Mitch Hawker vs My Awful Tastes!

Well, the Mitch Hawker 2012 Internet Wooden Tracked Roller Coaster Poll results are now in so lets get the bitching and moaning started... Outside of the now typical trip swaying aside I'll say I do agree with the overall results and can say I'm happy where most of my top coasters stand. 

Here's what I placed as my top 15 coasters in the 2012 wood coaster poll. With both Boulder Dash and El Toro being my "#1" (and yes, I can have two favorite coasters :P)

Boulder Dash Lake Compounce CT,y,n,1

El Toro SFGAd NJ,y,n,1

Lost Coaster of SM Indiana Beach IN,y,n,2

Cornball Express Indiana Beach IN,y,n,3 

Thundercoaster Tusenfryd NO,y,n,4

Troy Toverland NL,y,n,5

 (((((I DONT HAVE A 

PHOTO OF RENEGADE 

ON MY FLICKR YET 

.......SORRY!)))))

Renegade Valleyfair! MN,y,n,6

Kentucky Rumbler Beech Bend KY,y,n,7

Dania Bch Hurr (S) Dania Beach FL,y,n,8

Ozark Wildcat(SBNO) Celebration City MO,y,n,9

Yankee Cannonball Canobie Lake Park NH,y,y,10 

Cyclone (SBNO) Williams Grove PA,y,n,11

 Comet Great Escape NY,y,n,12

Hell Cat Clementon Lake NJ,y,n,13 

Silver Comet Martin's Fantasy Is. NY,y,n,14

Ravine Flyer II Waldameer PA,y,n,15

And here we have the top 15 placed wood coasters of 2012 overall.

1 El Toro SFGAd NJ 297 167 0 0 1.0000 

2 T Express Everland KR 19 164 1 1 0.9910 

3 The Voyage Holiday World IN 202 164 3 0 0.9820 57 

4 Boulder Dash Lake Compounce CT 174 164 3 0 0.9820 52 

5 Phoenix Knoebel's PA 242 163 4 0 0.9760 

6 Balder Liseberg SE 86 160 5 1 0.9669 

7 Ravine Flyer II Waldameer PA 145 158 8 1 0.9491 

8 Dauling Dragon-L Happy Valley CN 11 154 7 4 0.9455 

9 Dauling Dragon-R Happy Valley CN 11 154 8 3 0.9424 

10 Colossos Heide Park DE 122 156 9 2 0.9401

11 Fireball Happy Valley Song CN 18 155 10 1 0.9367

12 El Toro Freizeitpark Plohn DE 35 153 11 1 0.9303

13 Troy Toverland NL 120 154 12 0 0.9277

14 Wood Coaster Knight Valley CN 11 146 7 10 0.9264

15 Thunderhead Dollywood TN 184 152 14 1 0.913

Of the top 15 wooden coasters I've been on 7 of them (in italics), damn you China! 

My top 15 placed in order of the overall results would list as so....  Bold being where they fell in order and the italicized number on the right being where I placed it.

