bluefire

Can I just say how much I love reading your trip updates and seeing the pictures. Thank you guys!!! You always make my day.

You are quite right, Kooky, but how on earth do you translate that? I like names that convey an image of strength and power... Goliath is a good example. Also: Oblivion, Millenium Force and The Great American Scream Machine which I find very clever and creative. I do NOT like when rides are named after movies or TV shows... just seems totally lame to me.

Bwahaha.... thanks that is so encouraging for someone who so far hasn't found the courage to ride on their local B&M hyper. I know this is a post from last year, but, thanks!! (I did read about the Intamin coaster lapbar accidents, and these contributed to making me nervous.... if the beautiful beast in my neighbourhood had OSR, I would have gone on it 7 years ago...)

So it really is that much fun, huh? Your work environment definitely IS so much prettier than mine.

This one: Blue beauty

Let me ask you a question. What was the last time somebody fell out of a B&M. Or better, when was the last time a B&M didn't pass safety inspection? That is a very good question!!

Thanks for the replies so far! It's great to "see" you and your rides. Hey a question for the two of you who operate B&Ms - I am always a little worried about the safety of their lapbars. Can you tell me why exactly I should trust these things?? I admit reading that they don't use back-up safety restraints, doesn't exactly help me all that much...lol. This is the reason why I haven't gone on our local B&M, Silver Star. Yes, I am a chickenshit and also a fairly new coaster enthusiast. Can you help me here?

I just found your thread. Very cool pictures!

Apologies if this has been posted before. I did a search and couldn't find a thread like this. I know there are a few ride OPs on TPR. How about you post a picture of "your" ride (and you if you like). Can't wait to hear from you all.

I wonder what's wrong with this place? It looks like such a nice little park with a very handsome coaster! Is it a marketing problem (the GP actually aren't aware that the park has reopened?) or are there too many other parks near? Never mind, I found the answer in the other thread. If people who live an hour away have no idea that the park has reopened, that explains everything.

I heard it won't open until mid-August. I'm trying to find a reliable source. I have to say their marketing already suuuuucks. The GP has never heard of this ride. No one knows when it's going to open. Maybe the plan was to build "Germany's best kept secret"? Way to go folks... We all heard about KDK or TTD in the news back then, but nothing about ring racer. PS. On their website Ring werk it says the whole thing will open on August 15th...

Well, I don't trust technology! I was afraid I would - fall out. So I was 37 before I went on my first coaster with inversions and I realized loopings weren't really bad at all! I did not go on Holiday Park's Superwirbel when it opened in the 80s, Germany's first corkscrew coaster. It's on my "to do list" now! Though I'm still a little scared of failing technology or human errors... it's not like it never happens!

The Looping Star at Dreamland, UK!! I'm so excited I found it online! It was there only for two seasons, and we rode it in 2002. When we came back a year later, it was gone... and Dreamland continued to deteriorate. I had no idea it was a Schwarzkopf/Stengel coaster. No wonder I liked it! Here it is: www.rcdb.com/id1331.htm The Looping Star at Dreamland, Margate, UK. 2001-2002. Fond memories!

How about the burnt down Scenic Railway at the now defunct Dreamland Park in Margate, UK? I'm wondering how many of the TPR members actually rode on it? It was a fun ride... built in 1920. www.rcdb.com/id875.htm

About 45 photos of Bluefire and 3 or 4 of the rest of the park... Pretty theming in the French quarter The Mir space station

They've got another ride or two at Europapark.... Euromir

Mine are not as good, but offer a few different views.

ohmygod...

Hope it's ok if I post these.... just a couple of pictures of my darlin', taken by my son (good boy!!). BTW what's wrong with the world when kids have better cameras than their parents? Mine didn't come out half as good! Both sets of pictures were taken during two recent trips to EP. Here we go... drool...

How cute, the board has a profanity filter!!

Online translators are fun, but there are usually more entertaining than anything else. Here is my attempt at a translation. "Coaster-enthusiasts from the US submit themselves to "The Curse" Sparkling eyes, thumbs up and plenty of adrenaline - The "Fluch von Novgorod" ("Curse of Novgorod") did not disappoint. 45 rollercoaster enthusiasts, mostly from the US but also from France, Switzerland and The Netherlands, visited Hansa-park in Sierksdorff yesterday to try the new attraction. "Totally crazy", "absolutely insane!" and "simply unbelievable!" were just some of the comments that the coaster elicited from the men and women. "I love it!" exclaimed Elissa Alvey from Los Angeles, who, along with her husband Robb, has organized the trip for the coaster-enthusiasts. The international group - besides the Americans there were also Dutch and Swiss people plus Australians or Englishmen - was made up of members of the internet-community "Theme Park Review". In the course of their European trip the coaster-enthusiasts, as they call themselves, are now visiting Hansa-Park. Hansa-Park manager Andreas Leicht expressed that it was a very special pleasure to have this "cheerful crowd" visiting, and he added: "The ride is very popular with our visitors, they (TPR) are the ultimate test for us today." Yesterday the park gave the coaster-fans some Extra-Ride-Time. "I'm very nervous and tense", Robb Alvey admitted upon entering the building. (Robb, maybe you recall what you actually said...lol). The rest of the group felt the same way. When the start of the first car was delayed because Alvey had to properly attach his camera to the restraints, his fellow-riders began tapping their feet impatiently. Just a little later the crazy ride was over. "Awesome!" Robb Alvey cheered with his thumb up (Again, what did you say, Robb? Freaky? Cool? Fucking awesome??). "It was absolutely great" he spluttered (spluttered?? There MUST be a better way to say that.) "You get out of the dark, through the wall of smoke, the up the hill, in the loop (screw?knot?) and then the highlight, the 90 degree lift and the 97 degree drop - crazy. And the small hill shortly before the end, simply awesome!" (God this feels almost sacrilegious... translating the words of the great Robb Alvey from poor German into.... well, I'm sure you didn't actually SAY it that way.) The group spent the rest of the day having a good look around the park. "It is great, and offers something for everyone - we love Sierksdorff", Robb and Elissa beamed (hehe - how much did they pay you? loL) And just like mom and dad two-year old Kristen proved to be a die-hard coaster fan. She couldn't get enough of "Rasender Roland" ("Raging Roland" haha)." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Phew, this was hard. I have to say the article was written in extremely poor German (an intern??) so it was hard to translate it into somehow reasonable English. If you ever need any English-to-German or German-To-English translation, let me know!

You all know what I enjoy the most about these trip reviews?? Your reactions to un-politically correct theming, naked women in dark rides or kids and open fire... you guys are too cute.

Hi all! I've been reading here for a few days and really enjoy the funny reviews and great photos. I live close to Europapark and have been a regular there for over 20 years. You can guess which is my favourite coaster! Greetings from Germany!

I can't begin to tell you how upset I was when I heard the news about that fire. I couldn't believe it. We went to the UK three times between 2002 and 2005 and on each trip, a ride on the Scenic was one of the highlights of our trip. Even though Dreamland was in a pretty sad state, especially on the 2003 and 2005 trip. Does anyone have any news from Margate?

Thank you for a great read, and all of these wonderful Bluefire photos from a TPR newbie. I was wondering if it's normal to feel the way I do about a freaking roller coaster. Your review makes me feel less whacky!!