Conneaut Blue Streak wins $50K Pepsi donation

The train bounces on the first drop, and through the first, second and third dips.

The rebuilt turnaround runs very nicely with just a hint of shuffle that suggests that it is running a bit slow, although I think it has more to do with the long wheelbase of the Vaszin train.

Coming out of the turnaround is a *hard* slam to the right, followed by a return run that, compared to the rest of the ride, *is* smooth and fast.

Seats #3, 6, 9 and 12 are extremely violent especially on the first three drops.

Personally, I think they could run a SARC test ("Standardized Amusement Ride Characterization Test" as described in ASTM F 2137) using both the Vaszin train and the Vettel train* and be able to give a pretty convincing argument for running the older train.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

* The best information I have suggests that the NAD Century Flyer train would have been designed by Aurel Vaszin. Thing is, Ed Vettel may have bought his trains from Dayton Fun House, and if he did, then technically both trains are NAD.

--DCAjr

I don't remember the NAD running that rough.

Dave, it's more than likely that the Vettel's bought the hardware from Dayton Funhouse, and constructed the car bodies themselves. I remember as a kid riding on the Vettel built trains on the Jack Rabbit at Kennywood. That would have been the era when father was over at West View, and son Andy was at Kennywood.

That is exactly the experience we had Dave although I felt the return run was slow because of the slowing on the turnaround. That *hard* slam to the right coming out of the turnaround has always been there, but it seems more violent now. Maybe because of the slowing on the turnaround?

I was going to say, the end of the turn around was always violent!

Actually I think that slam coming off the horseshoe is probably made more violent because that's the transition from the new STI track to the old park track. I imagine some really minor tweaking to the bank angle and curve radius there along with another 50' of new track would make a world of difference on that spot.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

As previously promised, I have video up of Conneaut Lake and the Blue Streak.

For now it's featured at http://ridemanvideo.blip.tv or for the Flash-averse you can see it on the episode page at http://ridemanvideo.blip.tv/file/4110361/ .

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

How charming, Dave. :) I have to say, the ride looks positively boring. I get the nostalgia, but it looks like a credit click at best.

Looks like fun to me.

IDK if Jeff's just trying to get someones goat or what, I'll just say "SAD"

What other people think doesn't mean a hill of beans to me. I just don't find it interesting. I don't care if you think it's sad.

I find it interesting that you don't care if he thinks it's sad. ;)

Judging a ride from a video?

Last I rode it they were only running two cars and it crawled. Seeing the video brings back memories though, especially the exposed left side of the track.

In Jeff's defense I'll agree that based on the POV video it looks boring. :) That's not what it felt like a few weeks ago when I rode it for the first time. It has a serious need for speed, but I really enjoyed the first few hills.

Come on, Jeff, you know that to all the local meth users in NWPA, the ride is blazing fast. So, CLP won some Pepsi money. Get over it. Why keep repeating over and over how much you don't care, or aren't interested, or are bored?

I dunno, why do you continue to get involved if you're so tired of hearing from me?

Im sad I heard from you again :)

Having to see this argument is traumatizing me. I'm going to sue the internet because it hosts this site where this argument is taking place.

sirloindude said:
Having to see this argument is traumatizing me. I'm going to sue the internet because it hosts this site where this argument is taking place.

I'm going to have to Sue you for having a Screenname of "Sirloin dude" because it is reminding me of that traumatic viewing experience with Lady Gaga and the Video Music Awards last night. ;-)

All this time I thought his name was "sir lion dude." Stupid lysdexia.