PTR: Holwood Nights

[spaceace12]

Friday Started off by getting camp set up. That took no time since I had done two times since I got my tent. AFter getting my tent set up, I looked at a tent site across the road and I noticed someone I knew (Charles Nungster) from RRC and a Sprint car board. I talked to him until it was close enough to go to the park and not be busy. I rode Legend before heading up to the Picnic Grounds.

 

During the time to clear the park, they talked. First off was that Pilgrims Plunge was down. They had to order an encoder from Germany, sounds like bad news right? Well, the part had been in transit since early in the week and it left Philly Friday morning at 5am. They also said that the UPS hub manager was going to personally check the truck at 5am when it got in on Saturday Morning. Will said he would be waiting for hte phone call and would drive to get it so it could be up for us for ERT if it came in. Paula asked us since PP was down if we wanted to ride Hollowswings for an hour (or take pictures). So they opened it up for us.

 

They also said that Legend was down since Thursday, but the good news was that a mat. person had drove the gearbox from HW to Cinci that night before and got a new one and drove it back and it would be open for us for ERT. Plus one for Holiday World.

 

ERT started and I rode Voyage once and Legend once and got my cameras for the swing ERT. Since swings wasn't open, I walked around taking pictures with and without flashes. Once the swings opened, I stood around there for about 45 minutes taking pictures. While taking pictures on swings, I laid my video camera down on a trash can. Which was on unlevel ground. End result, my big flash and video camera crashed to the ground. Flash still worked, wish I could say the same for the video camera. Atleast they have gone down in price since I got it. Ended up leaving early disappointed I broke my video camera.

 

Saturday morning there was no word on if PP would be open. Just that they were working on it. Walked down for the breakfest, which was actually good: muffins, fruit and juice (for an ERT breakfest good, not good breakfest restraunt good). And waited around to see if PP would open. Talked to a TPR member (Zachster?) while waiting.

 

Soon I found out it was open, so I made the long trek from Bahari to PP. Initial reactions to the ride is that it is awesome. Splash might not be big, bt from a riders point. Front seat you ge drenched (well any seat) and the last two seats get a minute point of air.

 

After ERT was over, I went back to my tent and just spent some time in the campground talking to other HWN attendees. Then went back to the park for the walk backs. Had I known that Raven/Legend walk back was one way, I would have taken more pictures. After exiting the walkback, I went back to the PP to wait for the Voyage walk back.

 

During the Voyage walk back, Korey from Gravitity Group was on it, once we got back to the turn around, everyone was asking him questions. It was educational on the walk back to the back listening to him talk about designing it.

 

Saturday night dinner started, and early for me as the lines were a little long (compared to normal May attendance) and the clouds were getting dark. While there, one of the coaster Matience workers were there (Dennis) and enjoyed talking to him. It was educational also. Did you know that it takes two people to walk the Voyage track? And that they do it backwards?

 

While eating, the skies opened up. Downpours, hail, lightning and thunder. This lasted a good hour as we waited. At about 10pm, they announced the storms were passed and they were walking the tracks of the coasters. At some point, sitting around got the best of some of us and I don't know if they realesed us or we just started walking, but we got back to Voyage and they started testing.

 

Not long after testing started, they released the lap bars and opened the air gates. Third train out was mine and I was in the back seat. Going up the lift with lightning in the distance was really cool. Soon the ride crested the lift and OMG that was the most insane, incredible, mind numbing, and any other word to describe a crazy ride ever taken. Voyage went back to my number one. It was insane. Not long after I got off, Korey from GG got off and he agreed.

 

Legend was running good after the rain, it was like coaster heaven. I rode Voyage a total of three times that night and Raven and Legend once. I have a fear of storms when I am out of the open and the lightning seemed really close. I know if the lightning was close, they would shut it down, but it didn't help me any. I left about an hour into ERT. And that was the end of HW.

 

Kings Island text coming up and then pictures.

[spaceace12]

I went to Kings Island on Sunday.

 

I arrived at the park at about 11:30am and went straight for Diamondback. Thanks to the singles rider line I got two rides in 20 minutes. After that I was meeting up with Sheri and Sammi to cash in my postcard favor for helping Sammi. I meet them at Little Bill's coaster and got it (thank you both) and proceeded to Nick Universe to get a few credits in there.

