The small things

To me, one thing that separates a plain coaster from a unique coaster is their little quirks; for example, the track between the station and the lift, or coasters that do maneuvers at the top of their lift hills. Here are some examples from the coasters I've ridden:

-Batman Knight Flight, the track out of the station banks left before hitting the right-banked curve.
-Magnum, the long slow return to the station over the midway.
-The Beast, the insanely slow turn that starts the ride, and the looooong straightaway halfway through.
-SFMM Ninja, the curved station.
-Gemini, the girder in the middle of the ride, which is there only for a headchopper effect, as far as I can tell.
-SFMM Viper and Mean Streak, drops before the station brakes.
-Colossus, and other rides (like Texas Giant or the Coney Island Cyclone) that have little "jolts" on the first drop to change direction a little.

And although I haven't ridden Great Bear, that helix before the drop definitely would be on my list. So what are your favorite "quirks"?

I think its fun how Raging bull has that little drop right before the big one, gives you a great view of whats ahead.
Even though its not really part of the ride, I also like how in the line for Mantis there is that small stage-like thing that gives you the history of Cedar Point.

Raging Bull-The brakes on the third hill that are good only if your in the front row.

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Ah, Roller Coasters.
An hour wait for a two minute ride.

Rock on.

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Den said:
"Gemini, the girder in the middle of the ride, which is there only for a headchopper effect, as far as I can tell."

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You mean that, and to hold up the structure that you pass under?

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Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com

-The bell on Legend.
-The swoop on the curve before the first drop on the Boss.
-The curved station on the Belmont Giant Dipper and the tunnel before the lift hill.
These are the three that come to mind right now.

- The almost annoyingly LOUD chain on Son of Beast
- The dive under the walkway on Top Gun @ Carowinds
- The "way too comfy" seats on Raging Bull
- The "dramatic pause" chain slow down at the top of the Viper lift (SFGAm)
- The double up at the end of Villian
- The rear tower swaying on S:UE
- The third hill on S:ROS @ SFA (OK so it's not really a quirk, but it's so good I had to work it in some how :)..my other top 5 coasters were already mentioned ;))
lata,
jeremy

How you go faster the last 3/4 of the ride up the lift on MF.

The banked turn before the drop on Mantis.

The first and second 'fine del capo' headchoppers on Gemini.

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"The KKK took my baby away, took her away, away from me!"

1. The little dip right after leaving the station on the Runaway Mine Train at SFOT
2. Shads over the brakes on some woodies
3. The back-breaking jerk when you engage on a lift (some are better than others)

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"Maybe I ain't so shy!"

The slowwwww left hand turn before the initial LIM launch on Volcano.

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Is it just me or does Hypersonic look like one of those coasters you would see on Looney Toons?

I like the little dip after the blocks on Hulk and the foot chopper on Ice Dragons cobra roll.

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SFNE 2001

No coaster has better track before the left than the Thunderbolt (two drops). I like the little dip before the lift on Phantom's Revenge too.

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Joe Cernelli
Head Webmaster, Kennywood Boulevard
http://kennywood.coasterbuzz.com/

Definately the bank at the top of Mantis...

Raging Wolf Bobs at SFWA (Then Geauga Lake) with the cushy seats that make you THINK the ride is tame (I didn't know it was a stand up! YIKES)...

The sheer speed of Millenium Force's lift that really makes you think what you just strapped yourself into...

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Po!nt of View: A different look at Roller Coasters.
http://www.crosswinds.net/~justmayntz/thrills/index.html
Less than 20 votes before a NEW POLL!

The curved/slanted first drop on SFMW's Roar!
Oh, and the curved/downhill station on Santa Cruz's Giant Dipper. That little bit of special fun before the initial lift adds immensely to the overall likability of that classic.

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The Northwest will Join the Best-in 2003!!!

- the little banked turn at the beginning of Medusa at SFGAdv.
-the drop on Alpengeist as it turns all the way around under the lift hill
-On kumba the loop through the lift hill
-the rings on viper, it makes it feel like your going much faster
-when the chiller at SFGAdv. shoots out, you fly through a weird building.
-how on the scream machine at SFGAdv. almost gets stuck on the brakes, because it slows down so much


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NITRO! The Next Sphere of Thrills!
April 7, 2001

The little curved to your left thing before the turnaround and bunny hops on King Cobra at PKI.

That they were thoughtfull enough to cut my Space Mountain line in half and make a twin coaster.

The most surprisingly unsurprising ending of Adventure Express.

Adding a lift hill and a helix to The Beast when they could have kept on going straight to the station instead.

Water splashes on Blazing Fury at Dollywood.

Aww man! The tunnel at the beginning of the Giant Dipper in Santa Cruz. That has got to be the best woodie start. And the warning whistle/horn thing they blow when it starts.

Also, before it was tore down, the Jetstar on TOP of the bumper car building in Santa Cruz.

And the yodeling in line for the Matterhorn. And the way it smells.

The Whizzer lift hill.



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Decisions determine destiny; Destiny determines decisions.

Yes Giant Dipper hands down has the wildest start around, but on Stealth getting tilted onto your back before pulling out was cool too
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#1 Stealth-PGA
#2 Flashback-SFMM
#3 Whizzer-RIP PGA
#4 Mind Bender-WEM
#5 Drachen Fire-BGV
I Liked Psyclone the way it was

The way they turn the lights off before launching you at night on Montezooma's revenge. The cool cheesy music with girls singing, and the recorded announcer sounding so excited in line for goliath. The way the skinny track sways on Shockwave at sfot.

* Right on 2Hostyl! That SoB chain is something; I have to cover my ears to avoid going deaf.
* First drop brakes on the Mean Streak...come on CP (or whoever did that, maybe the designer), THREE sets of brakes on the FIRST DROP!?!? They just sap the thrill right out of an otherwise-good woodie, for me anyway.
* Heavily banked track well before the turn-around thing (what's that called?) on the Magnum. I don't like sideways coasters.

Good ones are:
* Small first drop on many B&M's
* Top of the second hill on PKI's Vortex, the part that slams your legs if you're in the front. It's just great.
* Sharp turn right before entering the helix tunnel for the first time on the Beast -- one of the few very frightening parts of any ride.

I enjoy Ghostriders little drop right from the start, and I the fact that Space Mountain at DL has three lift hills to start the ride. AND IT'S AWESOME SOUNTRACK!! It really enhances the ride beyone belief.