The Great Escape - Short TR

[KBrylczyk]

Hey guys -

 

I mentioned here a few weeks ago that my company is providing Six Flags entertainment for it's Fright Fest events around the country and that I was working the shows at The Great Escape. Today I got pretty lucky and had an hour and a half of downtime where I was given the opportunity to actually go on some rides. Now, I had never been to The Great Escape before this job, but I did see the rave reviews for The Comet from the TPR Trip last year (?) and really wanted to give it a shot. Today I was finally able to ride it.

 

The ride is spectacular. It was just good, old fashioned FUN! Airtime on every hill, great lateral Gs, a good length, and it never let up its speed, which really shocked me considering its age. Herbert Schmeck has never disappointed me and now I'm not sure if I prefer this or The Phoenix, haha. I was able to ride in the front and had a blast. Excellent ride.

 

After The Comet, I had about 45 minutes before my next show was to begin, so I quickly jumped in line for the Alpine Bobsled. There have been hints that this may be the final year for the ride, but I haven't heard anything in my time working here, so I'm hopeful that it will stay. There's a serious lack of bobsled coasters remaining. Anyways, onto the review.

 

I got to sit in the front of the Canada bobsled, haha. Its been years since I rode a single-car bobsled coaster (last Bobsled I rode was Avalanche at KD, which is a train). In fact, the last single-car I rode was Disaster Transport at CP in 2001. For all I know, Alpine Bobsled and Disaster Transport could be clones, but I digress. The seating really threw me for a loop, as it is extremely low to the ground and the lapbars are pretty intrusive to one's legs, especially since I'm 6'3". It was a bit uncomfortable at first. Once the ride began, though, I was having a grand ol' time. Just like The Comet, this ride is pure fun. It never gets extremely fast, but those cars really whip themselves around the turns. And when I say whip, I mean whip. The back ends of the cars were fishtailing like they were part of a drifting competition. The entire ride had an out-of-control feeling that I loved and put a huge grin on my face.

 

Unfortunately once I finished Alpine Bobsled I had to get back to work. I'm hopeful that I'll get a similar chance next weekend to ride at least The Comet again. Other than that, the shows are going extremely well and we've been getting rave reviews from park officials and guests alike. Seeya!

 

OH! Bonus for you guys! I grabbed these pictures of one of the park's maintenance guys doing a morning inspection of the Sky Coaster. It goes without saying that this man has bigger cajones than I can ever dream. Enjoy!