ABW

EDIT: Oh, that's what the architectural review meant? Nevermind, this joke went nowhere. Evidently, I need re-education in grammar.

^Unless you know something we don't, I don't think so. My understanding is it was a case where they COULD HAVE run three trains whenever they wanted to, it just didn't make sense most of the time, and with a third train always in maintenance, it was always unrealistic, but not impossible. Now with the removal of that block brake, it is not even possible. But again, I can't stress this enough, don't re-install any form of a block brake please!

Not to preach to the choir, but I also agree that a block brake would do nothing to the extent that we want changed here, which is significantly improved dispatch times. Speaking from my own experience, Ghostrider already stacks with two trains, and logically, adding another train would just not help that. So please, let's not give anyone any ideas. Ghostrider's problems are clearly a policy issue, not a ride issue. Have you seen any mention of a WCB for 2017? EDIT: Not this year

^Can we ban this illiterate idiot please?

Glad to hear you made it on Lightning Rod! It's awesome that you've made it on pretty much all the RMC's (minus the yawn-fest that is Joker at SFDK)! That being said, what happened with the ride op situation, I agree, is inexcusable. I'm sorry to everyone affected by that, as it just sounds like superstitious idiocy in terms of policy. I'll be watching with interest at how the tour continues! Best wishes to all.

Nope, but I'll bet we spend the next 10 pages trying This looks like a job for... ARMCHAIR ENGINEER ENTHUSIAST MAN! *westcoasterking shows up* Yep, he's here.

Exactly! How dare any lawmaker, let alone governor, be so callous regarding such a horrific incident!?

^Well, now with that mystery solved, we can go about our business in forgetting that scrap of a ride ever existed at a park like Knott's. Am I right?

I, obviously, enjoyed Patriot more than Vortex. It's a great improvement, and is basically a mini Medusa (SFDK) in many ways. I think it will be a huge hit with the local populace and is a great ride for those looking for a relatively tame roller coaster that goes upside-down. The transitions still have some whip, and the corkscrew has a lot of force (I personally love it), but it overall rides very smoothly. There are few things better than taking an unridable ride and turning it into something re-ridable, and fun. I rode it no less than six times, with no pain whatsoever. Thank you to Great America for this welcomed change, and for last night's awesome pass holder event, this park is definitely going uphill. Pretty Patriot

On a serious note: I went on Gold Striker for the first time this past Saturday and was absolutely blown away. You people who live near this park are lucky to live near the best wooden coaster in the state. Oh, and the event was amazing. I shall return soon!

Because MATT OUIMET is in charge!

At the park right now. Say, why do they play Frozen at a Cedar Fair park?

Boldikus, I wasn't trying to call you out. You'll notice I said its up to you, the original poster, as to how we're defining this "hyper" terminology. In other words: what I said doesn't matter. I apologize that it came off the wrong way. Mea Culpa. Anyways, this required some digging to evaluate all of my hypers: 1. SkyRush 2. Goliath SFOG 3. Nitro 4. Magnum 5. Raging Bull 6. Apollo's Chariot 7. Intimidator 8. Goliath SFMM I must have ridden AC on a bad day, given that virtually everyone else ranks it higher. But until then, I don't find that hyper too memorable. It was fun, but nothing I haven't seen before.

The standard definition of a hyper coaster is a roller coaster with a height and/or drop of or over 200 feet. This is per Robert Coker's Roller Coaster and frankly, I have yet to see a more logical definition. Whatever this thread wants to do it up to the original poster, but know the aforementioned definition is, at least, validated by being in writing somewhere that isn't wikipedia.

How about not turning this into a heated political discussion?

^You would hope they're planning on pulling a SFMM and just adding multiple major attractions in one year and advertising it extensively just like Magic did in 2011 with GL, S:EFK, and their Roller Skater. They would have to do that, or risk being one step behind the game once again, even if they did add one major attraction. By the way, if Great America did this, I would never feel a need to buy a SF season pass again for as long as I'm in NorCal.

^I would say that, but I disagree with the implication of a ride like The Joker being superior to a B&M Hyper. I would take Raging Bull over The Joker any day. Even though Joker has that amazing first drop, I find the the rest of the ride to be ... whatever. I know I'm going to get eaten alive for saying this, but with TC around, I just have a hard time really enjoying Joker, despite not really expecting it to be better to begin with. It just really looses its speed after those first two hills. Yes, I do believe that CGA would unequivocally become the better park with the addition of a B&M Hyper (don't hate, even the lame ones are still pretty awesome.) Although I would also like to see CGA compete with SFDK by adding a Star Flyer like Valleyfair and something to compete with Wonder Woman: Lasso of Truth. Even with Gold Striker, CGA still has a ways to go. It's going to take some effort to do so, but I'm sure they'll be able to do outdo SFDK (eventually).

In reaction to the plan documents: Good! We need a good hyper coaster in this state that isn't a let down (Goliath waves ashamedly). If this went through, we'd have the tallest full circuit ride in the state, which is just what Great America needs: a real record holder.

Kong is so much better now with the yellow train. 7/10 would recommend

I presume coasterbill is on his way to silence you at once.

For the record, I'm just stating my two cents on what I observed a long time ago. I'm not saying it's relevant. If nothing else, I'm agreeing with what coasterbill has said.

I feel like that disclaimer was put there specifically for me but I know what you mean, I'm picking up what you're putting down. It's great when parks are in touch with their fanbase and I think Cedar Point does a great job with this, but they realize that this is still a tiny part of the market whereas enthusiasts themselves take any attention that the parks give them and let it go to their heads until they think that they make up a huge percentage of annual attendance and are somehow better than everyone else ("the gp"). One of the reasons I took a hiatus from coaster enthusiasm for a relatively long time was I couldn't stand the "I'm better than everyone else" rhetoric purported by some of the enthusiast population. It just really got to me. It is also a form of misanthropic boulder dash when people suggest that "all people are stupid except for the minuscule community that I happen to be apart of because we're "smarter." I'm an engineering student, we're supposed to be the kings of that kind of pretentious rhetoric supposedly, yet I see no point to it whatsoever. (Yeah, go ahead, make fun of me because I'm an engineer.) Point is: If you think you're better than everyone else because you know a little bit more than everyone else about a certain machine, find a new hobby. This isn't for you. I'm glad to see most people on here get that now. But back in 2011/2012, that kind of "GP is so stupid and we should make fun of them endlessly" logic was way too prevalent.

^I remember Maverick being silky smooth so I don't know what you're talking about. I'll give it to you the Millennium Force can rattle in some places, but it's still incredible and smooth. Interesting observations.

I meant to post this way back but never did. Excuse my tardiness. Agreed... it's a terrible idea. Then again if it goes to California's Great America in the spot where Tidal Wace once was, I'm totally cool with it. Agreed, Bill. We need a good Schwarzkopf back in NorCal. To add to the present conversation, I think a repaint of Silver Bullet from its original colors is overdue and shouldn't have been neglected in 2014 when it was apparently repainted the exact same as it is now. I don't have a problem with the looks of the other coasters, however, such as Pony Express. I think at least an effort was made to conserve the general color scheme of the area. It's not great, but it could be worse.