sfne2005 Posted March 30, 2008 Share Posted March 30, 2008 So I think most everyone knows Big Mike, for good or bad. Those who don't sure will now. He let me tag along with him to attend SFOG's Spring Fling and hit up Dollywood and other random credits for a couple of days. **This should have been right after the first Acrophobia picture, but I screwed up.** Look at that, they weren't kidding. Thanks Mike for the meet up. I had fun. It was also nice to meet other cool TPR members. LARRY > BIG MIKE. LOL!!! You rike my shirt? That number will be at 4,000 by the end of the week! So at the end of the night we watched a sneak peak video creation following the creation of Mystery Mine. Yes, we are still at SFOG. The producer was on hand to record feedback. So we egged Mike on to do it. He was reluctant until we told him how this was a great way to get even more face time and get his name out there to the masses. You know what happened next. I am more amused by Rick and Scott in the background than, well you know who. I think this is as close to fulfilling Mike's statement in his thread.....and I quote... "Come summer time, Big Mike will have these reports filled with hot babes in bikinis, sexy dress, and compromising positions!!!" Bob, don't expect him to follow through. He is too busy taking pictures of himself. Stay tuned for other TR's showing what happened next. I won't give it away, but rest assured we made him turn his shirt around to the correct way. Awwww, how cute. This mexican food joint (located in the french section of the park, not the spanish section) was our hangout for hours. Lather, rinse, repeat. Do you see a pattern developing? Rain....closed. Rain....closed. Rain....closed. "Bi Mike's" favorite dark ride...EVA. His words, not mine. One of the two credits Mike would not have gotten without me. The other being the Cyclone. He wanted to leave because the "yellow one" was open. Newsflash Mike, the Scorcher has been open all morning and we rode it already. Had he left me and gone to that, he wouldn't have gotten the credit. Shout out to the one of "many" Big Mike fans who IM'd him...you know who you are. Rick and Gyen in my favorite seat on the Cyclone...which I really enjoyed. But that's me I guess, liking coasters that no one else does like Hydra, Air, Nemesis Inferno. Did you know that Acrophobia is 20 feet taller than Godzilla? I didn't. Until that is, I read a sign in the queue. And Scott (Beemerboy) and his wife Shannon were there too! Kiddie credit time. A time where all TPR members come together. Front row is Rick (Coaster Palooza) and his wife Gyendolynee. Actually, it looks like Rick is sporting a mullet and a tail! Oh yea, and Mike :/ Initially I was going to make a coaster joke about Schwartzkopf making hair products instead of coasters, but I got a bigger kick out of what the ad actually says. Reminds me of Japan. Hey, I think there are people on this train. And the drop is not as long as it should be because there is a building right in the way that the track goes over. But unfortunately for me, it did not. It was quite a fun ride but did not provide the kickass airtime I thought it would. Maybe because it was cold. Maybe because of the trims. Oddly enough, I found better airtime in the middle than the front or back. It seemed more consistent and floater like. Not much in the way of ejector. I guess I should stick to Intamin for that. Yup, still on par for duplicating the experience. The station brings back memories of a cold and rainy Canadian night were empty train after train would leave the station and provide Balder-like airtime. Attention lift hill enthusiasts... Birdy is all, let them in to ride Goliath for crying out loud. I like this picture even though there is no one on the train.....BECAUSE THE PARK'S NOT OPEN YET. A rather tame helix unlike Nitro's which is fine by me as I have a low tolerance for high positive G's. Goliath is the main reason for the trip for me. I absolutely loved Goliath at LaRonde (when it was open ) so I had been trying to get down here to ride this one. Some of the Acers, who are unlike your friendly neighborhood themeparkreviewers. There is no train in this picture as the park wasn't open yet. Spring Fling, put on by ACE. Great event, too bad about the weather though. Had it not been for all of the morning ERT, we would only have a handful of credits. I think our group rode 6 rides in the last 10 or so hours of the day due to rain. Day 2: SFOG. My first time here as well, and I must say I was quite impressed. Again, very clean, polite staff, very efficient dispatching coasters. Just took me 45 minutes to get chinese food from the Panda Express restaurant though Ego? I don't have an ego. Taken outside of Nascar Park. All I know is we didn't belong as we have too many teeth. Oh, and Mike's second missed kiddie credit at Zuma Numa yea was closed too. I am sure he'll count it anyways just like Cool Rich would. So what's that now Big Mike, 4,000? Hey Larry, have you made it this far into this TR? If you have, keep reading, it gets better. "Hey Rich, do you mind taking pictures of me while I ride with all my fans?" No Mike, not at all. Too bad they don't know about your restraining order. Overcast, cool and not very crowded = walk on. Kinda cool log flume. Aww geez, the poor camera. Too bad it can't be the camera of doom. Should have been an aquatrax. New for 2008, crank and spray. "Upside down, bouncing off the ceiling. Inside out, stranger to this feeling. Got no clue, what I should do, I'd go crazy if I can't get next to you" Weeeeee. 