Xcelerator - Knotts Berry Farm (CA)

Date Ridden: First in 2006 and then a few different times since. Times Ridden: 9

For all of you Top Thrill Dragster fans (and Kingda Ka fans as well), let it be known those rides would not exist had it not been for the prototype located out in Buena Park, CA. Xcelerator was the first of the launch coasters and despite its relatively tame height (a little over 200 feet....hehe) in comparison to the two monsters listed above, it is still very worth of its place in the top steel coasters in the world.

That launch is well over 80 MPH so it gets you out of there and up the top hat in a hurry. Where Xcelerator differs is that there is more track than just an up and over the hill. There are a couple of overbanked turns taken at a very fast rate of speed and then a violent stop on the brakes at the end. Overall, Xcelerator is a total adrenaline rush from the launch to the brake run.

It is easily my second favorite Intamin launched coaster behind only TTD. The restraints are identical to those found on the Dragster which leads to a more intense experience than Kingda Ka. The two trains are dispatched quickly and the race car theme of the attraction is top notch as well.

As a footnote, the ride has been down for the last three weeks and is not supposed to be up for another two. It has had some issues with downtime in the past, so you do run a risk if missing out on the coaster when visiting. Keep that in mind when putting together travel plans.

In conclusion, Xcelerator is solidly entrenched in my top 10 steel coasters. it is a smooth yet intense launch coaster which is loads of fun, particularly in the front seat at night when you have an unobstructed view of Buena Park. It grades out as a solid 9.

Ride Xcelerator below.

The Georgia Cyclone - Six Flags Over Georgia (GA)

Date Ridden: Various times over the past 15 years with the latest being Opening Day 2008. Times Ridden: Many

To begin with, I am very proud of my home park. We have one of the top 10 steel coasters in the world according to both Mitch's poll and the Golden Tickets, a well respected steel looper in Mindbender, and also a strong woodie which gets solid reviews from most enthusiasts in the GA Cyclone.

While the Cyclone is not among my favorite rides, it is still a solid ride which gives tons airtime and lots of fun. The ride is not rough as other reviews say. It is simply the design and layout which leads to a very intense ride. Are you going to get slammed around? Yes. Are you going to get thrown from your seat on approximately a half dozen occasions? Yes. Are you going to tossed from one side of your seat to the next? Yes again because that is the way the ride is set up.

I personally prefer the back seat to any other area of the train. Unbelievably the ride seems just as intense but maybe a little smoother back there than up front or in the middle. Plus the airtime is really extreme......not El Toro extreme but very good nonetheless.

The GA Cyclone gets a solid 8 from me and a spin or two on every trip I make down to Austell.

Goliath - Six Flags Over Georgia (GA)

A good review for this ride has been a long time coming. To begin with, I was lucky enough to be able to ride this monster back in its inaugural year of 2006. It instantly jumped into my Top 10 since I had only ridden about 50 coasters total. It stayed there for a long time and is currently ranked # 11 in my overall rankings, # 4 among my steel coasters, and # 6 according to The Amusement Today Golden Tickets. It is hard to believe that a world-class steel coaster is located a mere two hours from my house.

Thanks to the closeness of this ride, I currently have 83 laps on Goliath. Yep, 83. On the first day I ever rode it with one of my younger cousins back in 2006, we put 6 laps on it which i thought was pretty decent. This past opening day however, Guy and myself rode it 50 times since there were no lines. the ops were nice enough to let us stay in our seats since no one was waiting, and well, we did. And had a great time. Around lap 38, I actually begin to feel nauseated due to the huge hills located throughout the course. We took a quick break, walked around a little and I was able to suck it up and finish up our 50 laps. Other the Cannonball up at Lake Winnie, I have ridden Goliath more than any other coaster.

The ride itself features a number of large hills with the second drop actually being longer than the first which is a rarity on a coaster. The ride actually leaves the park, travels out to the interstate, and then turns back to re-enter the park and finish its course. Highlights of the ride include the third drop which takes all the way to the surface of the pond located on the other side of the parking lot, the downward helix which is the best of its type on any B and M hyper I have ridden, and the banked curve which gives the feeling that you are about to fall out of the car. The final bunny hops are taken very quickly and offer some of the best floating air on the entire ride.

