember... I knew of the site before the forums from the usual coastering haunts I guess... Used to read westcoaster contantly and then when these forums opened up I started visiting here and that got more frequent to the point where I really don't read WC anymore and find myself checking the TPR forums a good 1/2 dozen times a day on average. No slight at WC I just find I only really have time for about 4 internet forums and TPR won out! I think it just has more of a personal and community feel that most boards... wouldn't you agree?

No all current advertising that is doing the rounds on TV all over the country is September 17th opening

Yeah see back then Probe was good! You should have seen it in its last few years though... the theming was pretty much all but gone and one side (read a 1/3 of capacity) was dead, never to operate again. Then again if the Boomerang which was a piece of sh1t by then end of it all can get a new home then anything is possible!

The opening date did shift back and forth a whole bunch of times earlier this year, unfortunately it now definately looks like being slated for December. September 1st is only a couple of days away and they haven't even finished the track yet so there is NO WAY this will open for september If you were planning on visiting in october purely to ride Superman then you may want to alter your travel plans to avoid dissapointment. I still have no doubts that this will be well open and operating by Christmas though Elissa.

How long ago did you get the credit Elissa? Did you get it's little brother too? The beastie was a great little coaster, this thing however was a fair bucket of crap by the time it's day came I will admit though, that last ride on the last day was still damn fun! I'm hoping that we'll get some notice as to when Probe is coming down so that I can go and see it/document it. Did you manage to get that credit too? You can actually see probe in one of those photos there. Like Paul said the arm is up on Zodiac (ferris wheel) because the other corrisponding side is down. When not in use the hydralics even out meaning both arms sit half way off the ground, hidden in the trees. So the fact it's up means they must have fired it up in the last week or so. Some have reported that they may even be in the process of removing the gondolas. Would be great to see this ride back in action in YET ANOTHER park, it's got to be almost vintage by now!

Well as sad as it is to see a coaster go this one has been given the chop, quite literaly. Looks like it happened a couple of days ago, just took a drive over to the now defunct park to take a look and it is indeed now a pile of firewood. Always sad to see something from your childhood wiped out. If you want to check it out I uploaded some photos to the aussie site r-c.com. http://www.roller-coaster.com.au/forums/index.php?showtopic=2012&st=0&p=28344 It's not my site so I'm in no way promoting it here, but that's where my photos from today are.

Yeah I thought so... but could definately see the 'drained' factor

Just looking at the latest Gardaland update. On the first page I think the 7th photo down is of the chicks on the SS just before the lift. Just wanted to say I recon that has got to be about the most bizare track system I've ever seen! Why does it go onto that kind of flat rail type of track to transfer round onto the lift? I'd have to assume it has something to do with the other system not being able to travel around corners in the lateral plane?