SFGAm 4th of July - FIREWORKS EXPLOSION halts fire
Associated parks:
None
SFGAM 4th of July, 2001
I decided to go to Six Flags Great America on the 4th of July after work. Yes I had to work. But when I got into the lot I expected to have lines up the...well you know where. I was in for a real treat however. I think most of the people actually were in shows or eating or just walking the midways.
My first ride was Viper. This is starting to be some sort of unofficial tradition this year for me. All but once have I started with Viper. The line looked long but moved relatively quickly. It turned out the wait was about 30 minutes. I took the second seat from the front. Turned out that I had lovely floater airtime on every hill except the first drop. I really love this coaster and is in my books a classic coaster despite not being all that old.
Next up was Raging Bull. After about a 45 minute wait I got on. I swear at one point there must have been a mass exodus of people out of the line because we moved about 20 queues forward in one fell swoop where as we barely moved one queue at a time. The ride was incredibly smooth yet bucking like a bronco like usually. I was in row 3 and had tons of airtime. We got to the mid-course breaks and slammed into a stop. Yeah the ride broke down on us. We were stuck there for at least 10 minutes maybe 20. They sent a ride op up to keep us company and answer questions which was nice. Finally they got us released and we went through the rest of the course at what seemed like we would not make it through the course it was so slow. After we got back to the station they had us get off the ride so they could test it. They told us as we exited the ride that we could wait in the exit area for a reride. OH HECK YEAH. 2 rides for the price of one! I certainly took advantage of it. One guy that was waiting as well asked a female ride op how they brake the ride and she said they have brakes all over the place which is no lie. But he asked if they were on the train and how it worked. She gave him so bologne answer so I answered the question to the best I knew. And she asked me how I knew. I told her I was a coaster enthusiast. She asked me which I like better V2 of Raging Bull. DARNIT, I hate when people ask me that. I just like coasters PERIOD! I told her Raging Bull but V2 really is a close but are different experiences. She high-fived me. They let us back on and away we went. This time right through the mid-course brakes with a little bit of speed trimming though. The last bit was WAY more intense this time around. Overall much better when you do not get stuck on the mid-course brakes. Thank you to the ride ops who let us re-ride are much in order.
I decided to go to V2. Yeah I know it is clear across the park. When I got there it was closed. There was NO line. Someone told me it had been closed for a long time. So I got some fries and Dippin Dots. I happen to like Dippin Dots. SORRY to those who don't but that just means more for me! I finished my eats and they were getting ready to test the ride so off I went to get in line. And good thing I did too because the line backed up fast. I was on the ride in 20 minutes. I still have trouble with the harness even after losing 20 pounds since the start of the coaster season. I am almost there though¡Kmaybe five more pounds and I wont need help. The ride ops actually helped me in this time. That was amazing. I still love everything about this ride. The lauch, the spiral, the face down tower where they turn on the breaks. This is one ride that blows me away every time I ride it.
Next up was Batman how could I resist. It is right across from V2 well almost. Boy did I hit that one at a good time too. I waited maybe 20 minutes. I went to row 2 since I was alone I did not dare try to get on the first row which was all the way down the hall to the stairs coming up into the batcave (station). I love the G's on this ride it is always intense and never lacking on anything other than length.
Next victim...Uhmm ME on Shockwave. I decided to ride Shockwave even though I usually avoid it due to the beating I get. It was a walk on. I wonder why. (NOTE: SARCASM) It was smooth other than the transitions which is where I always get beat up. Thanks Shockwave for the migraine. I really could have done without. Oh well. I really would love it if they ever thought of putting in lapbars. I honestly believe that Shockwave would be rideable again if they did that.
I decided to walk around awhile until my headache wore off. I ended up at Demon. I decided to ride it since my headache was gone now. For a coaster that is 25 years old or so this is still a smooth multi-looper. It was a walk on. Nothing to big to talk about on this one other than the tunnel sound effects and lighting are what makes this ride a must ride.
Off to Giant Drop. It had an unusually short wait. I was in line no more than 25 minutes. What more can I say about it other than WHAT A RUSH. I have found nothing is like freefalling 20 stories (except freefalling 30 stories on Drop Zone at PKI).
I decided to call it a night for thrill rides so I decided to walk over to where the parade was going to be. They were supposed to have fireworks at 9:30 after the parade. They actually misfired at about 8:30 while it was still pretty light out. I skipped the parade to watch the 10 minutes of fireworks. I then rested in an area near the Dino Island ride in hopes they would send more fireworks off. Later I found out that the fireworks got canceled due to the misfiring earlier in the day. Too bad I probably would have left at 8:30 so I could get out of the parking lot at a reasonable time. According to the paper no one got hurt in the incident. THANK FULLY. It took me 45 minutes to get out of the parking lot when I left at 9:30. That was bad. Oh well. Otherwise another fun filled day at Great America with tons of little surprises that made the day oh so memorable.
I submitted the article on the fireworks explosion to the news section so maybe there will be something on that incident in the days to come.
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Welcome to Deja Vu...home of the world wide wait. *** This post was edited by beast7369 on 7/5/2001. ***
I decided to go to Six Flags Great America on the 4th of July after work. Yes I had to work. But when I got into the lot I expected to have lines up the...well you know where. I was in for a real treat however. I think most of the people actually were in shows or eating or just walking the midways.
My first ride was Viper. This is starting to be some sort of unofficial tradition this year for me. All but once have I started with Viper. The line looked long but moved relatively quickly. It turned out the wait was about 30 minutes. I took the second seat from the front. Turned out that I had lovely floater airtime on every hill except the first drop. I really love this coaster and is in my books a classic coaster despite not being all that old.
