IB LoCoSuMo Media Day 5/17
Associated parks:
None
My friend Tom and I got an early start from Chicago, as we hoped to get a jump on rush hour traffic getting out of the city. Forget about it! Our normal 2 hour drive to IB turned into about 2hours and 45 minutes, as we ended up having to weave around the Loop on side streets in an effort to divert traffic.
We finally arrived at IB at about 10:10, and I was directed by various IB employees to the Ball Room for the Media Day ceremonies. I arrived towards the end of Denise Dinn-Larrick's presentation, and settled in towards the back of the crowd. Moe and Charles hit the key parts of the presentations, so I don't really have anything to add there.
After the ribbon cutting ceremoy, I looked around the park for my friend Tom, who didn't have a media badge. I tracked down Tom at the LoCoSuMo construction site, and we took a long look at the thing. I must say that it's very impressive in person: all contorted twists and steep dips. I'm even more positve now that it will definitely be a winner. As mentioned in other reports, the trains look super-comfy, and the mine-car theme is done superbly. Hopefully it will be done by SRM weekend, as we will be making a stop at IB on our way home.
After our LoCoSuMo "inspection," we headed off to get Tom a POP band, and hit some rides.
Hoosier Hurricane (5 laps - 3back, 2 front) - The Hurricane is running great this year. It's stil not a world-beater, but not every ride needs to be. This one is all about fun. The re-tracking from the first drop to the turnaround is excellent. We could not get over how smooth it is now, with hints of floater air in places that I hadn't noticed before.
Cornball Express (Lost track of laps-most in back seat or second to rear) - When we last rode Cornball several months ago, it was one of our favorites, so we were excited to get back to IB for some more rides. Guess What? It's better this year. From the time we took our first rides in the morning, it was noticable that there was more of an edge to CE this year. It's nothing I could pin down, but there was a certain intangible quality to the rides we were getting that was more agressive. And then, it started to rain. And CE became out of control. I honestly can say that the rides I had yesterday on CE in the pouring rain were some of the most brutal, violent, and flat-out intense rides I have ever had on any coaster. We were ecstatic.
We also took in a Tigg'r ride, a ride on the Galaxi (we were the guys stuck on the lift), a couple Double Shots, and rides on pretty much all the flats. It was so empty towards 3:30, that we felt we had the park to ourselves.
I finally got to meet IB Dave in the flesh, and that was a pleasure. I also got to meet Scott Holmes and his "Texas mistress" on one of our furious Cornball Rides. Unfortunately my path never seemed to cross with Carol's.
All in all, it was another remarkable day at Indiana beach, and I want to send a thanks out to the park for having me, to Scott and Carol Holmes hooking me up with the pass and organizing everything for ACE, and to IB Dave for helping me out, as well.
Indiana Beach is one of my favorite parks, and with a day like yesterday, it is quickly leaving all others "in the dust."
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"He's blazin' away like the stars in the universe.." A. Vega + M. Rev "Ghostrider"
Someday there will be something here.
*** This post was edited by chris on 5/18/2002. ***
Yes, that Cornball was great. I occupied several of the seats between 4:00 and 5:30 and the rides in the rain were fantastic. Scott was in the seat behind me and I heard him saying "wow", "oh man" and then at the end "its running frisky today". I rode on opening day also when it wasn't raining and thought right from the start that the ride has gotten much better since last year.
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Beer, my soon to be wife, coasters, and the FREEDOM OF SPEECH. Is this a great country or what!!
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stoogemanmoe
smm - When did you take your CE ride? I was on the lookout for various people, but didn't have much luck.
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"He's blazin' away like the stars in the universe.." A. Vega + M. Rev "Ghostrider"
Someday there will be something here.
*** This post was edited by chris on 5/18/2002. ***
I was the guy that had the cute fiery hot looking redhead las on my arm. I was wearing a dark green nike jacket and she had on a beige heavy coat. We rode various times of the day til 5:00 pm when we couldn't take the rain and cold anymore..lol.
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Beer, my soon to be wife, coasters, and the FREEDOM OF SPEECH. Is this a great country or what!!
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stoogemanmoe
*** This post was edited by stoogemanmoe on 5/18/2002. ***
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"He's blazin' away like the stars in the universe.." A. Vega + M. Rev "Ghostrider"
Someday there will be something here.
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Beer, my soon to be wife, coasters, and the FREEDOM OF SPEECH. Is this a great country or what!!
------------------------
stoogemanmoe
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X Looks Awesome! Oh Yea!!
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X-Flight World's Only flying coaster!
Batwing World's only flying coaster!
S:UF World's only flying coaster! Don't you love SF ?
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"He's blazin' away like the stars in the universe.." A. Vega + M. Rev "Ghostrider"
Someday there will be something here.
When will the drywall be off of Cornabll's tracks? What is the purpose of it anyway?
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You can hear the laughter, you can hear the mighty roar. From the brickyard down in Indy to the white Chicago shore. It's a rollin', twistin', turnin' and might we both suggest. You get you fanny ridin' on the Cornball Express!
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