Sept 4 & 5 - PointBuzz T-Shirt Tested Tough!

Well, my PointBuzz T-shirt took pretty much the worst that Cedar Point can throw at it this weekend! The crowded platform of the Magnum at 9:00 on a humid September night. Insect-impacts on the Gemini helix. Being doused on Thunder Canyon; Snake River Falls and the Massive Wall of Water. Flying bodies and crashing waves in Breakers Bay, and being barked by the concrete on Renegade River at Soak City. I can certify this as a Tank-Tested-Tough quality product! We distilled a lot of Cedar Point adventure into a minimum number of hours, but the accent was definitely on quality this weekend.

Saturday night we hit the park just about 8:00, and went in the Soak City entrance. My wife went for coffee and my daughter & I went to the Magnum. The platform was crowded, but the steps were mostly clear. Wait times were maybe 15 minutes. It seemed to me that the crew was doing pretty well. They were all actually pretty friendly, considering it was the end of a hot, humid day, and they had undoubtedly been really busy. I got 3 rides in maybe 35-40 minutes, as the crowd started to thin down for the night. Each trip around there were fewer people.

After 3 rides, my daughter & wife went to the Monster, and I went to the Gemini. A lot of people were coming out of the entrance, saying the line was too long. They were into the pens, but it went pretty quick, maybe 5 minutes from entrance to boarding. Gemini was running 3 trains: 2 Blue and 1 Red. I do not know why. So, those lining up for Red train rides waited extra long. The trains seemed to be running very fast, as far as I could tell. The trip around the helix on the Blue train was pretty wicked.

After Gemini, the girls got elephant ears from The Stockade. These things were immense. They bought one for my wife’s mom, to take home, and came away with this foil wrapped disk well over 18 inches in diameter. The thing looked like a pizza! While they were carbo-loading, I hit the Magnum for late rides. The platform was nearly empty, and I got in 3 late rides, including an after 10pm, walk-on, trims-off screamer in the back car of Blue train. On the next to the last train of the night, I met Scott Cameron, after he recognized my shirt! So we rode in the back car and had a nice chat. I didn’t get to meet his wife and child, as I hurried away for that last ride of the night, and I hope he doesn’t think I was rude! Coasters will do that to you, I guess.

We crashed at my wife’s parents, and I hand-washed the PointBuzz shirt for the next day’s adventure. On Sunday morning, after dropping Katie for Joe Cool at the Marina Gate, we parked at Soak City, and I was third in line in the morning for the Magnum. I chatted with a guy named Jerry and his friend Randy. Jerry has extensive tattoos on his chest depicting six different coasters he has ridden, including the Raptor. But, his feeling is that the Magnum is the best one. I’m in no position to argue, especially with someone with far more hours on the rails than I, and who sports neon blue hair, and a fluorescent green beard & moustache, and what appears to be an original-issue an Iron Maiden T-shirt. Jerry and I rode front car, front seat of the first guest train of the day on the Magnum, at about 9:52am. It was very cool, especially since I have been in the back a lot lately. I forgot about the difference in the airtime. Unfortunately, it was already warm, and the trims were on, which Jerry seemed quite put-out over, but such is life.

After four leisurely walk-on rides, a crowd suddenly appeared on the platform. I took number five after a three-train wait, and the members of the 70’s Supergroup Abba were behind me in the back car. Well, maybe it wasn’t them, but it was two Swedish blondes who looked like you would expect them to, and their Norse-God brethren. They enjoyed the ride, laughing hysterically, and talking in Swedish the entire trip. It was pretty cool. One of the girls wore a T-shirt emblazoned “I love the USA”. I told them when to smile when as passed the camera. They did, and their picture was really good.

After that ride, Katie appeared, and we took one more on about a five-train wait. After that we headed for the water rides. I thought a Cedar Point towel might make a cool souvenir, since we hadn’t really gotten any merchandise in a while. But, Cedar Creek trading was sold out of towels at 11:30 in the morning. Go figure. Well, we’ll just stash our stuff in the lockers over by Thunder Canyon. Oops! Change machine not working, so no Sackies for the lockers! Oh well, we troop over to the lockers by Snake River Falls. On the way, we stopped and said hello to my high school gym & health teacher, who works at the Town Hall Museum. Say hello to Joe Grostcost sometime. Thin guy with glasses, blond hair, and nicer than anyone can be. And a high school swimming coach of some repute, as well. He coached several successful teams at Perkins High School.

It had been a long time since Snake River Falls for me, since early last season. You have to be prepared to ride water rides, and the weather has to work also. This weekend, it did. It was just warm and humid enough, and the water was just warm enough to work very well. SRF was a walk-on, with operators urging you into the boat to get a good fill and a big splash. The ride-op was having a good time, and she had a good spiel. How great to hear a human again! The ride-op in the tower right before the drop was very relaxed, having removed his shoes for greater comfort. The PointBuzz shirt went from dry to sponge in about 2 seconds. After the drop, we faced the Wall of Water. I have always loved this part. It was very cool to see this wall of water coming at me, and not have to close my eyes! I was standing dead center of the guide track. That wave hits amazingly hard. Three was a nice round number.