1 El Toro SFGAd NJ 297 167 0 0 1.0000 (1) 

4 Boulder Dash Lake Compounce CT 174 164 3 0 0.9820 52 (1)   

7 Ravine Flyer II Waldameer PA 145 158 8 1 0.9491 (15)

13 Troy Toverland NL 120 154 12 0 0.9277 (5)

19 Renegade Valleyfair! MN 78 147 20 0 0.8802 (6) 

20 Ozark Wildcat(SBNO) Celebration City MO 38 162 19 4 0.8865 (9)

27 Kentucky Rumbler Beech Bend KY 89 141 24 2 0.8503 (7) 

34 Comet Great Escape NY 110 133 32 2 0.8024 (12) 

42 Cornball Express Indiana Beach IN 129 126 40 1 0.7575 (3)

45 Thundercoaster Tusenfryd NO 57 121 44 1 0.7319 (4)

45 Dania Bch Hurr (S) Dania Beach FL 58 139 41 3 0.7678 (8) 

48 Silver Comet Martin's Fantasy Is. NY 69 120 47 0 0.7186 (14)

64 Yankee Cannonball Canobie Lake Park NH 77 101 64 2 0.6108 (10)

78 Hell Cat Clementon Lake NJ 64 86 75 6 0.5329 (13)

88 Lost Coaster of SM Indiana Beach IN 116 80 84 3 0.4880 (2) 

156 Cyclone (SBNO) Williams Grove PA 34 30 148 6 0.1793 (11)

three of them being SBNO and therefore being omitted from the overall results would have placed as such... 20 Ozark Wildcat(SBNO) Celebration City MO, 45 Dania Bch Hurr (S) Dania Beach FL, and 156 Cyclone (SBNO) Williams Grove PA... So I added them myself.

 I'm glad both El Toro and Boulder Dash fall where they do, both truly deserve to be there. Ravine Flyer made it into my top 15, not surprised its in the top 10. Troy, Renegade ,Ozark Wildcat ,Kentucky Rumbler all being GCI's and in the overall top 30 make me happy... even with GCI's BIG CLUNKY LAPBAR! Yankee Cannonball placing 64th overall makes me happy... I'm glad a ride turning 83 this year and a personal favorite of mine is still well liked. As far as my bottom three top 15 rides... Well, I know I have odd tastes in coasters and I know I'm one of the few who really likes Hell Cat (J2) (but I also rode it before most of it's re-tracking and before all of its heavy trimming... So I placed it based off memory lane) Lost Coaster? Don't ask... I just really like how different it is from pretty much, anything.. and then we come to Williams Grove Cyclone which at 156th would have placed 12th to last in the world.....had it not been SBNO! (I put it as 11th BEST) and I used to be questioned on it often before falling off the face of mainstream coaster enthusiasm. Reasons behind my placement would be, there is NO OTHER ride like it, there never will be, ever! It truly made me feel like I was dieing and yet I kept getting back in line again and again. and it was one of the extremely few rides (honestly) to scare me, ever. ((honestly))
 

And based off the results, the top 15 I've ridden would list as this... Bold being where they placed in the over all results, the number next to the bold number is what my top 15 now becomes

1 1 El Toro SFGAd NJ

4 2 Boulder Dash Lake Compounce CT

5 3 Phoenix Knoebel's PA

6 4 Balder Liseberg SE

7 5 Ravine Flyer II Waldameer PA

13 6 Troy Toverland NL

15 7 Thunderhead Dollywood TN

17 8 Prowler Worlds of Fun MO

19 9 Renegade Valleyfair! MN

23 10tWooden Warrior Quassy CT

23 10tRaven Holiday World IN

25 11 Shivering Timbers Michigan's Adventure MI

26 12 Zippin Pippin Bay Beach WI

27 13 Kentucky Rumbler Beech Bend KY

29 14 Hades Mount Olympus WI

30 15 HellCat Timber Falls WI

Outside of say..... Raven and Prowler (and maybe Timbers) I'd be OK with that as my 15 and really only Raven bugs me being so high up there, I place it near the bottom of my real coaster rankings. ew.

So yeah, 2012 Wood Coaster Poll, woo! I wonder if there will even be a steel poll for 2012, I don't think it ever even happened in 2011... in fact, the 2011 wood poll ended up being so late I never even got to send in my ballot... that was only semi-completed anyways. 

 

 Very exciting stuff, I know! The full results of the 2012 wood coaster poll can be seen here - http://www.ushsho.com/detailedwoodrollercoasterpollresults2012.htm 

with even more info here - http://www.ushsho.com/bestrollercoasterpoll.htm 

and a bunch of my wood coaster photos can be seen here -  

http://www.flickr.com/photos/canobiefan/sets/72157602671205902/

((First update of 2013?!))

ok, bye 

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Insert Metaphor Here - Yup

Probably the least exciting day of my trip.. Not necessarily bad, just more relaxed than the past three.... If you think its relaxing to spend the day at Worlds of Fun and then drive some 200 miles to Des Moines.
So Worlds of Fun... one of the last few big parks out there I hadn't been to yet... I've now been to, yay. Home to six coasters adults can ride and a bunch of flats too, most of which were ridden... even ones I'd skip most of the time were ridden today (Antique Cars...)

