Carolina Coaster Classic...Thru my eyes!

[jarmor]

Well, this was my first event like this and I have to say, I was reserved to attend a coaster event in the past because I didnt know how it would go. I didnt know if it will be like the first day of high school and I was the new kid or what. I also didnt know if it was gonna be all clique-ish like one particular coaster website cough**coaster**cough**buzz**ahem**... but to my suprise it was totally like a big family reunion. This year set a record for attendance, which was at 129, and from a total of 17 different states. What puzzled me is that no one from the PKI area came to give the flyers a spin since it was featured in a NIGHT TIME ERT! Everyone was friendly and nice to everyone, and everyone seemed like they wanted to be there, despite the heat. With the exception of one person, who obviously flunked public speaking 101, who totally dissed the park for no reason (basically he sounded like one of rollernuts followers) everything was awesome. Well im gonna let the pics speak for themselves...

 

Everyone registered around 7:30ish and gathered in the entrance of the south gate. Suprisingly, some regular GP were already at the gates ready to get in, at 7:30 in the morning!). After a brief wait we were on our way to enjoy some ERT on Carolina Cyclone (who after all these years rides just like Tenn. Tornado did in its first year of operationing), Ricohet (the parks mack wild mouse that uses basically 3 trims during the whole course and then they aren't on that hard...), and Hurler (which was speeding thru the course like it was its last ride!)

 

Here we are at the Carolina Cyclone. Thanks the the recent track work modification this ride is super smooth, how smooth you ask...think B&M smooth.

 

Here is CC pulling out of the second vertical loop getting ready to fly around the curve leading into the double corkscrew with a train full of acers...see anyone you reconize?

 

Another train full of acers exiting the station.

 

Moving over to ricohet for some of the strongest laterals I have ever felt on a barely 50 ft coaster here are a few posters from Carowinds Connection enjoying their trim-skinny ride!

 

After that, the group met up at Scooby Doo's Haunted Mansion for a good ole fashion scooby shout out! As you see here the turn out was great for this part of the event and everyone was pump up to shoot up some ghost and find those scooby snacks! (can you spot a certain **Coasterfanatic...**)

 

Here are ACE members Mark and his daughter chelsea and her boyfriend getting ready to get the highest score, but did they...

 

Chris, another big help at the event, was getting all the scores from all the participants but becareful, the three carowindsconnectateers!

 

The park open up and we had a few hours to explore before the group photo and lunch so guess where almost everyone went...yep the flyers!

 

Heres Mark again, even he decided to "go ghost" while his daughter and her boyfriend spent almost the whole day in the waterpark!

 

Now we have some of the "wootah" crew, jonathan, jay, and someone who's name I forgot taking advantage of what I think is one of the best flats hands down, Danny Phantom flyers.

 

 

 

 

 

Next up is the Amazing rACE! This was totally awesome especially for a first year event. While I had never watched the series on TV, after watching and participating im curious as to if the TV show is as good as what we pulled off... one of the challanges was to ride Vortex and after that you would get your next clue. Its hard to make out but here are some of the contestants working on getting their next clue!

 

And here is Jon and Jay getting ready to get their next clue!

 

The next stop Mark and me had to be at was Thunder Road north along with Chip and...dang I forgot the other persons name...but here are some shots of the contestants getting their next clue!

 

 

 

Now in the final round of the Amazing rACE we are now down to 4 teams outta 13 and here they go on the last journey!

 

For next years park guide and brochures, the park HAS to use this picture!!

 

After having to answer some questions at the happy days diner, here comes tina and her partner ready for the next challange...

 

All of the final 4 contestants had to chose from playing the "get the ball in the peach barrel" or "get the ball in the tall milk jug" game. And folks this was not an easy thing to do!

 

 

 

These guys are sweating not just because its hot, but the game had them running all over the park for like 3 hours! Talk about a work out...

 

Now they are off to finish the final challanges of what is called...The Amazing rACE!

 

And who actually won you ask...it was none other than tina and her partner, and what did they win...well nothing really except a family of 4 season passes! Oh and let me mention the prizes the 2nd and 3rd place winners got...8 tickets to either SCarowinds OR Winterfest! Dont quote me on this but I think the 4th plACERS got T-Shirts...

 

Here are the final 4 posing for a group picture!

 

Before we move on lets see some of the contestants making to the final pit stop!

 

 

 

 

 

And I have heard the stories and seen the pictures but I was lucky enough to spot one of the white squirrels in the park, but this one looks to have pink nuts...

 

Now its time for some night time ERT on Danny Phantom Flyers! I bet you folks at PKI cant do this...

 

 

 

 

or this...

 

 

 

 

Heres a shot of some Acers eagerly waiting to ride the flying eagles...err Danny Phantoms flyers.

 

After that it was time to get some laps on Hey Arnolds! Taxi Jam. This was a first for me and it was pretty fun! Even got my back cracked for free...

 

 

 

 

 

Some Acers waiting to ride and board...

 

 

I felt it was time to go check out some of the ERT time on top gun, one of the best inverted forceFULL B&M' out there!

 

Here you can see the train flying over the camel back that goes over the station. This has to be the first time I have experienced it with out it slowing down at all!

 

This is the train molesting the zero-g roll in complete darkness!

 

The station for top gun has always been a pretty darn nice looking piece of work, day and night.

 

Here comes the very tall and slim vertical loop that leads you into the tunnel, that the park forgot to turn off the sprinkler system in, right before the immelman.

 

Now in the station were bayard, one of the awesome white shirts and park celebs., yelling out that it was the last ride...

 

After that it was time to go home...

 

Overall it was an event to remember. If you guys who are reading this are considering going to a coaster event that isnt in your back yard I would strongly suggest comming down to Carowinds for Carolinas Coaster Classic because everything was on point! Even had some of the best food (man those ribs were too good to be true!)! I met some new folks, learn some new things, even got a season pass with a member from FLA who was nice enough to give me his guest pass! Suprisingly the heat didnt bother me because I was in and out of the shade and constantly drinking water and THE PARK WASNT CROWDED at all! What more can you ask for you say.....

 

 

A hyper coaster that goes under the bridge!