Gordon Bombay

One theory I heard from a supervisor at SOB one time is that the loop could be removed to get rid of the necessity of a "hybrid" train. This would allow the ride to be able to support trains similar to traditonal wooden coasters allowing for a smoother ride. However, since the track actually stays the same, the only thing that changes is the support structure, why would this idea be feasible. Once again, there has been no definite proof that the loop has been removed nor any real substantial reason presented as to why it would be removed.

Great pictures man! Thanks for sharing! What kinds of camera did you use? I wanna say 1990 - 1991? One of those two.

Excellent point, also those other parks raptor guy mentioned have different staffing conditions and policies. Folks think about it, Cedar Fair just spent 1.2 billion dollars, they're going to want to try and make up for their aquired debt now. Winterfest was not profitable last year, Cedar Fair wants profit and really isnt in a postition to try and gamble again with another winterfest and also has their hands full with assimilating 5 new parks and making it one big family. They'll probably try winterfest again in the future when they have the money to risk on it.

Even if you posted the pic theres no way to prove it was your friend who took the pic, getting him n trouble. If you're so intent on spreading the rumor why not back it up? If your friends in the picture just use mspaint to black him out and to make sure we cant even see the model number of the camera, open the picture in paint, then save it as something else. We wont be able to read the original exif data thereby not getting your friend in any trouble. Not that I'm calling you a liar, I've worked with you a few times and it was certainly a pleasure, I know your a good worker and one of the best employees at the park, but if its a secret thats not supposed to get out then telling that a friend told you is just as bad as posting the pic. Maintenace personel at PKI are not restricted from keeping cell phones on them while working so what possibly could he get in trouble for?

^hahah thanks for the compliment on the camera shman, and thanks for taking the time to take the pics. I actually dont shoot with the fuji anymore and now shoot with an Olympus E-500 DSLR. I'll try to get up there tommorow and get some pics. Once again, thanks for reporting shman.

Woah guys, I think we're all jumping the gun a little bit here. While checking the exf data from shmans photos I could tell that they are in no way edited by photo shop or any other program. They're genuine photographs. While I thank him for the effort he went to to take them lets compare them to some photos I took a year ago during the offseason using some of the same angles: As you can see, you know the loop was obviously there, these pictures were taken back in March before the park opened for the 06 season but from the angles I used here you werent able to physically see it. I was able to see the loop but only from one angle... While Shmans pictures are genuine, I dont think he was able to see the loop from his angles. Tommorow I do have some business a few exits down I-71 and IF i get the time I will stop by KI to try and see if anything has changed. No one can possitively say the loop on SOB has been removed.

I wouldn't be so sure about that.

^Sure they can say Maverick is family friendly but a ride with two 70mph launches and 4 inversions is obviously geared towards enthusiasts. Not that I'm not excited to ride it next season, but its in no way geared towards families despite what their marketing says.

They certainly do have some interesting things in storage for their planned museum, they have one of the track pieces from the Cyclone that used to stand at SFAW.

^Are you talking about adding a more family friend atmosphere not doing well for paramount? It did really well for the parks especially Kings Island for the past few years that even CP is starting to follow that trend of marketing towards famiies. Your right in saying that it takes money to make money, it depends on where your spending that money though. Yeah SFMM got huge coasters just about every year but they didnt invest their money into making the park a good experience and look where it is now. Building for enthusiasts is not building for everyone, especially when enthusiasts are not your target audience.

Yes, the time will come. When we will all be told....something.

I was told by a friend that on a recent flight through the area it looked the same as it does every offseason comparing it to the ariel pictures from the past two offseasons.

And your possitive I can see these changes from the air?

^Yeah, this could very well be true and wouldnt be a big surprise. Thanks for reporting it gamesguy its definently interesting none the less.

Have we confirmed that its gone yet? Not that I distrust gamesguy, I know hes honest and lives around there and wouldn't lie, but just wanted to see if anyone could confirm whats gone yet.

Well that depends on what the ACE museum showcases.....rollercoaster history.....or the best buffet dishes throughout parks. They can hold award shows there and when Holiday Worls's mashed potatoes dont witn, Paul draebek can throw a fit.

Yup. My friends Dad always tell them they sound like salesman and cusses ate them. It was a funny site.They do sound like salesman there.It's funny how people what other people fail and then they fail themselves at the game but they keep playing. The guys make it look so easy to win. I know we've had our differences over at EPKI and I'm saying this because I'm a former employee and not jsut to pick on you....but.....your friends dad is an idiot. Cursing at someone because their doing their job, why waste the effort when he can just ignore them person. I hope he knows that verbal abuse against a park employee can be used as means for expulsion from the park, I learned that first hand.

Or it can mean a lot more to them, especially when they may be completely unaware that the coaster came from another park... -CombatStupendous89....running for the door.....of his new Geauga Lake condo.

The loop straight into the helix on X flight!

"Young man, theres no need to feel down!"

They were from Milford not Mason. CoastersRZ's company has done work with the crew in question before.

^And thats a good attitude to have!

Well you said you "chewed him out" and I dont know what your definiton of chewing someone out is but usuallyit means verbally assulting them for an extended amount of time using vulgarity. Maybe he didnt notice you were on the phone, he was just tyring to do his job doing what hes told, if hes told to be annoying with a microphone then thats what hes gonna do considering thats his job.

^What do you mean by "chewed him out", yeah he was rude but you could've just said "hey man I'm on the phone", you didn't have to verbally curse at an employee for doing his job if thats what you mean by chewing him out. Maybe he didnt notice you were on the phone.

Amen!