'Most Improved Player'
My roommates are avid baseball fans, and were debating which MLB player they thought was this season's 'Most Improved' last night. Being a coaster dork, this immediately got me to thinking about which coaster(s) were this season's 'Most Improved,' and I'd be interested to see what coaster(s) others on the board would consider worthy of this honor.
Here are mine, and thanks to all the parks and crews that invested the time, cash, and effort into making these coasters great:
Georgia Cyclone: I first rode this coaster last October, and thought it was really bad, Wolverine Wildcat bad. It was jerky, bouncy, boring, slow, and lame. My rides this past March, on the other hand, completely blew my mind with insane, violent airtime that catpulted Georgia Cyclone out of the cellar and into my top 10. A very agressive ride, and a true azz kicker.
Raven - Last year I honestly did not get why everyone loves the Raven so much, but now I do. The way this ride was running this year was just sick: The speed, the air, and the wild romp through the woods finale all changed the tune of this ex-'Raven hater.'
Hoosier Hurricane - Hoosier Hurricane benefited from a lot of track work this past off season and it shows. The 'out' run was silky smooth this year, with some great floater air in places that I'd never noticed any before.
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Hallowave
*** This post was edited by chris on 10/29/2002. ***
Peck you punk ! you beat me to the punch on BS!! j/k
At the begining of the season I would have said the Beast, but when they re breaked the first drop. That kinda killed it for me (we will just see what happens in the off season)
enough with that rant.
Major improvements I noticed were in Cp's Blue Streak and PKI's backward racer. And Cris lets not forget Legend's new PTC trains, I would say that is a pretty hefty inprovement.
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"The Moose says your closed, I say your open"! Chevy Chase-Vacation
*** This post was edited by Donny S on 10/29/2002. ***
Coaster? Raven
Park? MI Adventures
Chuck
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Charles Nungester.
Is it about coasters or friends? I say both!
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Bob Hansen
A proud CoasterBuzz Member
Wanna Ride A Woodie?
I can only name those coasters I've personally ridden in multiple seasons:
Ga Cyclone DID improve THAT much, we'll be riding this weekend with Brian and his g/f just to make sure it's as sweet as it was in early-season....not to have FUN mind you...
Before SRM, we made a quick stop at SFKK, and Thunder Run had some really nice work done in the off-season. No surprise to us that the parked made some gains this year, the effort was made on more than just the coasters. TR gets a vote for Most Improved coaster, and SFKK for most improved park. Good work!
I really DID enjoy Raven last year, but you're right about this year.... That CRAZY drop into the misters at night is one of those "singular moments" in coasterdom. See ya at SRM '03!
Since we're on HW, Legend going to 2-train op, AND going to PTCs, certainly gets a BIG vote for improved rides. The Gerstlauer's lapbars do stay put better (Hi Chuck), but the PTC's are SO much more comfy, and navigate the track SO much better....
But, my #1 MIC for the '02 season, a clear winner, and probably the most expensive coaster to maintain on the planet....SONNY!
edit: GREAT TOPIC!
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Congratulations to two Gator greats, Emmitt Smith and David Eckstein - job WELL done guys!
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - unless you've got a spare planet!
*** This post was edited by rollergator on 10/29/2002. ***
I'd have to go with Deja Vu (take your pick, really) actually running, and/or running with some shred of reliability.
that, or running the american Eagle backwards. I'm not sure if it counts, but it makes the it a whole new ride.
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Without the chaindog, you'd never get up the lifthill...
If SFKK has gotten better, I shudder to think about what it was like before. I may have hit it on a very bad day (SRM Saturday), but it was the worst park experience I've ever had.
I'd nominate early season, no first drop trim, Beast for most improved. Blue Streak (CP) is another strong candidate.
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http://www.rockandrollconfidential.com
*** This post was edited by Mark W. Baruth on 10/29/2002. ***
Mark, we went to SFKK one day both of the past two years. In '01, we went on the ACE day after SRM, and it was a dirty, smoke-filled, poorly-maintained sty of a park. This year we went before SRM and the place was MUCH cleaner, TT (both sides) and TR were running much better, the employees were friendlier, it was a completely different park. It's still no BGT or HW, but it IS better.....
what you shudder to imagine, I shudder to remember...;)
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Le roi est mort. Vive le roi.
Thanks Great America!
Unfortunately, I didn't get to try the NEW Beast as it was closed all day. :-(
Flight of Fear is a great ride now. I rode it once with the OTSR's and never again, but now it's awesome!
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-Matt in Iowa
195 coasters ridden -- Faves: Shivering Timbers, Ghostrider, Twister, Hershey Wildcat, Lightning Racer
Jeez, all these votes for the wood at PKI make me bummed I wasn't able to get there this summer.
How bad was the CP Blue Streak in recent years? I rode it for the first time in ages last weekend, and just thought it was pretty OK. I enjoyed the ride well enough and had fun, but didn't think it was 'all that.'
BTW, I'm part of the minority that thought Legend was better with the G-Trains, but can see how so many would prefer the PTCs. I just have a very high 'agression' tolerance. ;)
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Hallowave
*** This post was edited by chris on 10/29/2002. ***
Matt Scott said:
Backwards Racer at PKI was great this summer.
This was the first one that sprang to mind. Actually, I agree with everyone in this thread pretty much, but Racer backwards this year was just heaven. It pisses me off to no end that it always seems that backwards runs better than forwards, and yet I really like riding forwards better. Oh well, there's hope that forwards will get the same love in 2003, right? Anyone know?
As for Blue Streak, its always been one of my all time favs, and I'm happy to hear its been running well this year. Actually, it may still be my third favorite or so ride at CP, too bad I didn't get a chance to get up this year. I really, really, really like Blue Streak. Yup yup yup.
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If the shoe fits, find another one.
*** This post was edited by ravenguy98 on 10/29/2002. ***
I'll put in my vote for Mr. Freeze @ SFStL for the removal of the OTSR's (and also, I would assume, @ SFoT). What used to be a headbanging, claustrophobic, sweat-smelling mess was transformed into a great ride.
I would guess the same holds true for the Flight of Fears, but I never rode one the "old way"
Good one Jim, and definitely a top-notch nominee....guess I got caught up with all the "improvements" into thinking about just the woodies.....The "spaghetti bowls" DID go *from the outhouse to the penthouse*, as the saying goes....:)
I know this sounds a bit crazy, but I actually wish that I had ridden one of the Premier coasters *with* the OTSRs so that I could have a point of reference.
On the other hand, it sounds as if I should be happy to just take everyone's word on it. :)
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Hallowave
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