Raptor and Talon-A Tale of 2 brothers

B&M got to thinking one day
can we top Raptor? There's no way
It will need to fly high in the sky
and they knew why
Raptor has many flips and spins
when it comes to devoted fan-he wins
So let's not even try to outdo the green bird
This is the story as it occured
Let's build this sibling at Dorney Park
use some crazy colors to see it in the dark
You have to see it to believe it
Gemini's colors now look like it a bit
They decided Raptor's brother could fly long and high
but not quite as long or high as Raptor flies
Raptor's brother should have a bird name
"Talon-the Grip of Fear"--isn't that just insane?
Name it after a bird's foot
that's all it took?
I couldn't wait to ride Raptor's bro
could he be better-tell me it's not so
From a distance my heart skipped a beat
couldn't wait to feel Talon's wind on my feet
These trains and seats look so familiar, so same in feel
doing the seat belt was no big deal
Finally my turn to kick the Allentown sky
there was even a runway sign that said "goodbye"
There was no B&M roar but a scary hush
despite the quiet Talon's ride was quite a rush
Rode this bird in front then seats 8-4 and 8-1
all of which were lots of fun
10 laps later I was done
Yes I loved Dorney and Talon it's true
I hope this didn't make Raptor blue
Raptor should be very proud of his little sibling
but there's still nothing like the big green wings
I've got Raptor no Talon tattoed on my skin
proving that to me Raptor does indeed win
Talon did rock
but Raptor still rules!!! :)

Jo
2000 Raptor Crew
Gemini 100 "Survivor"
Po!nter Girl-FOREVER! :)

(This poem answers the question-what do you do when your system crashes at work? ;))
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Cowboys dig cowgirls in trucks
Cowgirls dig cowboys in Wranglers ;)

Indeed Talon Was A Great Ride Very Quiet And Intense But It Just Could Not Beat The Big,Green Steel Beauty Known As Raptor.

Mongo Only Pawn In Game Of Life.

To me Talon was as good as Raptor...if you take away the Cobra Roll and double helix ending. It's a very good inverted with some nice intensity at certain points, but I'm glad to see I'm not in the minority when I say it isn't quite what Raptor is.

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James Draeger
"Legend is a wooden Jesus"

The couple of things I adored about Talon was the invert diving into concrete and that added touch of airtime after the block brake-wow!! The slight downfall to Talon was the "lull" seemed longer than Raptor's, and STACKING when there was only 2 trains! Yikes!
Nice po!nts though James!!

Jo
2000 Raptor Crew
Gemini 100 "Survivor"
Po!nter Girl-FOREVER!
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Cowboys dig cowgirls in trucks
Cowgirls dig cowboys in Wranglers

*** This post was edited by LuvRaptor on 12/11/2001. ***

Very cool poem. Although I have never actually rode Talon, I know knothing can out do our Bird Of Prey!
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-Chris Woodard
"Mean Streak would be better if they replaced the square wheels with round ones."

Way To Go, Jo! That Poem Kicks Major Butt! I can't wait to go to Dorney this summer and ride it!

-Mikey

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Christmas Wish List:
B/M Flyer For 2004...
B/M Flyer For 2004....

Hey Mikey-don't forget your Talon hat!!! :)

Jo
2000 Raptor Crew
Gemini 100 "Survivor"
Po!nter Girl-FOREVER! :)
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Cowboys dig cowgirls in trucks
Cowgirls dig cowboys in Wranglers! ;)

Every rider at Dorney
Liked Coasters a lot
But the Grinch on Allentown's
City Council did not.

The Grinch hated coasters, the whole ride and fly.
Now don't ask the reason, no one quite knows just why.
It could be his head isn't screwed on just right
It could be perhaps, that he's fearful of heights.
But I think that the most likely reason of all.
Is he doesn't like things that rise up too tall.

But his head or his fears, whatever the reason.
He hated coasters the start of each season.
He leered at Dorney with a sour Grinchy frown.
As the Cedar Fair folks brought joy to the town.
For he knew the enthusiasts were anxious inside.
For Dorney to announce their new coaster ride.

"They're wanting a coaster" he snarled with a sneer.
"Tomorrow's announcement, it's practically here"
Then he growled with his Grinch fingers nervously drumming.
There must be a way to stop the coaster from coming.

Then he got an idea, an awful idea.
The Grinch got a terrible, awful idea.
"I know just what to do" the Grinch laughed in his craw.
And he quickly drafted a height ordinance law.
And he chuckled and clucked "They can't make it high
I'll make sure that the riders cannot 'Kick the Sky'
And just to make sure that they'll all want to riot
I'll mandate the ride must be ever so quiet."

