JT325

Since some of us were mentioning Wildcat... I *LOVED* Wildcat. There was something simple and very roller-coaster-like about those models, and that is a common feel with Schwarzkopf coasters. A friend and I visited the park in 2011, it was her first time to CP. She had got bitten by the coaster bug during Holiwood Nights that year and couldn't wait to get to the Coaster Capital of the World, Cedar Point. I explained to her that although very nice and fun, very well-run, etc., that none of the coasters at CP may match the intensity level of the coasters she loved so much at HW, but to keep an open mind. As we made our way counter-clockwise around CP, the look on her face was priceless. It was a combo look of emptiness and dismay. She kept saying "where are the good coasters!??" Mean Streak was next, she exclaimed "well that one looks good." Oh boy... We finally made it to Wildcat. One spin, then another. We had season passes, so on our couple trips through Ohio to the Pennsylvania parks (which she LOVED, as do I, minus Dorney ), we would always stop at CP on the way from and back home to Chicago. She kept thinking about it... and finalized that Wildcat was her favorite ride at CP. I kinda agreed with her. I explained that Blue Streak used to be an excellent, classic roller coaster experienced, but most of that was stomped out in the 90s with seat dividers and ratcheting lap bars (although still very popular per CP fanboys, I say with 100% certainty it's a totally different experience now). Her nickname for Cedar Point was "what's the Point!?" We still had fun, don't get me wrong. I too was very upset at Wildcat leaving. Sure, it may have run it's course... but let us remember that Gerstlauer works out of the former Schwarzkopf facility and has access to all plans. They are fully capable of manufacturing a brand new Wildcat model, same profile/layout/seat and car design, but with a modern system, mag brakes, modern lift, etc. etc. It would be beautiful! Oh yeah, a cool new led lighting package too! Capacity could still be an issue, it's a low-throughput ride for a park like CP. It would still be worth it. What really made me sick, when Wildcat was being taken out, some of the CP fanboy types saying stupid stuff like "it's a lame carnival ride anyway..." Uck! So you would rather have massive B&M machines that look great but all feel almost exactly the same? Nah, I want variety. Hoity-toity a-holes. CP claims to be the coaster capital (a title they nabbed from Kennywood years ago, ok ok all is fair..), but it would be nice to have a collection of one of everything. A classic wood coaster (yes, Blue Streak can be restored to classic seating), a Schwarzkopf coaster, etc. They certainly have the resources. It would be nice bragging material, too!

Hey I liked Disaster Disco. If not much, it was at least something different. Variety is good.

This is the best thing I've read on here in quite some time. Thank you!

Exactly. I haven't been back since they re-profiled the drop AND added the standard (not as fun) PTC (Nurse) ratchet bars. I want to remember it how it was. They moved the ledgers on that drop a few inches here and there, and it's reported to be a much tamed-down drop. A few inches here and there is all it takes, I've experienced GCIs work on HWs legend (the snap on the first drop is gone) and Yankee Cannonball (nearly all airtime is gone), and I can confirm a few inches is all it takes to completely neutralize some previously great airtime. I don't know who did the Cyclops work, but the process is similar.

I'm assuming the Sky Rocket is the Premier launch coaster model at SFDK and Busch Gardens Williamsburg? What is the difference between Sky Rocket I/II/III?

I'll vote for my home park, SFGAmerica, having the best collection/variety of awesome first drops. Demon - 2nd to back seat, that "Arrow fault" snap on the first drop (which was removed from the California model in the 90s) never fails. Short but sweet! Whizzer - here's where intensity doesn't always win. Stars slow and gradually builds down that loooooong ramp. Same as Revo at SFMM, but you are greeted with a right hand curve instead of a loop. American Eagle - huge *ROUND* drop. Nearly stops at the top, then you keep getting steeper and steeper, faster and faster... has always had the unique epic feel. "Near" air time in the back. It's like rolling down the cliff of a mountain. Goliath - hyrbird wooden coaster with a super-steep first drop (not the most comfortable for some very tall people, truth be told). Very intimidating! (my favorite part of the ride is still the dive loop through the wooden structure.) For all-time best drops, I'll vote for Cyclops at Mt. Olympus - when it HAD buzz bars. Scary as hell and freaking awesome! The Conneaut Blue Streak; everyone talks about the wicked first drop, but that 2nd drop is even better! True air time in an old school way. (Also my #2 coaster!)

