BeastBuzz 2014

Beastbuzz was kind of surreal for me. We camped out at nearby Cedarbrook Campground and kind of took it easy. We didn't get to make it for everything, but I was able to make the morning and nighttime ERT. The icing on the cake was riding the Beast at night with my 8-year old son. I remember telling him when he was about a day old in the hospital room that I hoped he liked camping and coasters, otherwise he picked the wrong family. I've waited years to be able to do these kind of things with him and it's nice to finally get my wish.

I'm definitely feeling thankful for Jeff, Diana, Don and those behind the scenes that put on or put up with this event. Your efforts do not go unnoticed. And I'm thankful for two patient younger boys that crashed in the stroller for the Beast ERT and the wife had a great time as well!

~Rob

Thanks for watching Simon again at various times. Was good to see Mike again too, twice in the same summer!

Can't wait for the beer tab... I honestly didn't even ask what the second keg was going to cost.

With regards to the trim. I didn't attend the Banshee tour but one of the guys in my group did and he said he asked someone from KI about it. Apparently, whoever he talked to said that they have not had to use them yet. It has, apparently, not got to the point of over speeding. Which, to me, is insane since that things HAULS butt in the valley section.

Banshee I don't think has ever had that trim on. I have been at the park multiple times throughout the year and it never has grabbed, even on hot and humid nights. I never read reports of it being on either. It is there, but in the "off" position. Much like the trim before the cobra roll on Batman/Dominator at GL/KD.

I found the pacing on Banshee to be unlike most other inverts (admittedly I have not ridden tons of them). None of the inversions seems "fast". It's sort of a speed up then slow down for each inversion type of pace. The terrain and types of inversion keep it interesting, but I think the inversions feel more like the floorless/stand-up variety than other inverts due to their size.

Really? I feel it's exactly the opposite. After the first two inversions, it just doesn't stop kicking your ass until perhaps the barrel roll. Even then, the last turns pull you into your seat like it means business. I can't think of any rides by any manufacturer, save for perhaps The Voyage, that sustain that much intensity for that much of the ride.

Yeah, I'm really impressed with Banshee. It's definitely one of my favorite rides, and might be my favorite invert.

While it's obvious that B&M has become more fluid in their engineering over the years, and nothing is ever going to be as punchy or "snappy" as the Batmen, Banshee shows that they can bring out an ass-kicker.

The haters often say B&M made forceless rides while Intamin did not, but those comparisons tend to be from a time when Stengle was designing the layouts for both. I think B&M is doing it internally now. And of course, at the end of the day, they're still building what the customers ask for.

Yeah I didn't mean that it wasn't intense, because it is definitely that. The inversions are so huge that it just feels so different than say Raptor/Montu/Batman. The speed thing is an illusion because you are probably going as fast or faster than on those rides, and the inversions have to be so much larger to account for that.

I've never ridden Alpengeist, but I guess the similarities between the two didn't come true? I know some were predicting Banshee to be "Alpengeist-like" due to its size.

Banshee is definitely in the heavyweight class of inverts.

Alpengeist is definitely not as aggressive, and I always thought it was due to size. Now though, I think it's a design choice.

It's funny to me how it seems like the people who think Arrow's tiny loops placed at the top of huge inclines (a la SFMM's Viper, GASM, Shockwave, etc.) are ridiculous, are often the same people who think invert loops have to be small, tight, and snappy. Just an observation.

That's what I was saying last week when I got on Batman for the first time in a few years. That ride is ridiculous. Maybe my tolerance for rides has changed in my old age, but I prefer speed and agility over getting banged around any day.

Dale,

How's your wife? Is the little one here yet?

Anyway, Mary and I watched A CoasterBoy Christmas the other day as you suggested and now we know why you were asking if anyone had seen it...lol

Here's the link:

(It's a must-watch for anyone who sat towards the left side at the Cirque Show with CoasterBuzz on Saturday. ;o)

I posted my photos in a public album on facebook. Check them out if you like:

https://www.facebook.com/kick8472/media_set?set=a.10152303835351914...913&type=3

Later,

Mike

SuperPoser said:

How's your wife? Is the little one here yet?

My son Dalson was born last Friday. My wife is doing well and my 4 year old daughter is enjoying her new roll as big sister. I've been enjoying the week off from work and haven't been in front of the computer much to respond earlier.

HeyIsntThatRob? said:

The icing on the cake was riding the Beast at night with my 8-year old son. I remember telling him when he was about a day old in the hospital room that I hoped he liked camping and coasters, otherwise he picked the wrong family. I've waited years to be able to do these kind of things with him and it's nice to finally get my wish.

I was flipping through the TV channels at the hospital and landed on National Lampoon's Vacation. I watched and dreamed of the day we would make our big west coast trip as a family and go to Magic Mountain, Disneyland, Universal, Knotts, Legoland, etc. It's never to early to plan ahead, make plans to fly not drive, and make sure the parks are open when we visit.
It has been great watching my daughter grow up loving amusement/theme parks an now I have another member of the family to share the joy with.