Here we go!

Fjörd Fjärlane was the first thing I rode for the day. Who knew you could make a Swing-Around... not swing...around. What's the point in that?!

After that disappointment I headed over to the Octopus (monster) and then to the Sea Dragon that had uh, lateral movement...

Oh hey, and there are coasters here too... Maybe I should get around to doing a few of those... 

Ok, here we are.. Prowler. Uh, well... Not a bad ride.. I really didn't think it was all that great.

Took a ride up here, and also in the back. I liked it better up front. but I'd still take every other GCI I've been on over it (But Gwazi and Roar)

I would have ridden Zulu, the enterprise... But it was down

Fury of the Nile wasn't open when I walked past, it opened later and I rode it.. and was kinda disappointed.

Although Mamba wasn't disappointing! In fact it was surprisingly good. I just wish it was running more than ONE train (much like Timber Wolf, Prowler...)

Ugh, rode it...counted it.. moved on.

 Kinda been on a train binge the past few days so I hopped on for a ride (and to get some photos of Prowler)

Meh, didn't even try for it. I just assumed I'd get turned away. Moving on..

Hey look! A classic flat, and an opening year attraction for the park.

And even better...

Detonator! A first gen S&S Space Shot (meaning.. its the GOOD kind of Space Shot!) 

and, and, and even better than that!

Cyclone Sam's! Proof an indoor wipeout CAN be good (take that Jokers Wildcard!) - It also showed me Cedar Fair CAN run a flatride good, when they want (Why cant Fjörd?)

 Hm, looks like I won't be riding Thunderhawk 

(the more I looked the more I noticed more and more of the ride was missing! Its pretty much... just the lapbar and OTSR... NO seats, no car around the ride! I wonder whats going on.....)

 Oh hey, Patriot... You're a good ride.. but awfully rattly, so no reride for me today...

 ZzZzz, Spinning Dragons. Orient Express HAD to have been better than this...

And now its time for one last photo....

BAD SHOW!

(I took this in passing and not wanting to look like I was taking a photo... but damn really? I can't believe 'high up' looking employees would be doing such things..... and right at the main entrance to the park! You got guy #1 sitting all.. legs crossed... guy #2 standing on the park bench.. and guy #3, my favorite.. The man with his foot on the bench.. sitting on top of the backrest! REALLY?! at least they have their trash-grabbers)

So one last time, a 200 mile drive from Kansas City to Des Moines...

Come on, really? PLAYED OUT!

MISSOURI

Oooh, how exciting...

IOWA

Annddd... after a fun 200 mile drive to Iowa... It was time for a nap at my super classy hotel...

But first, FOOD!

Gotta love the chair...

Anyways, one full day left of this epic trip and one last park, Adventureland.(uh, the park that got this whole trip planned in the first place!) so yeah.. Time for sleep... then time for Adventureland (by the way, on the way to Adventureland in the morning I'll be rolling over trip mile 1000.... yeah....)

And... I just wanted to include this photo... Seems to kinda be a metaphor of my trip.

