jamesdillaman

when's the music video coming out?

Why did they have to add the Kenny G soundtrack to Splash Mountain?!?

^ lives in the bluegrass state < just posting because there's nothing else to do in loveland, OH!

The bench is great!!

MF is the obvious answer, but I gotta vote Magnum XL-200, it's just got soo... much.... air....

The beastie last I drove by was still operating @ PKI, Scooby's Ghoster Coaster was taken out, though.

King Cobra, PKI High Roller, Stratusphere Shockwave, SFGAmerica Corkscrew, Geauga Lake Ghoster Coaster, PKI Texas Cyclone, SFAW (RIP) If Joker's Jinx is closed @ Fiesta Texas, then that, too, although i don't know if it is still operating, it was closed the last time I was there a couple years ago. -James

Chang all the way, either not many people have been on it, or this coaster is not getting the respect at least I feel it deserves...

I still like Raptor. Liked it in 96 when I first rode it and still enjoy it today. Haven't been on dueling dragons or patriot, though, but nostalgia will probably leave me liking raptor best... guess I'll have to wait and see what the summer holds

Kentucky Rumbler @ Beech Bend Park in Kentucky

I couldn't get any videos to play, what player should I use? I'm on a mac, but it pulls it up in Windows media player, then says WMP doesn't support the codec. What should I use?

"And now for something completely different, a man with a tape recorder up his nose."

Well I don't know if this is really a ride sponsorship, but it's always bugged me that coke and sprite logos are on the wood coaster trains at indiana beach. I think they could have left them off.

yeah, I can't seem to find any pictures of any kiddie coasters there. I don't know it's really been bugging me lately.

i need some help. In the mid 80's (I'm thinking '85), my family went to a park in or near montreal. I believe there was a kiddie coaster there that maybe went through a tunnel, seems like it was a figure-8 shaped track. Can't find it on rcdb or anything. It's driving me crazy as it might be a credit I had a long time ago. (I was maybe 3 or 4 years old at the time) Nobody in my family seems to remember except that the theme park was on an island, making me think it may have been La Ronde. Does anybody know a kiddie coaster like this, or am i just remembering another ride as a coaster when really it was a smaller powered ride, like cars or trains?

Well, I didn't hear that it was being taken out, but it might be (i'm in cincy and am not a fan of large parks besides Cedar Point, so don't keep up on Sixflags very much), but it was next to the Roadrunner Express or whatever it's called to the left of the front gate as you go in. (On the front gate side of the road going through the middle of the park)

Either Runaway Reptar or The Beast, not sure which is closer.... great, now it's going to bug me and I'll have to figure it out. Google earth makes it look about the same but I think the station for the beast is a little closer to me (about 5 minutes from my house) -James

Just having gotten off the rumbler, You'll probably want to stay pretty long... What a ride! You'll love the airtime. Beech Bend also has the pinfari looping star and the spinning mouse coaster, but the Kentucky Rumbler is obviously the star attraction. As for driving times, it's definately around 2 hours from Bowling Green to Louisville. As for Kentucky Kingdom, the only line troubles I've ever had there was for the Mouse coaster they have, The Road Runner coaster. That line can be filled with little kids and their parents. Besides that I doubt you'll wait more than 15-30 minutes tops. Hopefully Greezed Lightnin' will be running for you, as it has only been running for me once in 5 trips there. -James Also I agree the afternoon, especially on hot days is better for SFKK, many locals by the time the sun comes out hit the waterpark, as there's almost no shade in the entire park!

That's true, but based on how the rumbler rode in midmarch, without warming up and on a very cool day, I think this is going to be one intense ride. The only thing missing is the roughness that makes you feel like you're fighting a battle with the coaster. There's something to be said about a good CCI woodie, but I like the GCI's just as well.

Talking with the GCI designer (Jeff) it seems that they take great pride in designing the ride the way it should be from day one, and I seriously doubt they would be behind any thing to lesson the ride experience or tame down the ride. Besides, they run so smoothly I don't foresee anybody even in the general public having any problem with the two GCi's I've been on: Kentucky Rumbler and Thunderhead

Yeah, I thought that, too, but I didn't want to say it becuase I wasn't sure. Speaking of the brakes, the brakes on Rumbler only have a small "brake pad" area that actually touches the trains, Clair from GCI explained they actually get more braking power out of this, and the pads are interchangable, so you never have to replace brakes, just throw a new pad in there. Pretty cool.

Clair (GCI president) said that painting is of course up to the park owner, but GCI recommends at least 2-3 years without paint to let the wood dry out completely.

thunderhead hasn't been trimmed yet, and I don't think GCI would be happy about it, it's so well designed, the air is just right, not crazy, just nice and long.

In case you were wondering, I got 6 rides in, The back seat, front seat, and throughout the train. great floter airtime in the back and middle of the train. Even some good ejector airtime in the front seat! All around, no matter where you ride this coaster, it's a good ride. Can't wait to ride it when it's hot, humid, and all warmed up from a day's worth of running, it'll be insane!

okay, still waitin on some pics, but let me tell you about the ride. There is an animation out there for those who are interested, but let me say it doesn't do this ride justice. Not even close! The closest ride I've been on to it is of course Thunderhead at Dollywood, but the airtime over the hills on this ride is much longer, albeit not quite as intense in spots. The first drop is great, especially from the back seat as you get whipped down the drop. Immediately after that is the first of 3 station flybys. This is probably the most identifiable feature of the Kentucky Rumbler, with one being right parallel to the ride's exit platform, almost even with the track of the station. As people pass by on this one there's a nice bit of airtime, so it's quite cool to hear the riders screaming and see their hands as they pass the people waiting to get on. The top speed is around 50 mph, and Jeff and Clair assure me when it hits the brakes you're still going 25-30. This thing starts whipping you around from the drop and doesn't quit until you hit the brakes. Speaking of the brake run, the coaster isn't designed for 2 trains, even to add them later. Clair had a wonderful anecdote from the parks owner when he asked him about possible 2train operation for the Kentucky Rumbler: He said the park owner's view was that if the lines get too long, he'll just have to build another coaster! I don't know about you, but I love this guy's way of thinking. Beech Bend Park was extremely receptive of us, buying us Papa John's pizza, brownies, cheesecake, cookies... a nice spread. The tour was great, and talking to the family that owns the park you really get a feeling they're just as excited about opening day as we are. Holiwood nights is memorial day weekend, and everyone who can should go for an awsome time on raven and legend (not to mention the new giant at HW, Voyage). For those of you making the trip, that Sunday, do yourself a favor and drive down to beech bend for Rumblefest. This is one coaster you won't forget! -James