PKI Jizzman Posted May 4, 2009 Posted May 4, 2009 So, this weekend was awesome. With the addition of Diamondback, I knew TPR members would be stopping by KI...and this is pretty much all of what I was hoping for! Hang out with some fellow coaster/donkey lovers and ride some roller coasters! May 1st I was up with my buddy Mike, and James (jamesdillaman) called me up and told me he was there with Guy! (Who I knew was going to be there the next day) So here's the jist of my adventures on May 1st. May 2nd coming soon! Last photo! Thanks Guy for an awesome night at KI! It was really nice to meet you, and I look forward to see you again! -Zach This gives you an idea of the darkness. Yummy Arrow! Vortex looks preeetttyyyy. Get ready for your 5 minute ride on the Beast! Guy agrees that Beast at night is wayyyy better than the day! I love this shot. SHAZAM! Now KI has one. Guy is ready for his frontside ride on Diamondback! Mandatory station shot! View from the front of the station. 9/10 times you'll be going up the lift and see the watersplash below! Last one, I promise! Ohh...could I be a lift hill enthusiast? The lift is so quiet...it's like a cable lift, the quickness and the quietness. Mmm...yummy lift. Lights on the lift look cool. It's getting darker....that means it's getting better! Time for some night rides on DB! Anndddd into the break run to steal all your change! ow ow ow ow ow my shins ow ow ow WHY ZACH?! WHYYY! Oh, that was fun! Sorry for the lack of Guy...here he is, in all his glory, losing his Vekoma Flyer virginity! Free hugs! Never before seen! POV on Drop Zone isn't smart, dood. It's still just as smooth as Diamondback, though! Please...just give me some crayons, I'll make it look better. This makes me drool. Wear and Tear. Positive G central. Hey Gabriel, I told you you're going to be on TPR! T-Rex on Diamondback. Stubby little arms! Pow, pow, Diamondback! You're dead! I think Diamondback had about...a 10 minute wait at most? I've got to have one special photo on each TR! Someone email Dan, this looks like a perfect match! We start today's TR off with scaredgirlinthebackseat. EVERYONE STARE!
atem122 Posted May 4, 2009 Posted May 4, 2009 Great photos yet again. It's still not fair how sfmm on a random day in april can have 2 hour lines for everything and Diamondback can have ten minute waits a week after it opens
angryemobeaver Posted May 4, 2009 Posted May 4, 2009 Excellent photos as always JZ. Photobucket is being weird for me, so I can't upload my photos...
mike541x Posted May 5, 2009 Posted May 5, 2009 Nice pictures. Looking at those last night pictures of the beast at night look awesome! I can imagine the rush on it!
jamesdillaman Posted May 5, 2009 Posted May 5, 2009 Excellent photos as always JZ. Photobucket is being weird for me, so I can't upload my photos... Why not upload them directly to TPR like Zach does? Great photos, Zach! Sorry I couldn't stick around Friday, but I'm looking forward to Saturday's pictures! You're quite the photographer, now! Excellent shots! -James Dillaman
Crazy_Behemoth_Lady_Jess Posted May 5, 2009 Posted May 5, 2009 Those firehawk pictures are nice! Very artistic! Same can be said for the Diamondback track photos! Do you mind if I save that picture of Backlot showing the "launch mechanism" in the station? I've been looking for a picture of the Premier Rides launch system for awhile. ~ Jess "LIM nerd" Chan
PKI Jizzman Posted May 5, 2009 Author Posted May 5, 2009 Those firehawk pictures are nice! Very artistic! Same can be said for the Diamondback track photos! Do you mind if I save that picture of Backlot showing the "launch mechanism" in the station? I've been looking for a picture of the Premier Rides launch system for awhile. ~ Jess "LIM nerd" Chan Thanks, and I don't mind. Here's a pic I didn't upload...well, until now! -Zach IJST LIMS
Reon Posted May 5, 2009 Posted May 5, 2009 Stop meeting up with TPR people at KI without me, JZ! Anyways, 10 minutes?!? After my trip on opening day I was considering marathoning Diamondback one day. If lines really are like that this season, I should be able to pull a good number of rides on my new 2nd favorite steel... -Jared "be back in town on Friday" Becker
michielh3 Posted May 5, 2009 Posted May 5, 2009 LIMbS ? Oh no, imagine all the people that have no arms and legs now .. Very nice TR , I loved the photo's , those of Diamondback are very nice
