Are you a coaster softy?

I saw this topic on another forum and thought it would be a good discusion.

What is the coaster or coasters that you have a soft spot for? By that I mean the coaster that is near and dear to your heart for sentimental reasons, not the coaster that is your favorite [unless, by coincidence, they are the same]. What is the reason the coaster is special?

Mine [in no particular order]:

Montezooma's Revenge - in March of 1979, after months of nagging my Dad to take me to Great America in Santa Clara, we were driving north for the weekend. After driving all night we got to Santa Clara at 3am only to notice the marquee said they didn't open for the season until the following weekend [we were used to year-round parks here in LA and didn't think to call ahead]. So my Dad turned around and said we were driving home. I fell asleep during the drive and awoke to find us in Knott's parking lot! We entered the park and Dad took my on my first shuttle loop, then spent the day at the park. I think my Dad was awake for over 48 hours.

Raven & Legend - flash forward to 2002 and my Dad's first SRM. Poppa Moosh was quite popular that day and it was great to see him enjoying those coasters so much. In fact I think he rode more than me!

Coney Cyclone - August 2001. Two days before leaving for ACE Preservation Con my car had been stolen and I was dealing with police and insurance headaches. I landed at JFK and took a cab to Coney where I met good friends Jim and Dave for a few rides on "Mom." Two minutes at a time my problems melted away. An ocean view, a great coaster in a historic park, and awesome friends...it just doesn't get any better.

OK...I'm going to cheat hear and mention a flat ride:

Knoebels Whip - I took my parents to PPP last year. It was their first trip to PA and my mom's first coaster event. Mom's been battling cancer for the last few years without much success but she had an excellent attitude. We went for a ride on the Whip. Mom and Dad took a car and I sat behind them. Dad's arm was around her. Every time their car would whip around the turn my Mom would throw her head back and laugh. I imagined that that for that brief ride she wasn't thinking about cancer but instead remembering the Whip rides she enjoyed as a young girl at Cedar Point and Euclid Beach.

*** Edited 5/25/2004 8:44:57 PM UTC by Mamoosh***

I guess I'll have to say the Goldrusher at Carowinds. Back in the days when I was still scared of big rollercoasters (strangely enough Cyclone didn't scare me), Goldrusher was always the coaster that I was most looking forward to. I used to marathon that ride and just couldn't get enough of it. It always tickled me how the track does that little twist at the end of the ride because it slung everyone to the side. I've had many good times on that thing and am glad to see it still running in all of it's glory today, although with a new look........and only 2 trains...and with seatbelts.....and a computerized braking system...but that's a whole 'nother story.

Iron Dragon. This was the first coaster in my jump from the kiddie rides to the big time. Sure, it isn't huge, but I mean, Mine Ride makes it seem huge when you're that small.

Wicked Twister...just because I'm in love with it.

Yankee Cannonball: My very first coaster at age 2 (couldnt ride the following year because they added a height requirement).

Lockness Monster: My first looping coaster. I rode on it at exactly at midnight, and for a 7 year old that was really cool.

Anything at Disney World: My first trip there was when I was 5 and the last trip my grandfather was healthy (lung cancer).

I've actually told this story before but I'll toss it out again. My sentimental favorite has to be Cyclops. Sure it's a great ride and everything but it has more meaning attached to it for me than anything else.

My dad and I have never been close. My dad is also EXTREMELY afraid of heights. My dad often goes to Big Chief with his racing buddies to do the go-karts and eventually get kicked out every single time (my dad who is 60 and all of his racing friends are worse than the teenagers out there). Anyways it came as a complete suprise when my dad asked me if I wanted to go on Cyclops with him. Not only that but he further suprised me when he said he wanted to ride in the back because he saw something on the Discovery Channel about the coaster and they said it was the best place to ride. Needless to say we both had an awesome time and rerode several times after that. My dad and I connected that day like we never have before and may never again in the future. I just feel lucky to have that one day with him to remember forever.

I am a *softy*....for evidence, see my first rides on Leap-the-Dips, Matterhorn, and the original Cyclone...

Shoot, just setting foot on the grounds at Knoebel's or Holiday World gets me all misty-eyed...gotta wonder if there's a 12-step program for people like me? ;)

I have to say mine has got to be the Phoenix. I was 9 when it opened and I believe it was my first ever wooden coaster. I had everything I could get my hands on from the local papers about it. I still have them today.

I rode the Phoenix the second day it was open witrh my Dad. The tunnel still wasn't finished yet. What a coaster to start out with. It's still one of my favorites too.

