Oaks Park,Portland,Oregon 3-29-03

As Portland,Oregon was experiencing some great springtime weather on 3-29 and I was getting off work early(and it was my 44th birthday) I had a urge to ride a coaster since it had been 6 1/2 months since riding anything. I needed a coaster fix, even a Pinfari Looping Star would do(and it is the only coaster close to home)

I arrive at Oaks Park at 3:30 PM. Being as the park closed at 5:00 PM, I purchased 7 ride tickets for $9.00 instead of a POP bracelet.POP bracelets are $12.50 and are good for 4 hours starting on the hour.

I went over to Looping Thunder and was assigned a seat in the last car in the train.On LT it does not matter what seat you ride as to the quality of ride you get is the same in every seat. After the lift hill you go around a turnaround, then comes the first drop. After the first drop you go into a fan curve,then drop into the loop.This has to be one of the smallest inversions on a coaster.After the loop, you go into a helix,with a drop about mid course. The ride finishes with a bunny hop,turnaround,small dip,turnaround,then the brake run.Looping Thunder is a very short ride as the lift hill is only 36 feet tall and about 1200 feet of track.From the lift hill to the brake run is about 30 seconds.

After 2 ride on Looping Thunder,I went over to the Screaming Eagle,which is a KMG Afterburner. This ride replaced the Swinging Ship in 2001. IMO,this is the best ride in the park. Think of a swinging ship with 5 sweeps instead of a boat with S&S Space shot style seats attached to the sweeps and you have a KMG Afterburner.The sweeps rotate as the ride swings back and forth.Once the ride reaches its' maximum altitude(about 60 feet)you really feel the G forces. I took 2 rides on the Screamin' Eagle.

I had 1 ride ticket left,so I took one more ride on Looping Thunder. This closed out my day at Oaks Amusement Park.

For more information on Oaks Park, go to www.oakspark.com. While not a destination park,it is worthy of a stop if you are in the area. After all,the only way small parks like this can survive and inprove is with your patronage.

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Meet me at the PNE on April 17,2003. Happy 45th birthday,Coaster!
*** This post was edited by Ronald S. Anderson 4/2/2003 4:25:50 AM ***

I used to go there once in a while when I visited my grandma in the summers and always had fun. Nice to see someone else has actually been there. The looping star was yawn inducing I thought.
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I hope they kill that iron yuppie. Thinks he's so big. The great homer simspon

Most looping stars are yawn inducing, but it does make for a good quick fix if that is all you've got.

Good report, and yeah, got to keep those small parks going, they are the best.

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"If you make it too smooth, it'll be like sitting in your living room."
-Bill Cobb - Designer, Texas Cyclone

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Black 7 said:
Most looping stars are yawn inducing, but it does make for a good quick fix if that is all you've got.

Unfortunately,the Looping Star coaster is all we've got to ride here in Portland,and I have to agree it is not "all that". It is better than no coaster at all. This will change when Enchanted Village opens up the new S&S woodie. It is only 2 1/2 hours north of Portland.I can hardly wait!:)

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Meet me at the PNE on April 17,2003. Happy 45th birthday,Coaster!

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