Goliath is just a great coaster. It is smooth throughout, yet offers enough intensity to satisfy even the most hard-core enthusiast. I really do not understand the theme (space ships and 60's themed music on a ride name Goliath?) and the drops are not as severe as those on Nitro up in Jackson, New Jersey. However, the ride experience itself is the best of all the B and M's I have ridden placing it in the upper echelon with a very high 9 grade. Hopefully, my home park will continue the upkeep of this wonderful coaster.

Ride Goliath below.

Ghostrider (New pictures and updated review) - Knotts Berry Farm

As you read in my previous post, eight rides on Ghostrider was the highlight of my half-day trip to Knotts. I rode from the middle to the front of seven of the eight with one backseat ride thrown in. I normally like back seat rides on woodies, but Ghostrider (along with the Beast and Mean Streak) is just a little too intense/rough. From about the 4th seat and on up, it is smooth and offers a great ride. There are a number of pops of airtime, some insane laterals, and the crazy section where you drop off the mid-course break. Overall, this ride still holds a soft spot in my heart and make sure to take a couple of laps each tip out west. Ghostrider is solidly in my Top 20 despite the complaints of many enthusiasts who claim it is too rough and not taken care of. It is possibly the most popular attraction at Knotts for good reason.

Pony Express Review and Knotts Berry Farm Trip Report 10-23-2008

My latest coaster trip out west was a definite success. Besides seeing some outstanding pieces of roadside American located in LA, I also had a great time visiting Knotts for about a half a day. The park was totally dead with all rides being walk-ons and half-empty trains the norm for all the coasters. With park closing at 5:30 in preparation for the Haunt, I guess people were simply not willing to pay full price for what amounted to half a day. With our

season passes, we had no problems visiting.

The trip to Knotts had a three fold purpose. First, I wanted to ride the all new Pony Express to add to the credits. Secondly, I hoped to spend some time on Ghostrider, one of my Top 20 rides out of over 300. Thirdly, I had been staring at the 9 as far as laps go on Xcelerator and was ready to hit double digits on it. Well, two out of three is not bad since Pony Express was running, Ghostrider was virtually empty but Xcelerator was down for maintenance. One of the workers said it would be 2-3 weeks before it would be running again. However, 8 rides on Ghostrider, including one where I was the only rider on the entire train, made up for the lack of Xcelerator. As far as Pony Express goes, it is a family oriented ride. The launch from 0-38 mph was very weak in terms of an adult coaster. However, I was very pleased with the ride because it continued the Knotts trend of building rides that all members of the family can enjoy. It is a unique coaster and I can just see younger kids jumping of the ride and getting straight back in line.

I love to see that excitement and kudos to Knotts for focusing on the younger generation.

In addition to this ride, I got in 8 laps on Ghostrider and 1 on Silver Bullet giving me 20 total rides for the day. Adding in the great lunch we had in Mrs. Knotts kitchen, our time spent here was wonderful. Knotts is one of the few parks I can visit and simply enjoy the ambience of the place without worrying about running around riding coasters. The park itself ranks easily in top 5 with a solid trio of coasters, the best woodie in California despite the complaints of many enthusiasts, and a good overall atmosphere. Pony Express grades out as a 6 which is above average for a family oriented ride.

Take a ride on it below.

Raptor Picture Update

Greetings from the west coast. With some computer problems at home, plus the flight out here to California, I have missed a few days. I visited Pacific Park today down in Santa Monica and will hit Knott's for about half the day tomorrow. For tonight, I'll update my Raptor review with a few pics from our last trip to Cedar Point. Thanks for reading.

Mindbender - Six Flags Over Georgia (GA)

Date Ridden: Many times over the last 20 years. Times Ridden: Lots of times in every seat.

I have a number of things to discuss regarding this wonderful old ride at my home park and I really don't know where to begin. I think I'll start with nostalgia.

Growing up and visiting Six Flags was always a fun experience and I can remember the Mindbender being the featured attraction. I was too small for it and would have never ridden it anyway. As I got older and was able to ride it, it scared me to death. It was tall, fast, and the part at the top of the lift hill where the train completely stops and then creeps around the curve before dropping into the first loop is among the scariest moments you will ever find on a thrill ride. I can remember when they re-themed the ride into that of the supervillain Riddler to go along with the Batman ride next to it. The themeing still exists today as both the track and the surrounding water elements (which the ride makes extensive use of) are colored green.