Wow, Moosh...and Bob...the eyes are all teary now. :(

I've always had a tremendous soft spot for Sooperdooperlooper. It was my first looper in 1979, and instantly became my favorite coaster for many years. I even built a model of it out of contstruction paper when I was 7 or 8. I rode it over and over every time we went to Hersheypark, which wasn't as often as I would have liked. I think the last time I went with my family was in 87. Well, I visited again with a friend in '95, and was shocked to find that SDL had been painted blue (from its original off-white/orange color scheme). It took me a while to get used to it, but it was great riding it again. It didn't pack quite the punch I remembered when I was a kid, but it was such a trip down memory lane. Then, in August of 2001, less than a month after Anton's death, I think Liz (then girlfriend, now wife) thought I was a little strange when I stood by SDL's loop for about 10 minutes watching the coaster, and just reflecting on the man that made this gem possible. It was a bit overwhelming in a strange way, but this coaster was a relic from my past, and held a ton of fond memories. I'll always love the 'Looper, but for many more reasons than how much fun it is to ride.

Idora Park as a whole since that is where I found my first coaster, the Jr. Wildcat. Sadly, I never got to ride the Jack Rabbit or the Wildcat. I still kick myself for that.

I also miss the idea of the Wabash Cannonball from Opryland USA (now rotting in a field at Old Indiana). That just kills me.

I also have a huge soft spot for Dragster, Magnum, and Raptor. I could happily live at CP with just those three coasters. Blue Streak (CP) is in my top 5, as is Villain at GL.

Laura

My soft spot is owned by the American Eagle. It was my second coaster, and the first to scare the hell out of me. And there's always something majestic about seeing that enormous helix towering above everything as you approach Great America from the south. I happened to drive by it late last night (had to detour around Gurnee flooding), and it still warms my heart to see it. It should be pictured next to the definition of "roller coaster" in the dictionary.

1. Gemini – Cedar Point. My first step from kiddie to large coasters. Needless to say, it was quite a step and scared the crap out of me. Strangely enough, I still wanted to go on it the next time. I guess I had something to prove at age 7.

2. Magnum XL-200 – Cedar Point. My first hyper. Rode the opening year and I was only 10 years old. My family made the trip to The Point every year, and every year we would get in line just before the park closed and ride it in the dark late hours of the night. A lot of memories were created in that line and on that ride.

3. Big Dipper – Geauga Lake. I lived just 3 miles from here, and was usually the first ride of the day. A good old fashioned coaster that threw me out of the seat.

4. Ghostrider – Knott's Berry Farm. I've always craved a solid wooden coaster. Mean Streak and SOB just beat the crap out of you. The Beast was fun, but overrated. Where's the airtime? Geauga Lake has a couple good woodies, but nothing to brag about, except maybe the Big Dipper. Since moving to L.A. a year ago, I finally hopped on the wooden coaster I had been waiting for. Something about the front seat at night on this ride brings a tear to my eyes. Sniff.

The first that came to mind was The Beast. I remember the first time vividly. I was 8 years old.

I just remember it was ferocious, mysterious, and HUGE. That drop.....I remember I NEVER thought it would end. I remember riding it AND The Bat right around the same time, but don't remember the details of the The Bat. It must of sucked. lol.

The Swamp Fox..........probably my FIRST coaster ever since I spent MANY summers as a kid at Myrtle Beach. I think I was probably 7 or 8 when I first rode that. The defunct Corkscrew at MB was my very first steel coaster. The Swamp Fox has LOTS of memories. I can't wait to revisit soon. The Pavilion, Family Kingdom, and the defunct Magic Harbour and Sun Fun park provided some of the best memories of my childhood. :-)

Big Dipper/Little Dipper at Camden Park. Another first.....about 6 or 7. Cause I grew up nearby. ;-)

Vortex at PKI.........Hell if I know why. It just still brings back those memories of when it was brand new, also my first HUGE looper.

Space Mountain at Disney World......my first indoor coaster?

Flight of Fear.....my first launcher....and the start of the 'gasms

Both Raptor and Magnum......my first inverted and "mega" coaster. I rode Magnum the first time on my senior class trip in 1990. I even wrote about it in my yearbook.......;-)

Lightning Racer..........cause it makes me misty-eyed everytime.....(sniff)

Dragster.........need I explain? The first coaster to really "do it" for me in more ways than one. ;-)

-Tina

*** Edited 5/25/2004 10:14:37 PM UTC by coasterqueenTRN***

For me, there is a few, but I think the main one that brings back memories of past has to be Tidal Wave at SFGAm. I remember marathoning on that puppy over and over again in the back seat. We'd goto the park and ride everything once, and then jump on that for an hour or so. Even though Batman took it's place, I was really bummed when I found out they were removing that ride. I guess that ride is the only reason I am contemplating taking a side trip to SFKK after Beastbuzz.

