IBEW_Sparky

OK, wow, Angie Im glad you wrote such a long reply, so I wont feel bad in doing the same LOL. First and foremost, I am looking forward to 2010 being a much, much better year both professionally and personally to myself and both My Family and my Wifes Family than 2009 was. To say the least it was... um... less than stellar on both fronts, and Im absolutely anxiously awaiting the much talked about "Change". Park related, Ive got a number of things Im looking forward to as well, starting off by opening my season at Worlds of Fun Opening Day on Apr 17th with Kat and Nick. WoF was the first non-Disney "big park" I ever went to, and living in Des Moines, I adopted it as my home park of sorts. I havent been there since My Wife and I made it a part of a vacation we took for our 5th Anniversary in 2008, and Im really anxious to get back on Mamba, Patriot, and taking my first ride on Prowler. What is going to make the trip even more enjoyable is being able to spend the day with two Friends who share the appreciation for the park and the rides that I have. A very, very close second in the running is my first ever trip to Holiday World on its Opening Day of May 1st. I had planned on going there this year as it was, but after listening too Angie and Toms continuing raves about the quality of the coasters there while we were at the Timberliner Tour, I decided that I wanted to make my first time as memorable as possible. What better way to do that, than to not only be there on the first day of Timberliner operation, and with a group of people that I met last April on Opening Day at KI and immediately considered me "part of the crowd". I cant thank you guys enough for that, you know who you all are, thanks for making me feel very comfortable and welcome even when I tend to get shall we say "intense and outspoken" at times . One other park I havent been to yet that Im really looking forward to is KD. Not only am I really looking forward to riding Intimidator 305, but also to seeing the whole entrance and exit plaza they have built for the ride. I am, and always have been an Earnhardt fan, I was pro Earnhart before it was "cool" to be pro Earnhardt and being able to see and stand next to an authentic Black #3 again will be really nice. Im also looking forward to riding Volcano, as I have heard the launch out of the mountain is intense. With that all said, Im truly looking forward to getting back on Dominator, a ride I havent ridden since 2005, and is a constant reminder for me how much I regret not getting to Aurora before that fateful day in September of 07. I know some may think its "boring" or "a gimmick coaster" but I personally enjoy the way the elements flow and the speed coming out of the 135 foot vertical loop. I will link the final three things Im looking forward to into one final paragraph. I am definitely looking forward to my second ever trip to CP, Im making a 4 day trip up there right after Holiwood Nights from June 8th thru the 11th, and if I can get a small group of people there with me Im betting I can be convinced to shake my intense fear of TTD. Speaking of Holiwood Nights, thats another thing that I am definitely looking forward to and the primary reason I joined GOCC. I am really glad I did, because that membership gave me three more things to look forward to, Mid Summer Scream at Waldameer, Fall Affair Sept 18th at Holiday World, and Fall Freak Out October 18th at KI.

Sure seems more effective than CFs trash can idea, or at least it would be for me!! Sparky, who absolutely LOATHES snow and cold weather more than anything else Man or Nature created on this planet.

Brad, I honestly dont think GG would want their name associated in any way with S of B. From a business standpoint, would YOU want you or your company's name associated with a ride that has the negative history that S of B does? I know I certainly would not, given the American public's penchant for filing lawsuits, be they frivolous ones or not.

Given where the fire took place kitten, I dont think there will be any logistical problems opening the park on time for the season. The buildings that burned do not play a vital role in the daily operation of the park, though as Terpy and Monroe stated, it is a sad tragedy that such beautiful structures burned. I too share in the hope that they can be re-constructed to look just as they had before todays unhappy turn of events.

I read that same thing on the Des Moines blog you linked.... a true shame. Im willing to bet the massive, relentless snowfall that Des Moines has gotten this winter was a major contributor due to the weight of the snow.

Wow, thank you Terpy for posting this.... I just logged on and saw this title in all Caps and the FIRST thing I thought of was "Oh Lord, please dont let the fire be in the back section of the park by Tornado or Outlaw!" I grew up in Des Moines and Waukee, and even though (IMHO) WoF is more worth the admission/drive, I did spend my fair share of time at Adventureland. What made me so fearful about the Tornado is the fact is is RIGHT beside a county road, and it would just be toooooo easy for something bad to happen. You are also right in the statement that the Main Street area and its shops are/were absolutely beautiful. Here's to hoping for a full rebuild precisely like it was.