OK, enough nostalgia. As a current amusement park ride, Mindbender has its

definite pluses. Other reviewers have noted the presence of the inversions minus the OTSRs. That is a definite plus. The loops are also very intense with centrifugal force pinning you to your seat. One loop is located directly near one of the water falls which adds to the ride visually. The ride is also very smooth with no jackhammering or karate chops to the spine present.

So why only an 8? Despite the positive listed above, Mindbender is just not that great. I realize that the coaster is an engineering marvel for its time, but there is absolutely no way it is in the top 25 steel coasters in the world as the Golden Tickets continually place it. Having ridden over 300 coasters, I would place it in my top 50 but not any higher. I'm going with an 8 because I feel that rides like Goliath, Apollos Chariot, and Nitro deserve 9s and this creation from the 70s is nowhere near their class. I love the Mindbender and the memories that it brings back to me, but still cant justify a higher rating despite what most critics say. I'll always ride a couple of times on each trip as the line is virtually non-existent and appreciate the place it holds in many coaster enthusiasts hearts. I just don't understand the critical acclaim that it receives. Oh well.

Overall Rating - 8

Ride Mindbender below.

Ravine Flyer Picture Update

I've added a few pics of the coaster ranked Best New Ride of 2008. The coaster is well worth all the praise it has been receiving. It is almost a perfect combination of an classic older ride with the highly intense and newer thrills of a Gravity Group design. It is amazing that such a small park as Waldameer has such a great ride.

Just and FYI: the park is only about 2 hours east of Cedar Point. It is well worth the easy drive if you are in the Sandusky area. You have some options of buying tickets specifically for the coaster (they run about 4 bucks a ride) or purchasing an all you can ride wristband for a little over $20.00 The RFII is worth every penny and every second spent driving. The park is easy to find as it is only a few miles off the freeway. The park itself has a laid back and family oriented atmosphere and the view from the top of the lift hill of the ride itself is unparalleled. It is definitely a destination coaster for any enthusiast.

Mantis - Cedar Point (OH)

Date Ridden: Summer of 2006 through 2008. Times Ridden: 6

I like to sit down in a coaster. I do not like to fly, hand, or most assuredly, stand up. Coasters are made to sit comfortably in, not be a torture device with some type of gimmicky restraint system. For that reason, I do not like Mantis. As far as stand-up coasters go, it probably ranks toward the top. B and M did a decent job with the elements. Intensity is definitely not lacking either. However, I simply can not get comfortable unless I am sitting comfortably and that is impossible on Mantis.

When going up the lift hill (and it is very tall), you know that pain is on its way. We here at Coaster Reviews use what we call "The Turtle Method", which means we stand and lean as far out as possible with our heads so we do not bang our ears on the restraints when going through the elements offered by the ride. However, while this helps to avoid a headache, it does nothing for the neck pain that takes place afterward as well as possibly being dangerous. With the head flopping around all over the place, I would definitely not recommend that riding style, however I specifically prefer it to getting my ears bashed.

I really do not hate Mantis. The ride itself looks wonderful, is very intense, and normally has a very short line. I simply do not like stand-up coasters. The GA Scorcher at Six Flags over Georgia is probably my favorite stand-up simply because it is the shortest in length and ride duration. I had rather sit down and enjoy my coasters. That's just how I am.

Overall Rating - 6 (mainly for intensity and aesthetics).

Ride Mantis below. If you watch the people in the camera,, you will see the numerous examples of "ear-banging" into the restraints. Trust me, that hurts.

Wildfire - Silver Dollar City (MO)

Date Ridden: May of 2007 Times Ridden: 5 in a wide range of seats including once in the front and twice in the back.

Wildfire is a very solid B and M sit down looper located in a gorgeous area of the country. I am well aware that SDC is not known for its thrill rides. The park was packed on the day we went, but Wildfire was a walk-on as there were a number of elderly visitors interested only in the numerous exhibits and shows. Two trains were being run and there was no problem in getting numerous rides. The ride ops were even nice enough once our ride was over to let us off and line up on the side we exited at in order to fill in empty seats on the next train. I never left the station in getting my 5 consecutive rides.

