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krusty_the_clown

saw-ted

well I thought id be the first to post as im standing in the queue waiting for our ers to start Smile

saw has been down quite a bit today including at least one full evacuation

the ride was closed from 3pm to 5pm and the queue in the pens has just been cleared! we have just started to move so hopefully we will have a dark ers

anyhave to go saw awaits Smile

bazza
coaster-andy

So you must have been board to post while awaiting the ERS Bazza .So did you get Saw-Ted then with this lovely smooth ride.  Laughing  Laughing
I may have missed out but did ride last week.
Coaster Clare

Just got home! Thanks Nev for a great trip and Happy B'day!  SAW was great will be even better when they iron out all the problems!
MrDJ

so i wonder who lost their hearing aid causing the ride to be turned off to search for it.
i only managed 1 ride today on saw at about 6.30 and it was almost dark.

the park was packed today and when i got their they were quoating 3 hour wait for saw so i went home again   Crying or Very sad but then came back for the ers  Very Happy

hope everyone had a great time and it was nice to meet some of the members from the forum that i can now put faces too.

thanks Nev for all your effort in putting this trip together
jim
c anderson

Shame about Thorpes problems and the crowds, but even then it was a good day, thanks Nev.
JamesC

I had a great time. Got 5 rides on Saw in total. Very Happy

It was a fantastic ride. I thought the queue was great, with the guns and everything! The dark ride part was cool too. The drop really caught me out!
Riding at night was superb as well - going up the lift hill looking at the stars! Great fun! Very Happy

Personally I didn't think the park was that busy... though maybe that's because I went there on the busiest day of the season in 2007. Laughing
mophead

Well not the best day I've had at Thorpe Park as through put on rides seemed to be severly down. I guess the technical problems with Saw weren't helping and there were several people who decided to have lengthy arguments with the actual ride operators which delayed things further Sad

Anyway once Saw finally opening in the morning I got to ride it and thought Hmmm - that wasn't really as good as I was hoping. Then by the time our ERS started it was getting dark and all I could say was WOW. On the morning ride it seemed that most of the indoor effects weren't working and I couldn't see the screens outdoors because the sun was too bright. In the twilight everything made sense and the ride had picked up a lot of speed making for a truly excellent experience. Whilst we were waiting we chatted to one of the ride ops who said there was going to be a lot more theming outside but it was refused as Heathrow Airport said it would prove too much of a distraction for their pilots!
chewie

Couldn't agree more with Mophead. Wasn't impressed with the effects inside the ride in the morning, i just failed to see any of them. If they weren't working properly this would explain this.

The ERS rides were brilliant and the falling onto a board of nails effect was excellent. In general it was just a cool coaster (Hope more parks take notice of this ride)...Still don't like the name though...Soz.

Cheers Andy, for organizing a memorable day out...It was the best.
stealth fan

Thanks for a great day Nev, even with all the problems with Saw. I definatley thought the indoor drop was better than the main 100ft drop.
I only found one bit really uncomfortable, and that was the inline twist indoors, too slow, it hurt by the end of the day.
Loved the nighttime ERS though, did'nt expect that.

Seeing Adam ( nemesis scribe ) jump when the gun went off was very funny.
coaster-andy

stealth fan wrote:
]

Seeing Adam ( nemesis scribe ) jump when the gun went off was very funny.


Adam has always had a nerous problem or it could be that the thought of being shot made him jump  Laughing
WildMouse

Thanks for SAWting out this trip Nev. I had a fantastic day spent among good friends. The park was busy, but not excessively so. We managed to ride everything that we wanted to. Highlights being a takeover on Rocky Express and a wetter than usual ride on the rapids Laughing The gloriously warm sunshine soon dried us off though.
SAW didn't exactly blow me away, but was fun none the less, especially during the dusk ERS.
Magic

Thanks again to Nev for organising another trip, just a shame that the park has nose dived to become nothing short of rubbish.

Yesterday was one of the worst days I've ever experienced in a theme park anywhere in the World.

I'm at a loss for words as to how so many rides can be down at the start of the season. Nor can I understand why so many kept breaking down or opened significantly later than the rest of the park. I can't help but wonder if Thorpe management forgot to tell maintenance that the park was going to be open to the public yesterday. That's the only reason I can think of for the park being simply not ready for guests.

And yet another year goes but that the queue line TV's are either broken or showing an advert to advertise on them?!?!?!?!?

As for Saw, what a pile of scrap metal. The themeing was next to useless. Anyone who rode in the front car will have missed a major part of the dark ride with the Jigsaw puppet. So great, queue 3 hours and only experience part of the ride. During the day it wasn't so bad a tad rough but not horrendous but the one ride I had during the evening ERS was nothing short of violent. I had very little sleep last night suffering with agonising pain in back, neck and shoulder, filming for work today was nigh on impossible. I may not be able to go to work tomorrow if things don't improve. I've ridden 700 coasters and have never suffered such injuries before. Sure the likes of Rattler have given me a headache and mental torment, but not lasting physical damage.

I will never ride Saw again and probably won't visit Thorpe again for a few years.

Rant over. But well done Nev for organising such a well attended trip.

PS I'm still trying to work out why there were a load of yagi TV aerials in the Saw dark ride puffing air at me.
krusty_the_clown

Magic wrote:

PS I'm still trying to work out why there were a load of yagi TV aerials in the Saw dark ride puffing air at me.



Crossbows???
Magic

krusty_the_clown wrote:
Magic wrote:

PS I'm still trying to work out why there were a load of yagi TV aerials in the Saw dark ride puffing air at me.



Crossbows???


Cross???? I was positively livid. And don't call me Bow.
c anderson

Please do not say that you have found a rougher ride than the Rattle*, that would make a certain welshman insuferable.
JamesC

Magic wrote:
krusty_the_clown wrote:
Magic wrote:

PS I'm still trying to work out why there were a load of yagi TV aerials in the Saw dark ride puffing air at me.



Crossbows???


Cross???? I was positively livid. And don't call me Bow.


No that's what they were! The things that you thought were aerials were crossbows, silly! Razz
stealth fan

krusty_the_clown wrote:
Magic wrote:

PS I'm still trying to work out why there were a load of yagi TV aerials in the Saw dark ride puffing air at me.



Crossbows???


They looked like crossbows to me too.
Rough Rider

Magic wrote:
Thanks again to Nev for organising another trip, just a shame that the park has nose dived to become nothing short of rubbish.

Yesterday was one of the worst days I've ever experienced in a theme park anywhere in the World.

I'm at a loss for words as to how so many rides can be down at the start of the season. Nor can I understand why so many kept breaking down or opened significantly later than the rest of the park. I can't help but wonder if Thorpe management forgot to tell maintenance that the park was going to be open to the public yesterday. That's the only reason I can think of for the park being simply not ready for guests.

And yet another year goes but that the queue line TV's are either broken or showing an advert to advertise on them?!?!?!?!?

As for Saw, what a pile of scrap metal. The themeing was next to useless. Anyone who rode in the front car will have missed a major part of the dark ride with the Jigsaw puppet. So great, queue 3 hours and only experience part of the ride. During the day it wasn't so bad a tad rough but not horrendous but the one ride I had during the evening ERS was nothing short of violent. I had very little sleep last night suffering with agonising pain in back, neck and shoulder, filming for work today was nigh on impossible. I may not be able to go to work tomorrow if things don't improve. I've ridden 700 coasters and have never suffered such injuries before. Sure the likes of Rattler have given me a headache and mental torment, but not lasting physical damage.

I will never ride Saw again and probably won't visit Thorpe again for a few years.

Rant over. But well done Nev for organising such a well attended trip.

PS I'm still trying to work out why there were a load of yagi TV aerials in the Saw dark ride puffing air at me.

Way to go Magic Laughing
That's got to be a first................actually sticking up for the "RATTLER"
or maybe I read it wrong.HA!! Laughing
Well , what can you expect from a "STEELIE......B.O.S." Laughing  Laughing  Laughing
Death

Hail all! Twisted Evil
For me personally, yesterday was the most fun and enjoyable day I've had in a loooong time...And unlike other people (Am I the only person who isn't that fussed by ride failures?) the only problem I had with yesterday was that the day came to an end far earlier than I would've liked! Smile

I won't bother with a blow-by-blow of what I did on park yesterday, except to say that TP's Guest Services and Security departments both know how to treat even the strangest of customers in the most polite and dignified manner...Well done TP! Cool

Ride-wise, here's what I clocked up during the day:
  • 1x Nemesis:Inferno,
  • 1x Teacups,
  • 1x Colossus (Not nearly as rough as I remember! Very Happy)
  • 1x X:\No Way Out\System32\Vekoma.dll [Insert BSoD here! Razz],
  • 1x Vortex, and the highlight of the day...
  • 6x Saw: The Ride (All during the ERS! Twisted Evil)
From what I can tell, I managed a fair number of rides for the day...Although it's worth noting that on all of my rides (Bar the Teacups, and those chinged during the Saw ERS) I was acting as escort/support for disabled riders. My "score" of only three rides on Nemesis:Inferno the previous weekend suggests that TP have probabally not adjusted park capacity limits in consideration of Stealth being down, and that might be the reason for the severe crowding over the past two weeks. Neutral

Anyhow...The highlight for myself yesterday had to be the Saw ERS. Even though I'd visited the park the previous weekend, I still hadn't been able to try the ride before the ERS due to the various technical and queueing issues I'd encountered every time. However, for me the wait proved to be more than worth it! Twisted Evil

Indeed...Although the ride itself (Thinking of the coaster alone) is a great piece of engineering in it's own right, what really makes the whole experience complete for me is the excellent theming that Thorpe have chosen for the ride. Although I feel that some extra theming around the back of the ride (A few Chainsaws, a wrecking ball and a lot more Blood, perhaps? Twisted Evil) would help make the attraction feel more complete, the current theming in the main building is top-notch...And the sight of an unfortunate loser of one of Jigsaw's little games - Caught up in razor wire (Look left as ye reach the top of the stairs entering the station) - Adds a really nice and pleasant touch to things, in my opinion! Twisted Evil

I'm not going to go headlong into just how much I like Saw as an attraction (I'll wait another 400 rides before deciding if I like it better than Nemesis:Inferno though! Smile) except to say that the speed at which I was running around for additional rides, and the total of six that I clocked up across the hour must count for something... Wink
Personally, I feel that Thorpe Park have excelled themselves with this one - At least as far as the whole experience goes - And I for one will definitely be keeping Saw in my "must ride" list for quite some time to come! Twisted Evil

My main hope here is that Thorpe'll keep Saw in it's current condition throughout all of it's working life, and won't forget that theming needs just as much care and maintenance as the rides themselves. Comparing the entire Forbidden Valley area (Alton Towers) as it was back in 1994CE with how it is now - Fifteen years later - Should emphesise the point that I'm trying to make here. Smile

Farewell for now...And a thousand thanks unto everyone at Thorpe Park (And Nev too!) for making my day at least a most pleasant and memorable one! Twisted Evil
>> Death <<

P.S: Thorpe Security...Now that the day has come to an end, please could I have my own "Saw" back? LaughingVery Happy

P.P.S: If anyone has any decent resolution photos of myself bearing that very fine piece of home engineering, would they mind uploading them somewhere? I'd like to see if I actually managed to pull off my own "Saw" appearance as well as I'd originally planned! Twisted Evil
Rogue

I'm too tired to write a trip report at the moment, however would like to thank Nev for organising the trip and thanks to the usual suspects for making the day a great one  Very Happy despite the queues we still had a great time. Highlights have got to be:

Nemesis Inferno Queueline  Laughing
Teacup Antics  Laughing  Laughing
And seeing how much Carl (Wildmouse) enjoyed the rapids  Wink

As for Saw - well its ok, not great but not bad. I agree with Andy Knight as I also preferred the indoor drop.
nemesis scribe

Cheers Nev for organising another great trip . . . and great to see soooo mant members from the club in attendance!! Super!!

Saw was a decent enough ride - good layout and good pacing fthrough the elements. I was expecting live actors during the queue line though  Sad

Thanks to everyone for making it a great weekend.

Good weather, good friends and some good coasters . .  lovely jubbly!!

Cool
stevencaine

Another great trip Nev shame the park was SO busy
and certain rides where unavailable all day Crying or Very sad
Great too catch up with old friends
so looking forward to my FIRST  Shocked Blackpool bash now ive heard so much about this gong show Wink
amigasat

Just posted the photo's on my website for you to enjoy. See you all at Blackpool.........

