GayCoasterGuy

Oh god please no! Those are the worst!!! I can barely breath by the end of the ride. I guess they could be comfy for someone who is 5 foot, I dunno. Every time I've ridden X-Flight, I just think how fun it would be with out that awful stretchy-vest. It would be similar to Dare Devil Dive with out them, which would be just right.

There is no comparison between a lap bar and an OTSR of any type, for me. I can't think of one OTSR coaster that wouldn't benefit comfort-wise from switching to just a lap bar. With rides like Dare Devil Dive at SFOG where you get serious "hang time," there is no reason to NOT go with a lap bar. The new Vekoma 'vest' things are worse than the original shoulder bars. You don't head bang, but you get held BACK and DOWN and will endure every bad vibration and transition of those rides. Imagine how worse it will be when those new trains wear out. The back pack restraints on I-305 hold me back and down and all that 'gear' blocks my view. I can't help but think what a GREAT ride Maverick would be with lap bars. Of course, I always get pelted with "I think Maverick's restraints are just fine." Can you say kool-aid? In many of the Maverick pictures I've seen - you can see people actively defending themselves against those OTSRs. I think (*thankfully*) with Gerstlauer, Mack, Premier and Rocky Mountain, the industry is finally seeing that we really have no need for shoulder bars on a coaster. And on the coasters that have forward/down forces entering the loop, that is more of a "where to hold on" issue:

^Has the whole world lost it's head? Or is it just me? I guess I don't know all the details since I wasn't there... but come on.. We left at park close. Would have liked to stay for "Out in the park" but times are tough and that $45 is needed elsewhere! I wonder if the organizers would consider giving a discount to season pass holders next year? I'm not sure how those private events usually work. But even if they let in an additional 2,000 season pass holders at a discounted rate (for example) there would still be big profits and no lines. I heard it rained until 10:30; the ride ops got everything up fast and a great time was had - for those who waited the rain out.

I was reading through this thread and this popped up - at the same time "Hero Worship" came on my iTunes. A themed area to the songs of the B-52s. There's enough to pick from, that's for sure. It's kinda funny how people are seeing Snoopy in the moon! I see cookie!

^You bet! The one and only. Running better than ever tonight!

Ah yes! We were just discussing The Beast in the old days on another forum. Someone described it as "Mister Hyde" when you raced through the shed and the brakes didn't touch. The first time I got one of those rides, it scared the living crap out of me. It was literally frightening. The train felt like it was going to rip from the track. Beast rides after that for me were tainted with the thought of "is this going to be another low-to-no brake ride?" I got a couple more "Mister Hyde" rides over the next few years, but the chance of that seemed to stop (in my experience) in the early 90s. We would go down to KI when we worked at Cedar Point, and that's when I (very sadly) lost interest in the Beast. Looking back, it's legacy had already been firmly established, so "the legend lives on." Isn't that about when the clamp brakes were installed - the early 90s? Back then, you could brag about your Beast ride to other geeks, telling them which car made it past the "phone booth" on the wnd lift before engaging the train.

Just ended the night at Great America with 5 rides on American Eagle (red).

A thing of beauty from the SFGAm fb page: Railings and safety during construction? We don't need no stinkin' safety! I'll be riding this tomorrow for sure! It's been over 2 weeks now, I'm going into coaster withdrawls.

Even with my degree in ME, I am completely confused and clueless at this point. But I will say this blinking graphic is GREAT. I could look at this all night! It's so purty! Attempting to get back on topic (anyone wanna ride bikes?), I'm curious to the difference in the system MACK uses on blue fire Megacoaster. Supposedly the energy absorbed at the final brakes is re-used. How much and do any of our US *magnet* coasters do that? Anyone know how much it costs to fire a train on one of these mag-launch coasters? Hrm.. now my brain is spinning. I wonder how much a standard lift hill costs. Maybe new topic time. Or bed time. Or time to ride bikes