What about the ride itself? Well, my favorite part was the initial drop into the large loop. I was surprised at the length of the drop (in excess of 100 feet)and was pleased with the ride overall. The corkscrews at the end were a little uncomfortable which makes this ride a slight step below other B and M loopers like Hulk and Kumba. However, I am going with the 9 because, once again, the location and visuals are worth a bump up. The coaster itself is probably an 8 but located on the side of a mountain giving a beautiful view of the Ozarks is worth an extra point. An 8.5 would probably be a little closer to the truth, but I had tons of fun getting re-rides as well as enjoying the view. I definitely recommend this as a coaster to ride on the front row thanks to visuals. Take a trip out to Silver Dollar City and enjoy this little B and M gem in the heart of the mountains.

Overall rating - 9.

Ride Wildfire below.

Nitro Picture Update

For today, I have uploaded some extra picturs Guy had of the # 3 ranked steel coaster in the world. Our last visit, there was a little problem with some downtime and we waited around 30 minutes for our one ride. The ride itself is among the more intense B and M hypers out there but seriously lacks the cosmetic appeal as the paint is horribly faded, the sign on the building is rusted, and the trains have taken a beating. The ride nowhere near as dilapidated as Ride of Steel coasters in Darien Lake or Great America, but this thrill machine could still use some TLC. With Nitro and El Toro, Great Adventure has arguably the top steel/wooden coaster combo in the world, but that is a topic for another article. Enjoy the pics.

The New Mexico Rattler - Cliff's Amusement Park (NM)

Date Ridden 7-8-2007 Times ridden - 2 (3rd from the back and middle of the train).

Following our day out at Lagoon, I was excited to be heading to a small park with a coaster that I had planned our trip around. I was looking for another Ozark Wildcat and was slightly disappointed. While not as smooth, the massive laterals made this wood hybrid (wooden track and steel supports) a fun ride. I was surprised at the intensity this little coaster packed. It was so much that Julia would not ride again. After hitting this when we got in, we rode everything else in the park and I rode this one again before we left. We did the entire park in a little over two hours. Kudos also to the ride ops who handled a line cutting incident by some teenagers with quick consequences. As we were waiting for our first ride, four people (two boys and their girlfriends I guess) came from one stall and two of them jumped in front of us. I pointed this fact out to the ops and they immediately led all four line jumpers out of the station. I am not sure if they were removed from the park but thanks to the lady who LOUDLY and FORCEFULLY made them get up and had them taken out.

Now about the ride. First the line is much different. There are actually three lines which go into the station. The line on the far right is for the front two cars only. The line on the far left is for the back two cars only. The middle line is for the rest of the train. Amazingly, all three lines are normally equal which means the middle line moves MUCH faster. The Rattler only has one train, so wait times can get very lengthy for the front or the back...especially since most people just jump in whatever line looks the shortest. If it is absolutely necessary that you ride a front or back seat (and on some rides I am that way....I only like inverts on the front and usually woodies on the back) then prepare for a longer wait. Otherwise, just jump in the middle line and prepare to ride after a 1 or 2 train cycle. I do feel like my ride in the third from the back was my best ride so it may be necessary to wait the extra time. I was personally short on time and was not willing to wait. Highlights of the coaster include the twisting drop, the lengthy tunnel, and like I said earlier, the massive laterals. The trains are very comfortable so being pummelled from side to side is a pleasant sensation. There are a number of pops of air on a few of the hills but nothing like El Toro or Kennywood's Jack Rabbit. The Rattler is a fast little coaster which makes Cliffs a destination for coaster enthusiasts. I pre-judged this ride as a 9 based on its looks and specs but after riding have decided it is more of an 8.......more along the lines of the Thunderbolt at Kennywood or Rampage at Alabamas Adventure than the Raven or Dolly's Thunderhead which are solid 9s. Still a fun ride.

Overall Rating - 8.

Ride the Rattler below.

Mystery Mine - Dollywood (TN)

Date Ridden : 5-28-2007 Times Ridden : Only 1 in the back row since the ride ops dont give you a choice....boo!!

