| Author | Message | ||
     Jaimec |
Moto Coaster opens this year at Darien Lake (near Buffalo and Rochester, NY). The only other motorcycle-themed roller coaster I'm aware of is in Iceland, if I remember correctly: http://www.godarienlake.com/ Orange County Choppers has NOTHING to do with sport bikes, but I guess they wanted a name familiar to non-riders... | ||
| Paint_shaker |
Coasters are the next best thing to bikes!!! I have been to Busch Gardens Florida several times and Universal as well. | ||
| Jaimec |
Ah! ANOTHER "Renaissance Man!" At one time I was trying to organize an internet motorcycle club based on riding from amusement park to amusement park. It really didn't go anywhere and the site was taken down due to lack of interest. I thought for SURE there were others who felt the way I did. Just came back from Six Flags New England where I rode "Superman: The Ride of Steel" for the umpteenth time. It's my second favorite steel roller coaster (next to Cedar Point's "Millennium Force"). For wooden coasters, I have a hard time picking a favorite between King's Dominion's "Beast," Coney Island's "Cyclone" and Lake Compounce's "Boulder Dash." This coaster looks pretty cool and when I saw the videos of the one in Iceland I was very jealous because I knew I wouldn't get to see it anytime soon. Darien Lake isn't far from the annual Labor Day "Finger Lakes Rally" in Watkins Glen, so I'll probably get up there this summer. Wonder if I can "ATGATT" the roller coaster?? | ||
| Xl1200r |
For wooden coasters, you need make a trip to Kennywood in Pittsburgh, PA. Try the Thunderbolt - my all time favorite. The Jack Rabbit is really good as well. I didn't know Darien Lake was still open, lol. I rememebr going there as a kid all the time. | ||
| Doon |
Goin to have to check that out. My dad and I huge coaster fans. Been riding them since he could sneak my past the you must be this tall to ride signs (I was always short). Love em all from linear induction to the old clanky wood ones. One of the Days going out to Cedar Point to just Ride the coaster till we pass out (or they kick us out). | ||
| Jaimec |
Cedar Point is like Mecca! I LOVE that place! I've been to Kennywood many times too. We used to do an annual "Roller Coaster" week where we'd drive out on I-80 to Sandusky, spend two days at Cedar Point, and then down to Cincinnatti and King's Dominion, then work our way back to Geuga Lake (it's just a water park now), Hershey, Dorney Park, and Knoebel's Grove. Since I've changed jobs so much recently I don't have that kind of "Time Off" yet. It'll take me a few more years till I can accumulate that kind of vacation time again. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Absolute Coaster Junkie! My wife is as well. We go to amusement parks and ONLY ride coasters. My 5 year old daughter is as well. She makes me ride with her and when the train reaches the top of the hill she says "hold on to me daddy" while she proceeds to hold her arms in the air like the "big kids". I love it! I like Mind Bender at Six Flags. If you push your head against the downward force at the bottom of the loop, you can almost cause yourself to black out. I don't really like the "free fall" rides, though. | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
 When I was a youngster, I rode the Grand Daddy of all American coasters the CYCLONE at Coney Island, NY. Built in 1927, and renovated several times, this is the coaster against which all are measured. Built on a steel skeleton, with the track laid on wood ties, it provides an audible sensation of acceleration and speed: the famous clickity clack that adds the the excitement of the precipitous drops and awesome turns. | ||
| Jaimec |
Somewhere (I'll have to dig it out) I have a photo of my old M2 Cyclone parked in front of THE Cyclone... | ||
| Xl1200r |
We have a coaster at park near us called the Comet, which was built in '47 and originally worked at park up in Ontario. Same deal was the comet - steel framework with wooden tracks. It's short, but a really good one as well. | ||
| Jaimec |
You must live near Glens Falls. The Comet was ORIGINALLY called "The Crystal Beach Cyclone" when it was built. It was notorious for sending SEVERAL riders to the hospital. In fact, there was a staff of nurses and emergency workers on site for just that ride. It was eventually re-tracked and renamed the Comet. When the Crystal Beach Amusement Park went under, the coaster was disassembled and reassembled at the Great Escape in Queensbury, NY. Not a bad ride, but nowhere near my top three either. | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
