Luke_A

I visited Thorpe Park today... This TR isn't that major so I'll try to keep it brief.Got to the park for opening and the got through the turnstiles at 9:30, then it was the run to Stealth, second person to ride front row , then I rode it again simply because it was just walk on again, bought my ORP with a photopass which is only £18 now for an AP holder for 5 photo's which is £3.60 per photo, pretty good deal in my opinion. So after my 2 goes on Stealth it was time for Detty, walk on yet again and only about 5 people on the ride at the time; got the photo from Detty too and well... It really is impossible to keep a straight face on this, amazingly intense as usual. Then over to Nemesis Inferno, walk on, no dispatch theme as some had been saying, but the mist was very thick and all the lights were on in the tunnel. Now over to Slammer where there were only 4 people riding on each side, I swear Slammer is running a lot faster this year, the speed it was flipping seemed a lot faster to me than usual! Samurai was up next with only a 10 minute queue, again I felt that it was more intense than usual today, and I actually felt dizzy when I came off of it! Then was Logger's Leap, Rocky Express and CCR, this was around the 12:00 mark when CCR opened, it's just nice to go on CCR for a break from some rides etc. (Bear in mind that Colossus has been broken down with lift hill evac since I joined the Samurai queue earlier) It was then a fastrack onto Saw, there were no actors today, according to the guy I spoke to at the batching point they are 'training' again for Saw: Alive. Lunch was then had at BK in Canada Creek. It's probably now about 13:45 and it's time for Tidal Wave and Nemesis inferno again, followed by 3 more times on Inferno because it's just that awesome It only had a 10-15 min queue anyway (advertised as 45mins?) 'tis now about 15:00 and I joined the queue for Rush, which was only saying 10 minutes, so I joined it and just as the cycle was coming to a stop, someone was ill and it had to be cleaned up which took about 20 mins, this involved the whole white powder thing and 2 test runs, yeah you get the idea, finally on Rush as the last ride of the day, we spent some time on park and left at about 16:30 after going round shops and picking up photo's, so all in all a Good day today. ;)Max Queues I saw:Nemesis Inferno: 45 minsColossus: 70 minsSaw:The Ride: 50 minsStorm Surge: 60 minsStealth: 60 minsDetonator: 20 minsX:\NWO: 15 mins

Yes, I was at Thorpe today and Colossus did have a lift hill evac at about 11-11:30, but it seems only about 15 minutes after it was fully evacuated (this took almost 40 mins) the train was cleared from the lift and test runs were made, then it reopened and was back to normal again. Then again later in the day, they were still sending quite a lot of the trains empty and sometimes only with people in the first cars (whilst the queue was still open) Don't know what was quite up with Colossus today, but it certainly wasn't having a good day, might be something to do with the downtime it had yesterday and the day before?

So Les Coogan has posted this on Facebook: if Les is actually official then these so called 'codes' could be quite interesting! All we can do is wait and see...

Yeah, of course Cat, I will probably do a mini TR and I suppose it's not so bad for me as I have an AP so can visit whenever, but still have to drive for an Hour to get there! Hopefully they will all be back open again though (except for Saw:Alive).

I'm supposed to be visiting tomorrow and at the moment Thorpe's website says this : "Stealth, Colossus & Storm Surge are currently unavailable, but don't worry there’s still loads of thrills to be had!" ... Having three major rides down, as well as Saw: Alive (which I know can't really be helped), which makes 4 rides&Attractions down on a Saturday is unacceptable. You go to a theme park and expect the rides to be open, like the majority of visits to Chessie and Alton usually are. I know sometimes things can't be helped and rides have their problems, but really Thorpe? I can only dread to think what the queues are like at the moment for Nemesis Inferno and Saw: The Ride being the only two 'major' coasters open... On a good note, Slammer has had exceptionally good reliability this year.