This was the first of the tri-fecta of new steel coasters for 2007 I would be riding in a 1 month time period last year. In driving up to Pigeon Forge from my home in northwest GA, Julia and I encountered heavy holiday traffic. I really do not like going to Gatlinburg or PF but this would be my best change to get to Dollywood and its dynamic duo for the entire year unless I wanted to trek up there alone. We were about an hour late to the park and after a long trek through the parking lot (no trams for me!!!) we entered and headed straight to MM. I figured it would only get more crowded as the day progressed so I was going to get this ride in for certain. The line was backed up all the way outside of the queing area. However, it moved quickly and we were in the train after about a 45 minute wait. I was not happy that the ride ops placed us in a car and didnt allow us to choose our seat but oh well. No use in complaining about things that can't be controlled. Following our ride in the mine, our car stopped and we looked at each other at exactly the same moment. We were both let down immensely. Please dont get me wrong....I loved the ride and its heavy theming. The finale with the turn and dive maneuver was outstanding (much better than the move used by the former Manhattan Express in Vegas) but I guess there was so much publicity for this ride that it was impossible to meet the expectations. Dollywood has an exceptional ride with the vertical lifts, the indoor segments, and the outdoor intense moments. But in comparing this ride with its two competitors for 2007 new ride of the year (Maverick and Griffon) it is seriously lacking. As of now, its gets an 8 as a very good ride but not outstanding. Its probably in my top 75 (out of over 300), but not much higher than that.

Due to the indoor dark segments, an online video of this ride is not available.

Space Mountain - Disneyland (CA) and Magic Kingdom (FL)

Despite actually being two totally different rides, I decided to combine both rides into one review for the ease of posting as well as reading. The first part of the review is from the California version which was re-done a couple of years ago. The second part of the review is from the Florida version which I rode last New Year's Eve.

Date Ridden: October of 2007. Times Ridden: 1

Despite the upgrades, I still consider Space Mountain to be a classic roller coaster ride. It is a perfect example of what makes Disney, "Disney". You (or they) take a family roller coaster with sub-par stats and make it a wonderful ride that thrill seekers can enjoy with younger family members.

The ride is glassy smooth, seems much faster than it is, and provides an overall exhilarating experience. There are obviously no inversions inside the mountain but that is by no means a negative since I think inversions are overrated on roller coasters anyway. The quick turns and drops are thirlling but not terrifying adding once again to the entire family experience.

One final thing. This ride is a freaking capacity machine!! We used our fast pass on it, but still had to go through a portion of the line. We never stopped as the line continuously moved. I think I counted either 7 or 8 trains running, with once again, the velcro pocket inside each train being a major boost in speeding up loading and unloading. Major props to the designers at "The Mouse" who created a very solid ride. I still dont think any park is worth a $90.00 admission price though.

Date Ridden: Once many years ago and once on 12-31-2007. Times Ridden: 2

To start with, I like this ride. It is very different from the version I rode in CA, but it is still solid nonetheless. The posted wait time was over 2 hours but we were on in about 45 minutes as the park was packed out with people (like us) ringing in the new year. I like the single passenger bobsled type trains as they were very comfortable. I also liked the "station" where you could see the trains whizzing about above you. To me it is a different ride, yet still unique enough to get a solid 8. Again, Disney takes a ride that scores around a 7 and gets a 1 point bump from me for themeing and enjoyment.

The ride seems much faster than it actually is with its quick dips and turns. I was pleased with my ride experience and will always remember the fun this ride gave me on New Years Eve of 2007.

Due to the nature of the ride (being inside in a dark setting), no video is available.

Maverick Picture Update.

Following our recent trip to Cedar Point, Guy came home with some great pics of the last year's top new ride. While Maverick is not one of my favorites, there is no doubt that it is very intense and among the most popular rides in existence. It is normal to see the line backed totally out of the queing area with waits of up to two hours common. I only rank it has the 5th best ride at Cedar Point as I prefer Millennium Force, Top Thrill Dragster, Magnum, and Raptor over Maverick. However, the elements it offers are unique and thrilling. The restraints really hurt the ride however. Check out the Maverick review (http://coasterreviews.blogspot.com/2008/07/date-ridden-6-21-2007-times-ridden-5.html) for the updated pictures.

Sooperdooperlooper - Hersheypark (PA)

Date Ridden: Summer of 2008. Times Ridden: 1

The more I go back and look at the coasters in the land of chocolate, the more impressed I become with what Hersheypark has to offer. With two outstanding woodies, a launch coaster, a unique Intamin 90 degree launched coaster, a B and M invert and couple of nice older rides, this is a destination park for any enthusiast. The Sooperdooperlooper fits into the latter category but is fun nonetheless.

