AndyGiles

How bizarre... http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article6790200.ece I don't quite understand why - most serious swimmer wear them at UK public pools - what's the big deal? It's going to be interesting to see how they police this ban!

I would put money on this being a new B&M prototype. All Secret Weapons (excluding Nemesis - but that was a Europe first) have been prototype coasters. It's time that Alton puts itself back on the coaster map after a disappointing few seasons. I expect a coaster which is nothing short of spectacular and will make our American friends very jealous!

There are no photos of my favourite ride in Heide Park, the absolutely awesome bobsleigh, which seems to go on forever. Plus, there's a really cool 'hidden' log flume which I stumbled upon the second time I visited the park. If I recall, the drop is really long and the boats have strange owl faces.

It looks like I won't be able to make the East Coast trip. My boss is going on a holiday at that exact time so it will be impossible for me to get the time off. SharkTums, thanks very much for sending all the information through. I really am devastated that I can't go as financially, this is the first year I could afford it. I would loved to have gone and think I would have had a blast. Have fun guys!

I should know for sure in around 2 weeks whether I can go or not...will the trip still be open then?

I nearly got beaten up in the queue for Stealth at Thorpe Park last year! To cut a long story short, there were a bunch of guys queue barging pretty much right to the front of the queue by jumping over the fence and then forcing their way through people. English people being the nice folk they are, let these guys push through and don't say anything. Then I step in as I've been patiently waiting in the queue for over an hour. I see the guys coming up behind me and I put both my arms out across the queue holding on to the fences on either side so they can't pass. What follows is a 15 minute argument, the guys shouting at me and abusing me right in my face, but me not budging. At this point, this mum with a handbag gets involved and helps me and eventually the whole queue is with me and the guys are forced out! They threatened to beat me up and 'get' me after the ride, but I never saw them again!

^ Thanks for the reply! I should know this month whether I will be able to make it or not and will let you know as soon as possible. I would absolutely love to join all you guys on this trip but it's quite difficult for me to get the time off work, especially in August. It's pretty much this year or never for me to do a trip like this, so I'll try my best to make it happen!!

What are the chances of there still being places left on the US trip in about a month or so? Also, what's the age demographic of the US trip like and the amount of people going solo? Thanks!

I still remember Alton Towers from the days of the "4 Man Bob Coaster" and some other crazy bobsleigh run down the hill where Oblivion is now. I also remember the Alton Mouse and Beast which were more recent though.

I always worry that the brakes won't kick in on these things. I mean...it's not beyond the realms of possibility that the brakes will fail...and then...splat.

How does a ride manufacturer or a theme park set the rider height limits? Would people really fall out if they were a bit shorter? I can't see how even a short person could fall through some of the restraints on the ride... Some of the height limits just seem so random to me, with some bigger rides having lower limits than smaller ones.

I travelled up to Blackpool from near London all myself back in 1994 when I was 15 to ride this thing. I was so excitied and nervous the whole way up (mainly that the ride would be closed due to high winds). It wasn't and I rode it two or three times and loved it!!

It won't be as good without the mountain it's meant to come with. Is the park shipping that from Japan too?

This may be a tragic accident, but the woman was stupid and careless to go on the coaster track and could have hurt others on the ride if it hit her and de-railed. It's got nothing to do with staff training. It's plain common sense and this employee obviously had none. Her number was up;.

No wonder these rocket coasters break down the whole time; they're a complicated mess! Why is this launch system so complicated? I remember the simple launch mechanism with a weight falling down a tower (like Thunder Looper at Alton Towers). You would think that coaster technology would get simplified, not more complex with time!