I've been on a little vacation, so I didn't see the new responses. I'm glad to see some good things about Hercules since every coaster needs its fans. A few are giving the thumbs up to the duo at SFMM, RWB, and MS as well which is really cool, so its good to see there's a lot to like about these rides from certain perspectives.
I rode two of the roughest woodies ever this week, neither which were mentioned above. If I don't make a TR, I'll list them here. Otherwise, one might be a surprise to some. Ouch! We all agreed this one was far from purrfect in ride although the layout and design were incredibly well thought out it seems.
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06/11/02
Photos from Six Flags Worlds Of Adventure were added plus some other small updates:
http://www.angelfire.com/extreme2/rollercoaster2/index.html
Hercules USED to be a great ride but I think that Dorney hasn't taken care of it that well and the maintenence has deteriated. The ride gets worse every year..more headbanging and everyone that I ride with gets a headache.
Wildcat at Hershey is the same way..was once a smooth ride but now it just hurts your back and head.
Best woody I have been on is The Beast hands down..SOB was great too but a lil hard on your upper body.
Mean Streak is great too as well as The Racer at PKI and Rebel Yell at PKD.
Lightning Racer is in my top 5 :)
I've also heard a little about Predator at Darien Lake becoming or being a pretty bad ride. Anyone have anything to say at that Big "Bad" Woodie?
Im going to give a description of types of woodies I like and dislike. Some are monterous (Big and bad) Some are not so big but give a big ride.
1. Shivering Timbers- When this coaster runs it's best this is airtime heaven! (Move over SFNE's SROS) This coaster also has some killer latterals at the turn around, The drop off the turn around and the entrance to the helix. I flat our love this coaster!
2. The Boss. Some may not like this coaster but I love it! Why? Intense to the max!
3.Legend again Intense to the max.
4. Raven- Only 100ft but this puppy gives a wicked out of control ride.
5. Cornball Express- The little coaster that could with strong forces and lots of fun.
6.Phoenix. Just plain fun.
7 Beast A coaster that has one hell of a fanally.
9 Riverside Cyclone. So differnt it must be experienced to believe.
10 Boulderdash. Fast and neat visuals, Even though I didn't get the airtime I have heard about, It still was a great ride.
Ok, Those are some of my favorite big/midsized woodies.
Here are coasters that some I like and some I don't but I give a reason why for each.
Skyliner. This smaller looking coaster gives possibly the most severe first drop airtime in the backseat but be forewarned, IT CAN HURT YOU! It dose have middle seats in middle cars that are pretty smooth and therefore I liked the coaster but found the backseat just plain painful. I find it can be fun and it is a choose your seat for the type of ride you prefer ride.
SOB. I just flat like it. It's huge, It is insanely fast and it is not rough except the fact that they put these steel bars next to your legs. It works! Speed and intensity work for me and all the way up till after the loop this is one of my favorties. It dose lame out on the ending though so it is not a complete coaster IMHO.
Screechin' Eagle. Ok, Im hear to tell you this is one of my favorite coasters period but it is still a coaster that once broke my tailbone in the backseat with that old train they used to have. What is it 75' tall?
Herc. My first rides in 97 were ok on the first drop and turn but the rest of the coaster was lame. My rides in 2001 with it completly stopping on the drop left me with a no redeeming qualities whatsoever feeling.
Mean Streak. My only complaint when it openend is that it just plain shook so hard in the first turn after the drop my neck hurt so bad I wanted off then! If you were lucky enough not to get shaken to death then you got a good fast ride with a couple moments of good airtime. I still think that drop near the traintracks was a work of art when it ran at speed but now with it almost being totally stopped in both the first drop and midcourse, I give it a little better than no redeeming qualities rating.
Wildcat at LC. Now this coaster is not huge by any means but washboards bad. The one thing I really don't like is washboarding and this coaster dose it a bunch. Other than that I really like the ride and layout.
Out of about 60 wooden coasters I have ridden I can only say there are two in their present condition that I really don't care to ride at all. Mean Streak and Hercules.
Chuck, who thinks The Boss must be much smoother than it's first two years as he heard washboard nightmares but got no washboarding on any of his 40 rides in mid June.
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Charles Nungester
Lesourdsville Lake, The great American amusement park opens the season June 6th Thurs-Sun every week. Park phone is (513)539-2193
Koaster King said:
I appreciate your reply a lot. Out of the ones I've ridden that you have, I'll have to check out The Boss with your glowing review of it.
I can not tell anyone if you will like Boss or not, Chances are if you like SOB or Legend or even beast you may like the BOSS.
Thats kinda how I sum up boss, Beast intensity in the first section. SOB huge drops in 4 places. Legend latterals on second half and helix.
Currently tied at #2 with Legend. Sorry, Those timbersfest rides will make it hard to beat ST even though I rode it in a previous year and didn't find it to be GREAT THEN!.
Chuck, who's favorite woodie I suppose is the one I am riding at the moment. (Somehow that just didn't sound right) :)
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Charles Nungester
Lesourdsville Lake, The great American amusement park opens the season June 6th Thurs-Sun every week. Park phone is (513)539-2193
I personally cannot stand "Rattler" at Six Flags Fiesta Texas. Ugh. The last time I rode it was the last time I'll ever ride it. Just flat out bad and annoying. I'd ride Mean Streak a hundred times before ever riding this coaster again.
But my favorite is still The Beast, at PKI.
I also love the Racer at PKI (backwards, from the front... er... last seat ;-), and Blue Streak and Cedar Point. No, they're not "big", but they're among the best anyway.
Koaster King-
Yes, Predator is one of the roughest coasters I've been on. I rode it last year. As is my usual custom, I put my sunglasses in my pocket. The damn coaster broke them!
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