At my home park, Six Flags Over Georgia, we have the highly rated Mindbender which is extremely similar to this specific ride. Both are very smooth, both feature inversions without over-the-shoulder restraints, and both offer a fairly lengthy ride. Like Mindbender, SDL uses the terrain in which it is built wisely with many trees and a couple of ponds adding to the experience. Nothing disgusts more than a great ride which is simply sitting in the middle of a parking lot without any terrain whatsoever.

SDL features a very lengthy train so based on my one ride and my experiences on Mindbender, the back of the train offers a bit of airtime and a little more intensity. Despite its age, the ride is fun and very smooth without a any hint of roughness. Also, since this is one of Hershey's older coasters, the line is normally very short with only station waits or near walk-ons. On the day we were there, the trains were running half-empty due to the lack of people in line.

Is the SDL the best ride in the park? Definitely not but it is a can't miss while visiting Hershey. It interacts well with other coasters and offers an experience unique to the casual coaster rider. It gets a solid grade from the Coaster Reviews staff.

Overall Rating - 8

Ride Superdooperlooper below.

Voyage Picture Update

As you can read in our latest trip report, the Voyage is still great. It is worthy of its top ranked spot as the best wooden coaster in the world. by putting up 13 laps in one day, we can honestly say that it is running better than it was last year. It is intense, fast, and out of control, yet smooth and very re-rideable if you stay toward the middle and front of the train. It is absolute must-ride for any coaster enthusiasts no matter how far away you live. http://coasterreviews.blogspot.com/2008/08/voyage-holiday-world-in.html

Afterburn - Carowinds (NC)

Date Ridden: Summer of 2007 and 2008. Times Ridden: 3

Afterburn was formerly known as Top Gun: The Jet Coaster before Paramount sold out to Cedar Fair. Despite the name change, very little actually changed about the coaster other than the new sign as all of the flying material was left due to the similarity of the two names. The ride itself is a wonderful example of an inverted coaster. I place it right up there with Montu and Talon as the smoothest of all the B and M inverts that I have ridden.

Probably my favorite element of the ride is Batwing inversion which takes the place of the cobra roll and is, in my opinion, a much better element. Afterburn has the addition of the Batwing going underground (like on Montu) however there is a cloud of cool mist the train absolutely flies through. This is a great element particularly on a hot muggy southern day.

Also both times I have been, the ride was a virtual walk-on. While it is the park's signature ride, the capacity is much better than on the other coasters at Carowinds so the wait is normally minimal. I have had a blast each time on Afterburn however the sweltering heat has caused us to leave the park early both times. That does not take anything away from this wonderful coaster which finishes consistently among the top ranked inverts each year in many different enthusiasts polls.

Overall Rating - 9

Ride Afterburn below.

Wicked Twister - Cedar Point (OH)

Date Ridden: Numerous times since 2006. Times Ridden: 9

While claiming the fact that it is Cedar Point's third fastest and tallest coaster, Wicked Twister stands alongside the beach with a wonderful view. It is a very modern LIM launched coaster with some unique elements. It is a very intense ride that, despite its short length, still makes it a fun ride.

A majority of the time, the park is slack in this area so you can normally get a walk-on or a station wait on all but the most crowded of days. The seats are very comfortable and the launch is extremely powerful. After the second launch through the station, the train reaches its top speed in excess of 70 mph and its top height toward the top of each twisted spike. The best seats are on either end as these seats get the most twist action. The middle seats are a little more balanced but do not get the forces that the ends receive.

Wicked Twister has had some issues and downtime in the past, but on each trip we have always been able to get at least one ride on it. It is fast and fun, particularly in the rain as one of our rides was. The ride itself is a nice thrill and an excellent adrenaline rush whenever you do ride. It gets a solid rating here on Coaster Reviews and is an underrated ride at the Coaster Capitol.

Overall rating - 8

Ride Wicked Twister below.

El Toro Picture Update

I have updated the El Toro review (http://coasterreviews.blogspot.com/2008/07/el-toro-six-flags-great-adventure.html) with a few extra pictures I found. Riding this ultra smooth monster this past summer was an absolute blast. The back seat is definitely the money seat as the airtime is totally insane. It is only a matter of time before this ride moves up in the Amusement Today rankings to challenge the Voyage for the best wooden coaster on the planet. Thanks for reading and enjoys the pics.

