Hank

Hey! Is that loop for sale? I'm building a wooden coaster in my backyard and if I could find a used loop.......

On FOF, there is (what I will call) a "dip" just prior to the end of the ride. I don't know if this is what you all were speaking about when you said "final corkscrew" (I can't tell if it's a corkscrew) but the feeling (to me) is that the train goes down while you're going up - and then the ride levels off and stops. Please enlighten me on this element. The other favorite, no longer in existance, was the last small hill on The Racer at PKI. The possible head remover got me every time!

I see that the PKI website is now offering e-tickets for 2007. The price is $29.95. Is this the same as last year, or is this a special price thing for the holidays?

Boy, those elephants almost looked real! Just kidding. Nice slideshow. I was very impressed by AK when I was there a couple of years ago. Some friends of mine said it was nothing but a glorified zoo, and I found that to be firther from the truth than the earth is from Pluto (the ex-planet, not the dog). And yes, even without a crowded park, it took a lot more than just part of the day to experience everything - and we still didn't get to all of it. That's OK - time to go back!

After Flight Commander was removed, where did it go? Are there any other Flight Commanders anywhere? I was on the ride twice - I thought it was cool.

There was an interesting show on National Geographic Channel last night about toilets - called FLUSHED. They said that, up until the 1800's, people "toileted" together, much like using a bathhouse together. Conversations were carried on during the "outcomes" and males and females "did it" together in the same room - no dividers, no stalls, no privacy. I guess this is where the lack of dividers in men's restrooms originated. Back on topic - If only Top Gun were twice the length, if only Top Gun got rid of those OTSH's, if only Top Gun didn't require a two mile hike to get to the loading platform - then it would be my favorite. However, once you get on the ride, all bad things are forgotten.

No Revenge of The Bat! Instead, they're going to combine King Cobra with the old Safari ride - you'll stand-up and ride on the monorail through various wild animals, such as those who hate SOB, those who think TR is a waste, those who avoid IJST because they say it's too lame, and those who will be REALLY disappointed when PKI (or KI) doesn't get a new coaster next season!

May I ask why certain rides were closed because of the cold? Could you elaborate? I realize the water stuff, but Face Off?

You know, a little bit BETTER landscaping would do wonders for the entire park. I live in Toledo and we have a suburb called Maumee. Toledo does well with the landscaping, but once you cross into Maumee, YOU KNOW IT because it's so much nicer. I think it would even make me forget that The Racer used to look good - 3 colors and shiny!

Anything going on at SOB? Just wondering.

Everyday the news reminds us of how obeese we American's are becoming. OK - lose weight and all will be well, but that's hard to do - and if the numbers the news tells us are correct, there aren't gonna be many people able to ride these coasters anymore. Even if they ALL went on diets, it would take a long time to get PERFECTLY into shape to be able to ride - and I have to ask if a park can sustain the loss of business while everyone trims down. So, why not make the restraints a bit more accomodating - a la B&M and S&S - because I don't see us American's getting skinny anytime soon. When the park orders a new ride, make sure people can fit on it. There will be some of you that will say it can't be done for saftey reasons. I say bullcrap to that - the same thinking goes into the making of an automobile and I don't see anyone being denied a driver's seat in a new Chevy or Ford. For god's sake, think outside the darn box once in a while. Another bug up my butt... I can ride on everything at PKI, but hardly anything at CP. When next year rolls around, will CF change all of the restraints to match those at CP? And I used to be able to ride everything at CP up until a couple of years ago. Go figure. So, CP doesnt get my money, PKI does this year, but we'll have to wait and see about 2007.

So they're thinking of foregoing the "Paramount" things like Top Gun and Italian Job. I suppose that's OK - Top Gun can be renamed anything - even Fairly Odd Coaster II if they want, but Italian Job - that whole thing is based on the movie and to retheme it would pose problems for the people at CF. Maybe they could call it "Snoopy's Cops & Robbers".