Im really hoping they screwed up and meant to say Wolfbob's or Villain's disassembly. Yes, I know RWB still partially stands, but some of it has been removed. EDIT: I just did some further research, the wood being used for the paperweights was aquired from the wood that was damaged on Dipper when the pumphouse was removed.

Oh come now, we all know what KI's biggest "inside joke" is, Sparky says standing by Delirium and looking behind the go kart track.

I agree Terp with the Croakie endorsement... I use them exclusively. It takes all of 10 seconds or less to fasten the strap tightly before the ride is dispatched. Also, it gives you a convenient place to keep your sunglasses when you walk into a darker building and need to actually see. I only had two sets of ride ops ever be jackasses with me when it came to my glasses or sunglasses.... once on Villain at GL and always on Spinning Dragons at WoF.

Oh yeah,I like what I see... a blank image because their lack of bandwidth is a JOKE.... so much for watching any testing.

Replace "outpost" with "outhouse" and that better describes where that albatros should reside.

Man, what a perfect topic. I was just telling Jesse last Saturday that I weigh more now than I EVER have... 178.6. I want to cut weight, concentrating on my midsection until Im down to 160, then build back to 170/175 with upper body mucsle... as small a frame as I have an extra 10 to 15lb of muscle in my chest and arms will be very noticeable. Im also taking your approach Gator... Im joining a Cardinal Fitness in Bloomingtom with the thought that A)if Im paying membership fees and B)Im driving 45 miles each way to do it... Im going to work it HARD when Im there!!

I thought Kinzel's office was at TGI Fridays!!

I must admit, I am surprised that a prediction I made at GG on Saturday didnt come true. I was really thinking that as the end of the go shop period drew closer today, that Apollo would come in with a sweeter deal, my thought was $13 a share.

What does he care... he makes a fat stack either way!!

Amusement park enthusiast, vehicle enthusiast, and history enthusiast. I am simply a coaster hobbyist, ride what I enjoy, dont obsess, and have fun.

Yeah no kidding... I would LOVE to have a job where I could be a complete screw-up and get fired for it and still walk away with 3 mil

I think we are forgetting the most important thing to remember... wiki is ALMOST as reliable as the National Enquirer

I was thinking exactly that same thing when I was watching the video of the jobsite yesterday. I dont think the smack talkers truly had a clue by looking at the rendering or animation of just how many positive Gs this ride is going to pull in the first corner off the drop, or in many of the subsquent turns throughout the ride. The ONLY thing I see wrong with it is the less than stellar reliability record/large downtime that plagues INTAMIN> We can only hope that much was learned from MF*, enough to keep those issues to a minimum. *for the flamers... I am in no way saying MF is or was a bad ride, its my #1 steel. What I am saying is, since I305 is not a prototype, I/we can hope it runs as close to flawless as DB did on Her first day.

Hmmmm, big iron claw, I think it will tear the **** outta wood just as well as it did to metal. Regardless, other than HAVING to be careful close to AE, they could start March 1st and have it down... maybe not have the area totally CLEARED, but down.

They dropped Villain in a week, so dont assume that for a second. It will likely stand due to, as has been said many times over, lack of disposable funds to carry out said demolition.

HAHAHA, as would I... though that is as likely as getting the whole truth from 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

Which is the precise reason I am starting my own Electrical Company this year. I want to be in control of my own destiny, NOT be looking over my shoulder every day in the fear of a layoff because an Armani wearing multi-millionaire is not making enough profit to satsify his or her fancy. Back OT, I truly dont want to sound Heartless, but I will not be able to contain my hysterical laughter when the Knotts family, and any of the other cretins filing suit against GURANTEED money lose every single cent they have invested in CF when it goes Chap 11.

They already DO (cough..Thursday night Haunt 2009.. cough)

Yeah, so much for the old "Gas prices will come down as soon as we get that Oil Man out" In all honesty, thats what is paid in the UK for gasoline, as has been reported to me by a good Friend who lives there. I know it will be a cold day on SOB before I let gas prices dictate how I enjoy my leisure time... I will simply rent an economy car that gets 38 to 40mpg and utilize my PP to spend more days in a row at the Point or WoF or whereever. What it WILL affect is the amount of $4 Cokes and $12 footlongs that the crook... err... parks sell.