Dave
nemesis scribe

stealth fan wrote:

Seeing Adam ( nemesis scribe ) jump when the gun went off was very funny.


Oi, i didnt jump . . . i was errrrr, just pretending to be scared  Laughing OKok, so i got caught out haha.

I forgot to say that i thought the ERS in the dark was fab. Really enjoyed that.

Shame that Stealth was down though  Sad  Ohhh and Canada Creek train was excellent choooo - chooooo . . . .  Cool
coasterprince

Magic wrote:


During the day it wasn't so bad a tad rough but not horrendous but the one ride I had during the evening ERS was nothing short of violent. I had very little sleep last night suffering with agonising pain in back, neck and shoulder, filming for work today was nigh on impossible. I may not be able to go to work tomorrow if things don't improve. I've ridden 700 coasters and have never suffered such injuries before. Sure the likes of Rattler have given me a headache and mental torment, but not lasting physical damage.



I rode it 6 times that day and do have any pain at all, must be your age magic  Laughing
Boo

Thanks Nev for a great trip and hope you enjoyed your birthday  Cool

Was a great weekend, though was a shame that some of the rides were unavailable etc.

Though the weather was great and the people were great so it was brilliant!

Some of the highlights:
The night time ERS
Watching Adam jump at the guns (haha pretending to be scared...suuuure  Razz )
Watching the guys do the tea cups ... and enjoy it!! Wink

Cheers everyone for the trip Very Happy
reg

Have to agree with Magic on this one, I though Saw was pretty cack to be honest. The transitions between elements are too severe, for a start, especially the last inversion. I had to brace myself all the way round to avoid getting smacked against the restraints! You don't have to do that on Speed or Mystery Mine, so why on Saw? The transition from drop to first inversion is bloomin awful, the train slams back down onto the track, jarring the riders.

I know I shouldn't be negative about a new coaster, but I 'm not going to apologize for not liking this.

I don't think it's a matter of being too old, or too inflexible, either. I really believe it's down to a poor layout, that is just too compact and twisted for the type of ride.

Just my opinion though, I'm sure the general public will lap it up.
Magic

Good job I was sitting down or I might have injured myself further falling over with shock that Reg agreed with me.  Laughing
ccp

c anderson wrote:
Shame about Thorpes problems and the crowds, but even then it was a good day, thanks Nev.


Saw was fun  Smile not a patch on mystery mine at dollywood tho Very Happy
Pitty no stealth, had a good day tho.
many thanks nev.
chris
my pic from the day are on link below

http://chrispenn.fotopic.net/
nemesis scribe

coasterprince wrote:
Magic wrote:


During the day it wasn't so bad a tad rough but not horrendous but the one ride I had during the evening ERS was nothing short of violent. I had very little sleep last night suffering with agonising pain in back, neck and shoulder, filming for work today was nigh on impossible. I may not be able to go to work tomorrow if things don't improve. I've ridden 700 coasters and have never suffered such injuries before. Sure the likes of Rattler have given me a headache and mental torment, but not lasting physical damage.



I rode it 6 times that day and do have any pain at all, must be your age magic  Laughing


I have to agree with coaster prince on this one  Very Happy I didnt think it was that rough at all and had no aches, broken spine or nowt. I did have a sunburnt face at the end of the day, but that wasnt SAW's fault  Cool

As for thorpe not getting rides up and runing or even working, well . . . it's Thorpe . . .isn't it . . . boo yah!!!   Cool
Rough Rider

ccp wrote:
c anderson wrote:
Shame about Thorpes problems and the crowds, but even then it was a good day, thanks Nev.


Saw was fun  Smile not a patch on mystery mine at dollywood tho Very Happy
Pitty no stealth, had a good day tho.
many thanks nev.
chris
my pic from the day are on link below

http://chrispenn.fotopic.net/

Scrap the steelie and put in a "WOODIE"
The "RATTLER" type ride comes to mind Laughing  Laughing  Laughing  Laughing  Laughing  Laughing
smiler

Well what a great trip to start the 2009 season. Great to see some people finaly ride saw a few mixed feelings by the sounds of things. Some of My pics can be found below but all the pics will be on my other site by friday due to me not toping up my account etc.

http://www.smilers-photos.fotopic.net/
Magic

Rough Rider wrote:
ccp wrote:
c anderson wrote:
Shame about Thorpes problems and the crowds, but even then it was a good day, thanks Nev.


Saw was fun  Smile not a patch on mystery mine at dollywood tho Very Happy
Pitty no stealth, had a good day tho.
many thanks nev.
chris
my pic from the day are on link below

http://chrispenn.fotopic.net/

Scrap the steelie and put in a "WOODIE"
The "RATTLER" type ride comes to mind Laughing  Laughing  Laughing  Laughing  Laughing  Laughing


Quite agree, even Rattler would be an imprvement on Saw. Hoepfully the combination of Saw and Rattler will make people feel so ill and in pain they'll go home early meaning decent rides like Stealth and X:\No Way Out will have very short queues.
USfriends

The combination sounds like the coaster from hell! Twisted Evil I thought nothing could be worse than Rattler!?
c anderson

Pete is correct, nothing is as bad as Rattler
Rough Rider

Hmmm!
Do I detect some negative thoughts about the "RATTLER"?????????? Wink  Laughing  Laughing
Jester

Magic wrote:
the combination of Saw and Rattler will make people feel so ill and in pain they'll go home early meaning decent rides like Stealth and X:\No Way Out will have very short queues.

Since when has 'X:\What's the point' become a decent ride?
MrDJ

Jester wrote:

Since when has 'X:\What's the point' become a decent ride?

LOL, i was wondering how long it would take for someone to say that.

Saw for me wasnt sore at all. due to my severe arthritis i have to be carefull on what rides i go on and the only time i knocked my head was on the drop to the on ride photo as you have to tilt your head back so you can actually see your face and not the top of your head.
Magic

Jester wrote:
Magic wrote:
the combination of Saw and Rattler will make people feel so ill and in pain they'll go home early meaning decent rides like Stealth and X:\No Way Out will have very short queues.

Since when has 'X:\What's the point' become a decent ride?


Since I rode Saw: The Ride.
Steven Burns

This was the best photo of the day i think. What a nice shot. Plus nobody trying to kill each other lol  Laughing

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stev...sizes/o/in/set-72157613870153015/

My other photos are here

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevie-b/sets/72157613870153015/

Marcus, are you getting old or just going off of roller coasters? lol

I thought the ride was really good for the UK. Like a lot of us have said in private, i think with the USA trips we have been spoiled. So expect to much. Saw is not a touch on the Dollywood Mystery Mine Train but a ruddy good ride. Loved it in the dark Just sad its at Thorpe Park really.
If it were not a club trip and group meet with friends it would have been a bad day. Ive not enjoyed a day out at Thorpe Park for about two years now and it was once my favorite park. They just ruin everything at that place. To many ques, not moving. To many rides down. Nothing works. Great club trip but that's nothing to do with Thorpe Park. Man what was all the waiting for saw about as well. They organise well isn't it!  Rolling Eyes
stevencaine

Have to agree Steve that is just the best photo(ive got it as my wallpaper on the computer at the momment) Laughing

As for the fighting we are saving that for April at the Bash Wink
Happy Helen

Sounds like you all had a great day.

Hope you did.
JamesC

Big Stevie B wrote:
My other photos are here

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevie-b/sets/72157613870153015/


Oooh I'm actually featured in one of your photos (this one - I'm closest to the camera). Very Happy

Had I known you were taken a photo, I would have smiled. Razz
nemesis scribe

JamesC wrote:
Big Stevie B wrote:
My other photos are here

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevie-b/sets/72157613870153015/


Oooh I'm actually featured in one of your photos (this one - I'm closest to the camera). Very Happy

Had I known you were taken a photo, I would have smiled. Razz


Ahhhh always good to put face to the name  Very Happy

Actually, as its been a few days since i rode SAW and now i have had time to reflect on what i really thought of the ride, and i do have to say that . . . .  . . . i still like it, yay!!!!!

Can we arrange an ERS just for Magic pleeeeeeeease  Wink

Boo yah, SAW for the win  Laughing
bluea61

nemesis scribe wrote:
Can we arrange an ERS just for Magic pleeeeeeeease  Wink


Can we arrange it for Magic and Ryan?! He could go round preaching about the Rattler!
Nemesis Nick

RCCGB SAW-Ted: The Trip at Thorpe Park

Date: Saturday 21st March 2009
Venue: Thorpe Park
Who Went: Me and around 300 other RCCGB members, including Andy and Christine Hine, Barry, Bunnie, Derek and Alan, Death, Serenair.

The Club’s first UK trip to for 2009: a trip to Thorpe Park near Staines.  The main reason was to ride the Park’s brand new coaster SAW:The Ride which has only just opened.

My Previous Experience of Thorpe Park
My only previous trips to Thorpe Park were during a business conference held there one Thursday and Friday in June 2005.  On the Thursday we had to attend the lectures during the day.  However we had a cocktail party from 5:30pm to 6pm, followed by a delegates’ ERS on Rush, Slammer, Colossus and Nemesis Inferno from 6pm to 7:30pm.  In that time I had a fair few goes on Rush, Colossus and Nemesis Inferno, but gave Slammer a miss as I didn’t like the look of it.  On the Friday, lectures finished at 1pm, and delegates could remain in the park to enjoy the rides with the public after lunch.  I stayed in to ride that afternoon, and had my first experience of long queues.

My Desire To Visit Thorpe Park With The RCCGB
When the trip was announced, I thought long and hard about attending SAW-Ted, bearing in mind I also wanted to attend the Blackpool Bash in April.  My thought was “If I have to pick one or the other on cost grounds, I’d rather do the Blackpool Bash and give  SAW-Ted a miss”.  However I was itching to visit Thorpe Park with the Club.  Also I felt I had a duty to attend really, considering  I was the one who asked Andy Hine about the possibility of a future Club trip to Thorpe Park whilst we were having a drink together after the Summer Bash in Great Yarmouth last year.  So I made up my mind to attend  SAW-Ted.

Getting To Thorpe Park
I was travelling alone to Thorpe Park.  At the start of the month I booked Advance train tickets between Bath and Staines, in order to save money.  On the day I got up at 5 am and left home around 6:15.  The first hiccup of the day occurred when I got to Bath Spa station: the 6:43 London Paddington train, which I was booked to catch, was cancelled.  I therefore had to await the next one at 7:13.  My Advance ticket was accepted on that due to the cancellation of my booked train, but it meant I’d miss my connection at Reading and would therefore get to Staines late.  Under my original plan, I was due to reach Staines circa 9:00 and therefore have time to get to Thorpe Park for our official meet-up time of 9:30.  As I estimated, it ended up being around 9:30 when I finally got to Staines, and feared being lucky to reach Thorpe Park before 10 am.  Thankfully as I left Staines railway station, a bus was there bound for Thorpe Park, so I joined the queue.  Phew, thank goodness for that!  Whilst in the bus queue, I met newbie member Serenair.  We sat together on the bus, which took us all the way to Thorpe Park.  

Welcome To Thorpe Park
Once there Andy Hine was outside.  He gave us our wrist bands, but surprisingly no ticket which I thought we were supposed to have.  A little later when I met Andy again inside the Park, he explained the reason for not giving us tickets: because they would only be taken off us again on entry.

Normal Opening Time

SAW Takeover
Serenair and I followed several other RCCGB members in the direction of SAW.  Unfortunately at this point the planned itinerary went completely to pot.  A Ranger warned us that there was a 90 minute wait for SAW.  How on Earth did such an enormous queue build up in almost no time of the Park being open?  

Naturally enough, the others and I backed off SAW.  I showed the Ranger the itinerary, and said we were supposed to be taking over SAW, then taking over Stealth.  The Ranger said Stealth was closed all day today, worse luck!  I wanted to ride Stealth to add that to my steelies list.  I’d ridden Colossus and Nemesis Inferno on a previous visit to Thorpe Park in 2005 (and wanted to ride both again today), but so far had never ridden Stealth as it was under construction at the time of my 2005 visit.  Due to my discussion with the Ranger, I became separated from the group, and thus rode alone for the next few rides.

Colossus (roller coaster)
Having backed off SAW, I began the day with Colossus.  I didn’t measure the time it took me from joining the queue to getting on this ride, or indeed any other during the day, but thankfully it was relatively short at the time for this one.  I saw a few other RCCGB members at other points in the zigzag queue, but couldn’t sneak through to join them as that would have been queue jumping (against the rules).  