(((roller coasters and fields of nothingness)))

30 Day Rollercoaster Challenge - Via Lamebook

So on the Facebooks there's this whole... '30 Day Rollercoaster Challenge' crap going down.. I'm far too lazy to do it over 30 days... And I lack an internet connection... So I'll just post it all at once.
I'm not really sure what the rules are.. Or if rides can repeat or not.. I mean... What if 'My Favorite Coaster' is also... the 'Best ride at night'... I don't know, maybe I'll turn it into the "45 Coaster Challenge over 30 Days all done in 1 day"... Or something.... Anyways... here we go!

day 01 - your favorite rollercoaster
Hmm, Boulderdash? Yes I think so. - http://www.flickr.com/photos/canobiefan/1732127570/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZOEMtHwJg4

day 02 - your least favorite rollercoaster
Oh man, here comes a Two-Fer! FURIUS BACO! - http://www.flickr.com/photos/canobiefan/2275080736/ and SON OF BEAST! - http://www.flickr.com/photos/canobiefan/3919508247/ Such an awful set of coasters...
Baco - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWAQYvQOIR4 / SoB - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GPmIW629e4

day 03 - a rollercoaster you could ride over and over again
Now see, here's one that could be Dash again... But I'll give this to El Toro - http://www.flickr.com/photos/canobiefan/1759909229/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnE4PdvLG3Q

day 04 - a rollercoaster you have never been on but want to
Hmm, this could be a hard one.. I don't know. I guess I'll just say Steel Dragon 2000
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tIkUFb3KAI (Skip in 60 seconds)

day 05 - a rollercoaster that reminds you of someone
Uh.... I'll have to skip this one...

day 06 - a rollercoaster you have never been on but do not want to
lol. None really.. I guess I'd ride anything.. But for fun - Hemsby Fun Park's Caterpillar
http://rcdb.com/3622.htm?p=0 - THRILLING

day 07 - the first rollercoaster you ever went on
Not sure.. I've been going to parks and riding stuff as long as I can remember.. And even before that (like the BABBY photos of me places and crap...)

day 08 - a rollercoaster you know like the back of your hand
Again... Dash, Toro... And the yet to be mentioned Yankee Cannonball! So I'll give cannonball the nod. - http://www.flickr.com/photos/canobiefan/3707120093/
My love, Yankee Cannonball - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ewum2kYen8

day 09 - a rollercoaster from your childhood
Hmm, Cannonball again? Or maybe I'll give Flyer Comet a shout out - http://www.flickr.com/photos/canobiefan/2212067324/
Old video of it :( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8dQ_6sE_GQ

day 10 - a rollercoaster best ridden at night
... Boulderdash...... (Stupid repeats in this list.. But DAMN Dash is a night ride)
As you can see in this video.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KIyxIWmXIs You cant really see ANYTHING! :D

day 11 - a rollercoaster from your favourite manufacturer
The Dragon itself - http://www.flickr.com/photos/canobiefan/2499197417/
Not only is it from B&M, my favorite manufacturer... But it's also one of my overall.. Favorite coasters!
Dammmnnnn - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJQQApZ8Dwo

day 12 - a rollercoaster from your least favourite manufacturer
Hmm, any coaster from them? Hmm... Super Flight?! - http://www.flickr.com/photos/canobiefan/2274287835/
So awful - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNydh3mZv68

day 13 - a rollercoaster that is a guilty pleasure
I'll have to give this one to Lost Coaster of Superstition Mountain :D - http://www.flickr.com/photos/canobiefan/1767911428/
So, so fun http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbkEHceSZ8c

day 14 - a rollercoaster that no one would expect you to love
I tend to like odd/different rides.. So whenever I like a 'mainstream' coaster people think its odd :P
So I'll just say Renegade at Valleyfair, a ride I really, really liked last summer - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8o7jgc-TrU

day 15 - your favourite rollercoaster not in your own country
Well, I already posted Dragon.. So I'll go with the ever amazing Nemesis! - http://www.flickr.com/photos/canobiefan/2338951703/
I was so happy this ride really was as good as I hoped. For over overhype didnt let me down! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFdy40KS95s

day 16 - a rollercoaster that you used to love but now hate
Aw, this makes me sad...I can think of a few.. But I'll go with Hersheypark's Wildcat - http://www.flickr.com/photos/canobiefan/1732291792/
New trains.. made it worse, slower, laggy, boring! - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZ57MAHs_Es

day 17 - a rollercoaster you really miss
Again, a sad one.. Uh, Williams Grove Cyclone, one hell of a ride that will never run again. - http://www.flickr.com/photos/canobiefan/1696283621/
And here's MY video.. that someone stole and put on their youtube page - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqMBkgdhZyc

day 18 - a rollercoaster that has made you sick
Never happened, ever.

