CoasterBuzz Podcast #90 posted

Posted | Contributed by Jeff

Jeff and Pat review this week's news in the amusement industry.

Gonch gets picked out of a crowd for his voice at Kings Island.
Relatively few CoasterBuzz Club members actually post in the forums. Site visitors in general don't post all that often.
The CoasterBuzz Club Fall Affair at Holiday World was an amazing success! Good times at the Lake Rudolph campground.
The Voyage at night in total darkness is completely ridiculous, in a good way.
Beware of Kupcake the Klown.
Some minor notes on the Geauga Lake ride park closure. Folks from the company thought we were pretty fair in the last show.
Michigan's Adventure gets Geauga Lake's SLC. Jeff thinks it's a lot of ride for that little park, but Gonch doesn't think so.
Cedar Fair should really release park-by-park attendance this year as a baseline to see how it improves.
The sale of Cypress Gardens and Wild Adventures is a real bummer for Kent Buescher.
Dubai and the UAE is becoming the Vegas-Orlando-Caribbean of that part of the world.
Six Flags announced a lot of stuff.
Hershey announces Fahrenheit, and we wonder where it will go.
Cha-ching! Land rush around Hard Rock Park.
What is Disney's plan with their new resort on Oahu?
See Jeff speak at IAAPA.
Some off-topic nonsense about Halo 3 and video games.

Well guys, I'm the guilty party that recognized Pat's "golden voice". I almost didn't say anything because I thought "really, what are the odds", but the more I heard Pat talking, the more I thought I was right. So, I just had to ask.

I'm glad I didn't mentioned Pat's wife getting a different job in the hotel business, moving to Dayton, Pat podcasting out of a hotel room balcony, etc. Yes, I've heard all the podcasts... Pat would have thought I was a stalker! Seriously guys, I do listen every week, and I visit the site almost daily. As I told Pat, I have taken roller coaster marathon vacations with my son for probably a decade, if not longer. Been to parks from the west coast (SFMM) to the east coast (most of them), still have a season pass to SF (no comments, please), can identify the manufacture by looking at the track, know that CP is traded as "FUN", and like Jeff, a huge IOA fan.

Jeff exactly nailed it in regards to the number of posts - I come here for the news, not so much to comment. I have contributed a few news stories. One being a story about astronauts, G's, and coasters, which mentioned coasters didn't present any health problems related to excessive G's. I'm sure that one pissed off Congressman Ed Markey. Jeff actually posted it for me after I sent him a link. Another story was so-so, and never got posted. A 3rd story was about Fun Spot in Angola, IN, regarding a car getting stuck upside-down on a loop, but that had good press coverage, and a different article was posted instead.

In closing, I never thought I would become the subject of the podcast, but it was fun to listen to, and it was nice to meet Pat.

Keep up the good work guys!

Mark

*** This post was edited by Walk 10/8/2007 10:13:50 PM ***

I'm glad you decided to say something. Made for a cool story and a neat situation. :)

Even funnier because the week before at Fall Affair I met a couple people talking about putting a face to the 'voice' - seems to be coming up a lot lately.

My confession, Gonch, is that I had a similar experience with "the voice". When I walked in at Holiday World I first met your wife who introduced herself by name and I did the same. Then she introduces your kids and I say hello and offer my name.

Then I look up and see you in the ticket booth and you just wave or offer some hand gesture of some kind and say nothing. So I'm like, alright, who the heck are these people?

I assumed it was you, but it wasn't until you continued speaking to Jeff or Paula or someone and I was able to hear your voice that I was like, yep, that's Gonch...cool. Your voice apparently speaks for itself. :)

*** This post was edited by Carrie M. 10/8/2007 11:35:25 PM ***

"the voice" is how I met Greg while waiting in the exit queue for a filler seat on Top Thrill Dragster.

So, uh...anybody else like pancakes? :)

Were you talking about Drachen Fire? I think that topic has been beaten enough, and maybe actually people have forgotten about it.

My last few rides on Alpengeist have been pretty good. I think it's when you hit the midcourse that the ride slows to a crawl. I agree it's not one of my favorites, but it is worth a ride or 2 every time I visit.

Holy crap, yes, I can't believe I couldn't think of the name!

Ha! It was Drachen Fire. I totally went blank. I could picture it and everything.

That Turkey Whirl looks to me like a G5. I'm not one for the G5's. I've only been on one at Cypress Gardens, and it wasn't as great as the original. I think the cars are smaller on the G5's compared to the regular's. The problem I have with the G5's is the fact that you literally have to do nothing in order for it spin, and I hate that dearly.

The G5 at Cypress Gardens also isn't as intense as the regular Tilt-A-Whirls like at Cedar Point. That one at Cedar Point is really nice, and it spins intensely. The regular ones are bigger, and you can get out of the car both ways. For the G5's you can only get out of the car one way, and the bar is much smaller, and cheaper.

http://www.whirlin.com/images/g5-1.jpg = G5
http://www.whirlin.com/images/tiltcar.jpg = Regular

G5's = That one was GOOD to me
Regular Tilt-A-Whirls= I think most are GREAT. There are some Tilt-A-Whirls that don't want to spin that much though.

About the GL closing thing, my family and went to that park three years ago, and right when we walked in, they were asking my parents questions about the park. Obviously, they were trying to fix that park. They asked about why did you come here, and so on. So, I don't believe one bit that they just purposely bought the park to sell the park after they took out rides from it.

They gave my parents a free drink coupon. It was very empty the day we went. We Cedar Point the day before, and it was pretty packed for the rides there, and than we go to GL, and it's like a ghost town. That park was really hard to find coming off of the highway, or whatever you call it. It's like in the middle of nowhere. After riding the rides there and there location, I see why they sold it.*** This post was edited by Spinout 10/9/2007 1:55:29 PM ***

I have no idea what you're talking about. The Hershey and CP Tilts look pretty much identical to me. The cars on the Holiday World ride are different, but so what? What do you "have to do" to make one spin? Are you suggesting some action can actually influence the spin when the occupants are sitting over the circle?

It's funny that the Tilt-a-whirl at Cedar Point has come up. I always found that ride to be very fun. Good ol' classic ride that just makes you laugh. That's what an amusement park ride is all about.

No comments/discussion on Hershey and the Nantimi project?

Tilts are one of my favorite flat rides for sure. Especially when you can keep it spinning the whole ride cycle. I have often joked with my girlfriend about buying one and sticking it in the backyard for whenever we have the urge. $2500, and I could snag a good one. Just don't think that it would go over too well with the neighbors. ;)

*** This post was edited by Coasterfantom2 10/10/2007 7:23:57 AM ***

Jason Hammond wrote:

"the voice" is how I met Greg while waiting in the exit queue for a filler seat on Top Thrill Dragster.

Yup. I find it funny because I hate my voice, but hey, whatever works :)

Next thing you know Greg and Gonch women will be throwing themselves on you at events. How will your women handle that? :)

I'm headed to CP this weekend, wonder if any of the podcast crew will be there...I'll have to listen up again.

Nah, we'll be there the next weekend for BooBuzz. :)

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