SFMM's Goldrusher holds a soft spot for me still, my very first coaster ever.

And very first woodie (the first of many! ;o) which just celebrated it's 80th birthday:

link.

And the defunct Turn Of The Century at Marriott's Great America, the ride that converted me to an enthusiast way back in 1976. Once I experienced ejector air for the very first time, I was hooked for life!

*** Edited 5/25/2004 10:40:32 PM UTC by jomo***

I've only been riding for 2 years now, so I really can't reminisce too much but for me so far it would have to be the Holiday World woodies and Rampage. At last year's SRM, the Legend and the Raven were the first coasters that showed my wife and I just how awesome a wood coaster can be. We kept our hands up the entire time on them and they haven't been down since. As for Rampage, it was the first time I experienced "coaster nirvana" at last years RRR as I just power rode for nearly 3 hours and had my best time ever on a coaster. I'll never forget that night and can't wait for this years event next weekend. Nothing too sentimental but two nights that I won't soon forget.

I'm with coasterqueen and The Beast! Though I know it pales in comparison today, oh what a glorious ride it was in 1979 and the early eighties. I'll always have that "remmber when" feeling for papa!

Gotta go with Moosh on "Monty" there... It was probably 1981 or so... raining like it occasionally does in Los Angeles - HARD. Knott's was still open, and they were even running "Monty". I met a local kid my age in line and we rode it at least 50 times. I've been on faster shuttles, I've been on more intense shuttles, but NOTHING compares to those ol' Schwarzkopf beauties!!!

Oh, and until the mid 80s, we had a Whip at the Puyallap Fairgrounds here in Washington State. My Dad scared the living <deleted> out of me every ride and I loved every minute... :-)

-Escher

I miss my name sake. it was awesome... it was sad to see it go :( . it has a place in a lot of people hearts around here. it was a good custom coaster that everyone could ride and enjoy

I'm younger, so my coaster is a little more recent.

The first time I forced myself onto Viper at SFMM. I was so afraid- during the lift I was getting dizzy from the fear and I could feel my heart beat. So scary, I doubt I'll ever be afraid like that again. All I remember is what a wild ride it was. At the time I though it was the perfect coaster, with the over-intense first half and a nice, slow second half... great combination. I still enjoy Viper more than the average enthusiast, and even though it's not in my top 10, I'll love it forever. :)

Good thread Moosh.

*** Edited 5/26/2004 6:31:06 AM UTC by GoliathKills***

For me its "Revolution" at SFMM.
In 1977, when I was about ten, I sneaked into the european trade show "interschau" which took place at my hometown. I managed to pick up a full color catalogue from the Schwarzkopf booth. This booklet became my treasure and a headstart to geek-dom.
From all the many flatrides and coasters in that brochure the "Loopingracer" (official name) just struck me with total awe. This ride seemed endless, widespread and just so big and beautiful. There were no headrests and all riders had their hands up in the air. I didn´t know where this ride was and I could hardly believe it was actually real.
There were some tiny words written on the side of the car, so I sat there with a magnifying glass to encrypt the words, hoping to find a clue. I didn´t speak english back then and so the words I came up with spelt something like: "Mack Mougath". I didn´t know what "Mack Mougath" was, but I knew that "Mack Mougath" was another word for "Shangri-La" and I had to get there sooner or later.
When the movie "Rollercoaster" came to the german cinemas in ´79, I went to see it every day and I finally found out that "Mack Mougath" was indeed "Magic Mountain". Step by step I came closer to my desired destination. (thats how you did research in the pre-internet days :) )
It took me still another 10 years before I finally made my trip to "Mack Mougath" and many other places along the way (KBF, Disneyland, Santa Cruz and Great America).
Even after riding many other looping coasters in the meantime and even with "Viper" sitting next to it, my rides on "Revolution" (still sans OTSR) have been a totally special, hazy-dazy, bleary-eyed experience for me. I had finally found "Mack Mougath" and it didn´t disappoint!
Until today, "Revolution" remains as one of my most beautiful coaster experiences. *** Edited 5/26/2004 8:24:57 AM UTC by tricktrack***