Personally, I think that the best track on the album is Government Hooker, it's just so amazing! although I do like all of the others on it too. I have ordered the deluxe edition from HMV and can't wait to get it. xD The only not so good track (even though I still like it) has to be Americano, it's just not as catchy as all of the others, but like JamesB said, it will probably grow on me like some of her previous tracks. But overall, what a brilliant album.

Zierer... Oh. My. Gawwd. WHY? Zierer aren't really known for creating the best of all rides and this has came as a bit of a shock as Busch Gardens are usually known for buying two coasters of the same type for a both parks, I.e. Alpengeist and Montu, Kumba and Drachen Fire, Griffon and SheiKra, Loch Ness Monster and Python. But then there is Cheetah Hunt which is made by Intamin and most people were probably expecting another Intamin at BGW for 2012, as they said it was going to be a multi-launch coaster many months back. I think the theming in the plans does look good, and somewhere on ScreamScape they think it may also contain a Th13teen style drop section too, as there is an indoor section which looks like it could possibly include this. The only other major coaster I know that Zierer have ever made is Wicked at Lagoon (video below) and that doesn't even look that good, they mostly make smaller kiddie coasters or flat rides like waveswingers. It's good BGW are getting the expansion, but I just really hope it doesn't turn out like another Drachen Fire... I'd love to know the reason why they didn't pick Intamin for the job though, as that is very unlike Busch, but they are now owned by SeaWorld/Blackstone so this may be the reason. Wicked at Lagoon.

You are partly correct Javs, yes some of the coaster parts are made in Switzerland (trains etc.), and I think they are designed there too, but the track is made in a B&M production facility in Ohio which as far as I know, only do the track.

I have heard from looking on TowersTimes today that Oblivion has had YET MORE SPONSORSHIP ADDED! Everyone knows the banner above the bag cages that says 'Don't Look Down' on it. Well, that has now been moved up and another apparently badly-matched and probably tacky looking Fanta banner has been put underneath it and says the phrase, 'Looking Down is the Fun Part.' Oblivion is not meant to be fun!? It is supposed to be intimidating and worrying with all of the TV messages and blank looking walls etc around the area, and is supposed to give you the feeling that I remember well from my first ever ride on it To be honest, and I hate to say this, I think there is still going to be more sponsorship added as it seems they are still adding it gradually with today's news. *sigh* Oh Yeah and Alton, Oblivion has a 180ft drop, not a 150ft drop, so why are you downgrading your own ride?

Fuji-Queue Highland's new Eurofighter has now had the main of it completed, the ride will also contain a launched section, as well as the lift and holding brake, the element that everyone has been wondering what is called has been nicknamed by some as a "dog's tongue"It is still not known whether or not the coaster will start with the launch, go through some elements and then go back round to the lift, or vice-a-versa. The launch tunnel can be seen here at the front, with the lift and holding brake to the back of the picture.The fully completed Lift, Holding Brake, and Brakes.

lol

Fuji-Q's eurofighter is having a holding brake, so will not technically be a freefall drop, but I don't know to be honest if it 'technically' is :mellow:You can see where the car will be held in the picture below.This makes me wonder if Saw:The Ride would have had this if Gerstlauer would have offered it at the time of production?

Yes Ryan, I get this error message: [#CSTART-0] There was an error connecting with the chat room. Please notify an administrator.EDIT: Chat is working now.

Hmm, so now Playstation&Sony have actually admitted that PSN has been hacked, and that the hacker may have obtained personal details, possibly including credit card information . This is not good news for Sony tbh, and I'm surprised how such a big company with possibly a massive security system can still be hacked, just shows you I suppose!

Just...

Yes, >Viper at SFMM< does have the tallest inversion in the world at 144' So LC12 wouldn't be able to say that, but I suppose they will still find some record breaking fact about it.

^ Yes, you are elegible for ERT, the park opens up at 9 for you and you will have to show your AP to the people at the end of towers street as well as scanning it at the turnstiles.Here is the ride line up for the 2011 ERT:OblivionNemesisMarauder's Mayhem Heave Ho!Runaway Mine Train HexRita Sharkbait Reef by SEA LIFE

There's more...This is the view upon entering X-Sector now...I think it is only a matter of time until they decide to edit in this into the queue and station videos ^From Towers Times.

