TheKlockster

If you have ever seen Star Trek Insurrection, I built a model of the scout ship that Data flies at the beginning. It looked dead on like it, and the model was sturdy enough to be thrown across the room from a height of 5 feet and not lose a single brick. My favorite thing I ever build was a space base with a small fleet of ships. I had a wing of fighters based on the fighters from Babylon 5, several science vessels, a small battleship with a crew of 2 that had movable engine naecells and missiles that you could detach, and lastly a capital ship with a crew of 8 LEGO dudes. The only things remaining today are the capital ship and the battleship. Both are with my mom in Montana (along with all my random bricks). And I couldn't agree more with the coach. I ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS had matching color schemes. I also did all the little details like the vents (what I called the little 2x1 flat brick that looks like a vent), antennas and what not. BTW I used to be huge into Star Trek and it influenced many of my creations.

Let me just say I could outLEGO all of you. I used to love LEGOs. They're the only toys worth playing with.

That's really hard to believe that it stopped in that position. Still, wouldn't be the first time something like that has happened. It has happened at least twice that I know of - once on an Arrow, and once on Sirocco (Turbine) at Walibi World. Six Flags even built a building around Sirocco, which they renamed Turbine, in the event it gets stuck upside down again.

I got mine. It's kind of weird ordering it now and not paying till April. But at least you get free parking this way. Also I was afraid if I didn't just go for it I might not end up getting one again. I didn't get to Kings Island at all in 2007. But The Klockster will make a return for 2008. So for everyone sad about not getting anything new for 2008 - fret not. The Klockster in the park is almost as good as a B&M. Ask the Dippin Dots guy. He knows what I'm talking about. In related news - can't wait to start the season out on the best ride in the park - Vortex (as of my last visit 8 Oct 2006).

Unfortunately I visited Kings Island zero times in 2007. I rode one roller coaster this past season - the Pepsi Python. I need a coaster fix!

I think I heard somewhere that they could be putting a coaster in this area, so maybe there's something to it.

Why isn't Drachen Fire on the list? I love Arrows... I seriously do.

Here, I made this to show what I am talking about. You can argue that I am wrong, but anyone who has cleaned under Vortex will back me up.

Most of the land for Beast is lower. All I am saying is that the land under Vortex on average is much lower than the land directly under The Beast station. I have walked that land countless times. I know where the high points and low points of the land under Vortex is. And except for the land close to the station, under the top of the lift, and under the first turn around, the rest of it all will have you looking UP toward The Beast station. If you want to compare ride envelopes, yes Beast's land does get way lower. The bottom of the drop just before the brake shed is in that valley that Vortex sits at the beginning of. And the lowest point of the ride - the turn around before the 2nd lift - is even lower than that. But I am 100% certain, from having WALKED under Vortex dozens of times, and around Beast a few times that the land under Vortex is on average 10-20 feet lower than the land directly under The Beast station.

No - just that Vortex was built in a low lying area of land. Possibly the crater from the FoF UFO.

And this one was taken on The Beast station side of the drop - on the land that is alleged to be the same height as the land under Vortex. As you can see the track goes below the height at which I am standing to take this picture. And except for the bottom of the boomerang, and the drop out of the station - the ride is usually 10 feet or more off the ground. So I don't know how else to say it but probably 80% or more of Vortex's footers are below the level of the footers for Beast's station and transfer area.

Here you can see The Beast station on top of the hill on the other side of Vortex's first drop. The track for Vortex is well higher than Beast's station, but the topography under Vortex is way way lower. This steep hill drops off, and the height of the entire topography stays about the same as the bottom of this hill. It goes back up over by Vortex's station. The Beast station and Vortex station are roughly the same height. But yeah the land under Vortex is very much lower than Beast's station land.

The land under Vortex is quite a bit lower than the land under Beast's station. I have been down there numerous times. It is possible to get from Vortex to Beast by walking up the *HILL* under The Vortex lift. It is a fairly large hill. Also when I would have to look for a missing article that was lost on the first drop of Vortex, I would go to Beast then walk toward the lift, and see if I could see the article laying on the hill. However usually the item could not be retrieved as there is basically a small cliff directly under the low point of The Vortex's first valley. So yeah Vortex is lower than beast.

But what exactly is grout? Paul Drabek and another prominent ACEr (can't remember his name - has a huge beard) said something about it having to do with the pouring of a concrete "boot" around the bottom few feet of the support, effectively encasing the base of the support and the bolts that secure it to the footer.

Speaking of Vortex I forgot to see if anyone had any idea what this means? I got a couple well respected ACEr's opinions on it - but what do you think.

I thought the same thing when I first saw the animation for Maverick. They probably could have saved a lot of money had they first made a NL model and put it on Coastersims.com for review. I am pretty sure most users would have commented on the heartline roll being too intense. I heard somewhere that the roll was taken out because the force was being put on the wheel assemblies instead of being applied to the rails - which would have required them to be frequenly replaced.

If they're going to make guests come up the maintenance stairs to the Son of Beast station the least they could do is put in an escalator.

Can't blame them for keeping Cedar Point as the flagship. It has such an amazing atmosphere. Then again is it the flagship because its awesome, or awesome because its the flagship.

The rumors are mostly false. If it is removed it will be because there is a different ride they want to stick in that spot, or because maintaining the steel on the ride is becoming too difficult. It would have nothing to do with sinking. I expect and hope that Vortex will remain where it is for a long time. Then again the same thing was said about the Flying Eagles just weeks before the announcement was made regarding their removal. So basically those who know don't talk and those who talk don't know. So disregard any rumors regarding its removal until you hear it from the source. Enjoy it while its here. Not only is Vortex the most fun-to-ride ride in the park, its also the best looking.

Awesome photos of Troika! I love to see the best flat ride in the park when it was brand spankin new!

He speeks the trooth. For the record that bottle of sunscreen landed on the footer in that position.

Raptor The Voyage Magnum XL 200 Vortex Son of Beast (old version) Those are my top 5 - I can't really make a top 10 list.

Larosas can't be beat.

No way - Son of Beast was awesome. I haven't been on it since the alteration though.