All Clear

I currently have a PKD season pass, which I successfully and without incedent used to go to Carowinds a couple of weeks ago. I'm planning on hitting PKI on October 8. I'm guessing that my safest bet is to wait until I've been to PKI before I get my pass for next year? Or is the Maxx Pass only no good at current Cedar Fair parks for 2006 and still useable at the former Paramount Parks? Robbie "Why didn't I take up stamp-collecting?" Crockett

Choosing from where I've been: Voyage at Holiday World. From where I haven't: Thunderhead at Dollywood. Time Machine: Shooting Star at Lakeside (Salem, VA).

I just went to Carowinds last weekend for the first time in a million years. While I wouldn't get too excited about their "collection," I would like to throw out there that Top Gun blew my mind. It's the smoothest B&M I've been on and definitely my new favorite inverted. So half of their collection is amazing.

I'm definitely pro-pre-drop, when it comes to B&Ms. I'm curious, though about the bottom of AC's first drop, the way it totally flattens out (as does the drop in the same area on the return). Is there a reason behind this? And are any other B&M's built this way?

My first zen ride was PKD Grizzly, right at opening when all the goldpass-holding general public made a dash for Hypersonic. I rode in the back so I could fully experience the by-myselfness of it all. When it came back in to the station there were lines for every seat and someone shouted "There was only one survivor!!" Earlier this summer, I got zens on both Hurter and Rebel Yell, one right after the other. Both rides I got stopped on the lift, which was awesome. On Rebel Yell, an op climbed up to where I was and asked if I wanted to wait until they got it back up or if I wanted to be evacuated. I was torn. I've always wanted to be evac'd from a woodie, but instead chose the zen ride. It was extra cool because maintenance were still walking the track on the backward side and a couple of them smiled and waved at me. They also gave me an exit pass (for my "inconvenience"), which I promptly used to skip the 30 minute wait on Volcano. Then, when I was walking by IJ:TC (which wasn't officially open yet), they opened it for a sneak preview and I was on the second train out. When I got off, there was a 90 minute wait for it. It was my favorite day at PKD ever.