TheCoasterCritic

He referenced a post I wrote where I pointed out that the Golden Ticket Awards' top ten steel coasters list was loopless for the first time (ever?). I know all about the GTA's reputation and I prefer Mitch's poll. I was just noting the lack of loopers when the results came out last year.

Full disclosure: 3 of my top 10 are loopers are 6, 7, & 8. So, I'm likely a bit biased from the jump. Personally, I find it difficult to compare loopers and non-loopers when I compile my top ten lists. But, on the other hand, I can see everyone's point about there being too many lists. I don't think three lists would be too many, but then again I really like data, critiques, reviews, and top lists. It is worth noting that Mitch could just have the one list, but instead he decided to separate wood and steel. And I don't agree at all that having loopers and non-loopers opens the door up for a list for every type. I don't have the time, but I'd bet if someone went to RCDB or did some number cruching, they would find that the world's coasters are something like: 10% wood, 20% steel looping, and 70% steel non looping. These are just guesses. Those three categories are large enough percentages of the overall coaster population to merit three lists. Again, I love polls, rankings, lists, etc. I understand that the appetite for these things is pretty varied. I can see both sides and I'm trying to see this from other enthusiasts and the gp's point of view, not just mine. Basically, if there's a wide-reaching preference shift it doesn't quite seem fair (to me) that loopers get left out. Maybe this is just payback for all those years of OTSR headbanging.

Tycoon Sawyer, can you describe the effects in the dark section a bit? Is that where it gets so scary that it warrants that silly age restriction?

I'll have a newborn for much of the coaster season this year. I will be lucky to have a first 2010! I may have to settle with driving fast on hilly roads to get my airtime fix.

I thought the coaster car itself was animated, but as I looked at it in it's full size (1500 x 1000) the hood still looks a bit too shiny, but the seats look very detailed. Anyway, that was my 2 cents. Turns out that the picture is real. I got official word from the park (or the PR guy supporting the park): He also confirmed that it's being built by Maurer Sohne as RCDB has it listed, he said that he'd try to get additional stats as well.

I emailed the contact who sent me the photo. I'm leaning towards composite or maybe completely an artist rendering, but I don't know. I also asked for him to confirm the designer and name. When he replies I'll let you all know what I find out.

Excellent point nitrofan. But wouldn't a small amusment park in a smaller market work? I plan to build a Knoebels-like park in a small market when I hit the Powerball.

Freestyle Music Park's President described the U.S. as a saturated market when it comes to theme parks. That was just his opinion, but that may be the way a lot of companies feel. Not to mention the bankruptcy issues other have pointed out. If you're in the Aurora Ohio part of the country, you're best bet for a new park is that West Virginia Wild Escape Park if it ever gets going. It's supposed to be built in Northern WV, in Wheeling I think.

Just yesterday I was telling some commenters no way KD would build a Giga. And I was defending my 'low' 9 out of 10review for MF b/c I didn't experience any airtime. Funny how 24 hours can change things. I was hoping for an Intamin Mega Lite for KD, but I should have known that in America bigger = better. So an airtime packed mega lite might not have been appealing enough. I just hope it has airtime and a more interesting layout than MF's. This is pretty shocking news to me. And lastly I hope CF leaves some washers laying around down here at Carowinds too!

Rampage is definitely worth the trip out there. I decided to give the park a try after a visit to SF Over Georgia mainly based on some good Rampage reviews. I was glad that I did. I can't speak too much for the rest of the park as I just rode the coasters, but Rampage is currently in my top 10 woodies. I would think at worst it'd be in most people's top 15 wooden coasters if it still rides like it did last year. Of course that depends on your preferences. Great ride! Surprisingly smooth and enjoyable.

I was kind of wondering the same thing. When I asked Alfieri about this he said that the layout was designed in a way to provide some air time after you drop out of those brake runs.

^^^ I wouldn't say that HRRR was supposed to be a B&M coaster. When I interviewed the Creative Director Louis Alfieri he said that they went with Maurer Sohne because of the X-Car. It allows them to do some of those one of a kind inversions that he said wouldn't be possible with a longer B&M train. He gave props to B&M mentioning that of course the company has several and he worked on Hollywood Dream, but they set out to do some new maneuvers that hadn't been done before and the X-Car proved the most capable.

While I'd love to see another B&M, if it's an Intamin then my theory of an Intamin mega lite like Piraten or Kawasemi may be coming true. That'd be awesome as they must be packed with airtime to have placed so well in Mitch's Poll.

I forgot to post a link to the full interview: http://www.thecoastercritic.com/2009/05/interview-designer-of-hollywood-rip-ride-rockit.html There's a little more about why they chose Maurer and the on-ride music videos. I wish I could have gotten a tour of the station. Obviously it was a construction zone, but I was able to get into Maximum RPM last year while they were working on it.

It sounded like they are in the headrest. They are 2 55-watt marine polk audio speakers if that means anything to anybody. I'm no audiophile. He said they even tested them on the highway via some type of trailer they built to make sure you could hear them well at highspeeds.