GayCoasterGuy

One of my top "must get to parks." I really need to get one of those job things So... How exactly *awesome* are Jetline and Twister?

Kentucky Kingdom Oh wait... I better get outta here

Waffle House doesn't serve pancakes. Touche'! Very good... I guess I should have said Waffles I'm glad you guize like the pics, so I'll add a few more While I'm at it, might as well add what is probably one of the best coaster postcard shots ever:

American Eagle! AND - you get plenty of time to enjoy it as the trains slow down and nearly stop at the top (which some people complain about - but look at it this way - at least it's something different.) (I know this picture is old and doesn't show the Southwest Territory or the incredible view of the whole park to the right...) The opposite would be I-305. The potentially great view is ruined b/c you are held back and down by those stupid retracting straps - and blocked by the head rest in front of you. (Related note - I know people love that ride, but I just didn't get it. The ride is pure intensity, zero excitement. I got nothing from it. I gave it many tries over a 2 day period - which was easy as it was the shortest line in the park.)

Has anyone actually ridden those? They are horrible. There is no headbanging but it is replaced with you being HELD DOWN and BACK and shaken to hell. I have no clue why some people like them; perhaps less painful in one way, but more painful and restricting in another way. File with the "It's new so it MUST be better" ethic that people seem to fall into. I personally prefer a little head banging to what those new Vekoma "vest" trains have to offer. I've ridden them on at least 3 different coasters and ... Uck

The ride is blocked for 4 trains, actually. As QueerRudie previously mentioned, those Anton coasters were built for 5 trains each. Revolution ran 5 (that I definitely know of) but actually had 6 until at least the 80s. There is more than enough time on Mind Bender for 3 to operate - but NOT how the ride (or most rides at most big parks - especially Six Flags parks) is operated. Remember the days when people took their bags, stuffed animals, etc., on rides. No air gates. Ride operators rarely touched a lap bar back then... Only after the 1987 incident at Great Adventure did lap bars have to be checked physically by ride ops. Before then, It was very rarely more than a visual check. Ride operations (I am not complaining, I am stating a very clear fact) are probably 50% as efficient as they used to be - even into the 80s. Trains stack at Six Flags Over Georgia faster than pancakes at the Waffle House across the street. "It is what it is." Playing the "Six Flags does the best they can"/Devil's Advocate - 2 trains are just fine for Mind Bender. But the operation is still poor efficiency-wise on a busy day. Six Flags now capitalizes off said inefficiency with "Flash Pass."

Shockwave was the first (1988) and the fastest/roughest and had the harshest transitions. GASM was the second (1989) and had a slightly slower/less rough layout and somewhat smoother transitions (especially the wicked curve into the block break). Viper was the third and last (1990). Although still quite fast and a bit rough, much of what was wrong with the first 2 was ironed out with Viper. The bottom of Viper's first drop was also completely re-done after a few years (if someone could dig for comparison photos, that would be nice). The drop originally had a lateral *snapping* motion near the bottom. Basically, Viper - the "Cinderella" of the three - was built with a reduced number of high stress points compared to the first 2 "Evil step sisters." This translates to lower maintenance on structure, track and trains especially. But I do have a feeling it will be torn down long before Revolution and Colossus. But those are movie stars/more historic... and I've heard rumors that both of those coasters will soon "return to glory." Let's hope

Got it. Looks like someone has already done the dirty work, so I don't need to do it now: http://whispers.smugmug.com/Travel/Six-Flags-and-Paramount-A/799228_kq5mn/2#!i=35522785&k=FH2HH There are also pictures out there of the California Demon's drop before it was neutered.... it would be nice to have before/after/before pics of all (including TOC) but that'll have to wait until later. California Demon's neutered drop: Illinois Demon's killer drop:

Yes, but it will take me a while to get the pictures up. I'm sure a coaster geek somewhere could beat me to the punch. Both Demon coasters had a good *snap* going over, right before the pull-out. They were steepened from 45 degrees as the Turn of the Century to 55 degrees as the Demon. (By steepened, I don't mean they were re-profiled like a woodie, all new track was put in; I know I have to be specific around here...) In the 90s California's Great America (then owned by Paramount?) decided the drop was too much and had new track put in - very similar to how it was for Turn of the Century. (On a related note - the California Demon also lost it's loop "rocks" and all it's 2nd tunnel lights; Demon Gurnee still has all it's rocks and the only the lights on the top of the 2nd tunnel have been removed (kids used to brake them by throwing rocks straight up when the train rode through the tunnel). Also, the California Demon runs with old Arrow trains and is "cool enough" to have kept it's old 3D Demon logo on the front of each train.. Demon Gurnee had a lame logo for years, but now has the original Demon logo (slightly updated) in sticker form on each train front.)