Eventually I got on the ride.  The first time I rode this during the business conference ERS in June 2005, I found this terrifying.  Still that was my first time of riding an extreme coaster (prior to then I’d only ridden family coasters such as Hornet Coaster at Flambards), and I quickly became accustomed to it with a few goes on that occasion.  This time I was totally relaxed about riding it, and didn’t scream or shout “Mercy” at all on the ride.  In fact I was singing on the ride!  The ride set off uphill, around a bend and down a steep hill, round the vertical loop and under a bridge.  Next it went up half a loop, before doing a U-turn whilst inverted and to go down another half loop.  After that it went back under same bridge as earlier, up and down a bit, along a flat section, and into the horizontal corkscrew.  I was still totally relaxed along that bit, unlike my first ever time of riding it in 2005.  Finally the end bend on an angle, the home straight and back to the station.  Wow, what a mega fun ride to start the day!  I would have loved a second go, but couldn’t be bothered queuing again, as it must surely have been a longer waiting time by now.

I had a spot of bother choosing my next ride.  The queues for some of the rides were already getting lengthy.

Loggers Leap (log flume) – BACKED OFF
A log flume.  The queue for this was minimal, so I decided to do this next. Whilst waiting, I put on my leggings and cagoule, not to get wet.  Some other riders (not in the RCCGB) said “You’re cheating”.  Well it might be alright getting wet on a log flume on a hot summer day when you’d dry off quickly, but not late March.

Suddenly the ride was stationary, then I heard the announcement “Loggers Leap is about to restart”.  After a couple of logs went, it ground to a halt again.  I waited, eventually it restarted but they were just getting existing stranded riders off it, and not letting any more on.  Eventually they had to get a technician in to see what the problem was.  Since it could be a while before they were letting riders on again, I abandoned all hope of getting on, and left the ride without having a go.  Having left the ride, I felt I’d wasted valuable time (about 15-20 minutes) waiting for a go on a ride that had a problem with it – time which I could have used to ride something else. I didn’t bother returning to this later in the day.

The time was now gone 11:00 and I looked for something else.  Colossus now had a 60 minute wait, so no way!  Being as I had my cagoule and leggings on, I fancied a go on Tidal Wave, if I could find it.  I got as far as Rush (which had a 20 minute wait), and asked a Ranger what the queue is like for Tidal Wave.  She said “Currently zero”, so I headed for Tidal Wave.

Tidal Wave
“You will get very wet on this ride”.  The queue was very short for this ride.  Presumably that was because people don’t want to get wet on rides in March.  Although it was a beautiful sunny day, and quite warm for the time of year, it was cold compared to a hot summer’s day in the mid 20s.  Anyway, I already had my cagoule and leggings on.  I’ve heard some members in the Club say it’s cheating to wear rain gear on a wet ride, but at this time of year the last thing you want to do is get wet.  When it was my turn, I got into the boat.  There was a large climb to the top.  At the top the boat did a U-turn and down the ramp (long way down).  There was a mighty splash on hitting the water, and everyone got soaked.  Well not me, my clothes stayed dry underneath my rain gear!  Finally there was another U-bend and back to station.

Having disembarked, I returned to the entrance for a second go, being as I was kitted out for this ride, and the queue was still short.  If nothing else, a quick way to bump up my ride count a little.  After my second go, I removed my rain gear.

Nemesis Inferno (roller coaster)
I first rode this during the business conference ERS in June 2005, and later that year rode Nemesis at Alton Towers.  Both Nemesis Inferno (Thorpe Park) and Nemesis (Alton Towers) inspired me to choose Nemesis Nick as my username, which I also put on my trip badge in addition to my real name.

Anyway, I fancied a go on this next.  Several other members including Bunnie were queuing for it.  One warned me there was about a 50 minute wait for it.  Nonetheless I joined the queue and waited.  My first ride of the day with other RCCGB members.  Talking to the others certainly helped pass time away.  At one point there was a hiccup with this ride, which caused the queue to grind to a halt, but thankfully the ride was soon running again, and the queue was flowing again.

Eventually I got on the ride with the other RCCGB members near me.  Again, I was totally confident and relaxed about this, unlike the first time I rode it in June 2005.  The train set off around a clockwise downhill spiral around the volcano, then through a tunnel.  After that it went up and downhill several times, and around various bends.  There was one loop-the-loop along the way.  I thoroughly enjoyed every bit of it, and didn’t scream or shout “Mercy”.  Another mega fun roller coaster.  

Unlike Colossus, this hangs down from the track, and your feet are dangling.  Am I right in thinking this type of coaster is called an “inverted coaster”?

Storm In A Teacup
I remained with the others as we headed for Storm In A Teacup.  I got into a cup with two (or was it three?) other members, who spun the cup a little too fast for my liking.  That made for quite a hair-raising ride.  I’ve been on this sort of ride at Alton Towers and Paultons before, but never spun it as fast as I experienced on this occasion.  No wonder this is called STORM in a teacup if one spins it that fast.

Rumba Rapids
The group I was with then headed for the Rumba Rapids.  This was the first ride that I’d never been on before (i.e. didn’t ride either the Thursday evening ERS or Friday afternoon freetime of the June 2005 business conference).  I’d been on the similar River Rapids at Alton Towers though.  Since I thought I might get splashed on this, I put my cagoule (but not leggings) on for this ride, and removed it afterwards.  A pleasurable experience floating around the flowing waterway and going up the ride, but more a relaxing ride than a thrilling one.

It was now around 2pm.  The others wanted to get some lunch, but I wasn’t so keen to eat at present.  I wanted to try some of the other rides such as Rush or Vortex.  Therefore I headed off in the direction of those rides.

I passed Mr Monkey’s Banana Ride, but it was out of action.  Next I got to Chief Ranger’s Carousel.  Approached the queue, but it was just starting.  Knew I’d be first on for next go.  Shortly after it started, the Ranger had to stop the ride early for some reason.  I couldn’t be bothered waiting for it to start again, those already on to have their ride and then ride it.  Thus I left this ride and didn’t return to it later.

Zodiac
A kind of big wheel, similar to Enterprise at Alton Towers which I rode during Loopathon AT in 2005 and 2006.  The queue for this was shorter than some of the other rides, but still long enough for my liking.  When I eventually got on, I stepped into one of the cars and the door was locked shut.  The cars hang from above, you sit inside but have no restraint.  The ride set off clockwise.  As it picked up speed, the cars flung outwards, and eventually the whole disc tilted so you travelled round in a circle at high speed on an angle.  At this speed, centrifugal force kept riders firmly in place, hence no need for a restraint.  I noticed it was almost impossible to lift my feet or arms when going full speed.  Towards the end the disc returned to the horizontal position, the ride slowed down and the cars returned to their normal dangling position.  A mega fun ride, but once at a time is enough for me.  I could have ridden it again a couple of hours later having been on other rides in between, but two goes on this straight off would make me really giddy.  As it happened, walked around in circles anticlockwise nearby for a few laps to counteract the effect.  I never returned to this ride later in the day.

After that, I went into the Dome.  There I met Derek and Alan, who I saw with Barry late afternoon at last year’s Summer Bash.  I spoke to Derek and Alan for a few minutes.

Since I still hadn’t had any lunch, I got myself a baguette.  That’s all I wanted, something light before returning to riding.  You see, my plan was to get myself a takeaway in Staines that evening before catching my train home.

Quantum
I was going to do Vortex next, but that had a long queue.  Quantum had a much shorter queue so I approached that instead.  Basically it’s a “magic carpet” ride, with rows of seats facing the centre.  The ride went up part way in one direction, down and part way up in the opposite direction, then down to the home position.  Next time around it went up higher each direction.  Eventually it went really high in each direction.  The best bit was when it went right up and over to do a complete loop.  Finally it slowed down, stopped and everyone left the ride.  A mega fun ride in the “Thrilling and Fun” category.

Vortex
At last I made up my mind to ride this, despite the long queue.  Eventually I got on to it.  There’s eight seats on the end of spokes from a central hub.  Once everyone was seated on board, the floor went down (does anyone know why?), and the formation started spinning horizontally.  Later it began to swing as well as spin.  Amazingly I showed almost no fear, and didn’t scream or shout “Mercy”.  I sang “Hard Rock Hallelujah” by Lordi (Eurovision Song Contest Winner 2006 Finland).  A great song (thrash metal) to sing on this sort of ride.  The ride was soon over though.  I didn’t time its duration, but it seemed quite short to me.

Rush
My final ride during normal time.  I really wanted to ride this as this was the first ride I went on during the delegates’ ERS early evening day one of the two day business conference I attended June 2005.  On that occasion I hated this ride and was glad to get off.  Nonetheless I had a couple more goes later that ERS and began to like it.  

I joined the back of the queue, and it was quite long, partly thanks to only one swing being in operation.  I think there were some problems with the ride earlier, which meant they couldn’t run two swings.  The queue would have cleared in half the time had both swings been running.  The time was getting perilously close to 5pm.  I wondered if I’d miss the start of the ERS as we were officially supposed to be waiting at SAW Shop around 4:45.  Eventually I got on to Rush.  Okay, it was a bit hair-raising at its highest points, and on the drops from those heights, but I managed not to scream or shout “Mercy”.  In fact, I remained quiet on this ride.

Summary of my rides during normal time:
Colossus
Tidal Wave x 2
Nemesis Inferno
Storm In A Teacup
Rumba Rapids
Zodiac
Quantum
Vortex
Rush

A total of 10 goes on 9 different rides.  An appallingly low ride count really, I was expecting 15 to 20.  It wasn’t as if I’d spent part of the day in a water slide complex (like Butlins Minehead has), an indoor adventure playground (like the Adventure Zone at Devon’s Crealy) or a museum (e.g. Victorian Village at Flambards).  I would have liked to have given Samurai a try, but didn't have time.  Also back home Sunday morning, I looked at my Park Map and spotted a family coaster Flying Fish, which I didn't notice Saturday.  I would have loved to have ridden that too.  Although only a family coaster, I would nonetheless have liked to have added it to my Steelies list.

The SAW ERS
According to the itinerary, this was supposed to be 5pm to 6pm.  It must have been around 5:10 by the time I got to the area by SAW Shop, due to the time I left Rush (must have been gone 5pm).  Anyway, when I got to SAW Shop, loads of other members were waiting there for the ERS.  Andy Hine said it hadn’t started yet.  The queue line was gated off, and there were still a lot of general public riders awaiting their turn in the queue.  The staff wanted them to all get their turns before starting the ERS.  Anyway, no matter how late our ERS started, we would still get the full hour.

Whilst waiting I saw Derek and Alan again, and spoke to them for a few minutes.  I also saw Barry for the first time today, and spoke to him.  He was surprised I’d ridden Tidal Wave earlier, until I admitted to having donned my cagoule and leggings to avoid getting wet on that.

Time was rattling on.  Before we knew it, the time was 5:30 pm, and then 5:45 pm.  I became increasingly anxious because I’d booked an Advance ticket for a train departing Staines at 7:53 pm.  Therefore I wanted to leave Thorpe Park around 6:30pm, or 7pm at a stretch, in order to have ample time to return to Staines, get myself a takeaway and return to the station in plenty of time for my booked train.  I explained my situation to Andy Hine, he advised me to have one go, and said I’d be able to leave early if I needed to.

I didn’t log the time the ERS finally begun, but I’m pretty sure it was around ten past six.  When at last they started letting us through the queue line gate, I joined the queue.  As I neared the building, I saw Death for the first time today, and spoke to him briefly.

Eventually (around quarter to seven) I got to the ride platform upstairs and sat in a front row seat.  The ride set off through the building.  I noticed a dip in there.  Once out of the building the ride worked its way around to the vertical lift.  I was totally relaxed as the car climbed the vertical lift.  At the top there was a moment’s hang time, and then the beyond vertical first drop.  Mega fun!  I expressed no fear over that, and didn’t scream.  In fact I enjoyed it.  I’ve went on the Rage at Adventure Island during the 2007 Summer Bash, and that’s similar but without the sawmill theming.  After the drop there was a loop and eventually back to the station.

What a mega fun ride.  I also liked the building’s exterior, themed to look like a sawmill.  Does anyone know the significance of the rotating circular saw blade located high up?  Is that just for decoration, or part of the theming?  Just one gripe, I think the lighting effects inside the building are unnecessary overkill.  You wouldn’t have that sort of lighting in a real sawmill or factory.  What have they got to do with sawmills?  Inappropriate theming, I say.