So happy to see they still have their 2 Schwarzkopf coasters. The park looks great!

That Coaster of yours out there is my #1 "must get to NOW" on my list. The joy of sitting in a plain padded seat, free of annoying seat dividers and pinching ratchet bars... it's heaven to me.

And I thought the cars looked great... but those lights! Wow!!! Great job HW.

^Heck yeah! I have loved the third seat on Magnum since my first ride on it in 1990. I agree with others, the trains and faults of the ride make it great. We don't need more same-y B&M stuff (which is fun, but...). Variety is dwindling, and it sucks.

^I would think other clubs are invited, but I really have no clue. I met up with some TPR club member friends at the Banshee media day. Perhaps they are trying to keep the group small or have different times for the media? Six Flags have had shifts for media days; usually one early and one a few hours later.

I've been to SFA one time. 90 minutes in and out with a few re-rides where needed (Wild One and Poltergeist/whatever it's called). Knoebels on the other hand... I regularly spend 3 to 4 days at Knoebels during Phoenix Phall Phunfest (in which the whole park is open now, so nothing gets too crowded), and still don't want to leave. It's like part amusement park, part forest, part food fest, part.. "heaven"! It's one of (if not THEE) best hang out park. I know a group of park nerds that are doing a massive trip this year, and they are spending a 1/2 day at Knoebels. I was like "what?!" and one dude replied "they have like 6 coasters lol." Didn't have a good reply to that. There is no use to even say anything. Let them go spend 2 full days at SFGreat Adventure. But there was a virtual, pride-obliterating-b*tch slap beeming through the universe to his face. I think I just replied with something like "well... I guess if you guys are simply doing a credit run, and you want to move fast" Ahh... youngins.. I've done a few fast-paced trips, and most of the time regretted it (except for a couple Six Flags parks, Dorney and a couple others). I like to park myself in a park and take it in. There is so much to take in at Knoebels. And it gets better every time I go.

Kings Island just sent out a media invite for ACE members. I'm not sure what other clubs will be included. There isn't a spot for a guest, unfortunately. So nice of them to include some of us. I didn't think Cedar Fair would be inviting the park/coaster clubs again after some problems at another media (that I did not attend). Doesn't seem like they are talking too much about the shed anymore, I haven't seen it in any of my feeds. Very excited for the ride!

Thank you Bill I LOVE Demon, AE and Viper. Demon in 2nd to back has one of The few surviving snapping drops. I suggest checking out American Eagle and Viper in seat number three. Guaranteed good seat. When American Eagle runs with no breaks it's a top-five ride in my book. But that doesn't happen anymore. Also, red side.

The super-dry climate hurts the wooden structure and track. If it is not replaced and maintained closely, the ride gets rough. When the track dries out, it gets brittle. It cracks easier; it loses flex. Track begins to warp and presto! Rough ride. A big factor with Colossus was it's steel I-beam track. This was added in the late 80s or early 90s. It was the opposite of RMCs more modern "topper track." The bottom 6 layers of wood were replaced with a steel I-beam; the top 2 layers were still wood, topped with the standard wooden coaster steel running plate. Another thing with Colossus - that was heavily treated wood, and had coats of paint over it to protect it from the sun. But the saving grace was those steel I-beam tracks. American Eagle at SF Great America has the same I-beam tracks from 1/3rd of the way down the first drop to the top of the helix. Before those (mostly) steel tracks were added, the old wooden track was nearly unbearable (late 80s.) When Texas Giant was new in 1990, it opened with those steel I-beam tracks but only on the pull-out of the very first drop. Six Flags engineers had learned it was better to go with "hybrid track" for the fastest parts of their monster wooden coasters.

