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During our Thanksgiving trip to Austin we picked up some regular gas for $2.99 in Brenham TX. Typically it is the low to mid $3 range here in Houston but you can get good deals if you know where to look.

I rode the Iron Shark Eurofighter with its lap bars rather than other EuroFighters with over the shoulder restraints and I greatly prefered it. You don't get headbanging and the shoulder harness and you have more freedom of movement in the train. It was much more comfortable than I expected.

OK well since no one posted a picture:

I haven't been to any large parks with great operations. The majority of Six Flags are alright when it isn't too busy but as more people show up the slower the staff gets. The worst by far was the Rattler at Fiesta Texas. The line was this awkward staircase that was way too small and the operators seemed very impatient.

I'm clueless. A hint please?

I remember seeing something about this on ACE's Facebook page awhile back. It's sad to see another woodie going away. Also, did anyone pick up in the article where it said the Hurricane was Florida's tallest wooden coaster but isn't Gwazi slightly taller? Sucks that this ride couldn't be saved.

The Boarwalk Bullet @ Kemah Boardwalk

Go Gator - MeirLand http://rcdb.com/2391.htm

Ditto.

^ No but same country.

If you look around the showroom pictures you can see several signs that look similar. I interned at a graphic design firm last summer and it takes a couple of minutes to edit the text of a sign and email it off to a local printer that can print small sheets like that. The sign was designed as such but IAAPA was probably told of what was going to happen and they emailed IAAPA's graphic designer who had it printed near them and they could have picked it in a couple of hours.

Since no one has guessed yet I'll give you a hint: It shared something in common with Tsunami @ Isla San Marcos Parque Temático.

Well, if you go back and look at my updated pictures, you can see that Golden Horse stole an entire coaster while Beijing Shibaolai only stole the track type and cars. All of Beijing Shibaolai's inverted coasters are a unique layout that isn't from Vekoma. You can see that below. Besides that and a couple other rides they don't seem to have coped too much. It seems mainly they just make kiddie rides like jungle mouses and then these knock off Vekoma SLCs. Golden Horse has several copies of the SLC (Shenlin w/Helix) model. EDIT: Beijing Jiuhua has one of the Beijing Shibaolai SLC knock offs too but mainly makes Wild Mouses. They clearly knocked off this Zamperla mouse design which is what I'm guessing the lawsuit was for: Zamperla: Beijing Jiuhua:

I wonder if Maurer could sue as well. The Golden Horse spinning coaster cars look very similar to the ones produced by Maurer Shone although I feel it is a bit of a stretch. I do agree that their inverted coasters are direct rip offs of Vekoma SLCs. Vekoma SLC (Shenlin w/Helix): Golden Horse Inverted Coaster:

Excalibur - Valeyfair http://rcdb.com/119.htm You guys seem to love old woodies so here you go:

Formula One - Pattaya Park :/ http://rcdb.com/3436.htm

Beach Coaster - Ocean View Pavilion http://rcdb.com/2891.htm

Now all I'm waiting for is a launched woodie and an inverted one. So cool to see that wooden coaster companies are really pushing the envolope of what is possible with a wooden structure.

My Top 10 Games: 1. ChronoTrigger 2. Mother 3. Persona 4 4. Halo: Combat Evolved 5. The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 6. Half Life 7. Farenheit: Indigo Prophecy 8. Portal 9. Journey 10. Frog Fractions

^You are.

Awesome! Can't wait to see some of the interview footage as well!

Colossus - Habtoorland http://rcdb.com/2612.htm Guess away!

I wish I could go on the trip but I'm visiting half of the Mid-West Trip parks over the summer next year anyways. Don't worry we are all treated equally, except for the portion of the trip where we are held down and forced to watch syfy's original movies. Sharktopus!

To All Ride Companies: What advice do you have for people who wish to get jobs in the amusement rides industry and what college degrees/past experience do you look for when hiring new employees.