He passed those restrictions and waited for spring.
Surely the park couldn't build a small thing.
A thing that would make riders scream with delight.
A sibling to Raptor, delivering fright.

So a quarter past May, Dorney opened the gates.
And riders showed up to end their long waits
For the new ride that Cedar Fair promised would be
A phenomenal coaster you just had to see.

True the ride didn't break any records for height
But to see this new beast was a wonderful sight.
It rose from the park like a huge bird of prey
And the riders could hardly contain a "hurray!"

The ride was a great addition to history
The rails being quiet just enhanced its mystery.
The riders lined up to ride in their prime,
The line had extended all the way to Hangtime.

The Grinch thought there'd be blame.
He thought there'd be pointing.
He though that the ride
would be so disappointing.

But the sounds the Grinch heard
Weren't sounds of the sad
There was screaming and laughing,
the sounds of the GLAD.

Every rider at Dorney, the tall and the small
was cheering without any records at all.
He hadn't stopped this new coaster from coming, it came.
Somehow within the ordinance it came just the same.

And the Grinch stood puzzling 'til his puzzler was sore.
Then he thought of something he hadn't before.
Maybe coasters he thought, don't have to reach heights
That would set new standards and record re-writes.

Maybe every new coaster doesn't need lofty hills.
Enthusiasts come for all sorts of thrills.
The Grinch could now see, Talon made its own mark
And the riders at Dorney keep loving the park.

(I have way too much time on my hands)

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Duane Cahill
Coasterbuzz Track Record - 59
CP Track Record - 13 (too tall for Jr. Gemini)

Very nice, Duane! My fraternity brother would be proud of that Grinch tale. (Theodore Geisel was a Sig Ep, hence my screen name :) )
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Mr. Skyward is my hero.
Just because I have a fast car, doesn't mean pull me over on my way to CP!
BHG:"If I don't believe in myself would that be blasphemy?"

Being a Seuss fan, I've gotta say Duane, that really was damn good.

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-Brian
One of us..
Creative coding
"Chetto panelview"
Duel means two

Way to go Duane!!! :)

BTW-a fellow GTTP'er was talking to a friend of hers @ the Fall Freak out this year. She explained to her friend that Dorney Park puts sand in the rails to keep the rides "quiet".
Her friend replied, "let me guess then some guy stands there and throws sand on the riders to shut them up too?" :)

I hope that doesn't give Dorney any ideas! ;)

Jo
2000 Raptor Crew
Gemini 100 "Survivor"
Po!nter Girl-FOREVER! :)
------------
Cowboys dig cowgirls in trucks
Cowgirls dig cowboys in Wranglers! ;)

In Dorney's (and CF's) defense, it's not their idea. With any luck, Allentown won't pass an ordinance MAKING them throw sand in our faces! ;)

BTW, all guys dig cowgirls in trucks...

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Did anyone ever notice that Talon was painted with the GTTP color scheme?

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Jeff
Webmaster/GTTP
"As far as I can tell it doesn't matter who you are. If you can believe, there's something worth fighting for..." - Garbage, "Parade"

Yeah I heard that GTTP was even offered the chance to sponser the coaster but due a scandal within POP World Media, GTTP's parent company, the website had to pull out.

Supposedly there was something about the president being caught drinking on the job... ;o)

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James Draeger
"Legend is a wooden Jesus"

You guys are great! I print up these poems and pass them out to my journalism class, and my students are so very impressed. Pretty soon you guys are gonna be celebrities, and when we go to the park for the school trip, I may have to find you and get your autograph!

-Mikey...Hey, Jo....I cheated and ordered a Talon hat from the Dorney website a very weeks ago ;)

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Christmas Wish List:
B/M Flyer For 2004...
B/M Flyer For 2004....

I did not have sexual relations with... wait, what where we talking about?

-----------------
Jeff
Webmaster/GTTP
"As far as I can tell it doesn't matter who you are. If you can believe, there's something worth fighting for..." - Garbage, "Parade"

blah blah, family site, blah blah
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Duane Cahill
Coasterbuzz Track Record - 59
CP Track Record - 13 (too tall for Jr. Gemini)

And we all know Montu is really the best of the inverts anyway, right? :)
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-RaptorFlyer

Ask a Brit about that, they'll say, "I remember when Montu was called Nemesis."

Doh!

-----------------
Jeff
Webmaster/GTTP
"As far as I can tell it doesn't matter who you are. If you can believe, there's something worth fighting for..." - Garbage, "Parade"