As I alighted from the coaster, I met Christine Hine on the platform.  I don’t recall seeing her before.  Back outside, I noticed the queue line wasn’t extending outside the gate now.  However I didn’t rejoin the queue.  The time was now around ten to seven, so I reluctantly left Thorpe Park before the end of the ERS, which I found heartbreaking. Roughly what time did the ERS finish?

My Journey Home
Back in the car park, I saw a bus but it was now out of service.  The driver told me of a stop on the main road nearby, but judging by the timetables, it looked as though there’d only be one more bus going Staines direction around 8 pm, so I phoned for a taxi instead.  Having reached Staines, I got a takeaway from KFC and then walked the rest of the way to the station.

My booked 19:53 train to Reading was knocking on half an hour late, so I got to Reading around ten past nine and thus missed my 20:58 connection to Bath (which would have got me there around 10pm).  Consequently I had to await the next train, which left just before 10pm.  For some reason that couldn’t go via Bath, so there was a replacement bus service from Swindon to Bath.  I finally reached Bath around quarter to midnight, and home a few minutes before midnight.  What a way to end a fun day!

So you see, I got up that day at 5 am, travelled all the way to Thorpe Park, attended SAW-Ted: The Trip, travelled back to Bath in the evening and got to bed just after midnight.  Is that what Andy means by early rises, lots of travelling and late bedtimes on USA trips?  If so, one day was fine but I don’t think I could multiply it by 7 (week long USA trip), let alone 16 (2 week USA trip).

Outtro

Highlights:
Gorgeous warm, sunny day for the event.
Meeting members I’d met on previous Club trips again (including Andy Hine, Barry, Death, Derek and Alan), as well as newbie Serenair.
Riding Colossus and Nemesis Inferno and Rush again (I’d previously enjoyed them in June 2005).
Having one go on SAW during the ERS to round off my day (one more steelie to add to my list).

Lowlights:
Heartbreak at not being able to ride Stealth (which I’d not previously ridden).
My disappointingly low total ride count due to the long queues.
Having to leave the evening ERS early in order to make my way back to Staines for my booked train.
Disrupted journey home afterwards, and thus getting home nearly midnight.

Altogether, another great Club trip, despite the lowlights.  My eighth Club trip to-date, having been a member since March 2005.  It was great to be spending a day at Thorpe Park purposely to ride the rides, as opposed to attend a two-day business conference (with an early evening ERS on four rides early evening day one and afternoon freetime for riding day two).  In fact, I’ve longed to visit Thorpe Park to ride the rides, perhaps alone.  It was all the better that at last I had the chance to visit with the Club, and meet other members, as well as have an ERS (even though I had to limit myself to one go and leave the ERS early).

I was surprised at how crowded Thorpe Park was, and hence the long queuing times, considering it was the beginning of the season.  At that time of year (late March, i.e. low season) I expected it to be quiet, with short queuing times.  If that’s what it was like last Saturday, I dread to think what it will be like in peak season (July and August), and bank holiday weekends (particularly August).  Somewhere to avoid like the plague, I guess!

Anyway, I’m now looking forward to the Blackpool Bash 17 to 19 April.  I’ve already booked for that, in fact I did my membership renewal, SAW-Ted booking and Blackpool Bash booking (with Saturday wristband) all together.  I’ve also booked two nights’ accommodation in Blackpool at the end of February.  You see, I wanted to get in early bearing in mind large numbers of other members will be seeking accommodation that weekend.  So far I’ve been unlucky getting Advance train tickets for Bath Spa to Blackpool, but I’ll persevere, and will only buy an Off Peak Return as a last resort on the day if I have to.  Alternatively I may take the National Express coach instead, hopefully I’ll sort something out soon.  Whatever happens with my travel arrangements, see you all at the Blackpool Bash.  At least I’ll be able to attend all the ERSs in their entirety there.  Dunno what I’ll wear for the Cowboys and Indians night though.  Let’s hope the weather will be as good that weekend as it was for SAW-Ted.
smiler

Wow what can I say what a trip report Nick must of taken you ages to write that one great tho  Very Happy Glad you like the T-cups with Dan, Andy and Steve etc Drunken barrels at Drayton manor are a tad faster they're good to. The ERS finished about 8pm ish (In the dark) which was a great ride in the dark. Glad you had a great time tho looks like you cant wait for the bash now.  Very Happy
Coaster Toaster

Wow what a trip report there have you been writing that since you got back from saw??

Thats alot of precise time in there as well how do you rember them all??

You should dress up for the bash and take part again just make sure you have a belt this time lol
Coaster Police

crikey
Andy Hine MBE

Wow, Congratulations (Cliff Richard, UK, 1st, 1968) on such an extensive Trip Report Nemesis Nick.  There was All Kinds of Everything (Dana, Ireland, 1st, 1970) there for us to enjoy.  I’m glad you purchased your train ticket in advance too, rather than Beg, Steel or Borrow (New Seekers, UK, 2nd, 1972) one.  Although with the Staines trains being so unreliable maybe you should have gone to Waterloo (ABBA, Sweden, 1st, 1974).
 
Shame so many of the rides broke down during the day.  Thorpe really did reach Rock Bottom (Lynsey de Paul, & Mike Moran, UK, 2nd, 1977) that day.  Let’s hope they are not going back to The Bad Old Days (Co-Co, UK, 11th, 1978).  But Hallelujah (Milk & Honey, Israel, 1st, 1979) at least you did get one ride during the ERS before having to leave.  You just have to Come Back (Jessica Garlick, UK, 3rd, 2002) again in the future. Still What’s Another Year (Johnny Logan, Ireland, 1st, 1980) in the world of coasters?  Unless of course you are still Making Your Mind Up (Bucks Fizz, UK, 1st, 1981) if you want to come back again.  And well done for finally doing RUSH.  I knew all you had to do was take One Step Further (Bardo, UK, 7th, 1982).  I went on it and just Let It Swing (Bobbysocks, Norway, 1st, 1985).  Whilst riding it though it broke down and stopped.  Not again, Why Me? (Linda Martin, Ireland, 1st, 1992) I thought.

Sadly the day was soon over and I’d offered Alan a lift so had to Take Him Home (Jump The Gun, Ireland, 8th, 1988).  Debra followed but lost us en-route.  When she finally found us she said Why Do I Always Get It Wrong? (Live Report, UK, 2nd 1989).  Well you can’t be good at Everything (Anna Vissi, Greece, 9th, 2006).

What next?  Could It Be (Paul Giordimaina, Malta, 6th, 1991) wood?  Well I’m Never Giving Up (Sweet Dreams, UK, 6th, 1983) on a woodie!  I’m going to keep pushing and You Can Count On Me (Luv Bug, Ireland, 4th, 1986) for that.  But One Step at a Time (Michael Ball, UK, 2nd, 1992) it’ll come, or maybe I’m just Dreaming (Eddie Friel, Ireland, 14th, 1995).  They can never give me One Good Reason (Marlayne, Netherlands, 8th, 1999) why they haven’t got one!  I said just Tell Me (August & Telma, Iceland, 12th, 2000) as Everybody (Tanel Padar, Estonia, 1st, 2001) wants to know.  I knew I was not On My Own (Haldor Laegried, Norway, 22nd, 2001) with this one.  And you can be sure that until they get one, I will Never Let It Go (Afro-Dite, Sweden, 8th, 2002) and will do Everything That I Can (Sertab Erener, Turkey, 1st, 2003) to get one!  Well I’m no Cry Baby (Jemini, UK, last, 2003) and will keep on fighting.  And if they do get one, expect some Wild Dances (Ruslana, Ukraine, 1st, 2004) of joy!  Then again I’ll Believe (Dima Bilan, Russia, 1st, 2008) when I see it!  And Even If (Andy Abraham, UK, 25th, 2008) they did, I doubt it will knock Phoenix off My Number One (Helena Paparizou, Greece, 1st, 2005) spot.  Riding that always make me want to do some Danzing (Verka Serduchka, Ukraine, 2nd*, 2007).  

I’m glad you bumped into Christine Hine cos I had been thinking Where Are You (Imaani, UK, 2nd, 1998) and earlier I said to her Save All Your Kisses for Me (Brotherhood of Man, UK, 1st, 1976).  Well I thought, Better The Devil You Know (Sonia, UK, 2nd, 1993), especially as I had an itch on my back.  I asked her to scratch it for me, Ooh Ahh, Just a Little Bit (Gina G, UK, 8th, 1996), ahh that’s better.  She doesn’t mind doing that for me, she’s not a Diva (Dana International, Israel, 1st, 1998).

Did I mention that I’m flying on Air Canada to Las Vegas (Martin Stenmarck, Sweden, 18th, 2005) in November?  Apparently it departs from Terminal Three (Linda Martin, Ireland, 2nd, 1984).  I’m going to the Amusement Park Conference where I’ll be Flying the Flag - For You (Scooch, UK, 22nd, 2007).

But it’s now My Time (Jade, UK, probably last, 2009) to say Goodbye! (Alma Cardzic, Bosnia-Herzegovina, 18th, 1997)


*Robbed of 1st place by Marija Šerifovic of Serbia, singing some drivel called Molitva!
coaster-andy

What a trip report you must have been up all night writing that. You never said what was in the baguette you purchased while at Thorpe Park . Also missing the Flying Fish was not good that is a top coaster in a little corner of the park.   Very Happy
c anderson

Wow, no eurovision comments from me.
Jester

c anderson wrote:
Wow, no eurovision comments from me.

Oh come on Colin - I'm sure you could come up with one! I can see it In Your Eyes (Niamh Kavanagh - Ireland - 1993)
stevencaine

Great trip report Nick sounds like you had a good day at Thorpe, as you said it was a shame about the queues and the fact stealth was not running due too winter maintenance over running
Cant wait for the Blackpool bash now Cool
Steven Burns

Why do i still feel like i`m on the Tea Cups? My head is spinning and dazed.  Confused

Pleased you could take our speed Nick. We must arrange a trip to Hayling Island`s Barrels, if you really want to spin at a high velocity  Very Happy
Death

Nemesis:Nick That was an awesome and comprehensive trip report mate, and it was good to see ye (And everyone else, of course!) there! I take it ye enjoyed Saw as much as I did? Twisted Evil

Just to show my trainspotter's side: The reason that Bath might've been out of bounds that night could've been because the Severn Tunnel (Over 100 years old IIRC) is shut-down every Sunday for inspection and repair, and all trains between Swindon/Bristol and Newport have to be run the long way around insted. Shocked

Andy Hine MBE wrote:
Wow, Congratulations on such an extensive Trip Report Nemesis Nick.  There was All Kinds of Everything there for us to enjoy.  I’m glad you purchased your train ticket in advance too, rather than Beg, Steel or Borrow one.  Although with the Staines trains being so unreliable maybe you should have gone to Waterloo.
 
Shame so many of the rides broke down during the day.  Thorpe really did reach Rock Bottom that day.  Let’s hope they are not going back to The Bad Old Days. But Hallelujah at least you did get one ride during the ERS before having to leave.  You just have to Come Back again in the future. Still What’s Another Year in the world of coasters?  Unless of course you are still Making Your Mind Up if you want to come back again.  And well done for finally doing RUSH.  I knew all you had to do was take One Step Further.  I went on it and just Let It Swing.  Whilst riding it though it broke down and stopped.  Not again, Why Me? I thought.

Sadly the day was soon over and I’d offered Alan a lift so had to Take Him Home.  Debra followed but lost us en-route.  When she finally found us she said Why Do I Always Get It Wrong?. Well you can’t be good at Everything.

What next?  Could It Be wood?  Well I’m Never Giving Up on a woodie!  I’m going to keep pushing and You Can Count On Me for that.  But One Step at a Time it’ll come, or maybe I’m just Dreaming.  They can never give me One Good Reason why they haven’t got one!  I said just Tell Me as Everybody wants to know.  I knew I was not On My Own with this one.  And you can be sure that until they get one, I will Never Let It Go and will do Everything That I Can to get one!  Well I’m no Cry Baby and will keep on fighting.  And if they do get one, expect some Wild Dances of joy!  Then again I’ll Believe when I see it!  And Even If they did, I doubt it will knock Phoenix off My Number One spot.  Riding that always make me want to do some Danzing.

I’m glad you bumped into Christine Hine cos I had been thinking Where Are You and earlier I said to her Save All Your Kisses for Me.  Well I thought, Better The Devil You Know, especially as I had an itch on my back.  I asked her to scratch it for me, Ooh Ahh, Just a Little Bit, ahh that’s better.  She doesn’t mind doing that for me, she’s not a Diva.

