silver2005

I'll miss Clifford/Clifford Jr. working around and bending down for pennies. Hoping to see them again for the next construction project. On a more serious note, I'm glad Kings Island gets construction done at a good pace. It's nice to know they have a lot of time to get everything in place and have it tested before opening day. I wish certain parks from another chain involving flags would take note...

Well...this is kind of a kick in the teeth for me. There's no way I can do opening weekend now. I'm really busy with the family that weekend. Oh well, at least it'll be significantly easier to ride Banshee on later weekends.

I think that photo really illustrates the length and the unique, sprawled out layout of Banshee quite well, especially compared to other B&M inverted coasters which are mostly more compact rides.

^oOo...look at all the saxophones in that band! Digging the pink cover over the bell on that alto sax in the center. What I'd give to do something like that....

Here's my opinion on why I like Adventure Express- - Like a few other coasters at Kings Island, it utilizes the terrain and woods well. - A unique pre-lift stretch of track which goes a long way to build up the rest of the ride. - Unlike mine train coasters at some other parks (at least among the ones I've ridden) AE has some decent forces, particularly lateral forces. It is a bit jerky, but that gives it character IMO. - Decently themed tunnels.

^Sigh. The camera is on SOB's station. SOB's station hosts Wolf Pack. The cloth is likely a part of the props used to theme up that Haunt attraction every year. Its likely a bit of wind got under it and blew it over the camera. If your theory is right, why didn't they cover up the camera on top of the Eiffel Tower? You can see the track lifts fine there still. Just sayin'.

The press release states the total height differential from the tallest point of the lift to the lowest point is around 208 ft. So, its probably about a 40-50 ft elevation change from the bottom of the first drop to the bottom of The Bat-preztel/2nd loop area.

I'm pretty sure Don has confirmed multiple times that the SOB station and Wolf Pack are staying.

Wait...if the camera is at the SOB station, couldn't that just be a stray cloth they use for the Wolf Pack props? Maybe wind is blowing them in front of the camera?

I'd be up for something like this. The AF Museum would be a big if for me due to the distance (I live 15 minutes west from downtown Cincy, Dayton is a 2 hour drive for me). The rest are pretty do-able for me though. If I had to chose, I'd probably go for the Cyclones game, but I'm open to anything else as well.

How weird is it seeing a B&M coaster on that kind of sale list?

I would have to agree with moving in an existing top spin. I simply loved Tomb Raider and its original programs. I think making it an outdoor ride would be a bit more impressive than the eyesore of a metal box we have sitting at the bottom of Diamondback's first drop. There are 2 steel coasters I have in mind. Both are launch coasters that really set up the launches well with a bit of set up. First is Volcano from KD. That simple slow turn is actually kind of suspenseful before the LIM's kick in and haul the train off. The 2nd has a bit of a longer pre-launch segment which is indoors, and that is Blue Fire from Europa Park. I know KI has a few launch coasters already, but those two just stick out in my mind. For a wood coaster, as much as it wouldn't stack up to KI's capacity standards, any GCI would do. I'd probably narrow it down to Lightning Racer and Joris en de Draak from Efteling as they are both dueling coasters which would be slightly better for KI's capacity needs.

Well, if we're going with ghost/haunted themed songs, who else would you call? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9J9haehfQeg

While local selections are nice, I think having at least 1 or 2 national chains would still be best as some patrons just want things that are familiar to them.

I think most people are over-thinking this thing about KK adding a Drop Tower so shortly after the accident with their previous one. I'm pretty sure the local GP would be aware at the very least that the other 2 nearby parks, Holiday World and Kings Island, have safe, working Drop Towers. With that in mind, I don't see why a new Drop Tower wouldn't work at Kentucky Kingdom.