I'm so glad to hear the park has invested in the Cyclone. Even if it's not 'traditional woodie' track, I'm all for whatever makes it a better ride. The last 2 times I was there (2011, 2007) it was awful. I mean, had to "hold myself up out of the seat to prevent injury" awful. Not to mention so slow that the train was falling "inward" on each curve. Mmmm... a brand new 1990 Georgia Cyclone. I ranked at number 2 between Timberwolf and Texas Giant in my "top 10." (You know your a coaster geek when you have a "top 10.") Those 3 woodies were incredible when they were new but deteriorated and were neutered very quickly; the Six Flags models had brakes within the first 2 weeks of operation and track re-profiling within the first 2 years. I'm very lucky to have experienced them new. *If I could only go back in time and knew just how darn good I had it!* Look at the *snap* at the top of this drop. From the new pictures I have seen, it looks like Rocky Mountain has tried to re-create this killer drop; it was neutered to a more parabolic shape around 92 or 93 (The Texas Cyclone had a similar re-profile in the late 80s): This 6th drop (the "Post Turn" on the Texas Cyclone) was probably the most deadly part of the ride. It was leveled out within a couple years: This dip was later removed in favor of more braking space, which the ride really did need: One of my favorite coasters - #1 steel coaster for me, hands down: I don't care how cheezy/70s this sign loops, I still love it - I also had the shirt and magnet, and pretty much anything with Mind Bender on it: See, Mind Bender *really did* run 3 trains. They were originally all grey/silver with a rainbow stripe, but later received a metallic tan paint job - then a different color stripe for each train - Red, Orange and Yellow. I showed these pictures to a friend a while back after finally scanning them in - we had argued that the ride never ran 3 trains. So I showed him this and he was still like "well.. I haven't decided if that red train is really red... it maybe the orange train in bad lighting..." haha! So I'm not here to prove anything, I learned that: In this picture, you can see the Mind Bender viewing deck that was off the parking lot:

I'll go 50/50 on that one. I figure we're at the point where the parks are nearly saturated with coasters, and spiffing up old stuff may be a good option. I guess they already have done that with Texas Giant, started it on Georgia Cyclone, and rumor is Rattler at Fiesta Texas is next

You only have to be 42" to ride Demon at Great America, Gurnee. Even with the killer 1st drop (that has been neutered on the California version). I think Shockwave and GASM were put to sleep because of their low ridership and maintenance bills. Remember, all 3 Arrow mega/7 loopers had to have extra bracing added to the 3 vertical loops just a couple years after they opened. I've heard that Shockwave maintenance crews were always attending to cracks in track/structure and even foundations. An interesting thing about Shockwave was that is had one of the highest (if not THEE highest) capacity in the park but the lowest ridership. The future of (some) old Arrow coasters will hopefully look something like a combination or another form of this (and I've heard a few people mention that Gravity Group (yes the woodies company) is capable of building them new lap bar trains; I think S&S El Loco/Steel Hawg/Screamin' Swing lap bars would work, too):

Did you get a chance to let the park know/fill out form at Guest Relations? Every little bit helps. Great report! Did you get back to sooperdooperLooper? I'm real curious to hear reports with the new trains/rehab.

That is not a Vekoma train. It does look nice, huh!? Lap bars might need a good layer of padding, but still... imagine the relative comfort and "free" feeling they probably provide. AND you can finally *really* put your hands up, now

This place looks incredible I really want to get to this park. I was born on Chapman Avenue a couple miles away from Disneyland, but have never actually been to the park (raised in Chicago).

I'm surprised so many people rave about the new Vekoma vest restraints. There is no head banging, but instead you get HELD BACK and DOWN and get the beejeesus shook outta you! It's simply a trade-off; which pain do you prefer? I feel the bumps and jerks much more with this design. Sometimes people think "well.. its NEW so it MUST be best/better" (same thing with really BIG coasters). I think this is a better solution:

I assume from hearing your experience that you missed out on the very front seat of American Eagle. I *really* wish you could go back and do that. From the top of the lift until the highway helix is one of the most exhilarating experiences in all of coasterdom. Unfortunately, the park often only operated one side if it's not too busy. Racing really adds to the ride. Red side has 2 more hills than blue. Other than the worn look of the peeling paint, the ride is running better than it has in years. But it's still very rough in other seats - especially the helices. All that extra seat belt stuff is a Cedar Fair thing. Recent too. I couldn't believe Gemini had seat belts after so many years. For alternating years, either American Eagle or Viper did NOT have seat belts. Some years one did while the other didn't. A couple years, neither had seat belts. It was a cool attempt by Great America to try to increase capacity (while surely paying a higher insurance premium.) Now with *flash pass* doing such things could hurt their pay-to-cut profits.... That's good to hear. I "came out" when I worked at Cedar Point through 1991-93. There were tons of LGBT folks there, but at the same time, the park clientele always seemed very ... "young republican" heavy. (Nothing against republicans, the generalization is just from my personal experiences.) Did you miss Viper!?? If so, you missed out on one of the best woodies in the chain. Very smooth and mondo airtime in the front; forceful curves, too.

