RCCGB FORUM

krusty_the_clown · Site Admin Joined: 22 Sep 2007 Posts: 317

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 · Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2009 8:47 pm Post subject:

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

I may have missed out but did ride last week.
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Coaster Clare · Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2009 8:47 pm Post subject:

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!
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MrDJ · Junior Poster Joined: 21 Nov 2007 Posts: 89

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
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c anderson · Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2009 9:44 pm Post subject:

Shame about Thorpes problems and the crowds, but even then it was a good day, thanks Nev.
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JamesC · Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2009 10:47 am Post subject:

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 · Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2009 12:37 pm Post subject:

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!
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chewie · Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2009 1:24 pm Post subject:

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.
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stealth fan · Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2009 2:33 pm Post subject:

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.
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coaster-andy · Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2009 2:58 pm Post subject:

WildMouse · Junior Poster Joined: 02 Oct 2007 Posts: 75

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.
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Magic · Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2009 4:27 pm Post subject:

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.
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krusty_the_clown · Site Admin Joined: 22 Sep 2007 Posts: 317

Magic · Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2009 5:12 pm Post subject:

c anderson · Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2009 5:32 pm Post subject:

Please do not say that you have found a rougher ride than the Rattle*, that would make a certain welshman insuferable.
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JamesC · Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2009 6:13 pm Post subject:

stealth fan · Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2009 6:21 pm Post subject:

Rough Rider · Strata Poster Joined: 01 Oct 2007 Posts: 403

Death · Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2009 7:29 pm Post subject:

Hail all!

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! )
1x X:\No Way Out\System32\Vekoma.dll [Insert BSoD here! ],
1x Vortex, and the highlight of the day...
6x Saw: The Ride (All during the ERS! )

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? Laughing

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

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Rogue · Strata Poster Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Posts: 3865

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

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.
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nemesis scribe · Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 8:55 am Post subject:

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

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stevencaine · Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 10:22 am Post subject:

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 · Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 10:31 am Post subject:

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

Dave
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nemesis scribe · Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 1:41 pm Post subject:

coasterprince · Junior Poster Joined: 02 Oct 2007 Posts: 75

Boo · Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 3:32 pm Post subject:

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 · Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 4:19 pm Post subject:

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.
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Magic · Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 5:27 pm Post subject:

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

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ccp · Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 6:42 pm Post subject:

nemesis scribe · Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 8:18 pm Post subject:

Rough Rider · Strata Poster Joined: 01 Oct 2007 Posts: 403

smiler · Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 8:59 pm Post subject:

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/
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Magic · Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 10:05 pm Post subject:

USfriends · Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2009 5:24 am Post subject:

The combination sounds like the coaster from hell! Twisted Evil

I thought nothing could be worse than Rattler!?
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c anderson · Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2009 6:29 am Post subject:

Pete is correct, nothing is as bad as Rattler
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Rough Rider · Strata Poster Joined: 01 Oct 2007 Posts: 403

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

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Magic · Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2009 7:28 pm Post subject:

Steven Burns · Strata Poster Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Posts: 1777

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

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stevencaine · Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2009 10:09 pm Post subject:

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 · Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2009 4:04 pm Post subject:

Sounds like you all had a great day.

Hope you did.

JamesC · Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2009 7:40 pm Post subject:

nemesis scribe · Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2009 7:48 pm Post subject:

bluea61 · Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2009 12:07 pm Post subject:

Nemesis Nick · Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2009 12:50 pm Post subject:

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 · Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2009 1:22 pm Post subject:

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

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Coaster Toaster · Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2009 1:35 pm Post subject:

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 · Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2009 2:21 pm Post subject:

crikey

Andy Hine MBE · Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2009 2:26 pm Post subject:

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!

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