paulosthejackal

You keep looking at those photos of the lift and say to yourself "that looks nothing like a B&M structure" the proof of INFLUENCE is there. I did not say they teamed up to build DF. AND FYI Six Flags Great America got the first inverted in 1992 not Great Adventure (theirs was 1993) The design IS ARROW but it was INFLUENCED by B&M. JEFF As far as I understand it the concept of the ride was originally developed by B&M and they had to abandon the project. Then Arrow came along and were heavily influenced by the design and added their own stuff to (case in point: the cutback element). pkdcoaster has a point - you can't look at that ride and not think of a B&M coaster. This is fairly heavilly documented on the internet too.

You think you have it bad I'm only 2'2" You're right though they do get tighter during the ride. Also its good they pop up quickly bacuse when the ride stops you just want to get out of there.

I think Tussauds will have too work harder and harder over the coming years because the others are showing all the signs of catching up! Alton will carry on getting a major facelift, i think they have realised that families are not well catered for and they are loosing out. Alton is such a dump in places and it is a shame that the gardens are in such a poor state of repair. My mother would not approve I agree with the comments about Flamingo land and BPB and they do have alot to do but I think they are going for it!

LOL Haven't been on DD at IOA (I know how sad, how sad) But I would pick MONTU anyday. Although I do live about 1 hours drive from Nemesis so I am spoilt for choice!!!

I to would love to see B&M build something like DF, the first drop/inversion is what i would love to ride. (Obviously with the track continuing through the ride to the station otherwise we would all be dead). I'm glad people are with me on the B&M thing anyhoo. I also read somewhere on my internet travals that Arrow design thier Cars differently to B&M ssomething to do with the heartline of the rider. Great photos by the way, best I have seen. Edit: I'm sure you have all read this little article... http://history.amusement-parks.com/drachenfire.htm

I really don't like Air after i had an experiance one time where I had a massive camera in my pocket which stopped the restraits clicking right in and I was rather loose (for this read dangling out of the ride). Not reallising just how lose I was untill the top I totally cacked my pants. This was followed by a massive asthma attack and my inhaler was nowhere to be seen because I lost it on Nemmy Luckly I found another with an inhaler who helped me out. How I laughed Oh yeah I always have a slight 'loss of belief' on oblivion when hung over the edge. The 'Oh Cack' moment you see.

Haven't been to flamingo land for a few years so Giant SLC and Booster bikes are a must for me this summer. Also moving up to Newcastle in June so must get some plesure beach (of the Blackpool and Southport variety) in in May!!!!! Thinking about it I might not bother with a tussauds seoson ticket this year and I might just do a tour of the rest!!! I still have to ride G-force at drayton (is it any good ie. worth the tirp).

Woah I'm going to be on that beast in May after I hand my dissertation in. That rocks. Hope you enjoyed my local Ikea and didn't mess the place up too much!!!! I am on the edge of my seat for the full vid and pics

Yeah I agree it is imposible to work out how tall the coaster is/isn't, especially for those who haven't been to the park during construction. Let the engineers deal with that stuff and just enjoy the ride (that is probably bigger than X ).

Flamingoland Woodie? Sounds good. They are really growing now huh? There has to be someone to truly catch up with tussauds and BPB and flamingoland might just do it.

I have never seen or been on this ride but this rates as a massively important ride IMHO. This is from the time when we were begining to find out B&M were going to make the nineties and Arrow perhaps began their descent (excuse the pun) from form. I have always read and believed that the disign of this ride was initially B&M and that they had to pass on the work to Arrow because they were busy with KUMBA? Someone has said something different so could someone clarify this. Just be interesting to know either way.

Rocket Rodder, I think you may have coined a new phrase here. When you connect to the chain at the bottom of the lift there is often going to be a jerk if the train speed changes. As has been said before this is less noticable on B&M and Intamin rides but can really crunch your neck on other makers rides.

They are at Thorpe today i think and I have to go in University for lectures No dodgems or ikea or anything for me... Bring on the new season and the new Tussauds season ticket!!!!!!!!

Yeah, it would seem the parks do care for our existence and vale our opinion.

They go up and down if I remember rightly, 'stapling' you in. Not very comfy

Those photos were taken in my neck of the woods... Cool, Liverpool/Manchester is obviously the place to be

I think AT withdrew the woodie plans and they wern't rejected by the planners. AT is going to concentrate on getting the park up together because it is a mess and they are also going to try to attract more families. I would love to see all of the above rides but I think that A Floorless is what is missing in the UK and that will surely come sooner or later... and that there must be a new uk woodie in the next few years, please. It is however going to get harder and harder for Alton to get any bigger so I believe although we may see a new coaster we are more likely to see other improvements like flat rides (ie black holes spot), better shows (3d cinema, cred street etc) and childrens rides just better all round entertainment. In contrast I think Thorpe park is and will grow into a serious coaster park. It is better positioned and easyer to get to than AT. Also they can do this because they have Chessington close by to take all the other customers. Just my thoughts...

Muchos agreement muchos agreement this could really take S&S one of two ways! On the one hand sucess on the other well just look at Arrow

If the Japan 4D is uber succesfull I would imagine that we will see one in 07/08 in the USA. CP are likely to get a big flyer/4D/B&M new concept. Kumba9 I really can't see Busch installing anything other than a B&M, it would seem thier is a firm watertight contract between the two companies. At BGW they will surely put in a dive machine. Oh I love the rumors...

The coaster boom in china is just a mirror of the massive comerical growth and what you could call 'westernisation' of aspects of Asia. They want the things we want and because they are all much better at making money (and not spending it) than us they can aford all this stuff. Its great!

just noticed this, Yeah martinb why is this, it's really wierd there seems to be loeads of cars always being dispatched and their are loads of bloack brakes and stuff so lots of cars on the move at once. The only thing I can think of is that its like one of the only coasters that EVERYONE goes on your mum, gran, uncle, little brother. You can go on a quite day in April/September when Nemesis/Air/Oblivion is walk on and Spinball is at least 30 mins!

Yeah Alton used these extensively last season but they sucked because people didn't understand them. I did an experiment with Rita at AT and it took me less time to get on than my buddie Rob (not 'that' Rob) in the single rider Q! I think that the opps just forget about the single riders on this ride. On the opposite side while my friends were on subbmision (lame flat I don't like) I manage to get in 4 rides on Oblivion in about 15 mins in the single rider Q when the main Q was one hour:-) So in answer to you question dubaidave yeah they do. Just don't bother with the Rita one.

It will be cool to see how far they can take the dive machine concept if that is what it turns out to be. If not look out for a 'steel-wood hybrid excelorator-flyer-4D-floorless' Yeah right only Vekoma would build that Paulos the "Oblivion is cool if a little short" jackal

Good plan, when you get to Alton go straight to either Air or Rita - longest ques you see! This is a good year with lots of new rides for you so should be fun packed. All the students will be at the parks (including me) and if you get to them early it should be fairly easy to get some good rides in because the students don't generally get there till 12! Also book your tickets online because when you get to Alton and Thorpe there sure will be a huge Q!

I'm 182 pounds and 5'10! I blame Mc Donalds - its just sooooo good mmmmmmmmmm. The manufacturers should (and do) cater for those who are slightly over weight but IMO don't have to cater for some one who is obease, clinically obease or morbidly obease because these are people with health problems, they are not just a little chubby (like me). We don't have quite this problem (yet) in the UK anyhow.