day 19 - a rollercoaster that took you by surprise
Williams Grove Cyclone? Lost Coaster? both are repeats... Hmm, Kanonen? - http://www.flickr.com/photos/canobiefan/2575644909/
For such a small coaster.. Its pretty perfect. Launch, tophat, loop, some turns, zerogroll, helix.. All in a small package - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNoG_AHZxpQ (OH! and I got my first ROLLBACK on it!)

day 20 - a rollercoaster that makes you laugh
And again! Williams Grove Cyclone? Lost Coaster? But I'll give it to Dragon's Fury - http://www.flickr.com/photos/canobiefan/2267554558/
Such a fun ride. Best spinner ever - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_KuF9BW7Qo

day 21 - a rollercoaster you wish you had never been on
ha, BOSS. A ride I had wanted to ride from day one... got the chance and it sucked SOOO badly. :'( - http://www.flickr.com/photos/canobiefan/1759909283/
Yeah, I could have done with NOT riding it... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=py1zfRGUE5Q

day 22 - a rollercoaster you had your best ORP on
I guess Hurler, I wish I had the photo scanned.. Good times were had. - http://www.flickr.com/photos/canobiefan/3598350894/ (not the ORP)
Meh - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXZ9iddapgk

day 23 - a rollercoaster that has dropped out of your top ten
The Comet - http://www.flickr.com/photos/canobiefan/1720212755/ - And while I still have loads of love for the ride.. I've just found a few better :P
Not top 10, still top 15 ;) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S47Yb2vWyyE

day 24 - a rollercoaster you have been genuinely scared of
Hm.. not scared of.. But scared ON - (again with the repeat but DAMN) - Williams Grove Cyclone, just after the turn around.. also the fact the lapbars didn't really work. Or the seatbelts didnt stayed clipped... Or that the ride was falling apart, really... She'll be missed.

day 25 - the rollercoaster you think has the best merch/logo
Hmm, while I think the ride sucks.... Millennium Force has a pretty cool logo, theme song, taglag, and stuffs - http://www.flickr.com/photos/canobiefan/2603806615/
ZzZzz - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbXPhOFRxTc - For such a BIG ride, it just doesn't do anything interesting..

day 26 - your favourite kiddie coaster
Hmm, while not a 'kiddie' more of a family... Vapor Trail is pretty ballin' - http://www.flickr.com/photos/canobiefan/3720799908/
Fun for what it was, and better than most coasters its size. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4UioZmoLaA

day 27 - a rollercoaster you would most liked to have designed
lol, uh... Any of them? If I could...? I don't know.

day 28 - the rollercoaster you next intend to ride
Uh, I don't know.. Anything in Central Florida? Manta maybe? - http://www.flickr.com/photos/canobiefan/3609732750/
Havnet been on it in a while, so its time? - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-ReRRnaxIo (Skip in 2 mins)

day 29 - the last rollercoaster you went on
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, the night Erik, Pacia, and I 'snuck' into EMH - http://www.flickr.com/photos/canobiefan/2452094569/
Weee - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAyxYz-OsmY

day 30 - your favorite rollercoaster at this time last year
Uh, it's still Boulderdash, still.

Well that took too long and now I'm sleepy and I love the use of British-English 'favourite' lolol,COLOUR.

What is this crap?

Vekoma Quest - On a mission to ride all 5 Vekoma's in the Greater Orlando area. Woody Woodpecker's Nuthouse Coaster, Flight of the Hippogriff, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, Barnstormer, and Expedition Everest all in the same day.. Just because I can.