Exactly! I think part of it is the anticipation. You have plenty of time to look around, see how high you are, and how far you have to go down. And you can't see the bottom until you are nearly there. That whole first run is one the funnest and most epic runs in all of coasterdom... You can really feel the acceleration all the way through the first speed bump; and the 2nd speed bump is even more powerful. Front seat is never to be missed. (but that's all over as soon as you hit that big helix) Couldn't agree with you more. I had the plans in my head for the perfect "Phantom's Revenge" redo for Shockwave. Too bad Six Flags doesn't like to think outside the box much. Could have been really something As for Superman - the lift and loop are nice, but the rest is a complete waste of time. Shockwave was *great* once you learned how to ride it (I know, you shouldn't have to *learn* how to ride a coaster to prevent injury.. but it was so much better than what's there now.)

And some more In 1986 (or maybe 85?) Great America decided to paint the American Eagle's trains similar to the trains on the Great American Scream Machine at Six Flags Over Georgia (blue lead car, the rest all red with 2 white stripes). Also note this train sitting in transfer; this was when they had 3 trains on each side: I can see this ride every time I go by Batman: Before the extra supports were added to the loop tops (same as Viper at SFMM and Great American Scream Machine at SFGAd): Remains of the "The Edge" pen. The car still goes up and down: This is the American Eagle after they installed the I-Beam steel tracks; you can see the steel tracks start here - where the track ties turn blue. The top 2 layers are still wood with a running rail - but the rest is steel - including the track ties and catwalks. I think soon after this, Colossus at SFMM started getting steel I-Beam tracks, and the first drop on Texas Giant opened with the I-Beams in 1990. This drop is very unique; instead of a quick break-over like most every other "big coaster" built after, the Eagle's drop apex has a very large radius. So it keeps getting steeper and steeper while speeding up. The trains still almost stop at the top; this may be done for a different reason (when the ride opened, the trains were "lined up" before the drop with the help of odd looking side friction brakes which are gone now) but the large apex and stop at top really adds to the thrill. It's not ejector air at all.. rather, its a slow float out and the train gets steeper and faster, gradually. It's such a great, underrated drop. I wish Gravity Group would build a drop like this. The "quick break over" is nice, too - but all too typical these days. This drop never fails: Here are the one of kind side friction brakes I was talking about (they were removed years ago) This is also a great view of the 20 foot ditch the first drop goes into. Also note, the bottom of this drop now has wooden supports over/across to add support to the adjacent return hills: Shockwave after the vertical loops were reinforced (on a related note, around this time all 3 Arrow mega loopers were fitted with trim brakes immediately following the first loop. Viper at SFMM and Great American Scream Machine at SFGAdventure received the full installation, but Shockwave only got the brackets and electrical work - the actual brake was never installed on Shockwave!): A great view from the ground, or from the ride: Eagle at sundown: And finally, Whizzer as "Swamp Thing" a couple years ago (what a great haunt name for the ride - why did they change it to "Reactor Core" last year?) Speaking of Whizzer, after 32 years of visiting the park, this ride probably has the highest return on investment (for me), in terms of *FUN* the park has ever known:

^I'm sorry That makes sense, though.

Here are some old pics I have scanned in from the 1980s: 1990s Some of my favorites include what's left of my "The Edge" pen and a postcard cut out displaying the original operation of Demon with 3 trains... my my have times changed. The Iron Wolf sticky pad reminds me how GREAT, smooth, wild and fun the ride once was. Guess the ole' girl didn't age well. I hope she's doing better in Maryland. I have a bunch of other stuff to post as well; old postcards, promo sheets, pictures, maps, etc. but it's gonna take some time. Hope you guys n girls enjoy (Oh yeah.. even though Demon is running extra rough this year, it's still more *fun* than it's new neighbor, X-Flight. What do you think?)

Rip it Out by Ace Frehley

Dare Devil Dive, hands down. Simply put - having lap bars instead of shoulder restraints increases comfort immeasurably. Put those bad boys on the other Eurofighters, and they would all pretty much RHAAK

"Needles & Pins" by the Ramones Am I really posting this? *must get life*

Hello everyone! As I'm hanging out here (I did years ago) again, figured I would say hi. I've met a few of you in the past and hope to meet more. You can never have more "coaster geek friends." I started a fb page dedicated to old park pics, souvenirs, etc. so figured this might be a good place to share it https://www.facebook.com/GayCoasterGuy I'll probably lay low as I learn the protocols, rules and trends of this forum. I've already posted a couple things in the wrong spot (sorry guys!)