^That announcement rocks! I announced on the Blue Streak lift (didn't stop it - we couldn't "stop" the ride back then with out an official "shutdown") to someone that was throwing garbage out - "please do not throw garbage from the ride" or something like that. A while later, my lead came to me and told me someone in park op heard my announcement when driving on Perimeter Road and I was NOT to say stuff "like that" again. I'm glad to see a little more relaxed view on spiels these days. I was surprised with the ride op's improv when waiting to get on Top Thrill Dragster. He really kept everyone entertained. It used to be very anything goes on coasters. People took their stuffed animals, cameras, bags, etc.. I remember riding the Kings Island coasters with my back pack on the floor of the coasters. At some point things changed. Maybe something in the water. Is it just me or did peeps used to have a little more common sense and were better at following rules and just basic common sense? It's definitely a "big corporate park" issue.

I dunno but I hope for only lap bars! The Mindbender at West Edmonton Mall has seat belts and accordions, but what's interesting (in a good way) to me is the modified lap bars and mounted grab bar. The lap bars have an additional bar a couple inches higher and the car-mounted grab bar is a little more forward than it was originally. This is good for encouraging riders to sit back since they have more stuff to grab on to that is closer to the body - especially for shorter riders. Using these more accommodating "grab bars" would be a great compromise on *ANY* Anton looper (I won't mention *that* one again) and alleviate the problems with heads going down/forward entering loops and such, without using any sort of over the shoulder anything (shoulder bars, accordions, straps).

The Beast (with skidbrakes) in the rain and snow, April 1, 1989; The Beast 10th anniversary party. The only time I ever rode a coaster in the snow. It was cold and wet as heck - I remember not being able to feel my feet at one point. But as a 15 yo coaster geek who didn't get to ride coasters too often, it was a day in paradise for me!

When I worked at SFOT in 1995, I would go to the Villiage for 80s music on Sunday nights (funny it was only the 90s so it wasn't that old!) I didn't have concern myself, but I was told several times "make sure you RUN back to your car" and creepy stuff like that. Never had a problem, but it's a shame that others have. Sometimes I can't fathom why people do the things they do. But I know that karma is a funny thing. Ok coasters now Ahhh... the time I sat up on the Texas Giant's mid course brake for an hour.... It was still a very good ride, then. The double-up was still in place; but the wicked curved going into the helix was long gone and brakes had been added as well. I still have the ride manuals for that and the Judge packed away with more coaster stuff somewhere.

OMG why? full of right-wing hatemongers (well, cept for Austin ), and more importantly, it's SO FREAKING HOT! seriously, our Theme Park trips always are fairly short ones, since the heat just wipes you out! There is some truth to that, but having spent the summer of '95 (lightyears ago!) as an intern at SFOT, I really enjoyed Texas. I find that many of those people that are ... what's the proper word... "uninformed," are actually quite nice and ready to talk when they are one-on-one. It's also about our approach. If we call them names like haters, etc, we are doing to them what they do to us. You know what happens when people get in groups; monkey see/monkey doo. And unfortunately, that's how politics works, too. "They just don't know any better." Remember, people used to think the Earth was flat, and people who said opposite were put to death. I haven't been to Texas in many years, but it has quickly come back on my radar as a fine "coaster central" state. I can't wait to get back! Even if I don't like what's been added since I was last there (which I'm sure will NOT happen), I always have Shockwave to fall back on!

I'm also about 6'1" and I was notified in advance to sit in the correct seats on Skyrocket at Kennywood. By the time I got there, the park already had signs making sure to tell folks to NOT sit in those 2 seats if you were tall. Perhaps the newer trains have been modified to alleviate that problem? I really like Skyrocket and it's trains. The older Premier coasters (although I was *crazy* about Chiller when it had the lap bars AND the spiral-flip things) really <> you down in the that seat. Maybe those older trains/lap bars are more comfortable for shorter riders? Either way, those are still fun rides, but I much preferred the newer generation trains on Skyrocket. But I haven't been on the Superman in Vallejo - were the trains further modified for that?

