February 4, 201312 yr comment_149496 I usually stay at the Chained Oak B&B, I really recommend it there. Good rates, good breakfasts, and friendly owners. I know that X Sector is almost directly opposite the entrance to the B&B. I usually walk up the road to the park each morning, so when I next go, I shall keep an eye out.
February 5, 201312 yr comment_149566 Check out new pics of the the "Staffordshire Knot" in the construction gallery on the website : http://www.the-smiler.com/the-ride/
February 5, 201312 yr comment_149567 Towers have just released 3 new photos of Smiler - specifically of the 'Staffordshire knot' element. My particular favourite... The others are on the 'Construction' part of Smiler's minsite - http://www.the-smiler.com/the-ride/ EDIT: Beaten to it...
February 5, 201312 yr comment_149568 That knot is lovely, the pic from Oblivion's pond especially... But I would like sommat else to look at now...
February 5, 201312 yr comment_149597 As we've been told it's a May opening I've decided to go late May or early June - later than I usually do. But then I'm unexpectedly probably going in July too for the first time ever, and probably again in September or October. The Smiler though, what a name - still struggling to accept it even though I understand the park's logic. Is it me or does anyone compare this to Colossus? It's got so many elements and is buried deep into that pit! I really do compare it to Colossus! If it is the worlds most inversions(which I doubt because the website now says worlds first not world beating) then I will think of it as a saw and Colossus put together as much as I want this new ride coming to thorpe park, I don't want Colossus's record taken!
February 5, 201312 yr comment_149615 Horrah they have done nothing else since the last update a month ago.
February 5, 201312 yr comment_149620 I'm going to guess that with the no doubt substantial costs involved of having a bunch of Germans standing about looking at the snow they've sent them all home to return when they've had chance to fully complete the ground work?
February 6, 201312 yr comment_149700 The latest Smiler picture from AT's Twitter page: Sorry if I sound overly pessimistic, but I get an uneasy feeling that the opening date will be pushed back even further. The station isn't anywhere near finished, nor is the groundwork at the other end of the layout. Doesn't feel all that promising to me
February 6, 201312 yr comment_149708 Hopefully they start building more rather than taking pictures all the time haha
February 6, 201312 yr comment_149712 I swear every photo they have taken so far they have hidden the fact that's all they've got at the moment.
February 6, 201312 yr comment_149714 I don't know when that was taken and it was today for all I know, but I was under the impression the station building had progressed more than that now?
February 6, 201312 yr comment_149724 People need to accept the project is delayed, they have probably totally re-scheduled everything now that they have a target date of May. Whereas before, they were probably rushing, now they can actually do a decent job on it. Just enjoy the cool pictures! They aren't posting pictures of footers and concrete walls because the average person on their 1.2million followed Facebook page isn't going to be interested in that.
February 6, 201312 yr comment_149725 My point was mainly the fact that next to nothing has been done in over a month now it seems?
February 6, 201312 yr comment_149727 It certainly appears that no further track construction has been done for a few weeks. Which I accept, is confusing. However, we can only assume that other areas of development have been underway - of which the park aren't going to be posting pictures. I would imagine that the groundwork is pretty much done, so it's just going to be a case of slotting the track into place in the next few weeks.
February 7, 201312 yr comment_149761 Slotting the track into place after groundwork? Now that's not often done for obvious reasons, and if they do it that way round then interesting! A quick search on the Staffordshire Knot has suddenly answered my query. Well designed and thought of. But a simpler name to compliment it would have been better, something as simple as The Knot would be fine.
February 7, 201312 yr comment_149762 Turn that upside-down and it looks like the batwing element. Yay.
February 7, 201312 yr comment_149769 I have doubts about the May opening now, only because I am now seeing more of 'Opening in 2013' than 'opening in May 2013' as if they are trying to slip the May out of it and hope people forget that May was said....
February 7, 201312 yr comment_149784 Yeah - it's making me nervous too, because I feel I'm gonna be let down whenever I go. However, my annual 2nd trip is around September or October, I'll be going then, but also probably unexpectedly in July for the first time ever!
February 7, 201312 yr comment_149789 The fact that on the TV advert mentioning Smiler they say 'New Ride opens May 2013' in the small print makes me think they're confident that it will opening in May. Of course, some may say 'Well, they must have been confident about it opening in March originally, so that means nothing', but the fact that they accepted it wasn't going to open then makes me hope / think that new schedules that were made would leave plenty of time for the ride to be finished fully - I don't see why they would advertise a new date if they weren't confident of the ride being open then. In other words, I expect the ride will open in May, no worries.
February 7, 201312 yr comment_149797 In time for my birthday then - fantastic. I was originally one of those at the Winchester having a pint, waiting for the worry of it not opening in March to blow over - however it appears my confidence was completely wrong on that occassion. I myself would think if they rescheduled there should be no problems of it opening then, it's just more and more lately it's been a 2013 opening - so got me thinking
February 7, 201312 yr comment_149799 I was originally one of those at the Winchester having a pint, waiting for the worry of it not opening in March to blow over - however it appears my confidence was completely wrong on that occassion. Have a pint on me then; that should build your confidence back up a bit!
February 7, 201312 yr comment_149804 Can open on 30th May, and still be may. There's still loads, and I mean LOADS, of track in the carparks and areas ready and waiting. Imagine it'll look brilliant when done!
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.