Quote... Inspectors found a cracked vertical support beam in the double helix part of the coaster the day after the accident. Inspectors say that might have contributed to the big jolt riders described. Kings Island must now take apart a small section of the ride, including pieces surrounding that cracked beam. Those pieces must be turned over to the state for analysis. Meanwhile, the park would have to rebuild that section and test the new portion under the supervision of an independent engineer hired by the state. SMALL SECTION!!! REBUILD THAT SECTION!!!!! TEST THE NEW PORTION!!!!! And you guys have them tearing down the whole thing. Can't anyone read!

Very well written. Since 1973, I have ALWAYS stayed at the Knights Inn in Lebanon - and always in room 120. Last year, it was the pitts. I know you only sleep there, but I'm gonna look for a different place. By the way - go online next time and get a better deal for Knights Inn. I always eat at Perkins too! We must have the same astrological sign or something. Such a nice place. One question - how crowded was the park? Being a Thursday and a Friday, I would think it would be "shoulder to shoulder" - but maybe the chance of rain kept some away. I know last year, we were there this same week - on a Wednesday and Thursday - and Thursday was quite crowded. Some of the park employees said that the beginning of the week was slower. I know - it's a crap shoot. Just asking.

Alcohol & cigarettes - correctly spelled, just for you!

When KI opened, it was yellow.

A screwball friend of mine once stated that if someone were to build a coaster where every 1 millionth person riding were to get a serious injury or be killed, there would be a line stretched miles long with people wanting to ride it. Then, there's video games. Get in an accident, just press reset. Get killed, just press reset. Don't like the game - even though it cost $90 or more - who cares, just throw it away. Finally, there are people who think that nothing could ever happen to them - that somehow they are Divinely protected or have extra Guardian Angels - and go on doing whatever they like, or want, or enjoy doing. In real world life, people are the most valuable thing ever. You cannot replace a person. You can't just throw them away when you're tired of them. And, they are fragile and need protection. In viewing the posts about the recent accident on SOB, it amazed me that even though real people were really hurt, all some cared about was if the ride was going to be opened the next day. Or, since they don't like the ride, it should be thrown out. Or, people who's careers are about the saftey and well being of others seem to never do their job. Doesn't life have any value anymore? Or are we really that immature and/or crazy? I hope none of you ever gets injured - on a ride or anytime. I hope none of you ever feel that life has no value - everyone is important in this world. I hope none of you ever do something so stupid as to cause harm to your own self - drugs, drinking, and sex isn't all there is to life. I pray that all of those who were injured on that ride yesterday will heal and be well, and a special prayer go out to all who helped them, service the ride, clean the park, design attractions for our enjoyment, drive the ambulance, work at the hospial - and anyone else along the way - a prayer of thanksgiving to you all. Please accept apologies for those who don't appreciate what you do.

Something that may interest you... RR is the inverted coaster of Woodstock's Express at Cedar Point... http://www.rcdb.com/ig553.htm?picture=2

The Beast was my first "bigger than The Racer" coaster. I came off of it shaking - something that no other ride had ever done to me before. I couldn't believe that anyone could have built a coaster with "out of the box" thinking. And then to ride it at night - WOWzers! (mind you, all of this took place back in 1980 when I was 21 years old)

The program sometimes doesn't run properly - and that's usually when I'm on it, so it really becomes a personal thing - but that's my reason.

Tomb Raider - it's so stupid!

Oh - if they're gonna move Corkscrew to PKI, they might as well take Dragster too. Sounds silly? (So does moving the Corkscrew!)

^ this is true. A REAL headchopper would be a track under a track. Racers ran under supports of the lift hill and others. They must use magic these days to keep the hills from falling, eh?

I was on the backwards one when it was still forwards - many, many times. I even have 8mm film on-ride movies of it! Back then, they let you take a camera on anything - no laws or restrictions. And the head choppers were still in place near the final hills coming into the station.

These days, with all the cut-backs and penny-pinching, I would't be surprised if you see a truck load or two of White-Out heading into the parking lots of Paramount parks near the end of the year! (just trying to spread a little humor this morning, ok?)