Did I mention that I’m flying on Air Canada to Las Vegas in November?  Apparently it departs from Terminal Three.  I’m going to the Amusement Park Conference where I’ll be Flying the Flag - For You.

But it’s now My Time to say Goodbye!
My apologies for copying thy post out in it's entirety Nev, but with all of those in-line annotations it was impossible to read properly. I'm having to quote it here and edit those annotations out just so I can see what exactly ye are trying to say! Shocked

Mind ye, when stuck between a Hard Rock and a soft place, all I can say is Hallelujah¹ for UBB mark-up and the <Quote> function! Twisted Evil
¹ - Lordi, Finland. 1st place Eurovision 2006CE. Twisted Evil
nemesis scribe

Excellent trip report Neme Nick  Very Happy  Although it was tad skimpy and not very 'in-depth' on details in some places, but i think i managed to get the idea.

And yeah, i used to work in a sawmill and it was nothing like that inside. where i worked anyhow. I used to clock in at 05.54 every day so that i could have a cup of tea with two sugars before my shift started. I have no idea where the researchers at Thorpe got their pics of sawmills from, i mean, all that blood and saws and barbed wire and gruesome torture devices?? Perhaps they never went to an actual sawmill and perhaps just watched a DVD about it instead?? And we certainly never had a weird looking clown on a bike, although i did used to cycle to work myself. If i cycled really quick i could get to my place of work 'the Jigsaw Sawmill' in 34 mins, although this did make me feel sick  Sad

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm KFC . . . . .

Right then, i'm off to watch a horror DVD now, but which one shall i watch??? Hmmmmmmmmm I have seen or 'saw' most of them sooooo many times . . . about 3576 to be precise.

Very Happy
Rogue

Hi Nick

Was good to meet you on the trip and thanks for your lengthy, detailed, in depth trip report. Did you enjoy Saw as much as Nemesis? And if you did would it prompt you to change your name to Saw Nick?
Rough Rider

Nemesis Nick wrote:
RCCGB SAW-Ted: The Trip at Thorpe Park

Date: Saturday 21st March 2009
Venue: Thorpe Park
Who Went: Me and around 300 other RCCGB members, including Andy and Christine Hine, Barry, Bunnie, Derek and Alan, Death, Serenair.

The Club’s first UK trip to for 2009: a trip to Thorpe Park near Staines.  The main reason was to ride the Park’s brand new coaster SAW:The Ride which has only just opened.

My Previous Experience of Thorpe Park
My only previous trips to Thorpe Park were during a business conference held there one Thursday and Friday in June 2005.  On the Thursday we had to attend the lectures during the day.  However we had a cocktail party from 5:30pm to 6pm, followed by a delegates’ ERS on Rush, Slammer, Colossus and Nemesis Inferno from 6pm to 7:30pm.  In that time I had a fair few goes on Rush, Colossus and Nemesis Inferno, but gave Slammer a miss as I didn’t like the look of it.  On the Friday, lectures finished at 1pm, and delegates could remain in the park to enjoy the rides with the public after lunch.  I stayed in to ride that afternoon, and had my first experience of long queues.

My Desire To Visit Thorpe Park With The RCCGB
When the trip was announced, I thought long and hard about attending SAW-Ted, bearing in mind I also wanted to attend the Blackpool Bash in April.  My thought was “If I have to pick one or the other on cost grounds, I’d rather do the Blackpool Bash and give  SAW-Ted a miss”.  However I was itching to visit Thorpe Park with the Club.  Also I felt I had a duty to attend really, considering  I was the one who asked Andy Hine about the possibility of a future Club trip to Thorpe Park whilst we were having a drink together after the Summer Bash in Great Yarmouth last year.  So I made up my mind to attend  SAW-Ted.

Getting To Thorpe Park
I was travelling alone to Thorpe Park.  At the start of the month I booked Advance train tickets between Bath and Staines, in order to save money.  On the day I got up at 5 am and left home around 6:15.  The first hiccup of the day occurred when I got to Bath Spa station: the 6:43 London Paddington train, which I was booked to catch, was cancelled.  I therefore had to await the next one at 7:13.  My Advance ticket was accepted on that due to the cancellation of my booked train, but it meant I’d miss my connection at Reading and would therefore get to Staines late.  Under my original plan, I was due to reach Staines circa 9:00 and therefore have time to get to Thorpe Park for our official meet-up time of 9:30.  As I estimated, it ended up being around 9:30 when I finally got to Staines, and feared being lucky to reach Thorpe Park before 10 am.  Thankfully as I left Staines railway station, a bus was there bound for Thorpe Park, so I joined the queue.  Phew, thank goodness for that!  Whilst in the bus queue, I met newbie member Serenair.  We sat together on the bus, which took us all the way to Thorpe Park.  

Welcome To Thorpe Park
Once there Andy Hine was outside.  He gave us our wrist bands, but surprisingly no ticket which I thought we were supposed to have.  A little later when I met Andy again inside the Park, he explained the reason for not giving us tickets: because they would only be taken off us again on entry.

Normal Opening Time

SAW Takeover
Serenair and I followed several other RCCGB members in the direction of SAW.  Unfortunately at this point the planned itinerary went completely to pot.  A Ranger warned us that there was a 90 minute wait for SAW.  How on Earth did such an enormous queue build up in almost no time of the Park being open?  

Naturally enough, the others and I backed off SAW.  I showed the Ranger the itinerary, and said we were supposed to be taking over SAW, then taking over Stealth.  The Ranger said Stealth was closed all day today, worse luck!  I wanted to ride Stealth to add that to my steelies list.  I’d ridden Colossus and Nemesis Inferno on a previous visit to Thorpe Park in 2005 (and wanted to ride both again today), but so far had never ridden Stealth as it was under construction at the time of my 2005 visit.  Due to my discussion with the Ranger, I became separated from the group, and thus rode alone for the next few rides.

Colossus (roller coaster)
Having backed off SAW, I began the day with Colossus.  I didn’t measure the time it took me from joining the queue to getting on this ride, or indeed any other during the day, but thankfully it was relatively short at the time for this one.  I saw a few other RCCGB members at other points in the zigzag queue, but couldn’t sneak through to join them as that would have been queue jumping (against the rules).  

Eventually I got on the ride.  The first time I rode this during the business conference ERS in June 2005, I found this terrifying.  Still that was my first time of riding an extreme coaster (prior to then I’d only ridden family coasters such as Hornet Coaster at Flambards), and I quickly became accustomed to it with a few goes on that occasion.  This time I was totally relaxed about riding it, and didn’t scream or shout “Mercy” at all on the ride.  In fact I was singing on the ride!  The ride set off uphill, around a bend and down a steep hill, round the vertical loop and under a bridge.  Next it went up half a loop, before doing a U-turn whilst inverted and to go down another half loop.  After that it went back under same bridge as earlier, up and down a bit, along a flat section, and into the horizontal corkscrew.  I was still totally relaxed along that bit, unlike my first ever time of riding it in 2005.  Finally the end bend on an angle, the home straight and back to the station.  Wow, what a mega fun ride to start the day!  I would have loved a second go, but couldn’t be bothered queuing again, as it must surely have been a longer waiting time by now.

I had a spot of bother choosing my next ride.  The queues for some of the rides were already getting lengthy.

Loggers Leap (log flume) – BACKED OFF
A log flume.  The queue for this was minimal, so I decided to do this next. Whilst waiting, I put on my leggings and cagoule, not to get wet.  Some other riders (not in the RCCGB) said “You’re cheating”.  Well it might be alright getting wet on a log flume on a hot summer day when you’d dry off quickly, but not late March.

Suddenly the ride was stationary, then I heard the announcement “Loggers Leap is about to restart”.  After a couple of logs went, it ground to a halt again.  I waited, eventually it restarted but they were just getting existing stranded riders off it, and not letting any more on.  Eventually they had to get a technician in to see what the problem was.  Since it could be a while before they were letting riders on again, I abandoned all hope of getting on, and left the ride without having a go.  Having left the ride, I felt I’d wasted valuable time (about 15-20 minutes) waiting for a go on a ride that had a problem with it – time which I could have used to ride something else. I didn’t bother returning to this later in the day.

The time was now gone 11:00 and I looked for something else.  Colossus now had a 60 minute wait, so no way!  Being as I had my cagoule and leggings on, I fancied a go on Tidal Wave, if I could find it.  I got as far as Rush (which had a 20 minute wait), and asked a Ranger what the queue is like for Tidal Wave.  She said “Currently zero”, so I headed for Tidal Wave.

Tidal Wave
“You will get very wet on this ride”.  The queue was very short for this ride.  Presumably that was because people don’t want to get wet on rides in March.  Although it was a beautiful sunny day, and quite warm for the time of year, it was cold compared to a hot summer’s day in the mid 20s.  Anyway, I already had my cagoule and leggings on.  I’ve heard some members in the Club say it’s cheating to wear rain gear on a wet ride, but at this time of year the last thing you want to do is get wet.  When it was my turn, I got into the boat.  There was a large climb to the top.  At the top the boat did a U-turn and down the ramp (long way down).  There was a mighty splash on hitting the water, and everyone got soaked.  Well not me, my clothes stayed dry underneath my rain gear!  Finally there was another U-bend and back to station.

Having disembarked, I returned to the entrance for a second go, being as I was kitted out for this ride, and the queue was still short.  If nothing else, a quick way to bump up my ride count a little.  After my second go, I removed my rain gear.

Nemesis Inferno (roller coaster)
I first rode this during the business conference ERS in June 2005, and later that year rode Nemesis at Alton Towers.  Both Nemesis Inferno (Thorpe Park) and Nemesis (Alton Towers) inspired me to choose Nemesis Nick as my username, which I also put on my trip badge in addition to my real name.

Anyway, I fancied a go on this next.  Several other members including Bunnie were queuing for it.  One warned me there was about a 50 minute wait for it.  Nonetheless I joined the queue and waited.  My first ride of the day with other RCCGB members.  Talking to the others certainly helped pass time away.  At one point there was a hiccup with this ride, which caused the queue to grind to a halt, but thankfully the ride was soon running again, and the queue was flowing again.

Eventually I got on the ride with the other RCCGB members near me.  Again, I was totally confident and relaxed about this, unlike the first time I rode it in June 2005.  The train set off around a clockwise downhill spiral around the volcano, then through a tunnel.  After that it went up and downhill several times, and around various bends.  There was one loop-the-loop along the way.  I thoroughly enjoyed every bit of it, and didn’t scream or shout “Mercy”.  Another mega fun roller coaster.  

Unlike Colossus, this hangs down from the track, and your feet are dangling.  Am I right in thinking this type of coaster is called an “inverted coaster”?

Storm In A Teacup
I remained with the others as we headed for Storm In A Teacup.  I got into a cup with two (or was it three?) other members, who spun the cup a little too fast for my liking.  That made for quite a hair-raising ride.  I’ve been on this sort of ride at Alton Towers and Paultons before, but never spun it as fast as I experienced on this occasion.  No wonder this is called STORM in a teacup if one spins it that fast.

Rumba Rapids
The group I was with then headed for the Rumba Rapids.  This was the first ride that I’d never been on before (i.e. didn’t ride either the Thursday evening ERS or Friday afternoon freetime of the June 2005 business conference).  I’d been on the similar River Rapids at Alton Towers though.  Since I thought I might get splashed on this, I put my cagoule (but not leggings) on for this ride, and removed it afterwards.  A pleasurable experience floating around the flowing waterway and going up the ride, but more a relaxing ride than a thrilling one.

It was now around 2pm.  The others wanted to get some lunch, but I wasn’t so keen to eat at present.  I wanted to try some of the other rides such as Rush or Vortex.  Therefore I headed off in the direction of those rides.

I passed Mr Monkey’s Banana Ride, but it was out of action.  Next I got to Chief Ranger’s Carousel.  Approached the queue, but it was just starting.  Knew I’d be first on for next go.  Shortly after it started, the Ranger had to stop the ride early for some reason.  I couldn’t be bothered waiting for it to start again, those already on to have their ride and then ride it.  Thus I left this ride and didn’t return to it later.

