June 17, 2000. The gates opened at 9:00. It was 8:40 when we left our room at the Breakers and at 8:45, we were at the Magnum entrance. The line to get into the park was through the Challenge Park ticket booth and back to the Soak City fence. Ah, but we wouldn't wait.
Straight up to the Guest Services door, a quick knock, and we're in ahead of the crowd. Our secret "Fast Pass" comes in the form of a Dorney Park Season Pass. Season pass holders from other parks show their passes at Guest Services and sign in there. Once we signed in, I sat down because we still had five minutes to park opening. Kathey asked what I was doing, and I told her that we couldn't get in until the gates opened. The GS host heard me and told us to go on in anyway! First ones in the park, and a five minute (in reality it was about two minute) jump on the general public!
We ran under the tunnel and made the left turn toward Power Tower knowing that we were going to be first in line on MF! WRONG!!!
As we approached Coasters, we saw the sea of humanity who had apparently been let into the main gate a few minutes early. It was as if a siren were sounding and the Eloi could do nothing but follow. We joined the masses. When we finally reached CP's version of the Morlock's subterranean trap, we entered the line exactly between the MF exit and Toot Sweets. Few of the queues were opened yet though, so it would be only a 30 minute wait.
The energy in the crowd as the first train rolled up the hill was electrifying. A wave of enthusiasm swept through the line like I haven't seen at Cedar Point since the Magnum DJ said he wouldn't play YMCA again for the rest of the day back in 1997.
It was only now that I realized what a breathtaking structure this was. As I watched the train speed up the lift, my eyes were transfixed on the apex. When the train actually peaked, I was amazed to watch the elevator lift catapult the train over the other side. I stood in awe, awaiting my turn to be flung over the edge.
Before long we were on the loading platform. There were about a dozen people ahead of us, so getting the first car was out of the question. However, I thought we might have a shot at the already-mythical 5.1. Strangely, most folks filled the seats front-to-back, so I hopped into the middle car and buckled in. Lexi and Megan, already knowing all of my CP secrets, bolted for 5.2.
As has been said in other reports previously, words cannot adequately express the ride on this monster. We pulled out of the station and began the ascent, at first slowly, but then kicking into second gear halfway up the hill.
Due to the angle, I couldn't see the track ahead of us, so it was a great surprise when we began to crest the top, far earlier than I expected we would. Hands up. I said HANDS, GET UP THERE!! (OK, hands are now listening to the head again).
We began the descent, picking up speed at an alarming rate. Every millisecond that I thought we must be at the 80 degree angle, we continued to drop over more and more and more. After what seemed an eternity, the earth was finally rushing straight at us. The G's on the pullout were unreal. I was having a difficult time keeping my arms in the air, but WHAT A RUSH!!
The overbanked turns were so smooth that I didn't even realize until later rides what the horizon looks like from 122 degrees. I continued to watch the track ahead.
We sped around the left turn and into the tunnel at breakneck speed. Out of the tunnel, and immediately up the gigantic second hill, where I would later measure the airtime at an unbelievable 4.1 seconds!
I had never seen the full POV video, so coming down the hill, I saw both the outgoing and the incoming track and for some reason thought that we would turn LEFT on the island. As I prepared myself for that turn, I was jolted back to reality by the right hand turn.
Through the first island turn, then expecting a pretzel-type turnaround like on Magnum, I was once again surprised when we hit a hard right into the second island turn.
Through that turn, then over the final island hill, still at a velocity that would get you a speeding ticket in every state but Montana, and back through the second tunnel with every voice on the train now at maximum volume.
A hard left, screaming past the station of cheering onlookers (still) and into the final overbank. We jetted into the station and cruised to a stop knowing that we had just experienced the nirvana of thrill rides. (Dear other coasters of the world. Please be advised that you have all been moved down one spot on the favorites list. Thank you.)
My adrenal glands were working overtime. I'm pretty sure that at that moment, I could have lifted a car off a baby if called upon to do so. My heart was racing, my lungs filled fuller, my legs were energized, and life was very very good! In summation -- WOW! In fact, reliving it while I was writing this just now was pretty darn good .
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Duane Cahill
I need a vacation to recuperate from my vacation.