Beast1979

I happen to be one of the people who thinks that Beast, minus the trims, is great because it's a true classic, and the idea of Timberliners just kills it for me. I don't want bunny hops in the Trim Shed and I don't want GCI type transitions and I don't want a train redesign. I think it's fine the way it is, IMO. Minus the trims, of course.

My $0.02 on this: Shoot the Rapids is not a roller coaster. It may have 2 roller coaster like parts, but they are connected by water ride parts. There are not constant rails throughout the ride. On that subject, Demon Drop is, by my definition, a roller coaster, and so is Blazing Fury, and that Haunted Camden Mouse Terpy mentioned. By my definition, a coaster should have: Rails and track throughout the course, cars with wheels attached to the rails, some Elevation change of some sort, and not be powered throughout the entire thing. Sorry, Ang, Avatar is not a Roller Coaster. Whether or not Cedar Point or Six Flags Magic Mountain have the most roller coasters, who cares? They're on opposite sides of the nation, so it's not like they are competeing for customers, they're competeing for title. They can duke it out all they want, but I'll still be perfectly happy down in Orlando, Florida, enjoying a Spider, a Mummy, and two similar yet very different dragons. And there are several on here who would rather take a Voyage down to Indiana before the Amazement Park on the Lake.

I have to agree wholeheartedly, RZ, on the idea that bigger is not always better. I rode Kentucky Rumbler and Thunderhead in 2008 and absolutely adored them. And I honestly did not know that Tornado is a 50 year old design! That's incredible, but I have to wonder if the Cliff was included in that design! However, the idea of the loop not being recycled because it is a 'Gimmick' I have to disagree with. Because throughout the last 20 years gimmicks are what have brought in the nickels, even though they are gimmicks. Look at King Cobra in 1984. How different is it from any other basic steel coaster then the fact that it has Standup Configuration? Yet, it spawned Shockwave, Sky Rider, a few Intamin Standups, and the numerous B&M standups, each furthering the concept of the standup, but each still being a standup gimmick. Or, look at Top Thrill Dragster. One trick pony. Farenheit? 97 degree drop and not much else. Yet, it still gets tons of PR and ridership. So will the loop be used again? Who knows? Because the loop was not a problem in the design and brought a lot of riders to Son of Beast. So if a park sees a wooden loop as a way to bring in nickels, I think it's very well possible that we could see it again.

As much as I LOATHE Son of Beast, I can say that when I think of "Mechanical Difficulties" at Kings Island, I think Bat and King Cobra before I think Son of Beast. The Bat lasted 4 years and had more downtime relative to lifespan then Son of Beast has had. Of the 4 years it was around, it must have been open a grand total of only a month or two. Son of Beast, compared to that, is very consistently open. From 2002-2006, and 2008 it was very regularly open. Is it still a money pit? Yes. But it's not like it's the end all be all of theme park failures. And, while we're still on comparing The Bat to SoB, I would bet that if there were forums around in 1983 it would be decided among those who care that The Bat was an over the top, far too elaborate, theme park failure that would never be attempted again at the risk of more mechanical headaches. Then 10 years later Top Gun is added. So perhaps Son of Beast is a hidden jewel who's design needs to be perfected. We shall see, I personally think the idea has a lot of potential....

Great article(s). Really enjoyed their descriptions of the new coasters of 2009, and the Diamondback one was a perfect description of the ride and the impact it had on the park. They forgot to do an article on Prowler, though!

Not only are they by the same company, but they are also the same model coaster. It'd be like comparing Vortex at Kings Island to Great American Scream Machine at Six Flags Great Adventure. They were both made by Arrow Dynamics in the late 1980s as part of their "Mega-Loopers" model. Same with Diamondback, Behemoth, and Intimidator. All are B&Ms and part of their Mega Coaster model. See also: http://www.rcdb.com/r.htm?ot=2&mo=8314

Given the current Olympic games going on right now, I thought this pun was only fitting. Q's reaction to the proposed merger: "Apollo? Oh, no!" Hey, watch it, with...those...tomatoes!...

And Terpy continues to mention March 16, we all know that's the hearing date for the Cedar Fair sale, obviously it's of quite a bit of significance to him...

I'm also having trouble finding Sling Shot on the site. Has it always not been listed?

This idea has been suggested since before you and I were born. Enough already.

EDIT: Dang, post above^

Dear GCI: If you are reading these boards, please post your next update at exactly 12:00 PM Eastern Standard Time. Thank you! The KICentral Board. That oughta do it!

Really? Another Update?! Maybe I'm right and they ARE reading these boards!

Am I the only one that noticed that before they were posting updates at several day intervals (Jan. 27, Feb. 5, Feb. 10, Feb. 13) then when I post it in this topic on the 13th, there's an update on the 14th, 15th, and 16th? Perhaps GCI reads these boards and are trying to drive us mad!

Yet ANOTHER update: One word: WOW.

What are you trying to say? Should we look at more parks? Different topo maps? Come on, it's the Offseason, we'll take anything we can get!

They had a full model of the terrain before they ever went to work on the actual coaster. If I were them, I'd like to have the terrain be accurate when I start, just in case I do decide to build track there! Track location has nothing to do with the accuracy of the terrain because they had the terrain set before they started the coaster. Not to mention, if you're going to present it to a park, it'd better be accurate!

This is why I think it's probably not going in the Big Bad Wolf area: See the difference? On the topo map the 'Jut in' is a lot narrower, and much more gradual. On the Animation, it's wider, and steeper. Also: In the animation, the wall of the valley continues to curve, creating essentially half of a bowl. In the topo map, the land continues to zig zag further and further outward to the North West. Of course, this is all in my eyes.

Those pics are done by fan, and are nothing more then him drawing over it in paint. The area in black is the area he's talking about. IMO, it's not at SDC. The area is much to rounded and there is no 'Flat Top' area.

Here's the BBW terrain, with the BBW area in black.

Using www.mytopo.com's topography of the area, I took a screen of KI and compared the similar areas to the Rendering. Sorry it's so crude, I'll do a better one later today.

The ravine Diamondback dives into is cleared out in this picture. The ravine I just posted is at the top of this picture, still buried in trees.

That is directly behind the Crypt, to the right of Beast's lift hill.

Wow.....like....wow.....

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs126.snc3/17375_309477529094_23030364094_3358500_1327761_n.jpg Starting to look quite epic.