Zodiac
A kind of big wheel, similar to Enterprise at Alton Towers which I rode during Loopathon AT in 2005 and 2006.  The queue for this was shorter than some of the other rides, but still long enough for my liking.  When I eventually got on, I stepped into one of the cars and the door was locked shut.  The cars hang from above, you sit inside but have no restraint.  The ride set off clockwise.  As it picked up speed, the cars flung outwards, and eventually the whole disc tilted so you travelled round in a circle at high speed on an angle.  At this speed, centrifugal force kept riders firmly in place, hence no need for a restraint.  I noticed it was almost impossible to lift my feet or arms when going full speed.  Towards the end the disc returned to the horizontal position, the ride slowed down and the cars returned to their normal dangling position.  A mega fun ride, but once at a time is enough for me.  I could have ridden it again a couple of hours later having been on other rides in between, but two goes on this straight off would make me really giddy.  As it happened, walked around in circles anticlockwise nearby for a few laps to counteract the effect.  I never returned to this ride later in the day.

After that, I went into the Dome.  There I met Derek and Alan, who I saw with Barry late afternoon at last year’s Summer Bash.  I spoke to Derek and Alan for a few minutes.

Since I still hadn’t had any lunch, I got myself a baguette.  That’s all I wanted, something light before returning to riding.  You see, my plan was to get myself a takeaway in Staines that evening before catching my train home.

Quantum
I was going to do Vortex next, but that had a long queue.  Quantum had a much shorter queue so I approached that instead.  Basically it’s a “magic carpet” ride, with rows of seats facing the centre.  The ride went up part way in one direction, down and part way up in the opposite direction, then down to the home position.  Next time around it went up higher each direction.  Eventually it went really high in each direction.  The best bit was when it went right up and over to do a complete loop.  Finally it slowed down, stopped and everyone left the ride.  A mega fun ride in the “Thrilling and Fun” category.

Vortex
At last I made up my mind to ride this, despite the long queue.  Eventually I got on to it.  There’s eight seats on the end of spokes from a central hub.  Once everyone was seated on board, the floor went down (does anyone know why?), and the formation started spinning horizontally.  Later it began to swing as well as spin.  Amazingly I showed almost no fear, and didn’t scream or shout “Mercy”.  I sang “Hard Rock Hallelujah” by Lordi (Eurovision Song Contest Winner 2006 Finland).  A great song (thrash metal) to sing on this sort of ride.  The ride was soon over though.  I didn’t time its duration, but it seemed quite short to me.

Rush
My final ride during normal time.  I really wanted to ride this as this was the first ride I went on during the delegates’ ERS early evening day one of the two day business conference I attended June 2005.  On that occasion I hated this ride and was glad to get off.  Nonetheless I had a couple more goes later that ERS and began to like it.  

I joined the back of the queue, and it was quite long, partly thanks to only one swing being in operation.  I think there were some problems with the ride earlier, which meant they couldn’t run two swings.  The queue would have cleared in half the time had both swings been running.  The time was getting perilously close to 5pm.  I wondered if I’d miss the start of the ERS as we were officially supposed to be waiting at SAW Shop around 4:45.  Eventually I got on to Rush.  Okay, it was a bit hair-raising at its highest points, and on the drops from those heights, but I managed not to scream or shout “Mercy”.  In fact, I remained quiet on this ride.

Summary of my rides during normal time:
Colossus
Tidal Wave x 2
Nemesis Inferno
Storm In A Teacup
Rumba Rapids
Zodiac
Quantum
Vortex
Rush

A total of 10 goes on 9 different rides.  An appallingly low ride count really, I was expecting 15 to 20.  It wasn’t as if I’d spent part of the day in a water slide complex (like Butlins Minehead has), an indoor adventure playground (like the Adventure Zone at Devon’s Crealy) or a museum (e.g. Victorian Village at Flambards).  I would have liked to have given Samurai a try, but didn't have time.  Also back home Sunday morning, I looked at my Park Map and spotted a family coaster Flying Fish, which I didn't notice Saturday.  I would have loved to have ridden that too.  Although only a family coaster, I would nonetheless have liked to have added it to my Steelies list.

The SAW ERS
According to the itinerary, this was supposed to be 5pm to 6pm.  It must have been around 5:10 by the time I got to the area by SAW Shop, due to the time I left Rush (must have been gone 5pm).  Anyway, when I got to SAW Shop, loads of other members were waiting there for the ERS.  Andy Hine said it hadn’t started yet.  The queue line was gated off, and there were still a lot of general public riders awaiting their turn in the queue.  The staff wanted them to all get their turns before starting the ERS.  Anyway, no matter how late our ERS started, we would still get the full hour.

Whilst waiting I saw Derek and Alan again, and spoke to them for a few minutes.  I also saw Barry for the first time today, and spoke to him.  He was surprised I’d ridden Tidal Wave earlier, until I admitted to having donned my cagoule and leggings to avoid getting wet on that.

Time was rattling on.  Before we knew it, the time was 5:30 pm, and then 5:45 pm.  I became increasingly anxious because I’d booked an Advance ticket for a train departing Staines at 7:53 pm.  Therefore I wanted to leave Thorpe Park around 6:30pm, or 7pm at a stretch, in order to have ample time to return to Staines, get myself a takeaway and return to the station in plenty of time for my booked train.  I explained my situation to Andy Hine, he advised me to have one go, and said I’d be able to leave early if I needed to.

I didn’t log the time the ERS finally begun, but I’m pretty sure it was around ten past six.  When at last they started letting us through the queue line gate, I joined the queue.  As I neared the building, I saw Death for the first time today, and spoke to him briefly.

Eventually (around quarter to seven) I got to the ride platform upstairs and sat in a front row seat.  The ride set off through the building.  I noticed a dip in there.  Once out of the building the ride worked its way around to the vertical lift.  I was totally relaxed as the car climbed the vertical lift.  At the top there was a moment’s hang time, and then the beyond vertical first drop.  Mega fun!  I expressed no fear over that, and didn’t scream.  In fact I enjoyed it.  I’ve went on the Rage at Adventure Island during the 2007 Summer Bash, and that’s similar but without the sawmill theming.  After the drop there was a loop and eventually back to the station.

What a mega fun ride.  I also liked the building’s exterior, themed to look like a sawmill.  Does anyone know the significance of the rotating circular saw blade located high up?  Is that just for decoration, or part of the theming?  Just one gripe, I think the lighting effects inside the building are unnecessary overkill.  You wouldn’t have that sort of lighting in a real sawmill or factory.  What have they got to do with sawmills?  Inappropriate theming, I say.

As I alighted from the coaster, I met Christine Hine on the platform.  I don’t recall seeing her before.  Back outside, I noticed the queue line wasn’t extending outside the gate now.  However I didn’t rejoin the queue.  The time was now around ten to seven, so I reluctantly left Thorpe Park before the end of the ERS, which I found heartbreaking. Roughly what time did the ERS finish?

My Journey Home
Back in the car park, I saw a bus but it was now out of service.  The driver told me of a stop on the main road nearby, but judging by the timetables, it looked as though there’d only be one more bus going Staines direction around 8 pm, so I phoned for a taxi instead.  Having reached Staines, I got a takeaway from KFC and then walked the rest of the way to the station.

My booked 19:53 train to Reading was knocking on half an hour late, so I got to Reading around ten past nine and thus missed my 20:58 connection to Bath (which would have got me there around 10pm).  Consequently I had to await the next train, which left just before 10pm.  For some reason that couldn’t go via Bath, so there was a replacement bus service from Swindon to Bath.  I finally reached Bath around quarter to midnight, and home a few minutes before midnight.  What a way to end a fun day!

So you see, I got up that day at 5 am, travelled all the way to Thorpe Park, attended SAW-Ted: The Trip, travelled back to Bath in the evening and got to bed just after midnight.  Is that what Andy means by early rises, lots of travelling and late bedtimes on USA trips?  If so, one day was fine but I don’t think I could multiply it by 7 (week long USA trip), let alone 16 (2 week USA trip).

Outtro

Highlights:
Gorgeous warm, sunny day for the event.
Meeting members I’d met on previous Club trips again (including Andy Hine, Barry, Death, Derek and Alan), as well as newbie Serenair.
Riding Colossus and Nemesis Inferno and Rush again (I’d previously enjoyed them in June 2005).
Having one go on SAW during the ERS to round off my day (one more steelie to add to my list).

Lowlights:
Heartbreak at not being able to ride Stealth (which I’d not previously ridden).
My disappointingly low total ride count due to the long queues.
Having to leave the evening ERS early in order to make my way back to Staines for my booked train.
Disrupted journey home afterwards, and thus getting home nearly midnight.

Altogether, another great Club trip, despite the lowlights.  My eighth Club trip to-date, having been a member since March 2005.  It was great to be spending a day at Thorpe Park purposely to ride the rides, as opposed to attend a two-day business conference (with an early evening ERS on four rides early evening day one and afternoon freetime for riding day two).  In fact, I’ve longed to visit Thorpe Park to ride the rides, perhaps alone.  It was all the better that at last I had the chance to visit with the Club, and meet other members, as well as have an ERS (even though I had to limit myself to one go and leave the ERS early).

I was surprised at how crowded Thorpe Park was, and hence the long queuing times, considering it was the beginning of the season.  At that time of year (late March, i.e. low season) I expected it to be quiet, with short queuing times.  If that’s what it was like last Saturday, I dread to think what it will be like in peak season (July and August), and bank holiday weekends (particularly August).  Somewhere to avoid like the plague, I guess!

Anyway, I’m now looking forward to the Blackpool Bash 17 to 19 April.  I’ve already booked for that, in fact I did my membership renewal, SAW-Ted booking and Blackpool Bash booking (with Saturday wristband) all together.  I’ve also booked two nights’ accommodation in Blackpool at the end of February.  You see, I wanted to get in early bearing in mind large numbers of other members will be seeking accommodation that weekend.  So far I’ve been unlucky getting Advance train tickets for Bath Spa to Blackpool, but I’ll persevere, and will only buy an Off Peak Return as a last resort on the day if I have to.  Alternatively I may take the National Express coach instead, hopefully I’ll sort something out soon.  Whatever happens with my travel arrangements, see you all at the Blackpool Bash.  At least I’ll be able to attend all the ERSs in their entirety there.  Dunno what I’ll wear for the Cowboys and Indians night though.  Let’s hope the weather will be as good that weekend as it was for SAW-Ted.

With all due respect..........................what can I say but wow!!! Very Happy
My God!......
Did you take notes all day of times, and situations????
Hmm!! Very Happy  Very Happy  Very Happy  Very Happy
stealth fan

Ryan, did'nt you know Nick is writing the next theme park best seller?  Laughing  Laughing
I'm flabberghasted, and my eyes hurt after all that  Razz
Good trip essay Nick.  Wink
Steven Burns

I heard he is trying to knock Andy S off the spot of Airtime editor lol. Bit ott though lol
stevencaine

Nick you know your Blackpool bash report has to be of a similar standard Confused
stealth fan

stevencaine wrote:
Nick you know your Blackpool bash report has to be of a similar standard Confused


Shhhhhhhh, I would'nt know if I could get that much time off work at once  Laughing
Don't forget this was only one day  Shocked
ForeverBlue

Awesome!
An incredible trip report. Being 1 of the few members unable to make it to Thorpe Pk, it's been one hell of an experience being able to live the day thru Nicks eyes. I feel, however, that the time its taken me to read the report, it would have been quicker for me to actually spend the day there in person! I've never experienced eye socket haemorage before tonight. You really have covered EVERYTHING Nick.Fair play to you. How do you manage it? (bet you have blisters eh?) ...from typing!

For the record, Nemesis Scribe, I also like to watch horror dvds. I ALSO like to watch sci-fi dvds...........................................but which is better?
Nemesis Nick

Coaster Toaster wrote:
Wow what a trip report there have you been writing that since you got back from saw??


coaster-andy wrote:
What a trip report you must have been up all night writing that.

In response to both your points, I jotted down the rides I’d been on so far whilst I was in the Park that day.

I finally started writing my detailed report yesterday evening and continued with it this morning (you see, I’ve got this week off work).  After several hours’ work, it was finally ready to post around lunchtime today.  Glad you like it.

coaster-andy wrote:
You never said what was in the baguette you purchased while at Thorpe Park.

If you really want to know, it was ham and Mozzarella cheese.

coaster-andy wrote:
Also missing the Flying Fish was not good that is a top coaster in a little corner of the park

Okay, here are some of the other family steelies I have ridden:
Hornet Coaster – Flambards (Cornwall)
El Pastil Loco – Devon’s Crealy
Stinger - Paultons
Mighty Mini Mega – Adventure Island
Big Apple – Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach

Have you been on any of those?  If so how does Flying Fish compare to them?  Did I miss much by not realising it was there at the time?

nemesis scribe wrote:
Excellent trip report Neme Nick    Although it was tad skimpy and not very 'in-depth' on details in some places, but i think i managed to get the idea.