Went to "Port Aventura" in Spain a few weeks back, it's a Universal park, one of the top rides is the "Furius Baco", it does 0-135 kmh uphill in 3 seconds. Was opened by Valentino Rossi, no less, just to keep a biking connection. Very fast ride & a great rush. Plenty of vids on Youtube if you can stand the screaming. | ||
| Thesmaz |
Mr Grumpy, where are you at here in Europe? I'm down in Italy but prior to this assignment I was in Belgium for three years. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Son of Beast was (literally) breaking backs. I rode it a couple of times, it really hurt. They re-worked and re-opened it I think. Havent ridden it again since... it is a pretty intense ride. I live 10 minutes from there... the next exit towards Columbus. Any Buellers are welcome to drop stuff at my house if they want to go visit Kings Island. | ||
| Ulywife |
My favorite way to ride the Beast is to wait until it's completely dark outside. It's rough, but it's a great coaster. | ||
| Tramp |
I'm a roller-caoster wuss. I'll fly aerobatics for hours, ski/snowboard cliffs and chutes, but the mere appearance of a roller-coaster makes me whimper and piddle myself.... | ||
| Azxb9r |
I was born in Buffalo, we used to go to Crystal Beach on a regular basis. The Comet is still my favorite coaster ever. Part of it may have to do with what may be an inflated memory from my childhood, but I remember having to ride "the yellow" coaster because I was not tall enough for the Comet. That visit when I was finally tall enough, I spent the entire day on the Comet, riding it over and over. Does Darien lake still have the Viper? It was small, but fun. Another great wooden coaster is the Colossus at Magic Mountain. For a while it was the largest wooden coaster in the world, not anymore, but it is still very fun. (Message edited by azxb9r on May 27, 2008) | ||
| Jaimec |
We rode "Son of Beast" the year it opened. It was an AWESOME coaster, but it hasn't aged well. I understand they removed the one distinguishing feature of the ride... the loop at the end. It was the first wooden coaster with a vertical loop, but due to the degradation of the ride over the years, they had to add additional braking to the ride to slow it down. It no longer went fast enough to go through the loop, so that had to be removed. Same thing happened to Mean Streak in Cedar Point. I understand at one time it was an awesome coaster. Now, it's just painful and uncomfortable. The rumors are that Boulder Dash at Lake Compounce hasn't aged well either. I don't know, I haven't ridden it in several years. Guess I'll have to go back and see for myself. | ||
| Djkaplan |
I cannot understand people who won't ride rollercoasters. Even when I get up in age, I couldn't see me turning down an opportunity to poop my pants on a thrill ride. | ||
| Djkaplan |
Oh... and I'm a true enthusiast. I ALWAYS try and get the last car for the whip effect. The front car is for old ladies. | ||
| Timo31 |
Wow, I'm surprised how many people love coasters. Glad to know I'm not alone. Mean Streak is a beautiful piece to look at, but give me a couple Advil after a ride. Give me Maverick or Renegade any day. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Motorcycle people tend to have the "thrill seeker" gene. It's no wonder that motorcycle enthusiasts are also coaster lovers, sky divers, hang gliders, car enthusiasts, police officers, firemen, military, etc. Add to that a general love for things mechanical and you get gun enthusiasts, watch enthusiasts, electronics buffs, computer nerds, engine tuners, fabricators, etc. | ||
| Jaimec |
I've always gotten a kick out of the reaction of people like Tramp. They'll do a thousand different things that actually DO risk their lives... but quake at the sight of a roller coaster which is about the most controlled, safe "thrill" you can have these days. | ||
| Djkaplan |
I cannot resist the urge to slide down bannisters either / Yesterday, I slid down a huge grass hill in a cardboard box and ripped a hole in the back of my pants / I still climb trees for fun / I'm thinking of getting a skateboard again because a skate park is being built in town / I eat the spiciest things I can find / Last year, I broke the fork crown on my mountainbike jumping it off the loading docks at work / I walk in bad neighborhoods ... ... I date women. That last one is probably the most dangerous. | ||