Way back, Magic Mountain had extra trains for everything. They had 10 (ten!) for the original Colossus in 1978 (the most they ever ran was 6, apparently). I know Revo had 6 (but ran 5?), Ninja, Psyclone and Viper also had extra trains I believe. ^You have a very good point. The payoff of having a cheap season pass when the park is dead... is not everything is running at capacity. But didn't the CEO triple his salary to $12M when he got SF numbers up? I can't stand that stuff... seems like people who don't care too much about the park are in charge; they make the parks temporarily profitable, then are on to their next gig. I know I know, it's a business. But like Magic Mountain, many people here in Chicago won't go to Great America anymore. SF has had so many serious operational issues. I mean, you keep running out of ice in the summer? After 40 years? Ok, off soap box.

Yes! I been sayin' that since last summer. I'm all for them taking their time and opening this thing in 2018. But I hope, with such a nice long lead time, they will really go all out. Even if they don't, it will still be a great ride, yeah... we all know that. Just me wishing! Double loading station, mid-course launch, longest coaster, etc...

And now, a collective hug for Magic Mountain. Rejoice nerds! Revolution is running with out those hideous shoulder bars! All parks have issues. As long as it's still there, there can always be operational improvements. When the park was going to be sold (~10 years ago??), I imagined Cedar Fair purchasing it... then I thought one of the first things they would do is remove Revolution. And both flumes. Puppies and Kittens... and Skyrides...

either they did a soft opening, or it's back to VR now. haven't really paid attention to when it was going back to VR. so you'll probably have to wait in the long line and refuse the headset if you don't want the VR for at least a few months. Thank you for your input! The idea of coming all the way out there from Chicago, and then watch hours pass while all those empty seats go out... I wish Six Flags had a "fill empty seats" pass. I would totally be in.

I need advice! Does anyone know if Revolution will be running without VR in the next few months? I heard it was running as non-VR Revo recently... and I want plan a trip when it is non-VR. Not that I wouldn't want to try out the VR, I want to get some quality ride time on non-VR Revo. I'm going out in July with family, but considering a short trip earlier (perhaps April), to get some Revo rides. And maybe hop down to Knotts for a bit too. Any input is appreciated! ^Also, I couldn't help but think about all the recent rain might have been very "nourishing" for Apocaloid. Some woodies have built in sprinkler systems, and I know Boss in St. Louis gets hosed down now and then. Keeps everything a little softer.

Yes, I do that sometimes. I try to restrict my posting to when I have something clear and concise to say, but we all get a little off track sometimes. Here's to hoping someone got something good out of what I said. I'm not sure, but It looks like early 80s. Oh yea, and Frontier Lift

That joke is still really funny... The only thing worse than offseason discussion is people complaining about offseason discussion. (And then people (like me, right now) complaining about those complainers) Thank you, thank you, thank you. Add to that... people complaining about people complaining when they aren't even complaining to start with. So the complainer is doing what they accused someone else of... who isn't doing said annoyance. It's a forum, discussions and varying opinions are good! Also... control issues There, I said it. Be nice to each other. Really, you aren't the smartest person in the world either. Now, to make up for my complaining (!?), here is Skyride picture (not my picture; found it in my collection).

I was looking at the new pictures floating around. Could it be that the track unbanks at the top and has a straight drop on the other side... but the track is not centered over the same bents. If the track crosses to a different set of bents ( The structure is for five or six bents thick) in the same structure it may appear that the track is banking when it's actually not. Many coasters have bents that are at different angles than the track. Texas cyclone had some crazy pants on the top the first hill.

I work at a trendy grocery store, so I get my fill of Katy Perry. I did enjoy the shots of the park though! I thought the whole group should ride Twisted Colossus at the end... The new Blondie is still better But being that Debbie Harry is a senior citizen, it won't get much play.

People on a Cedar Point centered forum are still going on about how CP is running out of space, completely oblivious to what is happening in Sweden. Way to knock it out of the park GL!!! Oh yeah, and SFGAmerica with Goliath, "we did what we could with the space/the ride is short due to the space it's in." Could you imagine what Gröna Lund would have done with that design!?