coolhandluke

The lurker emerges from his hiatus... I'm somewhat surprised it's not something a bit more (please note, I said "surprised," and not "disappointed" or "mad"). Given what the park has done to promote it, I would have expected a bigger attraction (not size-wise obviously, as this will employ quite a plot). That's not to say the park has been jumping up and down pleading for attention, but they've most assuredly been elbowing the community and prodding us to speculate. Heh, it's almost passive-aggressive marketing, so to speak. I'm not faulting the park for it, as it's obviously their prerogative to handle their additions as they see fit, but I think it's a bit misleading to say that the park isn't hyping this much. Replacing every one of their primary home page banners to hint at this implies they find this to be a bigger deal than, say, promoting season passes or admission deals (which every other CF park does with their first banner, save CW and Dorney). It seems to be a bigger deal than WindSeeker as well. Which is fine; they clearly think this isn't "just a dino trail" and will entice people through the turnstiles. I don't have any problems with their thinking, as I'm quite positive they've done more research on it than I have. I was simply surprised. I know my six-year-old brother was too when I showed him the t-rex. He's ready to go! All of this said, of course, under the assumption that a dinosaur walk-through is the attraction to be announced. And if this...eh...evolves...into a more complete area in the following years, well...that'd be swell. And I am absolutely ebullient that it's got nothing to do with SOB

For those interested, here's a RCDB pic with grass around the area last year. I haven't really decided if I'm more excited about the landscaping or the grand entrance sign. Probably the landscaping, but the sign should look great as well.

They're changing the name AGIAN?!....Sorry, I just found that too coincidental to pass up. If I'm not working, I'll try to head down for the day, maybe bringing my friend who has yet to ride the good stuff in Nick U., BLSC and Firehawk, not to mention Diamondback (I would be content with those and a night Beast ride for a day). But I won't know if I'm working until that Friday. Cutting it close...

Haha, I always try to do that except on Arrow multi-loopers. But I'm so skinny that I can leave a solid half inch to inch between me and the restraint and it will still be securely down multiple clicks. I'll risk bruised thighs (and/or shoulders) for extra air/hangtime. And it is an aspiration of mine to ride a side-friction someday Terpy. More for the tradition than the thrill, obviously.

Yeah, that's pretty much it. While there are differences between that and the Crypt in the actual ride structure (notably, Crypt holds 48 people and not 38, the two rows face the same direction, and the rows are tiered), those differences aren't really noticeable during the ride. One thing that was very different than my expectations was its level of comfort. In the videos, Top Spins look like they really throw you around and could produce a bunch of headslamming. Fortunately, it's not really that bad at all, IMO, thanks to only moving forwards and backwards (no side to side movement helps reduce the chances of headbashing). Just be careful with the, uh, groin region. There is a moment or two where you're face-down, and your body weight is resting on the restraints. Crypt has the same restraints a Delerium/MaXair, and thanks to the knobs on the bottom of the OTSRs, that can be uncomfortable if not prepared.

I would imagine they keep it silver as well, especially when looking at some of CF's recent installments. Patriot and Silver Bullet both utilize the silver roof, but Renegade has a different color material, as RailRider suggested. I'n looking forward to seeing the ride sign develop now.

You mean where the spot will be to take pics OF Diamondback? Because I'm pretty sure no one will be taking (legal) pictures ON the ride because of the camera policy. I would assume the Eiffel Tower will be a hot spot for shots of DBack, as well as directly under the initial drop and helix. It appears that one could get many good shots of the lift, drop, helix, splash, and woods from that one spot.

^Watch a POV of Mystery Mine and you'll see it has neither non-stop action (many block segments/brakes) nor quick pace (except possibly the finale). Now I'm not trying to say MM is a bad coaster at all...I'm just saying that, with the exception of the beyond-90* drop and and perhaps some close-to-the-ground curves, they appear to be very different coasters in terms of style. Perhaps someone who's been on both can help confirm/deny, but it just doesn't seem fair to me to compare the two. It feels like comparing BLSC and FoF because they both launch and have a dark part... :-/

I would assume the blog updates (particularly the ones that don't pertain to actual ride progress) also serve to just "be there". I have seen several other blogs (official ones, not personal ones) around where the author(s) go a full couple weeks with no updates or anything. I much prefer Don's approach where even if nothing big has happened with the actual ride, he posts to let us know that he hasn't forgotten about us. On another note, I LOVE how close the ride's entrance and exit are to each other. Several coasters I've been on have their entrances and exits a decent distance away (my main beef about Maverick), thus making efficient re-queues more difficult. Diamondback appears to be very accommodating to re-riders looking to enter the queue again quickly after completing a great ride!

"Huh? What'd you say about clearance testing for a surprise new tunnel...?" "Wait, did I just board a train in the storage shed? ...Rats." And the Hoveround was very well done. Even though you didn't provide the asterisk disclaimer

I'm 19, and send maybe 2 texts a day, if that. I typically text when I'm not sure if the recipient is available to talk (in class, church, at work, etc). Texting, IMO, is typically less interruptive (a few quick beeps versus a prolonged ring(tone)) than a phone call, and is also easier to check than a voicemail (thanks to cell companies' needlessly long automated menus in the voicemails). Most of my texts act as a voicemail, just giving a basic message with a "call me when you're free". While I don't understand full-out conversations via text (unless it's during a time where the people shouldn't be talking anyway), I certainly see the benefit of having such a capability. Or maybe I just don't have enough cool friends with whom I can hold conversations. Or I'm older than I think.

In the same vein as this recent restraint-oriented tangent, has B&M adopted the hydraulic restraint system, or do they still use the ratchet system? I haven't been on any newer B&Ms to know myself. I know B&M is very conservative and traditionalist in their designs, but I was curious as to whether or not they have embraced the newer (and i would think better?) safety mechanisms Intamin implements. Unless, of course, Intamin has exclusive rights or something.

^B&M's safety record is flawless in terms of mechanics and the ride itself. The biggest problem for B&M seems to be people running underneath their rides for one reason or another and getting smacked by the train or by a guest on the train. As far as I have heard and read, B&M has never had any serious mechanical problems that endangered any riders. So you have nothing to worry about except enjoying the ride! EDIT: and the incident you speak of was not completely the ride's fault. From what I have been able to gather, it was primarily a combination of negligence on the part of the ride ops and the rider.

^The zero cars are the first cars on the trains. They're the ones with the fangs that have been discussed. I don't understand how someone could be disappointed with the snake's head part of the trains when we haven't gotten any real pictures of them yet...? Some people are never satisfied....