Trip Report - Beech Bend, Kentucky (8-31-2008)

Following a wonderful trip up through Kentucky and Indiana with some roadside Americana and Indiana Beach as our main destination, we catually had as much fun on a park we had already visited once a few years ago. Back in 2006, we stayed at Beech Bend for a couple of hours and got in three laps each on the all new Kentucky Rumbler wooden coaster which became one of my instant favorites. Since we were going back by there on the way home, we decided to stop in once again.

It was a Sunday afternoon, so we were able to get in with an unlimited ride wristband for only 12 bucks. We spent a couple of hours in the park with all rides being walk-ons. I rode the Rumbler 9 times while Julia rode 7 times herself. We also took a front seat spin on the scar Looping Star which seemed to be running much better this time around. The Rumbler itself (which was reallly the only reason we stopped in as the other rides are portable fair types) is still running well with great laterals and some surprising pops of airtime. It solidified itself in my personal Top 20 thanks to a smooth ride with wonderful elements.

It came a slight rain while we were there and one of our rides came with some stinging rain in our face. Like normal I loved it.

One problem I have is that after each ride, the operators make you walk all the around the station to get back in line, even if there is no one waiting. That in itself limits re-rides as we got about 6 an hour as opposed to our Holiday World trip where Guy and myself were rding about 12-13 rides per hour.

Still, all in all, Beech Bend is a fun family-oriented park that is worth visiting. There is a water park that is included with admission if that is your thing, and individual ride tickets are sold as well. If you do not get the unlimited wristband, a ride on the Rumbler is 5 bucks.

One final unique factor about Beech Bend is its location. It is located on the outskirts of Bowling Green basically in the middle of a field. It is a gorgeous drive and when the park appears over a hill, it will take your breath away. It is an amazing fact that an amusement park was built in this location.

Overall Beech Bend is wonderful little park with short lines on both occasions we've visited and a great family oriented atmosphere. Stop by if you are in the area.

Millennium Force Picture Update.

If you get a chance, check out our first ever post on the blog back in July of this year. (http://coasterreviews.blogspot.com/2008/07/millenium-force-cedar-point.html) Thanks to our recent trip to Cedar Point, we ended up with a number of new pictures so those will be posted to rides that have already been reviewed. Guy got some great pics of Millennium Force in action. Also, for you enthusiasts out there (thanks especially to The Coaster Critic who has listed us as a link on his award winning site) feel free to drop us a comment with recommendations or suggestions.

My next coaster trip will be to Knotts Berry Farm and Pacific Park in a couple of weeks.

Thanks for reading!!

Starliner - Cypress Gardens (FL)

Date Ridden: January of 2008. Times Ridden: 15 including 12 in a row without having to leave the coaster station house.

Let me begin by saying that there is now a reason to visit Cypress Gardens down in Winter Haven, FL.

Starliner is a classic ride with a beautiful setting, comfortable seats and restraints, and (Im serious) some vicious air time!! I did not really know what to expect from this simple looking little out and back woodie but "Floridas Original Scream Machine" won me over after my first ride in the back seat. The air time varies from ride to ride and definitely from seat to seat. In the front there are usually two pops of ejector air on the way out and 0 on the way back. However, the visuals are great and the ride is still fun.

On the back seat however, you usually get 3 (and sometimes 4) pops and 1 decent pop on the return. Included in all areas of the car is one massive ejector moment on a small bunny hill right before the turn-around. And let me tell you, it is really good! Its definitely not El Toro good, but for a "true" woodie with this much age, it is a superb coaster moment.

Now...how did I get 15 rides on this thing in 1 day (actually in less than two hours)? Before our trip to Florida, we heard that the park clears out on Sundays after concerts. So guess when we went? Sunday after a concert on MLK weekend. That was some very good advice. I kid you not, there were maybe 20 people in the park. Most ride ops, including those on Starliner, were just standing around waiting on someone to come up so they could have something to do. The ops on Triple Hurricane were sitting in the cars chatting when we walked up. Not only were we able to turn in 15 laps on Starliner, but we also rode every other coaster there and most of the flats. We also rode 6 consectutive rides in the same seat! I love it when ride ops let you stay on if no one wants your seat. There were 6 of us on the ride and we were fine in the middle. Eventually the temperature dropped and the back group left. Not us!! We tied up our hoodies, put on our gloves, and rode another 3 or 4 times in the very back until the park closed. Even though I was freezing to death, I could not think of anywhere I had rather have been than riding this piece of coaster history.

