Generational

The one you are thinking of is Tomahawk in Crack Axle Canyon, if I am not mistaken.

^^ Fair point. It's a shame really, especially since the park could really benefit from classic flats. I remember when they had a damn Ferris Wheel (I think where they now have ErUPtion and the occassional stage show) and it really feels barren, especially if you are meandering from one quote unquote "signature ride." I rode all of the flats you mentioned at least at one point and remember each experience distinctly. Do you know if they still have Kontiki, the kind of Matterhorn flat? That one is dreadfully easy to miss as it is tucked away. (Actually, the only full front view I can think of is from the exit pool of Tornado).

^ I think the overall games industry has started to spear head that mentality for a while now. A name sells, and unfortunately, most people are in it for the money. Take for example the Call of Duty Series. The gap between games for the first two was about three years. Since then, due to the fact that it has become a Triple A title, the overlay between games is less than a year, with marginal differences. The same thing is happening with Assassin's Creed. Atari was sitting on an IP that hadn't been touched in years, so rather than create a new one, slap the old name on it, and it'll sell, or at least, that's the mentality behind it.

I would love to pull some strings and make it down to SFGA this season. Being from upper New England doesn't help anything, but I would love to get to ride KK and ET again, and try ZDOD. It might be a pipe dream, but I am going to see what I can do.

Almost everything having to do with Coney Island. Granted, it is one of my favorite places just because of the whole atmosphere, but my brother and I went on the Fire Ball (Ring of Fire, basically the looped coaster the operator operates under his own free will). We were one of the only people on it, and the man operating it was an absolute asshole. He held the train upside down for what felt like an eternity, and I could feel the restraint slipping, as if it wasn't even locked. I told my brother to just hold on, because he was going through the same thing. The guy finally let the train finish the loop, and we asked to get off as soon as possible. Never looked at the ride the same way again. Also, the Cyclone feels like it's a microbe's sneeze away from imploding in on itself. Also, the Yankee Cannonball at Canobie Lake Park. I was about 8 and threw my hands up during an airtime section, and I swear to this day, that if I didn't grab the lab bar (which was flimsily rattling around) I think I might have slipped out.

In all honesty, I think they should fill the Twister spot with another flat, because as mentioned before, the park is anemic in terms of flats. Also, Flashback needs to go. It's definitely started to run its course. It's been through the product placement phase of its life, and I don't think any amusement park needs two boomerang coasters at once. Fill the Twister spot with a flat, and the Flashback spot with another flat, perhaps one that is intense enough to make up for taking out a coaster.

I went to SFNE a few days ago with a few friends, and we rode Bizarro roughly 5-6 times. Batman once, Goliath 3 times, and the bumper cars like 15 because I couldn't persuade them otherwise. We spent a lot of time in the water park as well, and I am in love with Bonzai Pipelines. Like, normally I'm never nervous to ride anything, but this one gave me the butterflies. It must have either been being closed into a tube, or the floor dropping out, or both, but it was so much fun. One thing that I noticed that, though, is that they have completely forgotten about the special effects on Bizarro. Honestly, the audio never plays, the pyrotechnics never go off, and the scenery now, without the audio, just gets in the way of the ride. I liked it a lot more when it was S:ROS because it felt more raw and organic. It felt like a better experience without the grills and indents ripping hair out your skull every time you put your head near it. Oh, and I went on Kontiki because I completely forgot it was there until I rode Tornado and saw it. It was a good little ride.

Directly west of Deno's there are still 5-6 rides run by independent operators. Saturn 6 a dark ride bumper cars I think the Ring of Fire, Zipper and other fairground type flats used to be where Scream Zone now stands. Damn, that's a shame, actually. The fairground flats gave it a little more character from my point of view. My brother and I went on the Ring of Fire once and the Ride OP held us upside down for at least 15-20 seconds. I thought, for a split second, that calamity would strike. Good times.