Guy T. Koepp Posted May 5, 2009 Posted May 5, 2009 Great pictures JZ! It was a pleasure meeting you and hanging out at your home park! I had a great time at KI this weekend. Perhaps it was the newness of never being there before, but I really liked the place a lot. A fun selection of rides and coasters, with one distinct high point, a fun rampage through the woods at night, and a couple of... ...ummmmm... ...well, shall we say less than high points. 1st and foremost. The highpoint. Yeah! Diamondback is a very nice coaster. It will probably enter my top 10. Possibly my top 5. Loads of airtime, and a different ride throughout the train. Super fun ride during the day. Awesome ride at night. Also, huge props to the crew. They pump people through this thing. Seriously, the longest wait we had was a 2/3rds full que at closing on Saturday and only a thirty minute wait. This thing eats people for lunch! Just fantastic! Come to think of it, all ride operations and park employees were doing a stellar job. So kudos and all that stuff for the valiant effort! Moving on! The fun rampage! While I'm sure Beast in it's heyday was an awesome coaster, for me in modern day. Meh, it was fun. The back is quite brutal on the wheel seat, and it is horribly trimmed to hell. Not the worst wood on the planet (cough... ...Texas Rattler... ...cough!), just not great. However, a night ride in the middle is exciting, and real cool through the woods. I'm not bagging, I totally sympathize with you Beast lovers out there, as I often hold Colossus in such high regard because I was one of the fortunate few to ride it in it's heyday. So I get it, and I understand your love. But my rides on it were not amazing, just fun. However, I will give it this. It is the best wood in the park, and that's saying alot for a coaster that is 30 years old in a park with 5 wooden coasters. But I digress, on to the less than high points. Son of Bitc... ...er... ...Beast. Is craptastic! It's a novelty that has lost it's novelty. It's forceless, uninspired, jackhammering fun. It's only redeeming value is to get off it and question why God! Why? It's not the worst wood on the planet (cough... ...Texas Rattler... ...cough!) It probably won't crack the 50% mark as far as my wood coaster count goes. However, watching that group of kids get ejected from the park for line jumping did ease the pain. Will I ride it again? Sure. I don't have to which is nice. Oh! and if the line is short. And now Steaming bag of Firecrap! My very first Vekoma Flyer! How excited I was to be able to compare this to the B&M flyers I have been on. With no fanfare I will make this bold statement! This ride is so bad that if I never ride a Vekoma flyer again I won't shed a tear. Will I ride another? Maybe? But no more than a 2 train wait with a dual station. I just don't have the patience to wait for this kind of beating. At least in my martial arts class, I can punch back. Got tha credit! Done with em'! Those were the high and low points as far as rides go. Honestly, I love the coaster riding and stuff, but I really go to spend time with friends and family. It was great to spend the day with James, Erik, Chuck, Tall dude who I can't remember your name, and PKJZ. Erik, Chuck, Tall Dude, as always it was a blast hangin' wit ya'll! I can't wait to get together and do it all over again. James & PKJZ, thank you for being the gracious hosts and showing us around your park! I had a blast, and I look forward to doing it again soon! Peace! Guy "And a great time was had by all!" Koepp
jamesdillaman Posted May 5, 2009 Posted May 5, 2009 ^ I think so. We also ran into Doug Stanton while eating Skyline... but we'll let the photo takers tell that amusing story.... -James Dillaman
angryemobeaver Posted May 5, 2009 Posted May 5, 2009 Wow, You didn't seem to like Beast too much; it's a great ride. I can't see how people don't like it this year. SOB is amazing, Best woodie at KI. Firehawk is pretty good, Wayyyyy better than any B&M Flier I've ridden. it has something called Force, unlike Superman clones.
mcjaco Posted May 5, 2009 Posted May 5, 2009 ^ If you like your kidneys tickling your larynx, then yes it's a good ride. I'd bet 99% of the population doesn't care for that feeling.