Thanks very much, glad you liked the report.  We met each other in the queue for Nemesis Inferno, didn’t we?  Just out of curiosity, where was it lacking in detail?  I think I’ve covered just about everything that was worth mentioning (rides I went on, other members I met, etc).  There’s tons of unnecessary stuff  I’ve omitted.

Bunnie wrote:
Hi Nick

Was good to meet you on the trip and thanks for your lengthy, detailed, in depth trip report.

Thanks, it was great meeting you in the queue for Nemesis Inferno.  Glad you liked my in depth report.

Bunnie wrote:
Did you enjoy Saw as much as Nemesis? And if you did would it prompt you to change your name to Saw Nick?

I thoroughly enjoyed SAW, particularly the vertical lift, beyond vertical drop and loop which followed.  Of course, my enjoyment was hampered a bit by the worry about getting back to Staines station in time for my booked train.  Perhaps it would have been better if we’d had the ERS from 10am to 11am.

Even if I liked SAW more than Nemesis Inferno (Thorpe Park) and Nemesis (Alton Towers), I wouldn’t change my nickname as I’ve been known on this message board for nearly a year as Nemesis Nick.  Also I’ve put Nemesis Nick (as well as my real name) on my trip badge for two events now: last year’s Summer Bash and SAW-Ted.

Let’s go back to the two-day business conference at Thorpe Park which I attended in June 2005.  During the delegates’ ERS day one evening 6pm – 7:30pm, I had two goes on Nemesis Inferno, and three more on Nemesis Inferno front row (I’ve recorded that in a diary).  Although my first go was scary, five goes was enough to tame me to it.   Next day, lectures finished around 1pm so delegates could enjoy the rides with the public all afternoon, during which I had one go on Nemesis Inferno.  Thus six goes on Nemesis Inferno in two days.  Now I’ll move on to Loopathon AT 2005.  During the early morning ERS, I enjoyed three goes on Nemesis.  One year later at Loopathon AT 2006, I enjoyed six goes on Nemesis during the evening ERS.  Most recently, I enjoyed one more go on Nemesis Inferno at Thorpe Park last Saturday.  Therefore my cumulative ride count for these two coasters to-date is:
Nemeis (Alton Towers) 9
Nemesis Inferno (Thorpe Park) 7

On the other hand, so far I’ve only managed one go on SAW in last Saturday’s RCCGB ERS, which I sadly had to leave early.  Now people are beginning to know me as Nemesis Nick, I’ll stick with that nickname.

stevencaine wrote:
Nick you know your Blackpool bash report has to be of a similar standard

Well here's my report about last year's Blackpool Bash, to give you an idea of what I'll come up with this year.  For comparison, here's my report of last year's Summer Bash.
stealth fan

ForeverBlue wrote:

For the record, Nemesis Scribe, I also like to watch horror dvds. I ALSO like to watch sci-fi dvds...........................................but which is better?


Only one way to find out, FIIIIIGHT  Laughing
Coaster Police

Nemesis Nick wrote:
 Now people are beginning to know me as Nemesis Nick, I’ll stick with that nickname.


You can be sure of that  Razz
Coaster Police

Anyway.... as some of you know, I was trialling some new sunglasses last weekend with a built in DVR.

I'm still getting the hang of them (or more the art of looking where i'm going, not randomly around - they see what i see!), but here's a link to the video from the front seat of SAW with the glasses. I'm not that impressed with youtube's rendering as it's converted the file into some generic format and it's a bit blocky  Mad

However, I have the originals and they are really good quality, so when i get some time i'll add them to a place you can download from and run yourself in original quality (requires quicktime).

I also have the same front seat action from colossus and inferno, and some non-front seat film of the flying fish takeover!

I will add the others soon (Friday evening) and let you know the links.... in the meantime, here's the SAW link. It's my first ever youtube post, so rate it 5* Smile LOL.... enjoy folks!  Very Happy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ep-rFfARuf0
Magic

Hey Matt, where did you get them from. How stealthy are they? Looking for some covert cameras for some filming for work. So far everything I've come across have been lower quality than your Youtube vid.
Death

Nemesis Nick wrote:
Well here's my report about last year's Blackpool Bash, to give you an idea of what I'll come up with this year.  For comparison, here's my report of last year's Summer Bash.
Ye Gods...And I'd always thought that my trip reports were comprehensive! Nick...Have ye ever considered doing trip and ride reports for printing in AIRtime? I reckon that ye'd be pretty darn good at it! Cool

stevencaine wrote:
Nick you know your Blackpool bash report has to be of a similar standard Confused
stealth fan wrote:
Shhhhhhhh, I would'nt know if I could get that much time off work at once  Laughing
Don't worry too much about it guys - I don't think that this version of PhpBB can accommodate more than 512Kb of data in a single post... Razz

...On the other hand though; There isn't a limit on the number of consecutive posts from individual users, either! ShockedWinkTwisted Evil
Serenair

Saw-Ted was my first RCCGB club trip, I am pleased to say I met some great people and had alot of laughs Very Happy

My train left too early for me to make the ERS Sad so I spent most of my afternoon queuing for Saw, and managed to get on just before they closed it for the afternoon.

Thought the theme of the ride was excellent and I'm not even into the Saw films! But the coaster gave me a really bad headache; I'm not sure if anyone else found when you hit the ground after the beyond vertical drop your head gets slammed back into the seat with waaay too much force?! My neck hurt for 2 days afterwards! It's a shame cos this could be a great ride, but the elements of the track are just so condensed that it's not very enjoyable (and the Dark bit was surprizingly scarey.. Embarassed _

I liked Collossus and Nemesis Inferno a hell of a lot more to be honest.

Best part of the day was getting drenched on the Tidal Wave in that gorgeous weather!
c anderson

Glad you enjoyed your first club trip. I did not see you at Thorpe but as you now know we have lots of great people in the club and a good time is had by all. Get to the Blackpool Bash to have an even better time. You are correct about the rough sections on Saw, shame as the ride would have been so much better if it was smoother
coaster-andy

Matt that was a good video I now want a full report on how you managed it including the brand you used and was it easy to use please. Laughing
Coaster Police

OK, I have uploaded the other coasters that were operating during the SAW-Ted trip below....

COLOSSUS: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teDwk6X8S-U

NEMESIS INFERNO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfBkGZBd9m8

FLYING FISH: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slyS5M7OO-A

It's a shame Stealth wasn't running that day, and there was no point filming X: as it's not that good in the dark  Shocked

Enjoy some more, and have a great weekend whatever you are doing!
Coaster Clare

Nemisis nick needs to watch the fish one to see what he was missing.

Clare
Coaster Police

coaster-andy wrote:
Matt that was a good video I now want a full report on how you managed it including the brand you used and was it easy to use please. Laughing


Hello, as requested... here's your full report (tho i'm not the resident report expert on here remember!! Wink )

Look & Feel  Cool
The shades are unbranded and they are made in China somewhere. They look like normal sunglasses to be honest, except the side bits are a bit thicker as they house all the technical goodies, however even with this they are still perfectly compatible with the standard RCCGB Glasses Strap. The total weight of the glasses is 39g.

The Technical Stuff  Cool
The built in camera is a 1.3 megapixel camera. It takes standard video at 320x240 pixels at 30fps. Sound is recorded via a microphone. The glasses have 2GB on board memory which is expandable via a slot to 4GB by the addition of a further 2GB Mini-SD card. A Mini USB connector is also supplied - this is used to download the video files and charge the batteries.
The official documentation says you can get up to 5 hours life out of the batteries on one charge and about the same storage.
I did a test video of 55mins (journey home from work), which saved as 136Mb - so based on 2Gb, you do the math.
I will be testing this during Blackpool and USA 2009 (as I plan to get more riding in than i did at Thorpe!!), so as time goes on and I gain more user-hours with them, i'll let you know.

Operation  Cool
Very simple. There are 2 buttons, and on/off and a start/stop. You simply press and hold the on/off button for 5 seconds to fire them up. There is a green and blue led on the inside, once the blue LED goes out they are ready for recording. To start, simply press the start/stop button. The Blue LED will flash while recording. This is positioned inside the frame, and it's possible to see it when wearing the glasses just out of eye shot so you know you're online. To stop recording, press the button again. The blue LED goes solid whilst saving, when it goes out you're done. The glasses power off automatically after 20 seconds.

Retrieval of videos is easy. Just plug USB cable in connected to a PC, and they show as a removable drive. The files are all .3gp files, download and edit. (LED is yellow in USB mode, and RED for battery charging)

My First Impression  Cool
OK, so I only got the glasses recently and the SAW-Ted trip was the first chance to test them. Overall, i'm very pleased with the results. It will take a while to get used to looking at where i want to film, as the glasses always see what I see (the camera is mounted in the frame between the two eyes above the nose). However, as they are mounted directly to my head, you get a more self-stabilising effect than holding a camera. Also, I noticed on playback during the airtime moments on the SAW video, you do seem to sense the airtime by watching the video - at least i think so anyway as it replicated exactly the way i see things.

Overall i'm very pleased. As i've said, the quality of the film is a hell of a lot better and smoother than that on the youtube videos. Youtube process my uploads and must convert it into a format thats generic, and it has lost alot of quality  Mad - if you love the youtube, you'll want to see the originals!  Mr. Green

The only issue??? Possibly the placement of the microphone. It's on the inside of the glasses side bar, so it presses against the face, thus not picking up sounds as well as it possibly could.... fixable with a simple spacer really, so not a problem.

Cost & Supply  Cool
This is the tricky bit. These are not easy to get hold of. And beware, there are lots of fake and copies of these that do not perform as well, or gimmicky versions with built in MP3 players - that just uses resource and wastes your filming space!

These randomly appear on e-bay at various prices. With e-bay you can usually find them listed but being shipped direct from Hong-Kong or China. I am always dubious about this and would never trust my money to those sites. There are a couple of suppliers that from time to time use e-bay to sell them direct from the UK (i.e. they've purchased a bulk load), and these range between £75 and £100.

There is one security company that sells lots of covert spy stuff (gadgets for 007!) that sells these. Again, the price varies, but they are a professional outfit and it's supplied from the UK. That's where i got mine from.... made a phone call at 4pm, and I had them at 9am next day (included in price - that was Dundee to Poole by the way via FedEx!)

So there you go, a run down as requested.... hope you found it useful  Cool
Rogue

More detail  Shocked

Seriously Matt, the video for Saw is great (not looked at the others yet) even though it has been further compressed by Youtube.
Andy Hine MBE

Matt

Could I ask if the video system is NTSC or PAL?  Also is the resolution: 350 lines or higher?  Assuming that 50 lines would make the number of effective Pixels: 510x492 (NTSC) or 500x582(PAL).  And what is the size of the CCD Image Sensor?  Usually they are 1/4" Interline but as it is fitted into glasses it may be smaller.  If so that may affect the S/N Ratio giving a result of more than 48dB particularly in the minimum Illumination of 0.5 Lux/F 1.4.  Obviously that would depend on the shutter speed which I would expect to be electronic and giving a range of 1/50 - 1/100000?
And finally what built in lens did they come with? I prefer a 3.9mm/F.9 (4T) but would suspect they are using a 3.1mm/F3.4 (3T)?

I'll await your reply!  Laughing
Coaster Police

I don't know all that! It's a pair of sunglasses..... Cool  you're asking the wrong person if you want excessive detail  Laughing

    Power Supply：built-in 550mAh li-polymer rechargeable battery  
    Power duration: 4-5 hours  
    Power Adaptor: 5V DC/500 mAh  
    Built-in 2GB memory, support TF card Max 2GB  
    Camera hardware resolution: 1.3m pixels.
    Reading Speed > 700kbs, write >500Kbs  
    Resolution：320*240  
    Playing Speed: 30fps  
    Audio：Stereo  
    Power Consumption: <0.4W  
    Video Format: 3GP
    Card Slot: TF/Micro SD card  
    Physical weight 39g with battery  
    Working Temperature: 0 C - 60 C  
    Storage Computer: -20 C - 80 C  
    -Operating System: Win98，WinMe, WinXP, Win2000, Windows Vista
    -Accessories：USB cable, User manual  


Thats all the info I have, so ner!  Razz
Andy Hine MBE

Damn, I was looking for one that had a power consumption 4V DC/180mAh.  Thanks anyway, I'll keep looking.   Razz
coaster-andy

Cheers Matt that information was well good I must say you are very good at these reports on technology. One question what is the User Interface like on these products as it seems to be very good from what I have read so far. Laughing  Rolling Eyes
Magic

I don't believe .3gp comes in PAL or NTSC flavours, or even SECAM. Hence why it can be sold globally without fear of compatabilty issues over line standards.