So here's my Belk Bowl PTR. The trip began on the 26th of December. It was a bit different than the year before, whereas last year we had to leave at about 2 am so we could do some performances straight off the bus. This year, we had an extra day (last year it was on the 27th, this year on the 28th), so we had that extra night to sleep before a rather busy day on the 27th. There was a minor short coming as the last 2 buses (one of which I was on) fell back too far from the first 3, and thus we took a wrong turn and spent an extra 40 minutes cruising through South Carolina before we turned around back towards Charlotte. We stayed at the Omni Hotel. We also had $50 in spending money provided by the bowl. We initially had more, but we used it to stay the extra night so we didn't have to go straight back to Cincy after the game, which was the original plan. On the 27th, we had an early morning rehearsal at 9 am. A local HS, which was also where the team practiced, was where we went, and they even had the right hash marks on (there are 3 different sets, HS, NCAA and pro, the HS had the NCAA marks while the stadium had NCAA and pro marks, they are vital to making the pictures you see bands make). In any case, the sun glare was so fierce that it was hard to see the marks at all. After a 3 hour break for lunch back at the hotel, we did a little battle of the band contest with the University of North Carolina Band. I have to say, I liked their style. A very southern-y style band, and though a little top heavy (more higher pitched instruments for sure), they sure had a lot of energy and they had a heck of a trumpet who was just wailing away. There wasn't a winner declared, but it was just nice to see another college band perform. We then had dinner and I was in a special 50 piece band that performed for the special pep rally they had that night at a plaza area called the EpiCenter. They even had a bar for UC fans selling Skyline coneys and 3-4 ways. It was a pretty intense rally too. We traded songs again with a small group from UNC's band. Unlike last year where we outnumbered Duke's fans, UNC definitely had more presence than the Cincy crowd. Probably one of my favorite parts of the trip. Found a great NY style pizza place for dinner that night as well. Now onto game day on the 28th. Got a noon start after a boxed lunch at 11 am. We hardly used the buses other than the rehersal as everything was within walking distance, so we mostly walked everywhere, including to battle of the bands which was by the NASCAR HoF and Bank of America Stadium, also the home of the Carolina Panthers. Got to the stadium at about 1 pm so we could get situated and prep for pre-game. Also got a few shots of the team. (might be a tad blurry, the net made focusing a bit tough). So...the game...where do I begin? Both the O-line and D-line let UNC run through them all night. 2 big plays let up by the special teams, a botched kick return and a UNC run back for a TD, really hampered us early. They had momentum from the get go and never let up. Final score Tar Heels 36, Bearcats 17. After the game, we walked back to the hotel and I went out for a few drinks with friends as well as a nice steak dinner. I usually try to have at least one nice dinner at each of the bowls, and I saved this nice meal for the end. We left at 10 the next morning and arrived back in Clifton a little after 7:45 pm. Overall a pretty decent trip. Also, I have news that the UC band will be at the Bengals play off game this Sunday vs the Chargers! I'll post that part in the marching band thread as its not much of a trip.

Just got back from the Belk Bowl trip. Sure, UC did get throttled by UNC, but I had a blast regardless. PTR to come tomorrow.

Have a bit of a running itinerary for my upcoming Belk Bowl trip with the UC band. Leaving at 10:30 on the 26th to get there at a decent time. Should be about a 10-11 hour bus ride not counting pit stops. A few battle of the bands with UNC's band are thrown in plus a big pep rally the night before. Should be a pretty short and sweet trip of sorts.

...when the majority of parks in the US are closed. Just statin' the obvious.

Opening day for sure. With the way I've been following this since we saw the footers on opening day 2013, I feel it would only do me justice to try it out when it opens. After that I plan to ride The Bat for the first time under its new moniker.

I know Kings Island won't get trains shaped like the original Bat's trains, but what about painting the current trains to something like Big Bad Wolf's trains used to look like where it had the eyes painted on?

Beastie, a few years before Great Pumpkin showed up (or whatever it was called when it was introduced). I used to have a MAJOR phobia of coasters. My first ride on Beast almost scared me off them for good. However, a few runs on Racer started to warm me up, then finding Top Gun for the first time started my love affair. Must have rode it a dozen times in a row until the park closing when I first discovered it.

I think the width of the loop has to do more with how the layout goes and where supports are located than anything to do with train design (which are standard width 4 across B&M inverted trains) or anything else already mentioned. If the two tracks at the base of the loop were closer together, the 0g roll would be directly over the final turn and likely the final helix. That would make for a LOT of supports having to go in one spot. The descent off of the 0g roll also comes pretty close to the final turn as is with the loop widened at the bottom; imagine the the loop being narrower.

I can't really narrow down a single element, so I'll give a list... Backlot- the series of s-curves after the helix Beast- the helix for sure, but an element I like better is those series of drops after the 2nd tunnel before rising up to the 2nd lift Firehawk- the overbanked turn, the loop, the double roll, and the helix Bat - that 2nd hill over the station Flight of Fear- the launch and the final corkscrew, especially how the 2nd half builds up to it Son of Beast- first drop, the loop and the top of the 2nd hill (with the original trains) Vortex- each of the inversion has something special to me- the loops have nice positive g's and are simple, the corkscrews have nice hang time, and the batwing is just awesomely placed, that 2nd hill also has a nice jolt of air in the front seat, the first drop is great in the back King Cobra- the loop and the helix which felt nearly horizontal with the banking

If I'm seeing those Vekoma concept cars right, guests are kneeling in them. I wouldn't ride any coaster where you have to kneel down. Adding those to suspended coasters, especially the more forceful ones like Flight Deck and Ninja, would make chiropractors jump for joy with the added business.