jamesdillaman Posted May 5, 2009 Posted May 5, 2009 Wow, You didn't seem to like Beast too much; it's a great ride. I can't see how people don't like it this year. SOB is amazing, Best woodie at KI. Firehawk is pretty good, Wayyyyy better than any B&M Flier I've ridden. it has something called Force, unlike Superman clones. If you aren't using sarcasm, then this needs to go in the "things said on TPR" thread in random. Seriously, Tatsu is a wonderfully forceful flyer with, get this: No Painful restraints!! As for SoB being amazing... even if it were butter smooth, the layout is boring and there is absolutely no airtime at all. It will end up being torn down one of these days, and the peasants shall rejoice. Go ride Voyage or even Raven or Cornball in your home state, and then compare to SoB. No contest. Even Racer's a better woodie. At least it attempts to have some airtime. -James Dillaman
coolcalicoaster Posted May 5, 2009 Posted May 5, 2009 Wow, You didn't seem to like Beast too much; it's a great ride. I can't see how people don't like it this year. SOB is amazing, Best woodie at KI. Firehawk is pretty good, Wayyyyy better than any B&M Flier I've ridden. it has something called Force, unlike Superman clones. Not everybody values force as much as you. I thought Batman at SFMM was the worst invert I had ever ridden because of the annoyingly tight layout. I prefer wide open speed and smooth curves. I liked X-flight, err Firehawk and prefer it over Superman Clones, but I would take a Tatsu or Manta anyday of the week. So you see my friend, we all have different tastes.
scruffy Posted May 5, 2009 Posted May 5, 2009 Guess I am just getting older The Racers did have a lot of air time back in the day. The Beast is a different ride now days. My friends would run on it when raining so it would feel like no breaks. Very nice pictures I have to meet you at the park one day.
tedten Posted May 5, 2009 Posted May 5, 2009 I hope you got to take a night ride on the beast, Guy. It's probably the favorite coaster moment I've come across so far. Also I've found that flyers are much better about 3/4's of the way back in the train. I think I prefer Firehawk to the S:UF clones but I probably wouldn't prefer them over Tatsu or Manta.
angryemobeaver Posted May 5, 2009 Posted May 5, 2009 No I was not being sarcastic whats so ever. I bet almost every Coaster Enthusiast who has ridden SOB Actually liked it a little, they just don't want to admit it since some people hate it, and they think they'd be considered noobish if they said they liked it. I haven't ridden alot of wooden coasters (20), but SOB is my favorite. I haven't gotten to ride Voyage yet cause Holiday World is about 3 Hours and you have to take state roads to get there. I have been to HW, in 2001 so I only got to Ride Raven and Legend. I have Not been to IB cause no one will take me (Can't drive yet.) But SOB is actually a great ride, you do in fact get loads of airtime on the 214ft. drop, and out of the MCBR if the trim is light. I'm sure Voyage, El Toro, and alot of other woodies are better than SOB but out of the wooden coasters I've ridden, SOB is my #1.
PKI Jizzman Posted May 6, 2009 Author Posted May 6, 2009 No I was not being sarcastic whats so ever. I bet almost every Coaster Enthusiast who has ridden SOB Actually liked it a little, they just don't want to admit it since some people hate it, and they think they'd be considered noobish if they said they liked it. I haven't ridden alot of wooden coasters (20), but SOB is my favorite. I haven't gotten to ride Voyage yet cause Holiday World is about 3 Hours and you have to take state roads to get there. I have been to HW, in 2001 so I only got to Ride Raven and Legend. I have Not been to IB cause no one will take me (Can't drive yet.) But SOB is actually a great ride, you do in fact get loads of airtime on the 214ft. drop, and out of the MCBR if the trim is light. I'm sure Voyage, El Toro, and alot of other woodies are better than SOB but out of the wooden coasters I've ridden, SOB is my #1. Umm...I can give the "Every Coaster Enthusiast who has ridden liked it a little..." A resounding no. -Shuffling down the station drop out.. -Holding ears as the bleed due to the loud lift -Nervously anticipating the pain at the top of the first hill -Rose bowl hell. -MCBR -Nothingness between the next rose bowl of hell -Gut busting brakes That's the just 4/5 times on SOB. One time I had a really smooth ride after it re-opened. It was still my least favorite woodie, as James said...it's a crap layout and ride. I only once got airtime on SoB when the MCBR was turned off. That was fun for like, a few seconds. But hey...everyone has their own favorites! I'm hoping it's not too lonely over there at the "SoB's my fav" lunch table. ANYWAYS....pictures will be up soon from Saturday! -Zach
dougstanton Posted May 6, 2009 Posted May 6, 2009 ^ I think so. We also ran into Doug Stanton while eating Skyline... but we'll let the photo takers tell that amusing story.... -James Dillaman Oh god. I was there and don't know about this amusing story haha. I am very scared. It really was a surprise to see all of you guys at the park...and then AGAIN the following day at Holiday World. Unfortunately I was with a group of non-TPRers because I would have definitely hung out with you guys for the rest of the day.
