October 23, 201410 yr comment_195647 Oh my god, these things look so good, look at this dude in the blue seat: My second go was too intense for even screaming - I rocked left, right, left and then BAM over the top, where I continued to spin at such a high speed that it gave me a subconjunctival haemorrhage. I don't think I've had a more intense experience on any flat ride before - and it was all my doing. Amazing! cannot wait
October 23, 201410 yr comment_195648 Sitting in the very front makes a big difference for the record... The speed that you can get is truly something, as I found out to my cost at Legoland...
October 23, 201410 yr comment_195649 BPB to introduce a new ride next spring, themed on the Red Arrows, http://www.blackpoolpleasurebeach.com/rides/skyforce/ and similar to this http://vimeo.com/6446046 Looking forward to taking this for a spin!
October 23, 201410 yr comment_195654 Very happy/excited about this new addition. Though Air Races (look) good rides, I think it's a good choice by the park as not just is it more unique addition to the park and uk overall. At least we're getting one decent ride for 2015 in the uk.
October 23, 201410 yr comment_195660 It also takes BPB back to it's routes, as in the Hyram Maxim Flying Machines were created by Maxim to fund his research into flight, before the Wright Brothers took their recorded their first.
October 23, 201410 yr comment_195662 This is amazing. Biggest new thing the UK will see next year it seems, I think (and hope) it will do very well for them.
October 26, 201410 yr comment_195877 How busy do we think its going to be one Tuesday? (28th)It was reasonably busy yesterday but fairly quiet today. Ill report back on how busy it is tomorrow. They are coping with crowds pretty well though to be fair.Also Valhalla was virtually walk on for most of the day!!
October 28, 201410 yr comment_196065 Just found this on the Blackpool Gazette.... http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/news/community/community-news/rollercoaster-horror-injury-1-6920196 A man has been left fighting for his life in hospital after being paralysed in a freak injury on a ride at Blackpool Pleasure Beach. Robert Sycamore, 58, is being kept alive by a life support machine at the Royal Preston Hospital after he broke his neck while riding on the Grand National. Mr Sycamore, who was known to suffer from spondylitis, inflammation of the vertebrae in the back, was visiting the resort with his family when he took his great-nephew on their first ride of the day at the park. But he was unable to get out of the train and had to be cut free by firefighters. His distraught family today said it is a mystery how he was so seriously injured. Darren Parlour, Mr Sycamore’s nephew, said: “My son was with him and he’s come back screaming. Rob’s a big bloke and he was down in the footwell of the carriage. “His ear was on his shoulder and he was totally blue and black. “His neck snapped – the muscles collapsed and he’s just melted into the seat. “I climbed in with Rob and was holding his head so it didn’t move. “The emergency services were unbelievable – how he stayed alive, I don’t know.” The family have now been left waiting to see if Mr Sycamore, who remains in a critical condition after being cut out of the ride, will pull through. “The surgeon said they can only take things minute by minute but any use of his body is a definite no,” added Mr Parlour. “The main concern now is keeping his heart and lungs going. “We don’t know how it happened or why it happened. We don’t blame anyone, we are just shocked. “We don’t know if he hit his head – only time will tell.” “He used to work as a JCB driver and that jolts you and bangs you about,” he added. He said members of the family are now facing making a 700-mile round trip from their homes in Norwich and Ipswich, where Mr Sycamore lives with his wife Sylvia, to visit him in hospital. A spokesman for Blackpool Pleasure Beach said there appears to be no mechanical problem with the ride He said: “There was an incident on the Grand National in which Robert Sycamore required emergency treatment from the emergency services. “We do wish Mr Sycamore the earliest recovery and we are in contact with his family. “Our enquiries have not revealed any faults or problems with the ride which has carried almost 500,000 guests in 2014 without incident. We do now understand that Mr Sycamore had an underlying back condition.” A North West Ambulance Service spokesman said: “We got a call at 12.40pm on Friday to a male patient in his 50s at Blackpool Pleasure Beach with potential neck injuries. “He was taken to Blackpool Victoria Hospital.” A Lancashire Fire and Rescue spokesman confirmed crews had been sent to assist paramedics. The Grand National wooden rollercoaster was first designed in 1935 and remains one of just three rides of its kind left in the world. It is a twin track ride which sees two trains “compete” with each other on parallel 6,600ft tracks at speeds of up to 50mph. In May 2004 the ride hit the headlines after it was badly damaged by a fire.
October 28, 201410 yr comment_196069 Sounds like the usual aggravation of a pre-existing condition (whether it was known or not)... Hopefully the guy can pull through, but the park can't do much else...
October 28, 201410 yr comment_196080 Hmmmmm, not good news at all. Hope this man makes a steady recovery and this incident doesn't cripple the park's (presumably) increasing attendance. Could this potentially be a 'not understanding the guidelines' incident.
October 28, 201410 yr comment_196097 Apparently he knew he had a condition, no fault has been found with the ride. I hope he recovers.
October 28, 201410 yr comment_196162 My thoughts go out to him and his family and I hope he recovers as much as possible. It was no fault with the ride (apart from it's bumpy nature) as I have been riding it over the past few days and it's running normally.
October 31, 201410 yr comment_196412 Went today, pretty decent park. Grand National and Big Dipper are fun. Valhalla reached and exceeded all of my expectations. First ride I was truly impressed with, literally got soaked but it was fab! Might give a bit more of a review type thing when I get home/tomorrow. I also lost my phone on either Grand National or Big Dipper. Whoops.
October 31, 201410 yr comment_196426 Yeah, Valhalla is just the best water ride in the uk (and maybe one of the best in Europe) Pretty much wipes the floor with almost every other uk water ride currently, Falls, the flume and even Loggers to name a few.
October 31, 201410 yr comment_196434 It truly is a masterpiece, I've ridden it loads over the past week! Last day at BPB tomorrow
November 4, 201410 yr comment_196732 Check out my trip report from BPB including some pictures from Vampire Beach http://forum.maniahub.com/blog/35/entry-641-blackpool-pleasure-beach-octobernovember-2014-photo-trip-report/
November 12, 201410 yr comment_197176 I'm not sure how busy Thorpe and Towers have been, but Blackpool Pleasure Beach certainly seems to be getting a good amount of guests in these summer holidays! Bit late to reply but I queued at least another 20m on that almost crossing the road last halloween xD
November 12, 201410 yr comment_197185 Bit late to reply but I queued at least another 20m on that almost crossing the road last halloween xD You don't mean this year do you? As the queue didn't get that long at all. How long did it take out of interest?
November 19, 201410 yr comment_197622 BPB have published their 2015 opening times: http://www.blackpoolpleasurebeach.com/park-guide/plan-your-day-out/opening-times/?month=01-04-2015
November 24, 201410 yr comment_197845 Technically it's not the first Red Arrow ride. Because The Big One is a Red Arrow ride.
November 25, 201410 yr comment_197848 And if they are claiming that the Red Arrows simulator at The Science Museum actually is!
November 25, 201410 yr comment_197878 There's also a red arrow's simulator in the air craft museum in Birmingham (?)
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.