Is this ride really a 9 placing it on par with Raven, Legend, and the OZCat out in Branson? Uh....no. Its probably more of a high 7 or low 8 but as I look back on my experience I could probably actually give it a 10. This past January was a great trip with 10 rides on Montu (see review), 8 rides on the Dueling Dragons at IOA (including the Storm Ride...also see review) and then closing things down on our final day with 15 laps on this beauty. Taking into account all of those factors, I decided on a 9 to balance the quality of the coaster with my experience on it.

As far as wood goes, Starliner is the best ride in the south. I like it better than the Gwazis at BGA. Its more fun than the woodies at 6 Flags over GA. Unfortunately I missed out on Cheetah at Wild Adventures since it was down for repairs but I dont think it would really compete either. As many woodie fans as are on this site, I would think that some of you would be willing to take a trek south to ride this one. Its not the gretest ride on earth, but this little out and back woodie is one thing that every coaster should be (and not every coaster is).......fun.

Ride Starliner below.

The Mighty Canadian Minebuster - Canada's Wonderland (Ontario)

Date Ridden: Summer of 2008. Times Ridden: 1

The Minebuster is simply an average wooden coaster at a below average park.While it is definitely a rough and tumble ride, it is still has that typical woodies feel that I enjoy. The first part of the ride is actually fairly smooth, however, the airtime is lacking and there is not really that much of a sensation of speed. The car seems to pick up the pace in the second half of the ride, but it is here where you really start to get bashed around even while trying to ride defensively. After riding, I absolutely despised since it finished with such roughness and I was in a foul mood in a park with about 10 million rude and disrespectful people. As I look back, the ride was not that bad and deserves the average grade. It is definitely not a reason to visit CW (if there actually is a reason) but if for some unknown reason you find yourself there, it is worth riding for the credit. I guess.

Overall rating - 7.

Ride the Minebuster below.

Son of Beast - King's Island (OH)

Date Ridden: First in 2006 with loop present and most recently on 9-20 without the loop. Times Ridden: 5

Welcome to the Coaster Review's analysis of probably the most criticized coaster of all time. The Son of Beast is consistently ranked at the very bottom of every wooden coaster list available. Despite still holding the records for both the tallest (only wooden coaster in the world of 200 feet) and the fastest (over 80 MPH), this coaster is despised among enthusiasts and the general public as well. It is considered to among the roughest, longest and most painful coasters ever created. At one point, the ride even locked up while running leading to a painful instant stop which sent the entire train of riders to the hospital with chest contusions. In addition, at one point this was the only wooden coaster on the planet that actually had a vertical loop. The loop has since been removed as lighter trains have been installed in order to make the ordeal a little more pleasant. Despite this fact, SOB (a great acronym according to most people) is still despised. Well.....except by the two members of the coaster reviews staff who have ridden it.

I like it. I was blessed to be able to ride SOB back in 2006 during the final year the loop was there as well as 2007 which was the first year without the loop. I liked it both times, but this past year I liked the ride even more thanks to a front seat ride at night.

There is no airtime to speak of, but airtime is very painful if it slams you int0

the lad bar at 80 MPH. The SOB is big, fast, and yes, even violent. There is no relaxing and enjoying the scenery on this baby. You better lean forward, brace your feet, and hold on tightly. I totally respect the fact that KI and the designer (Dinn) went for something different. Granted, they may have tried a little too hard, but still this is a unique ride with some very intense elements. In this "cookie-cutter" time period of wooden coasters, the SOB is completely different from any other ride out there. It has to be. It's over 200 freaking feet tall!

Each year people keep calling for this ride to be torn down, demolished, blown up, etc. I recognize that the violence of the ride is difficult if one is not prepared for it but would still hate to see it go. Eventually, I am sure there will be more problems with the structure, track, and probably the cars and the ride will have to go. It is simply too big and too fast to continue to exist in its current state. However, as long as its there, we will take a couple of spins on it trip. However, next time it might be a good idea to stretch and "get loose" first.

Overall Rating - 8

Check out the awesome video below which is the SOB with the loop still in it.