PKI Jizzman Posted May 6, 2009 Author Posted May 6, 2009 Here's the May 2nd batch! I know, I got creative again. It's so pretty though! Upon release... Entertaining myself in line for SoB. NO BREADSTICKS FOR YOU D: Why?! Whyyy am I riding this a second time? Oh, for JZ ofcourse Chuck putting on his pouty face as we approach SoB. Is this forshadowing? I wanna go back to the Intamin!!! Pretty much the only ride we didn't do... lolwut Next up was Adventure Express! With the monotone ride op. "Fantastic." Fort Kinzel melts brains! There's no place to hide here! They've taken my brain! Chuck entertaining in the line with his amusing stories of Hummel Boy. "There's no Haunt theming here...I have no idea where I am! Well, surely not Kings Dominion!" Hey Chuck...you know where we are? The group...minus James...chillin' in the midway. Exiting the batwing... Sideloop! I spy little red riding hood! Looooop After Italian Hand Job, we headed over to Vortex. Yup, airtime into the splashdown! Failed attempt at a photo #1. That's right, guys! Get ready to hold your stomach and wave your hands in the air....you're on the Beast! So pretty Finally got a decent shot of Beast's new area. Such a pretty day on Saturday. Gotta stop for some photos! Walking underneath Diamondback... Junior Hang 'n Bang is where the real excitement is at! Some CRAZY foot choppers on this ride. Erik, Chuck, and Andrew glowing after their morning rides. Great group! Waiting for the dispatch Erik and Andrew are ready for their Row 2 adventures on Diamondback Nerds will be happy they can walk underneath the bottom of the lift. Guy's sooooo happy he has all his credits in! James is happy he's too sick to make it to classes! (coughcough)
slither37 Posted May 6, 2009 Posted May 6, 2009 Great TR! Going this saturday to KI for Ride Warriors. As a long time Beast fan, I must agree with what Guy said earlier on, Beast is well past its prime. I rode this opening year when I was 9, was the greatest. I remember the pond you went over after boarding and before the lift hill, the themeing was pretty cool. Then the rush to get in line at the end of the day at just the right time....Great memories, but there are days now when I am at KI that I do not ride it, although I have heard that it is somewhat smoother. Also must agree with the review of Firehawk, the first and only time I rode this, my humerus decided to become detached from the nice cozy socket it usually sits in at the shoulder. It came out as I assumed the superman pose and banked to the right after the first drop. ouch. Not fun going through the ride with my arm flopping around. ouch. But at least I go the rare first aid golf cart thingy credit. And later morphine! I also am looking forward to how the blacktop has been removed and replaced with pavers. The area around the new Beast entrance in your photos looks very nice as well as the entrance area to Diamondback. Looking forward to seeing all the spruce ups that have been done. Thanks for the TR, very good.
jamesdillaman Posted May 6, 2009 Posted May 6, 2009 There is entirely too much of me in this update. I don't remember you taking so many pictures with me in them. You are sneaky! Oh well. I had a great time. I'm glad you could hang out with us, JZ, it was so much fun! I'll catch you around later this season. Did you get pics of lunchtime when we ran into Doug? -James Dillaman
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