silver2005

^But not only are they adding a loop to it, they're increasing the launch speed. Other than the G forces that might be a bit on the high side, its a bit of an improvement from a certain point of view. Rarely do launch coasters get to have their launch speed increase.

I found something where I couldn't really place this nicely, so I decided this would be a good opportunity to try and get an international park thread going (however brief and however many times we'll need to blow the dust off it). Anyways, a park in Japan known as Fuji-Q Highland has a coaster known as Dodonpa. It is essentially a perfected design from what KD's defunct Hypersonic XLC achieved- using the compressed air that S&S Power uses in its launch towers on a coaster. While Hypersonic had a short lifespan, Dodonpa has enjoyed a longer run. It is among the fastest coasters in the world topping at 106 mph, getting there in under 2 seconds making it the fastest accelerating coaster in the world and (previously) 5th in the speed category. Here's what the layout used to be like for reference to what is going on with it. So Fuji-Q decided it needed an update, so they're taking out that 170 ft vertical hill and replacing it with a 160 ft loop. Furthermore, they're bumping up the speed to 111 mph. This to me sounds like a bad idea in terms of G-forces unless they put plenty of trims before the loop. It does look like it'll be a rather long circumference which might help lessen the G-forces, but even 2-3 G's sustained for a while can cause problems. It does have a bit of track prior to the loop, and though it will not take the loop at 111 mph, it'll still be doing at least 90 mph methinks. Photo taken from Reddit.

This is for information regarding toll roads, construction, and driving through certain cities. I'm aware of how to avoid the Ohio Turnpike, but Google Maps is giving me 3 options to get to Muskegon, one up I-75 to I-96 and skirting Detroit, another I-75 option is cruising through South Bend, IN and Kalamazoo, MI via I-496 and I- 69, and one up I-70 to US-31 through Indianapolis. I'm assuming Google Maps is keeping me off of toll roads since when I punched in directions from Muskegon to Sandusky, it kept me off the turnpike. Anybody with Michigan and/or Indiana travel advice? At this point, that 2nd option I listed looks to be the best considering it lets me avoid both Indianapolis and Detroit. I've been to Detroit several times, but each time was up I-75 so I'm somewhat more familiar with that route. I am flexible in changing my mind though. EDIT: Found out that all 3 of the routes have 0 toll roads.

^Well, malem-style in the sense of me going to a park 5 hours away on a whim (I'm pretty much on the opposite side of Ohio from Sandusky). Smaller details like power walking while criss-crossing the park and not bringing a jacket in case of rain are omitted.

I still like Iron Dragon. It may not be as flashy as Bat, but I like its layout and I love the second half, especially when the mist machines are working. Its quite a visually appealing coaster to me, more so in its original paint scheme though. I hated when they added the yellow to the supports (the supports used to be white, it had a paint scheme identical to SFMM's Ninja).

I'll admit, this might be enough for me to work in a malem style yolo trip to CP next season.

^There's enough of a tune, even with a chord structure, where I would define the station sounds as music. Not all music needs to have a melody. Just look at nearly any film score.

^And paint it in Mantis' old color scheme. And/or, knowing CF, a floorless conversion.

^Would you repaint it to its original colors? Back when SIX had no sense of color pallet.

As someone on this site used to say, it looks so innocent.

Banshee's (as well as Gatekeeper, Thunderbird and Valravn) restraints are probably the only type of overhead restraints I'm okay being stapled in, they are that comfortable.

With the recent early closures, I hope KI doesn't close early on the days I'm going for the night ERTs this month.

^If I weren't working tomorrow in combination with the fact the Flying Pig Marathon is tomorrow (aka, busier shift), I'd consider going up.

A Beast marathon in the rain sounds great. Too bad I'm not up there.

^Unless CF wants to go yolo and get a 4D coaster, I can't think of a single S&S coaster that would ideally fit in CF's style and capacity needs.

There are non-coaster manufactures like S&S, HUSS and Mondial they could also be referring to. I think any coasters that they get will be from manufactures we're used to seeing out of CF (B&M, Mack). While SEAS seems content with still going with Intamin in terms of the US market, I'm not sure CF is willing to go back quite yet.

Sounds like CF is breaking out the wallet for 2018.

^But the ones after this weekend will be when the park is open and are legal (and overall better).

We should be seeing plenty of photos or RMC Mean Streak after this weekend.

I will say that 4th of July when its rainy is a great day to visit.

Well, the original CF parks probably don't hold a candle to KI in terms of theming sans Knott's anyhow. Kinzel was never into that. Now the other 4 former Paramount Parks might have bits here or there, most of that obviously lost to the re-branding. KD has some fair theming IMO, at least in the blended theming that is the Congo area.

Typically its on the crowded side barring bad weather, mostly due to Soak City's opening. 4th of July, on the other hand, hasn't been too bad in recent years.

I would imagine Mr T is one of the quicker coasters to check anyways, given its one of the smaller trains in terms of capacity compared to stuff like Beast, Banshee and Diamondback. Mr T is also running 4 employees on the platform, so getting quicker dispatches, even if they're not in power hour mode, shouldn't be too difficult.

I hope some of you realize that this kind of topic is 100% opinion, right? There is no set standard in how to count credits, not RCDB, not TPR, not any of the design firms, nothing. Its a kind of thing up to interpretation. If you count credits, great. If you don't count credits, great. If you decide a racing coaster is 2 credits, great. If you rank or don't rank coasters, great. Just be you and enjoy the hobby how you want. No one is telling you otherwise.

I think much like John Allen's theory that wooden coasters should only be built so tall, I think the same rule should apply to stand up coasters.