New Entries in the CoasterBuzz Top 100

I just noticed that Intimidator 305 is super low. Was it higher when it first got on the list?

I've been on all three and think they are all very meh.

I have not ridden it, but the new Gerstlauer "The Monster" at Adventureland in Iowa has been lauded about.

And I'd guess there's a ride that probably won't get the ridership needed to place high here. Or place here at all. Take Impulse at Knoebels, a ride in the middle of Nowhere Pa. that might stand to attract more C'Buzzers than one in the middle of Nowhere Iowa, but so far it doesn't place.

I looked at the POV of Monster on YouTube and it seems like a great ride, there's lots of hang time in the inversions. There's some length to the ride as well, for as compact as it is. Nice.
It's a good thing for the people of Des Moines, for sure. I went to Adventureland once and after only about half a day couldn't wait to get outta there. I thought it was sad and rundown with a few saving graces. I'm glad to see that the last couple of additions to Adventureland have been good ones, and hopefully things at that little park will continue to go in a positive direction.

rollergator said:

But the real gem, the true STAR, the unbelievably fantastic ride of the HWN '16 trip...Storm Chaser. It's beyond ridiculous....and I have the bruises to prove it. My thighs feel like hamburger, and I mean that in the very best way.

HeyIsntThatRob? said:

Agreed. Storm Chaser is simply amazing. And that was only my first RMC. If this is indicative of what they can do, by all means, RMC Mean Streak. Heck, I'd even be happy with an RMC'd Voyage with the same layout, but with the original corkscrew that was intended.

I rode Storm Chaser just this past Sunday, and would agree wholeheartedly with both assessments! It was my first RMC as well, and my mind was blown my first ride on it, repeatedly shouting "Wow!" almost involuntarily, as it traversed the elements! At then of the day, and 20 rides on it, it landed at my #5 spot, snuggled between The Voyage and El Toro (and not far behind Maverick, which I felt was the ride most similar to it that I had already ridden.) And yes, after 20 rides on that (many in the "ejector seat" that is row 1-2), and 7 on Lightning Run, my thighs also felt pretty hamburger-y! But the soreness and bruises were more than worth it! Can't wait to get on more of these amazing creations!

Screechin' Eagle, of all things, enters the list this week.

I'm going to KK the last week of July and you guys are getting me really hyped for Storm Chaser. Weeeeeee.

Lightning Run is also an awesome and welcome addition to any small to mid-sized parks out there...

Thunder Run was also running extremely well - but of course it still suffers needlessly from single-train operations....never will understand the decision to remove the maintenance shed and transfer track....that ride is still (once again?) a beast!

edit: Screechin' Eagle keeps showing up near the top of my (admittedly disorganized) "list."

Twisted Colossus has a big debut in the #4 spot with 37 experienced riders, a little over a year after its official opening.

Still a ton of other RMC creations waiting in the wings.

I'm not exactly sure how Twisted Colossus is the #1 RMC. It's the weakest (by far) of the ones I've been on.

^Consider the location of the ride....it's highly possible that the majority of TC riders haven't been on a lot of their other creations (before Joker at SFDK, the nearest RMC was well over 1,000 miles away).

I just got Mako yesterday....Jill said "middle of the pack B&M hyper" - and I'd tend to agree. Then again, she thought Fury was their best effort, and I'm still in love (lust) with SFoG's ride...

Tastes vary.

Just rode TC last week and rated it yesterday. It was my first RMC and I must say it was fantastic. The ops were working pretty hard to get duels, and were running over 50% success rate so almost all my rides had at least one duel. That machine has some seriously forceful airtime and every seat on the train offers a great ride. The back at night is insane.

To the ranking: I do think many other RMC's look even better then TC, but it's only a 5 point system, and still absolutely a 5 star ride in my book. Tatsu is the only other ride at SFMM I rank a 5, for perspective, and only 12 of my 104 rides have a 5 so it's not like I throw them out too easy. Like gator said, I think geography likely plays a factor too. If the other RMC's are THAT much better I'm all the more excited to get out and ride them.

Coaster_Shark said:

Like gator said, I think geography likely plays a factor too. If the other RMC's are THAT much better I'm all the more excited to get out and ride them.

Before HWN, my only RMC was Iron Rattler. I loved what they had done to a clearly subpar wooden coaster, and wanted more....badly. Storm Chaser delivered *everything* I wanted and then some...again, with another so-so coaster(s) as the background for their work.

Can't wait to try at least one of their original creations...but I will say, it's amazing to me HOW much opinions vary as to where even experienced riders place the various RMC rides. ALL over the place...just at HWN, four friends who'd ridden everything BUT Wildfire and Joker rated Lightning Rod, Twisted Colossus, Wicked Cyclone, and Storm Chaser as the "best" RMC. I expect considerable disagreement when it comes to tastes...but was still very surprised to hear such a variety of opinions.

I've ridden NTG, Iron Rattler, Goliath, Storm Chaser (dang LR needs to stay open so I can go ride it!), and have plans for hopefully LR, Wicked Cyclone, and Twisted Colossus before years end. Thus far, NTG is my overall #1 coaster period. The others all rank highly with maybe Iron Rattler the lowest ranking.

I've got (in order from worst to best in my opinion) Twisted Colossus, Goliath, NTG, Iron Rattler, Wicked Cyclone and Outlaw Run, with OLR being my #1 overall coaster.

This is how I would rank all the RMCs

1. Outlaw Run
2. Medusa Steel Coaster
3. Lightning Rod
4. Wicked Cyclone
5. Goliath
6. Storm Chaser
7. Joker
8. Iron Rattler
9. Twisted Colossus
10. New Texas Giant

Believe the hype - Storm Chaser is a borderline masterpiece. The first drop roll works better in the middle and back of the train, although the first overbank works better in the middle and front. The first overbank is something else. The sharp bank to the left creates a bit of an Intamin-style negative g-force but you're then smooshed right into your seat with your head toward the ground as you navigate the turn. The sharp right/left jag as you float over the next hill is great, too. The bunny hops toward the stretch home are filled with huge, almost jarring airtime moments. The final helix doesn't cook quite as hard and fast as the rest of the ride but that's a minor complaint. Over several rides I actually found myself preferring the middle seats of the train because they offered the best mix of forces over the entire course of the ride. My entire party - experienced coaster nerds and casual riders alike - were completely blown away by it. Will be interesting to see where it debuts on the list.

Lightning Run debuts at a solid #53. I'm not sure it's *quite* that good in my estimation but in that ballpark feels about right. Still kind of surprised more medium sized parks haven't stepped up to build more of these yet.

Would love to see a gtx coaster at michigans adventure. mia got thunderhawk nearly ten years ago. I think they're due for a new ride.

Apparently the folks who would be spending the money on a new coaster disagree...

...and Wicked Cylcone smashes in at #11. RMC has really exploded in the top of the rankings!