It's making big news even here in Chicago that NJ will be the world's biggest theme park, now Even the clueless neighbors and my parents have brought it to my attention. Six Flags will take it if they can, and run with it. But ... I guess that's what they do. It *WILL* sell more tickets for them, period. Kinda like Great America being the "cleanest theme park in the world" and Hurricane Harbor being the "best water park in the country!" Of course, that potentially opens up a whole discussion on ratings lists, favorites, Golden Tickets, etc, etc, etc...

Guess I won't finally be sitting down to watch the "Glow in the Dark Parade" next year. Missed that one. General non-coaster-geek park goers love this sort of thing. I'm sure it will do the park well financially.

This thing looks amazing. I haven't been back to Texas in years. Time to go! What's going on in that tunnel? Kinda looks like riding inside a modified toaster. Whatever it is - it looks great! Going up-side-down with no headrests. That'll be cool too!

I'm thinking the stop and reverse launch and re-launch is going to be very costly. Maybe it's something they can eventually program out. Kinda like V2 at Great America not using the back break anymore (it's burned out anyway). The white/grey and black or grey looks kinda cool. And I bet that is a good choice in terms of not having to repaint as often as more colorful rides.

Sorry I'm late today, but all I can think is "oh wow, it only has lap bars"

I figure everyone has their favorite in the chain. And if your like me, that favorite can change often - sometimes one visit can change my mind! Magic Mountain was my favorite many moons ago. Then SFOG was my favorite. The TKO of an incredible new Georgia Cyclone, Mind Bender, GASM and even a dynamite Mine Train couldn't be beat. I guess I really should say a park is "the best," I should say "it's my current favorite." For years I couldn't understand why everyone talked up Great Adventure so much. I've had some horrendous experiences at that park. Like the time it was so bad I left before noon. But the time Chiller was open with lap bars and the twists, that was so cool! My last visit there was 2006. I've heard glowing reviews since, about how it's all different now and actually a fun park now. I think I love Great America so much because I've re-discovered all the great flat rides we have. 2 log flumes, Anton flat rides, Whizzer, one of the more interesting Arrow coasters, etc. I'm fond of retro stuff... and the Demon, Whizzer and Eagle are very nostalgic to me - so that's a big part. It's currently my favorite park in the chain, I can't really claim it to be the best. Hrm... Colossus and Revolution are nostalgic and sentimental to me too - but look what I have to work with there now

Yeah! Those lap bars rocks. They have special shocks installed so they will never fall. And even when you pull them all the way down, they are only at the level of a buzz bar. I've heard PTC isn't happy with the park over that.

Darn... I thought Bullet had over the shoulder straps, I didn't know the accordions were added. I've heard the accordions on Mindbender don't inch down on you... or is the opposite? Or has it changed over the years? The similar restraints on Wild Hawg at Indiana Beach are a bit "in your way" but they don't come down during the ride, and they're not as bad as full OTSRs.

May I suggest you try the first car on Viper. Preferably seat 3 Late in the day, of course. I think you will be surprised.

^Aw darn. Wish someone would have told you to pick red. It's much better. Smoother and more hills. Red runs like a bat outta hell when those brakes exiting the big helix are OFF. They were off for a few years up until last October. The ride was running so great and fast I was very surprised and sad to see those brakes back on last Fright Fest. The run back (on red side only) was like a mini-voyage. The speed bumps from the helix exit to under the lift had great air time, even in the back of the train. As a friend of mine (who isn't as big a coaster geek as most of us here) recently said "it was getting better and better - what happened?" I have no clue. Maybe budget cuts? The thing about American Eagle is that it's had a VERY up and down history. It was GREAT when it was new and for those first few years. Around the time Shockwave was built (1988) it had deteriorated very badly and brakes were all on full. It was painful bad. Then - they added steel I-beam tracks from the first drop to the top of the big helix. This helped the ride tons... Then - maybe 4 years ago, the rest of the track was considerably *tight* and those brakes coming out of the big helix were off. Before that, I never ever remember them being OFF. Now, the ride isn't as fun. It has so much potential. Except those silly helices at the end of the ride. They were always lame.