Next up was Raging Bull. After about a 45 minute wait I got on. I swear at one point there must have been a mass exodus of people out of the line because we moved about 20 queues forward in one fell swoop where as we barely moved one queue at a time. The ride was incredibly smooth yet bucking like a bronco like usually. I was in row 3 and had tons of airtime. We got to the mid-course breaks and slammed into a stop. Yeah the ride broke down on us. We were stuck there for at least 10 minutes maybe 20. They sent a ride op up to keep us company and answer questions which was nice. Finally they got us released and we went through the rest of the course at what seemed like we would not make it through the course it was so slow. After we got back to the station they had us get off the ride so they could test it. They told us as we exited the ride that we could wait in the exit area for a reride. OH HECK YEAH. 2 rides for the price of one! I certainly took advantage of it. One guy that was waiting as well asked a female ride op how they brake the ride and she said they have brakes all over the place which is no lie. But he asked if they were on the train and how it worked. She gave him so bologne answer so I answered the question to the best I knew. And she asked me how I knew. I told her I was a coaster enthusiast. She asked me which I like better V2 of Raging Bull. DARNIT, I hate when people ask me that. I just like coasters PERIOD! I told her Raging Bull but V2 really is a close but are different experiences. She high-fived me. They let us back on and away we went. This time right through the mid-course brakes with a little bit of speed trimming though. The last bit was WAY more intense this time around. Overall much better when you do not get stuck on the mid-course brakes. Thank you to the ride ops who let us re-ride are much in order.
I decided to go to V2. Yeah I know it is clear across the park. When I got there it was closed. There was NO line. Someone told me it had been closed for a long time. So I got some fries and Dippin Dots. I happen to like Dippin Dots. SORRY to those who don't but that just means more for me! I finished my eats and they were getting ready to test the ride so off I went to get in line. And good thing I did too because the line backed up fast. I was on the ride in 20 minutes. I still have trouble with the harness even after losing 20 pounds since the start of the coaster season. I am almost there though¡Kmaybe five more pounds and I wont need help. The ride ops actually helped me in this time. That was amazing. I still love everything about this ride. The lauch, the spiral, the face down tower where they turn on the breaks. This is one ride that blows me away every time I ride it.
Next up was Batman how could I resist. It is right across from V2 well almost. Boy did I hit that one at a good time too. I waited maybe 20 minutes. I went to row 2 since I was alone I did not dare try to get on the first row which was all the way down the hall to the stairs coming up into the batcave (station). I love the G's on this ride it is always intense and never lacking on anything other than length.
Next victim...Uhmm ME on Shockwave. I decided to ride Shockwave even though I usually avoid it due to the beating I get. It was a walk on. I wonder why. (NOTE: SARCASM) It was smooth other than the transitions which is where I always get beat up. Thanks Shockwave for the migraine. I really could have done without. Oh well. I really would love it if they ever thought of putting in lapbars. I honestly believe that Shockwave would be rideable again if they did that.
I decided to walk around awhile until my headache wore off. I ended up at Demon. I decided to ride it since my headache was gone now. For a coaster that is 25 years old or so this is still a smooth multi-looper. It was a walk on. Nothing to big to talk about on this one other than the tunnel sound effects and lighting are what makes this ride a must ride.
Off to Giant Drop. It had an unusually short wait. I was in line no more than 25 minutes. What more can I say about it other than WHAT A RUSH. I have found nothing is like freefalling 20 stories (except freefalling 30 stories on Drop Zone at PKI).
I decided to call it a night for thrill rides so I decided to walk over to where the parade was going to be. They were supposed to have fireworks at 9:30 after the parade. They actually misfired at about 8:30 while it was still pretty light out. I skipped the parade to watch the 10 minutes of fireworks. I then rested in an area near the Dino Island ride in hopes they would send more fireworks off. Later I found out that the fireworks got canceled due to the misfiring earlier in the day. Too bad I probably would have left at 8:30 so I could get out of the parking lot at a reasonable time. According to the paper no one got hurt in the incident. THANK FULLY. It took me 45 minutes to get out of the parking lot when I left at 9:30. That was bad. Oh well. Otherwise another fun filled day at Great America with tons of little surprises that made the day oh so memorable.
I submitted the article on the fireworks explosion to the news section so maybe there will be something on that incident in the days to come.
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Welcome to Deja Vu...home of the world wide wait. *** This post was edited by beast7369 on 7/5/2001. ***
Nice TR, glad you had fun. I went two days before you, and also had fun, they even raced the AE. I'm so glad I can call this park my home park.
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Thank you for challenging The Raging Bull. We hope you enjoy the rest of you're day here at Six Flags Great America.
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Thank you for challenging The Raging Bull. We hope you enjoy the rest of you're day here at Six Flags Great America.
I'm not going to post the fireworks news item, because it had nothing to do with the park other than being across the street. It wasn't SFGAm news per se.
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Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com
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Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com
Thanks Jeff for at least considering it. I completely respect that position on it. Keep up the good work on this site. Just an FYI the property where the fireworks were to be launched from is part of the Six Flags property. It is where the proposed waterpark and employee housing complex is supposed to go. If anyone wants a link to see the article please email me.
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Welcome to Deja Vu...home of the world wide wait. *** This post was edited by beast7369 on 7/5/2001. ***
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Welcome to Deja Vu...home of the world wide wait. *** This post was edited by beast7369 on 7/5/2001. ***
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