 

After getting Avatar and Raptor, headed for Beast. Beast from a looking stand point, looks like an awesome coasters. Of course you can't see the hidden trims on all points you could have gotten air. I don't get why so many people like the Beast, sure the Helix's are fun, but there is nothing else fun on that coaster thanks to the trims. 5/10

 

While riding Beast, heard someone yell "hey Holiwood Nights". Turned around and there was a group of people I talked to the night before. We headed towards Vortex. Line was pretty short, heard the back seat was the seat to sit in so that is where we headed. BAck seat of Vortex is not tall people friendly. It was a fun ride, better than beast. I had not ate anything that morning so I wasn't feeling well, but not bad enough to spend five dollars on a piece of bread. So I toughed it out. I give Vortex 7/10 just before of the bad seating for me.

 

We then headed towards the x base area. We got a locker and went to Firehawk. I had never been on a flying coaster so this was my first. The shoulder restraints were pretty heavy, but that is probably needed. The transition to the flying position gave me a little head rush. AS we exited the station laying on our backs, the sun was right into my eyes. Not pleasant. As we approached the lift, the sun wasn't as bad as the loud lift hill. After the flip over, I was able to open my eyes and I liked the ride. 9/10.

 

We then headed over to Flight of FEar. I take it was put in during paramounts reign because it was pretty well themed que. The ride seemed like a mix between Rockin Roller coaster and Space Mountain, and I liked it. 9/10.

 

Since I was down to two coasters on my to do list, I headed toward Son of Beast. I knew it was going to be rough, how rough, I didn't know. After about 45 minutes, we boarded for a middle seat. The drop right out of the station is cool, but he shuffling and movement of the train (back and forth, Side to side) is not. I wasn't feeling that great at all before the ride so it didn't help. As we approached the lift, a familiar sound started. A freaking loud as can be lift hill. Little would I know that would be the worst of the trouble. 5/10.

 

Cedar Fair should just stick to steel coasters. After riding SoB, I decided it was time to leave (4pm) for my 3 hour trek home. I didn't take any pictures this time. So no Kings Island pictures.

 

So words done, time for my pictures to do the talking.

[spaceace12]

Photos!!!

Last one for this set. This is my tent. Exciting isn't it.

If you didn't know, they staff the ticket offices all night long. This guy works for nothing.

I was having fun, can't you tell?

Something really cool about this shot.

See people are riding.

They kicked it into hyper speed. They found some riders later in Indianapolis.

Mushroom Power

Some of the lights don't work, but how often does it run at night.

It lives

I used my flash on this one.

I think there is something cool and erie about rides at night.

[spaceace12]

more

More flags more fun?

 

Six flags= Six flags

 

Holiday World= Eight Flags.

These clamps are used to hold wood and steel in place while they drill.

I want....

Soon as some found out who Korey was, it was like an Q and A session.

Did I really design this? (Korey thinking)

I love playing with depth of field.

This photo brought to you by Pepsi and Gravity Group.

Third to last row Right: I am eating HAIR

Going down.

Here is a bunch of PP photos.

If you didn't read the text portion, now you know it lives.

Picture sorta sucks....but is sorta different.

 

And through the trees.

Holiday Worlds Wood shop.

Front left: What time we leaving

Front right: NEEEEVVVEEERRR

 

Third row right": LET ME OFF.

Fourth row left: ZZZZZ

Will it run? If you read the text portion, you know.

[holyblakbelt]

Nice TR.

 

I liked how you took pictures of the drop of Pilgram's Plunge. It makes it look like I'm going through a flipbook.

[Wes]

I think you need to clean your lens, man. I keep seeing the same blotches and a curly hair in a bunch of the photos.

 

Nice report otherwise!

[spaceace12]

I cleaned my lense a few days before, wtf. I wonder if the filter is shot, been on the camera for about 3 years. Been at the dirt track about 8 times so that might be an issue. Actually the whole camera needs ot be sent off to be professionally cleaned. I got 13,000 clicks and haven't done that yet.

[WildStangAlex]

Love your pics, Adam.

[Voyage_freak]

good TR Adam, it sure was a fun weekend wasn't it

[spaceace12]

Yep, I will be at Six Flags St. Louis on the 27th for a concert. I expect the park to be packed so I probably won't even arrive until a few hours before it.