90 degrees. Funny, this park reminds me exactly like Holiday World. Nice, pretty, clean, couple of good coasters. This place needs another 3 or 4 coasters in my opinion. Being a coaster site and all, I'll throw in a few coaster pics. How's that sound? Mystery Mine kicked my aska. Though it travels at a relatively slow speed throughout, I wasn't a fan of its joltyness (if that's a word). Cool theming and great idea. This is the type of ride that should be found in Disney parks. Figured since you haven't seen Big Mike in a few pictures I would add him in. Plus it spices up a shot everyone posts anyways. I gotta say, I didn't love Thunderhead. I prefer Troy over it, and Rumbler over both of them. So, just to recap, Thunderhead < Troy < Rumbler. Next stop, Dollywood. I didn't take many pictures here so don't expect many. Nice park, very clean, employees nice and helpful...especially when Big Mike talks in his Minnie Mouse voice. I am sure this has been posted here before, but I wasn't expecting to see it. I thought it was pretty rad. No big loss for me, but poor Mike. He almost cried. Not a good start on his way to number 3,500. Guess not. At least you didn't drive all the way to Canada for the credit Uh oh Mike, is today Saturday? Oh My God, you have to be kidding me! I rike an order of fry rice and you have ridden how many "COASTER"? LOL Wait, what the hell are you wearing??? The first stop of many side credits as Big Mike tries to get his 3,000th credit. So here's Mike driving like an old woman while reading one of his many fan's email sent to him. I browsed a few of them and lets just say, the content of some bear not repeating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kraken613 Posted March 30, 2008 Share Posted March 30, 2008 You didnt like Thunderhead....... Thats all I have to say..... Also is that a broken Huss flat I see? It broke down Thursday afternoon so did they not get it working again? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wood Dragon 1988 Posted March 30, 2008 Share Posted March 30, 2008 Nice TR, I've always heard good things about the Spring Fling-despite the fact that ACE runs it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coastercrazed49 Posted March 30, 2008 Share Posted March 30, 2008 Great Pictures. I still haven't seen any women in bikinis with Mike! Thats to bad with the rain for SFOG, because you missed out on some good rides. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sfne2005 Posted March 30, 2008 Author Share Posted March 30, 2008 I may not have been clear with the credits...we did get all the credits from both Dollywood and SFOG. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kraken613 Posted March 30, 2008 Share Posted March 30, 2008 So what did you think of the best Arrow looper TN Tornado? You didnt mention it.... I still dont like you for not giving Thunderhead some love..... You must have hit it on one of those off days. Thursday it was running more aggressive than it is normally. It must have calmed down by Friday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NINCUB Posted March 30, 2008 Share Posted March 30, 2008 I can't believe Sir Gooney's kiddie rides are only open Saturdays. That is crazy! Your luck didn't get much better at Zuma either! Dollywood seemed like a great day to visit. Oh BTW.... I think Bubba liked the cap. LOL.... :0) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sfne2005 Posted March 30, 2008 Author Share Posted March 30, 2008 Yea, I guess I did forget to mention TN Tornado. I actually had more fun on that than I did any other coaster at Dollywood. And as far as Thunderhead, its just not my type of ride. It was fast and always changing direction. I need something with air. We sat in the back and it did nothing for both Big Mike or me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erik Johnson Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 Yea, I guess I did forget to mention TN Tornado. I actually had more fun on that than I did any other coaster at Dollywood. And as far as Thunderhead, its just not my type of ride. It was fast and always changing direction. I need something with air. We sat in the back and it did nothing for both Big Mike or me. I find that you get better air in the front row on Thunderhead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kraken613 Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 ^^ Well theres your problem right there...... Ill forgive you not liking it that much then. On Thunderhead you dont sit in the back for the air you sit in the front. You get minimum air in the back. In the front you get air on those turns like the big turn after the first drop provides air. And alot of different places than the back. The back it more just the crazy speed and transitions. If you ever go back do the front please...