Interestingly when you import these files into the like of Adobe Premiere Pro, Quantel Q Edit Pro & Avid Adrenalin they will run slightly slower due to frame count. A lot of modern solid state based devices record at 30fps (stills cameras with video function, mobile phones, sunglasses), but European TV runs at 25fps. Therefore when these files are imported into the edit software they need to also run at 25fps, as a result the videos will run slightly slower. For example 10 seconds of typical TV video is 250 frames, 10 seconds of sunglasses camera is 300 frames, when put into an edit the .3gp will run to a duration of 12 seconds.

If I recall correctly the reason for the 30fps is due to TV actually being made up of 2 scanning fields, so 25 frames become 50 fields. Digital systems don't generate fields, they create the whole image in one pass. The 30fps is preferable to 25fps but not as as good as 50fields, for absolute best quality you'd want 50fps, and then reduce the speed by 50% in the edit.

Interestingly USA TV and Cinema run at 24fps, as a result UK versions of films on DVD are shorter than the US equivalent. The same is true of US TV programmes. 24 is slightly shorter in the UK than in the US.
Magic

Andy Hine MBE wrote:
Damn, I was looking for one that had a power consumption 4V DC/180mAh.  Thanks anyway, I'll keep looking.   Razz


Nev if you powered it from a 9V lithium ion battery you'd be able to reduce the current to close to your requried 180mAh. I suspect you'll find it a lot easier to source a 9V power source than a 4V power source.  Laughing
Rogue

Hi Nick

Thanks for clearing up those few pointers, I know its not relevant to the topic but I just wondered what job you do?

I figured that it must be one that requires a lot of detail, you must be an asset to your workplace.

Will you be doing both Saturday and Sunday in the park this Blackpool Bash? After lunch on Saturday a few of us usually do Valhalla and then dry off on the Flying Machines, Happy Helen joined us for this last year and seemed to really enjoy it  Cool
WildMouse

Coaster Police wrote:
here's the SAW link. It's my first ever youtube post, so rate it 5* Smile LOL.... enjoy folks!  Very Happy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ep-rFfARuf0


Cool vid. The sounds of that woman screaming and shouting in the background are hilarious Laughing
Coaster Police

WildMouse wrote:


Cool vid. The sounds of that woman screaming and shouting in the background are hilarious Laughing


She was going nuts... i didnt film it because it was dark, but she was totally freaking out when we were under attack from the killer TV arials!
Death

Coaster Police wrote:
The Technical Stuff  Cool
The built in camera is a 1.3 megapixel camera. It takes standard video at 320x240 pixels at 30fps. Sound is recorded via a microphone. The glasses have 2GB on board memory which is expandable via a slot to 4GB by the addition of a further 2GB Mini-SD card. A Mini USB connector is also supplied - this is used to download the video files and charge the batteries.
The official documentation says you can get up to 5 hours life out of the batteries on one charge and about the same storage.
I did a test video of 55mins (journey home from work), which saved as 136Mb - so based on 2Gb, you do the math.
Hmmm...136Mb divided by 55 mins equals 2.53Mb/min, or an average bitrate of 42.20Kb/s. Knocking off 256Mb of card space for the FAT, that would suggest a total capacity of 11 hours 48 mins per 2Gb card. That doesn't account for differing video conditions (Dark and less detailed clips use less space) and any other system/temp files the device may have to write to the card during operation, though. Smile

Magic wrote:
I don't believe .3gp comes in PAL or NTSC flavours, or even SECAM. Hence why it can be sold globally without fear of compatabilty issues over line standards.
As it is, I use the 3GP format for storing movies on my 'phone (Aye, I use my Ericsson W200 as a movie player!) and a two hour movie takes up roughly 120Mb of space, or an equivalent bitrate of 1Mb/min (17.47Kb/s). However I use low-res settings for my movies (Around 176x144 pixels, 8Khz audio or thereabouts) as I'm happy enough with something that's more or less watchable.
To give a general idea, the 2Gb M2 card currently in my 'phone has 300, 13th Warrior, Braveheart, In the Name of the King, Troy, Gattaca, Hackers, Hitchhikers Guide, Men in Tights, Goldmember and Spaceballs all stored upon it...And I still have 728Mb of free space available for more movies. Just as well I suppose, considering I only managed to convert my DVD copies of WaterWorld, Beowulf and Van Helsing to AVI formats yesterday morning, and they'll be 3GP'd later tonight! Shocked

Anyhow...If ye need help with converting those videos to other formats (I would suggest MPEG-2/4 or DivX AVI for YouTube uploads) I've got a collection of handy video tools (AutoGK, ImTOO and MP4box being the usual ones) and experience here if ye have need of them. Cool

Coaster Police wrote:
There is one security company that sells lots of covert spy stuff (gadgets for 007!) that sells these. Again, the price varies, but they are a professional outfit and it's supplied from the UK. That's where i got mine from.... made a phone call at 4pm, and I had them at 9am next day!
Would ye mind posting the details of that company in this thread? Although I myself aren't particularly interested in video specs like these (I'd rather use a traditional 45Kg VHS camcorder, thanks! Very Happy) I'm probabally not wrong in thinking that many other members here are! Cool

Magic wrote:
Interestingly USA TV and Cinema run at 24fps, as a result UK versions of films on DVD are shorter than the US equivalent. The same is true of US TV programmes. 24 is slightly shorter in the UK than in the US.
What I find difficult to understand there is the fact that NTSC uses a lower frame rate and line count compared to PAL, even though NTSC televisions (And presumably US mains voltage) run at 60Hz as opposed to our 50Hz. Surely under those conditions, an NTSC picture should be better quality than a PAL picture...Right? Confused
smiler

Here is all the pictures from the day now the websites back up and running.  Very Happy

http://www.flickr.com/photos/10803540@N02/sets/
Rogue

Some fab pics there mate, good to see all of them  Very Happy
Death

Aye...Cheers for uploading those, Smiler! Cool

I would imagine it's more because I was facing away from the camera when some of the ones with me in were taken...But ye seem to have managed to capture me in a very good light in at least a couple of them! Very Happy

I'll have to borrow those for my online profile pages, methinks! WinkTwisted Evil
krusty_the_clown

Magic wrote:
24 is slightly shorter in the UK than in the US.


I thought that was due to less adverts Wink
bradpeet

I'm sorry for the delay in positing this - but I didn't come straight home after the trip.

But just what did happen on the day, at the appropriate meeting time?  I have since seen that the night before Nev posted on the forums that we would be going into the park before the public, but no revised timings.  (It would not have made any difference - I did not get the chance to view the forums that evening)

So, I arrived about 9:45 - and didn't see anybody that I knew at all.  I did spot somebody with an RCCGB wristband and he said he had got it from customer sevices by going in through the disabled entrance to avoid the queue!  That was not really an option when I got there though.  One of the security staff did get the wristbands to save people queuing, but when I enquired about entry tickets he went into the season pass place, and then came back and directed us to the advance ticket purchase place.  It took 5 minutes of discussions with a manager - who kept repeating that my group leader would have the tickets and I needed to contact him - before relenting when I pointed out what Andy had written and saying that he would not have done that without consulting Thorpe Park about it first.

Is there an 'on the day' contact number somewhere that I have missed?  Or was this just an occasion when Andy's usual meticulous planning somehow failed?  (I would have hoped that when the plans had changed last minute that Andy would have hung around outside the park until the original meeting time)
c anderson

Meet time was 0930 so arriving late was not a good idea. We went in before the public, thanks to Andy for arranging this, it ensured we got to ride Saw before most of the public & before it broke down.
bradpeet

c anderson wrote:
Meet time was 0930 so arriving late was not a good idea. We went in before the public, thanks to Andy for arranging this, it ensured we got to ride Saw before most of the public & before it broke down.


No mate - Meeting time was from 9:30, and the itinerary that accompanied the tickets said meet at main entrance 9:30 - 10:00
Rogue

I'm sure it was after 9:30 when we went through and we were held back on the bridge for ages (until approx 10am)  Confused

As far as I know customer services had a list of all the names of people attending and if people were late they could pop in and get their wristband etc.

Not 100% sure what you mean about entry tickets as I think we only got given a wristband.

Hope that you had a good day though  Cool
Magic

bradpeet wrote:
 (I would have hoped that when the plans had changed last minute that Andy would have hung around outside the park until the original meeting time)


Some of my group who were on their first trip didn't arrive till 9.55am, I'd already gone in, and Nev was still hanging around outside by the entrance meeting people. They found him OK and got in no problem. Sorry to hear you had a problem.
Andy Hine MBE

Hi

Sorry to hear you had problems.  
I have to go with what the Park tell me (as it says on the booking form "the Club and Park reserve the right to amend the itinerary").
As they allowed the members in early to be first in line, I stayed at the exact meeting place as stated on the confirmation (next to the Reception and ATM machine).  I kept shouting for "RCCGB" members arriving and issuing them with their wristbands.  At 10.15am I then went to the Season Pass office and left them some wrisdands and a list of the 300 for cross checking (as stated in the confirmation - latecomers go to Season Pass office).  I then entered the park myself and walk to SAW with some first-timers.  
I had also given my mobile number to the Season Pass office in case of any problems, but they did not contact me.  Later in the day they confirmed they had given out 7 more wristbands to latecomers.

As for the "tickets", Thorpe decided on the day that it was pointless printing a load of tickets for us to give immediately back to them, so they allowed entry with the RCCGB wristband - thus saving time and money.  Obviously they didn't tell the person you spoke to!  They seemed to sort it later  though as I'm aware of 2 people coming in after noon without any problems.

As the ERS was at the end of the day, I felt no need for me to hang around at the main gate after 10.15am so that is why I was not around after then.

Anyway, I hope you did enjoy the day and manged to get on some of the working rides!   Very Happy
bradpeet

Andy Hine MBE wrote:
Hi

Sorry to hear you had problems.  
I have to go with what the Park tell me (as it says on the booking form "the Club and Park reserve the right to amend the itinerary").
As they allowed the members in early to be first in line, I stayed at the exact meeting place as stated on the confirmation (next to the Reception and ATM machine).  I kept shouting for "RCCGB" members arriving and issuing them with their wristbands.  At 10.15am I then went to the Season Pass office and left them some wrisdands and a list of the 300 for cross checking (as stated in the confirmation - latecomers go to Season Pass office).  I then entered the park myself and walk to SAW with some first-timers.  


In that case Andy, I can only say that I don't know how I missed you.  (But that's down to me not you  Wink )You did exactly what I hoped that you would - which is great to hear.  And I would certainly have not expected you to hang round much after 10 anyway.

But yes thanks, I did have a good day.  My decision to go straight to Nemesis Inferno instead of SAW once I got to the park led to a very short queue there.  Considering that the nice weather had brought the crowds out, I was reasonably happy with the following ride count:-

Nemesis Inferno
Samuri
Rumba Rapids
Zodiac
Vortex
Colossus
Loggers Leap
SAW x4
Happy Helen

Serenair wrote:
Saw-Ted was my first RCCGB club trip, I am pleased to say I met some great people and had alot of laughs Very Happy

My train left too early for me to make the ERS Sad so I spent most of my afternoon queuing for Saw, and managed to get on just before they closed it for the afternoon.

Thought the theme of the ride was excellent and I'm not even into the Saw films! But the coaster gave me a really bad headache; I'm not sure if anyone else found when you hit the ground after the beyond vertical drop your head gets slammed back into the seat with waaay too much force?! My neck hurt for 2 days afterwards! It's a shame cos this could be a great ride, but the elements of the track are just so condensed that it's not very enjoyable (and the Dark bit was surprizingly scarey.. Embarassed _

I liked Collossus and Nemesis Inferno a hell of a lot more to be honest.

Best part of the day was getting drenched on the Tidal Wave in that gorgeous weather!


Glad you enjoyed your first club trip. I have seen Saw advertised on tv and it looks scary. I haven't riden Colloussus and Nemesis Inferno either as neither of them were there when I last went.

I'm sure you did get soaked on Tidal Wave, I did on Valhalla at Blackpool last year.
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