I think that she would still be alive with seat belts as well. Either they would have prevented her from falling, or, if it couldn't reach around her, she would have had to take the walk of shame. Both scenarios are viable.

Oh how I love Coney Island. I did the Shoot the Freak a few times a while back, and it was hilarious fun. Do they still have those fairground-esque rides such as Ring of Fire, etc?

Whoever's fault it is (if anyone's for that matter), there will be a gross overreaction by people pressuring the park(s) for stricter regulations on restraints, in an attempt to "right the wrong." I have a feeling a lot of modern woodies such as El Toro, Outlaw Run, and Iron Rattler are going to be scrutinized to no end.

I have TWO that turned out to be an absolute train wreck. 1.Now, don't get me wrong, Bizarro at SFNE (back when it was still S:ROS) is an amazing ride. But I was with my family one time and I decided to go on by myself while they did other things. After about a 50 minute wait on line, I finally was able to ride it. The train makes its way about half-way up the hill and, low and behold, the train slows to a stop. The lift hill failed and now I'm stuck. While normally, they'd be able to get the ride up and running in about 10 minutes, no problem, an hour and a half flew by and they were still attempting to fix it. They had to manually come up and release the lap bars and walk everyone down the side of the hill, and the train stayed there for the rest of the day. It was easily 90+ degrees outside, high noon, with the sun beating down on everyone. I had a sunburn that literally took up most of my face. It was not an enjoyable experience. 2. Waiting to get on El Toro a couple of years ago. The weather reports all day had been predicting rain and down pours, and other means of precipitation. The wait was about 60-70 minutes, and the clouds only got darker. Hoping that the rain would hold off for a few more minutes, my brother and I hopped to the back and waited a few circuits until our ride was up. The rain held off for a few more minutes, just long enough for us to be strapped in and leaving the station. We make the turn to the hill and the clouds open up. It down pours during the entire ride, and down pours at 70+ mph is nothing to scoff at. The entire ride was me covering my face from the rain. It felt like pins and needles. Although, while the experience was bad during, we hit the brake run, and the train erupts into applause. The adrenaline from the coaster and the rain apparently made everyone giddy with excitement. We roll into the station and the Ride OP asks the train the inevitable "How was your ride" and the train, again, bursts into applause, laughter and joy. Easily the worst, and at the same time, one of the best, rides I have ever been on.

But the restraints don't click so the whole story that everybody is feeding off of that she didn't feel secure is suspect. Must of been unreliable reports that I read, which at this point, is probably true. Anything at this point is pure speculation. However, just like with what happened with S:ROS at New England, I wouldn't put it passed the attendants to be negligent when it comes to hefty riders. Nine times out of ten, the people who had trouble getting the restraints on properly would come back unscathed, but it takes that one time, and then the crap hits the proverbial fan.

Personally, I wouldn't put it past the Six Flags employees and attendants to just say that she was fastened to keep the lines and trains moving. People become awfully impatient when waiting on a larger person to be restrained into their seat. During the evening hours, a patron's patience can really wear thin after seven hours of waiting in line, dealing with other park patrons, among other factors. That can probably put a lot of stress on an attendant. But, that's no excuse for completely disregarding the regulations and letting that women ride. The woman who died could have spoken up as well. We'll never know what she was feeling leaving the station of NTAG, but, she must have been feeling some apprehension. Like one report from the Daily News says, everyone was chanting "three, three, three" as to imply that the lap bar needed to click three times. After only hearing one, and letting the ride continue, you have to think that the woman was most likely feeling apprehension to a certain extent. It would have been at that point she could have told the ride attendant to let her off, as she was concerned for her safety. Obviously, we'll never know what she was feeling, but I wouldn't blame Gerstlauer for the possible neglect of an attendant to do the job they are being paid to do. Even if you have the safest trains in the world, with the strictest regulations, it takes the negligence of one to cause calamity. Those are my two cents.