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spaceace12 Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 Nice tr. I just have a couple questions. Where can I get one of those yellow big mike shirts? And I think I need more big mike pics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldJJman Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 Great pics Rich! Though I am beginning to believe that Larry is more photogenic than Big Mike! Is it safe to assume that Big Mike's TR will have more photos of himself than you?? So what did you think of the best Arrow looper TN Tornado? Obviously not much, otherwise he would have mentioned it. It's mediocre at best anyway, IMO. Great first drop, then kind of uneventful on the way back to the station. I still dont like you for not giving Thunderhead some love..... You must have hit it on one of those off days. I doubt that too. Having ridden TH on several occasions, I completely agree with his assessment of: Kentucky Rumbler>Troy>Thunderhead. However, as far as GCI's go, I personally think that the Ozark Wildcat blows them ALL away!! JJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sfne2005 Posted March 31, 2008 Author Share Posted March 31, 2008 Jeff, I commented on Tornado afterwards and liked it a lot actually....I just didn't have pictures of it, so I forgot to add my assessment of it. And I have also not been on Ozark yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coaster05 Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 I would only have counted that credit if they would have denied me the credit, and I had rode that model before. You cannot make fun of my clone rule if you don't understand it. I still maintain that you and Larry criticize it for 2 reasons. 1. You didn't think of it first. 2. It makes so much sense you can't comprehend how great it is. Rich "I can't believe you are not going to Europe with me, Rich" Bitner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wood Dragon 1988 Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 ^^^^^I have heard a few other people claim they get air on the turns of T-Head. To me it makes no sense. Air-turns? I just don't get it. Air on a turning, twisting hill makes a bit more sense, but I just don't know how a heavily banked wooden turn makes your butt go out of the seat. I am not the biggest fan of GCI based on their installments in Hershey Park and SFA only, but then again that is four of their installments. Basically, I didn't think Lightenening Racer lived up to its hype at all, but am still hoping that Troy, T-Head, Ozark, etc. do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kraken613 Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 Its the way they are shaped and how they bank. This is the first turn look how it banks and turns into it right where that sharp bank happens you get air. http://www.rcdb.com/ig2451.htm?picture=16 Then in the smaller turns in the low ending part of the layout you also get air. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sfne2005 Posted March 31, 2008 Author Share Posted March 31, 2008 Come on guys, this isn't a Thunderhead discussion....it's a Big Mike thread. Surely you have nice or not so nice things to say about him?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeemerBoy Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 ^ So you're saying Big Mike's filled with more air than Thunderhead? Awesome stuff, Rich. LOL@ Godzilla. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sfne2005 Posted March 31, 2008 Author Share Posted March 31, 2008 Was there any doubt? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carnage Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 Did you try riding Thunderhead without Big Mike in the train? Perhaps his ego was slowing the train down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sfne2005 Posted March 31, 2008 Author Share Posted March 31, 2008 Didn't think of that though he damn near sunk the Monster Plantation boat. I don't think it was meant to be a splash boat ride.....but it was where I was sitting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParkTrips Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 so wait.. Big Mike listed Holland and the Netherlands as places he is visiting this year? No wonder he has so many damn credits, he's counting stuff twice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfc Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 Officer Rich, you are not alone in liking Nemesis Inferno--I think it's pretty good, too (just not as good as Nemesis). I get my shot at the Big Mike Road Show when Dominator opens at KD. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hercules Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 Not enough Big Mike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted March 31, 2008 Share Posted March 31, 2008 so wait.. Big Mike listed Holland and the Netherlands as places he is visiting this year? No wonder he has so many damn credits, he's counting stuff twice! LOL, I noticed that too!! Cracked me up!! Great report Rich, enjoyed it as always. But, erm, where the hell are the Rich pictures?! C'mon!!! That's what I'm in here for!!! Still can't believe you're not coming to Europe.... Your failure level is almost as big as Mike's ego. Which is considerably taller than Acrophobia... and therefore Godzilla. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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