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Miler can build some pretty wild rides. Though I haven't been to Knoebels (and never got to ride HSTC ), I'm sure Dick and Co. will not let down their guests. Eric

I haven't been to CGA in nearly ten years, and nothing really is driving me to hurry and get up there anytime soon. Had they built the new GCII woodie, then, sure I'd go. But as much as I despise football and everything that goes along with it, Cedar Fair may as well just dump CGA and let the 49ers have it. There's no room for park expansion anyway. Even back in 1978 when I took my first trip up there, I wondered why they built a theme park in the middle of an industrial complex. Eric

Looks like pre-paying really "Hertz" Sorry, couldn't pass that one up! Whenever I rent a car, I've always just paid upon return. Sounds like it's less expensive. Eric

This is one Six Flags park that I'd like to visit someday. Thanks for the TR and pictures. Eric

^ Yeah, that was my first thought, but just didn't want to miss out just in case we really needed to do anything else. Eric

I got an e-mail today encouraging me to go to a link and register for the West Coast Bash. Last week, I got one confirming that I was already registered. The e-mail in question... Hey everyone! If you are planning to attend West Coast Bash at Six Flags Magic Mountain on Sunday, March 22nd please register ASAP here: http://www.themeparkreview.com/store/index.php?categoryID=9 We have to submit our T-Shirt order TOMORROW (Monday) so the sooner we have all confirmed orders in, the better. Yes, you can still register onsite the day of the event but we will have a limited amount of tickets and T-Shirt sizes. If you want to guarantee you have a ticket and shirt, register online NOW! See you at West Coast Bash 2009! I am confoozed . Please un-confooze me... Eric

"It says you need one of the following, Driver/ID or Season Pass." (Calicoasters) I went back and re-read the sign. Yeah, requiring you to have a season pass would be unfair. Thanks for the correction. My bad... However, if I go to the park alone---as I usually do---I should pick up a Flash Pass just for one. It'd be worth it if the park was exceptionally crowded. Eric

"Genisis was a very inviting hostess." And rather attractive, too. According to the Flash Pass sign, Gold Rusher was available twice? And I noticed that you need both a drivers license and a season pass? So if you don't have a season pass, you can't use Flash Pass? Or did I miss something? Anyway, thanks for the update, William! Terminator is looking great, and it's nice to see its progress. Eric

Notice that the price of the bar is 35p. That's "p" as in "pence." Must be in the UK somewhere, I'd guess London. Of course, it could be "pence"ilvania... Eric

I almost guessed your first trip on Bench--The Ride, but noticed that there are loose articles to your left. That's not allowed---that stuff should have been put in a locker... Eric

Just thought of this...they do pull-throughs for steel coasters. Do they do those or an equivalent for a wooden one? Eric

^ To protect him from harm! Eric

"You'll also notice that the UK passed a law active from 00:01 on 06/03/09 stating that all cars on UK highways but be left hand drive." (TPDave) Is the UK going to switch to driving on the right like most of the rest of the world? Switching to left hand drive, but still driving on the left would be...strange at best---possibly dangerous. Eric

"If that's really her..." Hence the word "if" in my post. We tech writers like to use conditional terms... Anyway, chances are this thing will be thrown out unless somehow proof can be found that the bench did pose a hazard because part of it was loose and/or missing. Eric

^^ If that's really her, then why didn't she just sit on her scooter? That way, two spaces would have been available for others to sit on the bench. No...make that three. She'd need a place to set down her food down. Seriously, I shouldn't judge someone I don't know, but from the picture, she does not look like a pleasant person and has "trouble" written all over her face. Eric

"I think the answer to the falling out may be in the title of your book (I've bolded the potential problem)." (SirClinksalot) Believe it or not, it wasn't the flying saucers. If I recall, it had something to do with Disney accusing Arrow of selling rides to other parks that were developed jointly by Arrow and Disney (like Autopia cars or something). I'll do some more research into this and come back with an answer. Eric

^ This year is also before most spring breaks begin. Daily park operation starts the day after WCB, but I don't see the park getting too crowded till more into April. Being at SFMM for up to 16 hours should guarantee plenty of rides on everything that's open. Plus we have ERT before and after park hours. Eric

^ Is open for a job. < Is also open for a job. V Closed on Sundays!

So now we know the truth: Bench---The Ride is a launched ride... Eric

Sometimes people forget that the Matterhorn is an Arrow Development ride---at least the ride system is. That was their first coaster. Also among Arrow's contributions to Disneyland: Pirates of the Caribbean, the (original) Autopia cars, and some of the Fantasyland rides (can't recall which ones, though). In later years, Disney and Arrow had some sort of falling out. I have the book Roller Coasters, Flumes and Flying Saucers, which about the Arrow Development/Dynamics Corporation. You can probably get it on Amazon. Vekoma built the original track for Space Mountain, as well the ride system for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. I wouldn't call either of those rough. Strangely, I found Rock 'n' Roller Coaster at WDW to be rather rough. At least it was two years ago. Eric

^ Even the Gold Rusher at SFMM has upstop bars instead of wheels. Personally, I'd guess that the size of the cars is an issue, as is getting the bar down. Or maybe a combination of everything. Eric "still has dents in his legs from Timberline Twister's bar" L.

^ Congratulations! Please send some of that "employment dust" my way. Eric

I've been an ACE member for 20 years---and even I make fun of ACE. Like Robb said, it's just about laughing at ourselves. I also make fun of diabetics and Asians---guess who's diabetic and married to an Asian...? However, as is true with any organization, there are the "bad apples" who spoil it for everyone. Some ACEers consider themselves "experts" about theme parks, so the park rules don't apply to them (not true, obviously). Some ACEers have stood up on coasters, taken cameras aboard rides when it's forbidden, etc. Some think they get perks not given to regular park guests just because they belong to ACE and have been known to throw a fit when they didn't get their way. These are the things that bring down the club. Eric

^ I'm interested in how a Six Flags park "pooens." No, wait...I really don't want to know... Eric

Because if you called your mom "Pop," she'd pop you... Why is the rail gauge on North American railroads 56-1/2 inches?