I rode this a couple of weeks back when I was on holiday, honestly the roughest coaster I have ever been on! It runs 1 train and the restraints all have to be opened one by one because they don't unlock automatically anymore! It used to be located at Drayton Manor, no wonder they got rid of it.

Colossus, Smoother than Inferno? I think you may have got your ride names muddled up?

Don't worry Trippy, you are correct that is smoke, but not to worry. It is what is released out of the pressure release valves once the cables have been pulled to make the swing move, it does this for every swing etc... It is just the compressed air having some sort of particles in it (and yes it does smell metallic). It always makes me laugh when people in the queue are going 'oh my god, there is smoke coming out of that tower, look!' Slammer does it too, the pipes around the central booms sometimes have little leaks of air where you can see it looks like a vapour. S&S's air launched coasters release it too. If you look next time you visit, you will realise both towers release it on Rush.

The swings have the letters painted on each of it's arms Lukeeeee ^ . Swing A is closest to the Operator's booth, Swing B is the one by the air gates.

I may as well chip in with my Vampire XXI bear too then... Me & my XXI bear wearing his XXI pin!May I just say how brilliant the team on Vampire were yesterday, they were dispatching extremely quickly and I only stacked on lift 2 for 2out of the4 rides I had on it yesterday (20/4/11), sometimes they dispatched just as the op said the '5' notice. She was also giving them good praise which I think was good, and the awesome lines she said whenever a train was dispatched.'SIT BACK&HOLD TIGHT, THE VAMPIRE IS TAKING FLIGHT''SIT BACK&HOLD TIGHT, YOUR IN FOR A FRIGHT'The theme music was still not loud enough though, but the op's mic was...

Right, Sheepie has set the standard and I will not be able to live up to that standard of TR. It's just too good!Anyway, I visited Chessington World of Adventure.s & Zoo today and had a really good day overall-we stayed in the Holiday inn Chessington last night after a day at Thorpe, This hotel is Amazing, everything about it was just 'right' for Chessie. And we had a room overlooking Wanyama which was even better!We first went into the park (Wild Asia) for what Chessie call 'Early Rider' (ERT) for hotel guests and got the first ride on Kobra, we then realised the amount of other guests waiting to get into Wild Asia, after being in the park for the last couple of hours the day before and most rides having big queues I decided I would get an Ultimate Fastrack which is £40 for an AP holder, which for someone like me who only visits 2/3 times a year is still quite good value compared to the prices of Thorpe or Alton even... Then followed a ride on Vampire before fastrack queues were open (I will post my GOOD thoughts on Vampire in it's topic). It was really nice weather today too, which called for a middle seat back row ride on Ramses After being cooled down nicely it was Tomb Blaster time, it wasn't on 5 utility vehicles today I think maybe 3 or 4... Was a fun ride as usual, but it did break down for a short time later in the day. Then followed Fury, got on Fury a total of 5 times today, with Fastrack, at some points the Fastrack queue was out of the entrance on Fury and almost to the top of the first stairs on Vampire. This was obviously because Fastrack tickets had been over-sold, not a surprise really... Many more rides followed and it was overall a great day at Britain's Wildest Adventure. Oh yes, and the staff were all Friendly, funny and nice too. Saw a few TPM members too. Ride Count (With ultimate fastrack )Vampire- 4Dragon's Fury- 5Rattlesnake- 4Runaway Train- 1Rameses Revenge- 2 (4 ride Cycles)Kobra- 1Monkey Swinger- 1Tomb Blaster-1Tuk Tuk Turmoil- 1Bubbleworks- 1Dragon Falls- 2Trail of the Kings, Sea Life and part of Wanyama. :DSo yep, overall the park was on top form, keep it all up CWoA!

Don't expect Fanta to be cheap Jord , after all it is now a sponsor for Oblivion, Alton wouldn't want any old rubbish as a sponsor would they...