| Kyrocket |
King's Dominion? You talking about King's Island in Mason Oh.? If so I've been going there since I was about 4 or 5, even worked there for a summer. I love every coaster there but the drop zone scared the crap out of me the first and last time I rode it. Sheesh it's straight up and straight down. Messed with my head I guess. 300+ feet in the air and you can see for miles. | ||
| Teddagreek |
I love coasters... I have an affection for Wooden coasters, They may not be as fast but they are more scary.. Going fast and feeling like your head is going to be lopped off is fun... I can't do any virtual reality rides though they make me extremely sick as hell.. (Message edited by teddagreek on May 27, 2008) | ||
| Reepicheep |
You can see my house from the drop zone. It messed with my head as well, I rode it with my 7 year old, and was worried about him getting traumatized by it once we both realized what he had gotten himself into. I bluffed and smiled and looked him right in the eye all the way down trying not to look as freaked out as I really was by that long a free fall... it worked, and we both had a good laugh about it... but as we were walking away he said "that was neat, but I don't think I want to do it again today". I agreed! The original beast really is the best. | ||
| Bigdaddy |
My wife and I rode the beast -- had to be in 1983 give or take 1 year -- and it was a good thrill ride. The free-fall stuff is fun, but after 22 years of jumping out of airplanes it kind of steals the buzz. I really like the Sky Coaster at Carowinds. Just a way oversized swing set, but you get great ground rush. | ||
| Jlnance |
You can see my house from the drop zone. Ha, you're assuming I'll have my eyes open. | ||
| Jaimec |
You need to try the "Power Tower" at Cedar Point if you REALLY want "rubber leg" syndrome. Take the one that blasts you DOWN, not the one that blasts you UP. The one that shoots you down takes you slowly all the way to the top of the 300 foot tower. You hang there for a second and then BLAMMO! They SHOOT you straight down. Since you are falling FASTER than gravity alone would have you, you rise up out of the seat. I had trouble walking when I got off that thing. I much prefer the one that blasts you UP. My favorite "Free Fall" ride is "The Tower of Terror" at MGM Grand in DisneyWorld. It's a "heavily themed" free fall, so it's pretty cool. | ||
| Kyrocket |
Reepicheep, glad it wasn't just me. My wife got off the ride shaking and crying. I wasn't quite that bad but I haven't rode it since. There is one at Kentucky Kingdom about a third the size that severed a girls feet last year. Doctors were able to re-attach one of them but she lost the other when a cable snapped. Saw on the news where she was in DC lobbying for stricter coaster inspections. After working behind the scenes at King's Island I have to say they are, or were, top notch. Every train is disassembled in the off months and each wheel is x-rayed for cracks. I've been wanting to go to Cedar Point for years, maybe when the kids get a little older and can enjoy the coasters we'll make a vacation out of it. Anyone who's been to King's Island remember this? http://youtube.com/watch?v=OgMg4CmZB6Q | ||
| Paint_shaker |
DJ, You gotta love the whip of the rear car!!! Busch Gardens Florida has a few good ones... QUWASI= Wooden, teeth rattling, arse off the seat, narrow cars. SHEIKRA= 8 Riders wide, no floor, 3-7 second stall on the edge of 70 ft vertical drop, along with another smaller vertical. KUMBA= Steel rail, inverted corkscrews Awesome G's MONTU= Overhead Coaster, inverted sections, dangling feet, again awesome G's. Hard to see ahead unless you are in the front seat though... Universal Orlando had a dueling coaster. Also, a one that propelled you up, out of a tube. Nearly passed out on this one at the first turn.... | ||
| Jaimec |
Paint Shaker: You're referring to "Dueling Dragons" and "The Hulk." Two EXCELLENT coasters. Over in Disneyworld, I like "Rock and Roller Coaster," the Aerosmith-themed linear-induction launched indoor coaster in MGM Studios. Himalaya (I think that's what it's called) over in Animal Kingdom is a cool indoor coaster inside the world's largest artificial mountain. Worth a look. |
