GayCoasterGuy

No more confident about one breaking on El Toro, Top Thrill Dragster, Banshee (think about all that weight hanging from those top wheels) or Skyrush. My statement was more about the difference you feel on a "classic" style coaster where you (and the train) leave the track and a modern Intamin or B&M machine. If you are used to the newer rides, a wild coaster like Cyclops does feel very dangerous. It's sort of like riding a Looping Starship, then getting on a good old Skydiver or Zipper. The Starship is a good fun ride, but the older rides more of crazy/free ride, where you move around more. Of course, I get that some people are fearful of the maintenance there (as I am too!). But I think the reaction is usually do to the dynamics of such a wild ride that still has buzz bars. When I worked on the Cedar Point Blue Streak (with buzz bars), we had an occasional guest get off the ride, proclaiming that something was very wrong - that the train was leaving the tracks and the grab bars were loose. Most of the old PTC buzz bars are loose.

Cyclops is fine*. This is your reaction to a wild roller coaster having grown up with super tight seat belts, lap bars and B&M. No offense, just sayin. *Not to confuse that with the fact the park is poorly run and maintained. You have a seatbelt and lapbar on Cyclops. Both will not going to fail at the same time.

I remember Legend is still my favorite in the park. The variety built into the design in some of the best. I just didn't get my pre-lift section (not a complaint).

Forces (G's) are the forces you feel, regardless of whether you leave the seat or not. Airtime is a loose term for negative G's, but some of us define them different now because rides are built different now. You're body does move upward, but there isn't much "real airtime" when you are strapped tightly to your seat. Until the debut of the PTC ratchet bar (Thunder Run at Kentucky Kingdom, I think), airtime was always the type where you popped out of your seat (but were held in the car safely by a higher restraint). There was never any stapling before that; restraints usually only went so far down. Now we have rides were you must be stapled in for safety (Skyrush, El Toro, etc.). It's a good thing that we have those great rides, but the trade off is you have to be one with the seat. We also have plenty of coasters where you dont need to be stapled in, but are due to the newer restraints (I'm primarily thinking about the PTC ratchet bars, as well as the retractable locking seatbelts that Cedar Fair loves on their woodies. Those seat dividers restrict movement, too. But that is more about lateral forces.) They're still good rides, it's just that some of us like to differentiate between the two types of airtime (or uplift force and airtime; we're not debating that the G's basically stay the same). Some people prefer to get that bounce out of the seat; some people don't care. It's all good.

Very well said To me, there is a clear difference between "uplift forces/negative G's" and "airtime." Both are nice, but airtime rules. It's a trade off with some new coasters. You get super intense rip your face off rides like I-305, El Toro and Skyrush, but you basically have to staple people to the seat for safety. All great rides for what they do. And then there's Cyclops.

If I'm at a Six Flags or Cedar Fair park, I do my best to leave the park to eat. It's just not worth it to me anymore. A friend talked me into the SFGAm dining pass (again!) last year and I used it twice. There - they made their money off me. It's not so much that the food was bad (which it was), it was the hour long/disorganized lines to get it. Cold fries, etc. bah! But at a place like Knoebels, the food is an attraction in itself! Good prices, too. Granted, it's not gourmet top of the line stuff, but it's good quality comfort food as far as parks go. And then there's that crazy huge black forest chocolate cake (is that what it's called?) at Busch Gardens Williamsburgh. That's almost worth the trip alone!

Great pictures! Sure was a cold morning, but more than worth it. We're lucky coaster nerds!

Flying Turns Now that they know the design works well... would be perfect for Lagoon, a perfect family ride.

Woohoo! The last pieces always go up quick Looking good:

^I guess it has to be entertaining! I love South Park, and it has every kind of inappropriate. The thing that bothers me is that people are starting to act/talk like that in real life, to real people.

No matter when the ride opens, Great America will have a top 10 ride and Cedar Point won't. tee hee (Don't take me too seriously. Don't take polls too seriously.)

