Mitch Hawker's Coaster Poll 2009!

[Erik Johnson]

The secret in riding the Beast is to ride it in a middle row of a car which is the non wheel seat. I think I am only one of a handful who still ranks it in the top 20. Yes, that is probably a bit crazy but we all have at least one or two strange choices in our top 20's right?

[adamico2]

Seriously, the Beast after the second lift hill in the back row in the morning was the most painful experience I have had on a coaster, I thought my ribcage was going to be crushed.

 

I just rode it tis past October (in the back seat), and it was noticeably smoother than it was in the past several years.

On a side note, the do operate it trim-free after heavy rain storms (when there is a one train operation).

[downunder]

^I rode it in 2007 on the TPR midwest tour, it was bad then.

 

^^Thanks for reminding me, it's a shame I didn't get a chance to give it a go on a non-wheel seat.

[Skycoastin Steve]

The secret in riding the Beast is to ride it in a middle row of a car which is the non wheel seat. I think I am only one of a handful who still ranks it in the top 20. Yes, that is probably a bit crazy but we all have at least one or two strange choices in our top 20's right?

 

I still have it ranked 13 out of 45. I think it's still a decent enough ride, but the night rides I had on it are what's keeping the ranking as high as it is. I was insanely disappointed with my one ride this year that was trimmed up the wazoo and rather boring, except for the double helix, of course.

[Capitalize]

I'll rank Beast higher than some people, but only with the stipulation that I'm thinking of night rides, and counting centimental value, and remembering the ride before the magnetic brakes...

[cfc]

I liked Beast, too--in my top 20 this year.

 

But if they make a bonfire out of Son of Beast, I'd definitely attend.

[PKI Jizzman]

Seriously, the Beast after the second lift hill in the back row in the morning was the most painful experience I have had on a coaster, I thought my ribcage was going to be crushed.

 

I just rode it tis past October (in the back seat), and it was noticeably smoother than it was in the past several years.

On a side note, the do operate it trim-free after heavy rain storms (when there is a one train operation).

 

I can't remember the dates, but a few years ago I had the absolute worst coaster experience on the Beast. As stated above, I aslo felt like my ribcage was chrushed. The restraint punched into my gut, then it just jackhammered. I got off having breathing problems and actually went to first aid; I said I wouldn't ride again.

 

About 2 years later I rode again, but only in the front seat; didn't go anywhere else. After I heard about the re-tracking I ride in the middle, and it wasn't bad. But that incident I had a few years ago really freaked me out, so I was too nervous to ride again.

 

Yeah, Beast has improved quite a bit in '08 and '09. I only ride at night when I know it's best, a whole new ride at night.

 

I think the Raven is a perfect example at what the Beast should be, world's longest coaster or short like Raven.

 

-Jizz"Raven at night stomps ALL over Beast"Man

[Solid Gold]

You can partly blame me for the Beast's low ranking. I had it last on my ballot.

 

The one ride I had on it I smacked my elbow hard enough on the side of the train that it began to bleed. It's the only coaster I've been on that caused that particular sensation.

 

Epic double helix though, I'd give it a second chance.

[Jew]

Riding Beast in the rain was one of the most miserable coaster riding experiences I've ever had.

[CorkscrewFoley]

That's funny about what was said about where to ride on the Beast. I've heard the same thing about Magnum with sitting on the non-axel seat.

[zztop]

well ozark wildcat will probally go to another park owned by the company

[robbalvey]

^ It would be nice if it could be modifed to fit in somewhere at SDC.

[Skycoastin Steve]

Hasn't there been a small amount of speculation about OzCat going to Wild Adventures in 2011? That would certainly add a little credibility to that park's reputation.

[robbalvey]

^ Speculation, yes, but nothing concrete at all.

 

One would assume it would end up at one of the companies other properties and that really only leaves two options if you assume that Dollywood wouldn't get it since they already have Thunderhead.

 

--Robb

[Skycoastin Steve]

Hmmmm.....let me see if there are any blank company checks lying around the office so I can purchase OzCat and move it to Alabama.

[alpengeist04]

Not to mention the trains are at Wild Adventures right now, which is the reason the speculation started in the first place.

 

...Here's hoping this speculation does come true.

[robbalvey]

Not to mention the trains are at Wild Adventures right now, which is the reason the speculation started in the first place.

 

...Here's hoping this speculation does come true.

Ahh...I had not heard that. Very interesting!

[Erik Johnson]

^ From what I understand is that they are going to try to use them on Cheetah. But there is always hope that they will move the entire coaster to Valdosta.

[Skycoastin Steve]

Millennium Flyers on a coaster that isn't GCI. Should be rather interesting to see how it works out if they use them. It's bound to be better than the clunker Gerstlauers they have on there. I think Cheetah would have been way better with PTC's because the airtime hills provided great pops of air, but those damn lapbars obliterated my femurs.

[robbalvey]

I will say though that as much as I really hated some of the earlier Gerstlauer trains on the CCI woodies, the newer trains they've produced, like the ones on Falken and Mammut seemed to work much, much better.

 

--Robb

[Skycoastin Steve]

^From the look/sound of the Mammut POV, it sounds like they ride like the Intamin trains, very smooth and quiet. Mammut just doesn't look like an exciting ride, though. Somehow, I thought the Gerstlauers on Boss weren't that bad, and that's the ONLY time I can say that I had a positive experience with those trains.

[robbalvey]

Mammut was not very exciting, no. I was hoping it would be more like an "Intamin twister" but it was very tame.

 

I'm sure it's done well for the park but seeing as how it debuted at #68 really says something.

 

But I thought the trains were great!

 

--Robb

[DBru]

Screamscape reported a couple weeks ago that the park didn't have plans to add the OzCat trains to Cheetah for 2010...if that means anything to anyone...

[robbalvey]

^ I would have assumed that was the case. I was under the impression that a GCI Millennium Flyer train wouldn't work on any other woodies other than a GCI.

 

--Robb

[SharkTums]

^Not to mention the fact that nothing could make Cheetah better. Except perhaps burning it down and having Intamin rebuild it.