tjpavlik

Trips planned for Kings Island, Cedar Point and Canada's Wonderland. Should work take me there, and it most likely will; Carowinds, Kings Dominion, California Great America/Gilroy Gardens and Worlds of Fun. I hit Knotts two weeks ago and hopefully will go again early in 2014.

Yesterday I wore my glasses on Silver Bullet, Xcelerator, Boomergang, Sierra Sidewinder, Montezooma's Revenge and the Coaster Rider and was told (and checked to make sure I had a string) by every ride attendant who came by. I didn't have time to check with management but it would seem if every ride attendant said and did the same thing a policy change has been made.

A new change, glasses now permitted on rides with a retainer string.

We have a loop. From GWL.

I think it is the (air) compressor shed for the pneumatic brakes. I would guess the shed leaks and they are trying to dry things out prior to shutting everything down. Just a guess.

I had posted this in a previous topic but here it is again. Bat footer just prior to the steps in The Vortex (Bat) There are footers with cut metal scattered under The Vortex. que.

I got to sample some of the local flavor while traveling out to the bay area on business this weekend. California Great American is down by San Jose, and staying in Oakland with not a whole lot planned I packed the Platnium Pass to experience a little NorCal coaster action. I arrived at the park at about 9:45 and waited in line till they opened at 10:00. No early ride times, although the girl scouts were having a day and were let in prior to general opening. Security was in effect with bag searches and wand downs. After entering I immediately went over to the Gold Striker; their new coaster for this year. It was a one train wait. I think its a new GCI coaster and it is incredibly smooth for a woody (If your looking for The Beast/Racer style shuddering of the car you're going to be disappointed) . Its a quick, intense ride but what made it cool was the way overbanked turns. The Demon was next, and I felt kind of bad because when I got to the loading area I was the only patron there with three ride ops. (They have to run all three trains to get me back to the station) I got in the front seat and off I went. Its a lot like the Corkscrew at CP. They have some good theming in the ride ( the skull cave before the corkscrew was the best) but you won't notice if you don't look around. I then wandered down the midway to the Grizzly, but it wasn't up yet so I ended up at the FireFall. Its a Huss Top Spin. Its not my favorite ride but if I remember correctly they were playing the The Crypt music with the ride operation. Lots of water effects but no fire effects. I then did Flight Deck, their inverted coaster. Great theming in the line. Radar dishes, missles, pictures of F-15s over a carrier (?!?) The ride was ok. Its an older inverter with the over head restraints and it beat me up pretty good. I started in the front seat and when it came back to the station no one was in line so I rode again in the back. Same result. Then it was time to do The Vortex, their stand up coaster. A one train wait and I was on. I don't know why I do it to myself but Stand ups are killers for me. Boxed my ears continuously! I was ready to get off after the first descending turn! I think the best thing they could do is put sit down cars in or re engineer the restraint system. It hurts! Lastly I ran back the Grizzly and rode it. It was their original coaster and a good, but once again quick ride. I then had to leave the park for other scenic views: A good, quick trip. BTW they made me take my glasses off on most of the rides, so it must be a California thing.

I would have enjoyed a brew and a dog but I was a little concerned about open flame in a vehicle parked in a sea of parked cars.

The best parking lot infraction I saw this year was a lit barbeque grill and several guys drinking beer... in the bed of a parked pickup truck! Yeah, I called security and they were there in less than 30 seconds.

It was in there at the KIC event over the summer. Its not a full fledged crane system per se, more of a gantry type system.

I'm in.

I'll renew the families' Platinum. Does anyone know how long the 2013 Platinum pass is valid? I'm planning to hit Knotts in November/December and wondering if this years works or a 2014 needs to be purchased.

I assumed that all the gold particles were from the air powered brake calipers in the station. I'm not sure of the metal composition, I know its not gold (too soft) ; perhaps a magnesium alloy.

This morning (8/19) I noticed standing in line in the que under the track there is a ton of gold dust scattered about. I would guess that the dust is from the braking system and someone simply got a little energetic with the compressed air in the station after closing. There were some bigger gold colored chunks as well. Any other ideas?

Is there any mention of removing the Slingshot? It didn't make the POV video while all the other rides had bits of screen time.

The Enquirer also said it was to be built by the same company that built The Beast. Several people have checked with the city of Mason for records and only came up with a permit to allow concrete footers with the value of $250,000 to be poured. The day before the announcement blueprints come out? Timing seems to be too good. And would the city of Mason screw one of their biggest taxpayers ? Or would they play along for a week... HMMM.....

Has anyone put out the possibility that the blueprints are a diversion released by the park ? They look authentic to me but B & M or Intamin for that matter could and would produce them (a realistic false set of blueprints) for the park as part of the hype leading up to the announcement. Who is PatrickMichael? Why has the park not said anything in response to the release of the blueprints? (Which look to have been accessed in a non-lawful manner) Any publicity is good publicity. Cedar Fair may be having fun with us all the while gaining that free publicity ( as high as #4 yahoo trending topics).

Double post. darn iPhone.

B&M dive machine Longest/most inversions Green/silver/black Earlier I thought an inverter but now I'm not so sure. All a guess till the 8th. See you there.

At KI. Best sound: Diamondback from the bottom of the first hill Best Smell: lift chain grease on The Beast from the front car. Worst Smell: the dumpster from behindthe Zyphyr. It's the round and round plus the smell makes it a once a year rider. Subway bread smell is a close second. Yuck.

He's waiting for you....

A few Bat footers are scattered throughout the layout of Vortex. The most prominent footer is on the right side of the que right before you enter the building. A few of the footers have the remnants of supports that were cut by a cutting torch or the like. I loved that ride. It rocked (and rolled)! I knew I had a pic...

I flew over the former Hard Rock Park in Myrtle Beach Wednesday. Things are starting to get overgrown and rusty. I wonder how long rides can sit out in the weather with no maintenance before they become unsalvagable? The Led Zepplin Coaster has/had to be worth something other than scrap. Sad and a little bit spooky all rolled up into one.

Spent an hour at World of Fun in Kansas City today. Got a few shots of the Patriot. Its an older B & M inverter so I expect some differences. Its a very fun, if short ride.

Sporty's Pilot Shop (sportys.com) sells a product that wears like a bracelet that uses accupressure to combat nausea discomfort. While I haven't used it I had flight students swear by the product. As an added bonus, Sporty's is right around the corner from Clermont Steel.