Here you go. 1979. I keep hoping someone finds a video where the Beast runs at near it's full capacity. The 1979 video of the ride just barely making it around, weeks before it was broken in, is not a good comparison. That video pops up every single time the discussion of the Beasts speed comes up. Anyone who ever got a breakless or near breakless ride will know what I'm talking about. I had 2 or 3 of them in the 80s, and it definitely did scare the wits outta me. People will keep arguing though... until such a video pops up. I'm sure one exists on some worn out vhs somewhere. When you see a clip where the back of the train passes the phonebooth on the 2nd lift, you have found that video.

Agreed! I find a lot of people and groups take the word gay and ... well, it's sometimes an embarrassment. I'm coming to terms with it; there is a place and purpose for all that, I just don't understand it fully. At the end of the day I don't have to understand it, but at the same time I don't have to be a part of it. There are reasons for the "acting-out" of our brethren in all it's forms; comes with the territory. I figure I can represent myself with the word Gay how I like. So I do now It doesn't have to be about my body, my sexual preferences or gossip. It can be about coasters and a simple healthy sense of what I consider pride/self-acceptance. "Hey, we're everywhere... don't panic... no big deal." I have a thing for re-appropriating words.

Great new video Robb! So awesome you got the visual of the other train going down the drops... Reminds me of the early morning "walk back" rides I took on Beast years ago. Anyone remember Ruth Voss?

The thing I'm gonna miss is the big Holiday World sign atop the ride. I wonder if they will reuse that somewhere else. The lift was nifty, too!

If it was in Europe, it would have a pre-lift section, tunnels, trenches and fly-bys (oh, and lots of trees. Just sayin'...)

^And because of people like that, we still have rides like this: Sometimes, things can happen. It's not like people are threatening or talking down to the park. Also, this one is a favorite among fans: There is nothing wrong with stating you would like a ride to be saved, etc. If you like something, let them know. If you don't like something, let them know. It's not telling the park what they should or shouldn't do, it's telling them that you love something and would like it to stay. It's good that people use words and communication to say how they feel. More people should do that. In a polite way, of course. Personally, I'm neutral on PP/Giraffica leaving. It was fun for a ride once a visit, but not much more. That lift was creepy (good creepy).

A launched steel coaster from Mack (see Helix at Liseberg!) named Wild Turkey hehe

^My coaster nerd self would like a retro, Schwarzkopf-inspired looper from Gerstlauer. They work out of the old Schwarzkopf factory and rumor is they have all the old plans. Plus, they build new retro trains (sooperdooperLooper). Think about how perfect those Anton rides are ... comfy, but you still get air/lateral time; low height requirement (42" - perfect for Holiday World!), not intense (except for a split second here and there), family friendly, coaster nerd friendly, etc. A few years ago, rumor was they park wanted a looping steel coaster in the future, with 3 requirements: (1) has a launch (2) lap bar only restraints (3) low height requirement Maybe Gerstlauer can supply a nice fresh one of these:

^They are very nice rides, but isn't the United States plenty saturated with them? I vote for something unique

^No... I think Mind Bender will be at SFOG for a very long time. I'm sure Holiday World would want a brand new ride. I was using those coasters because they are great rides, most of the family can ride/not too intense. They also have personality, uniqueness and that sort of thing.

The park needs (and reportedly wants) a looping coaster. They also need a family coaster. I have an idea or two... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ida3FgIcB6E or -

It's always great to meet new friends/acquaintances (from all coaster clubs!) yesterday at KI! When my first ride (front seat, I got lucky) on Banshee was over, It felt like my face was covered in frozen tears and snot. The day warmed up later; nice souvenirs, food and Banshee ice cream! But I had to skip out on the ice cream and leave an hour early... I had the bright idea of riding Delirium and that did me in (not enough sleep!) I'm really liking my new Banshee paper weight! They were giving these out, very nice!

What a great after midnight snapshot of Goliath! It looks so peaceful in the snow

Draw it up and/or build a model and show it to them (directly) It's a great idea!