Then it was over to Thunder Canyon, also a walk-on, but with full boats. The water was moving very fast. It was cool to do a water recon of a place that will soon be full of werewolves and Christmas trees. The green water of Sandusky Bay doused the PointBuzz shirt numerous times. After Thunder Canyon, it was back over to SRF for another trip, and three more waves on the bridge, sort of a rinse-off. Then we collected our duds and headed to Soak City, where my wife was already in the water.

The restroom and changing areas just outside of SC, by the big lot needed some serious employee attention. Unfortunately, unless you have service on regular intervals during the day, it gets like that. No outlets available, which is a bit of a bummer. They were not entirely pleasant, but functional.

Soak City was crowded, but fun. Breakers Bay was a sea of bodies, which can lead to lots of bruises. Eerie Falls and the other raft & slide rides had lines all the way up their steps. We took a few turns around Renegade River, which was nice. We just kind of hung at Soak City for a couple of hours, simply because it’s been so cool this summer, we’ve hardly had opportunity to use that part of the Combo Passes.

About 3:00 we left Soak City we went to a family picnic at Lion’s Park in the western part of Sandusky, right on the bay. We were there until about 8:00, and headed south after that. A short Labor Day trip, but with a lot of fun and adventure packed into it! And the weather was perfect the whole time.

One very unfortunate note is that my wife lost her Cedar Point pass! We think it might have been lost in the ladies room at Soak City. We are checking with Cedar Point for lost-and-found returns. I hope it turns up. It would be a drag to have to replace it with so few weeks left, especially since we have so many trips left! *** Edited 9/7/2004 12:17:22 PM UTC by Tank*** *** Edited 9/7/2004 12:18:57 PM UTC by Tank***

Nice TR. I'll have to get one of those t-shirts, definitely will draw some attention and maybe I'll get to meet some people from this site. I agree, a coaster makes you do some out of place things. I remember the first time I rode Magnum I was so obsessed and couldn't stop just jumping back in line, when my dad said let's go ride something else I got annoyed, but then I re-adjusted myself from coaster mode to regular mode and was cool with it. Also, I remember getting an elephant ear, and having to eat it while waiting to see Star Struck. That was a chore getting it down before entering the theatre.

-S. Eagle

It was nice meeting ya Tank!

I usually don't get too excited about trims being on. But was really upset about that 1st ride. Since traditionally they are always open for 1st & last train of day. We finally got one after a couple of more rides. Even with the trims on rest of day,it was running great!

It was running good on Manday as well. The back car of black train definitely needs work!

Hey guys, nice to hear you two still hittin' up the Magnum--and nice to hear you are still wearing that shirt, Tank. :) Now that I'm back at school it's nice to read about the regulars coming back to ride when I can't see it for myself.

Sorry about that first ride Jerry, Although I can't be certain, I'm sure it was because someone who doesn't normally open in controls was working in that position. At least you finally did get one.

Magnum "Candy" Man - "It was nice meeting ya Tank!"

Same here! I enjoyed the rides.

CP_bound - "...nice to hear you two still hittin' up the Magnum."

I am trying to get 100 in before the season ends. Not quite up to Magnum Dan's standard, but not bad for a newbie. :)

I am looking forward to when it gets a little cooler for Halloweekends. Shouldn't I find less trim in use in September/October, especially early & late?

Tank said:

I chatted with a guy named Jerry and his friend Randy. Jerry has extensive tattoos on his chest depicting six different coasters he has ridden, including the Raptor.

_____________________________________

Now who on earth would get tattoos of roller coasters on them?? Especially Raptor??? ;)

Hey Jerry...nice to see ya posting again! :)
See ya next week at CM - I can show you my latest too!!

Jo
'00 '02 '03 Raptor Crew
Lifetime Raptor flights: 985 :)

The trim brakes are used to regulate how fast the trains come in. If it's rather cold out or there is a headwind of 20-25mph, the trims will most likely be turned off.

If you ever get a trimless, fully loaded night ride, the experience is pure insanity. It is only comparable to a pitch-black night ride on The Legend, in my opinion.

I feel sorry for your wife and the pass incident... Good luck with the hunt!

I gotta say, a ride on Magnum at night without trims is amazing. I remember riding at night for the first time and realizing how much better it was, and how much more thrilling it was.

-S. Eagle

Thanks, Jo!
I've been a lurker for awhile. Don't have the time to post a lot. Just browse topic titles to find something interesting to jump in!

As good as it was running, that one brakeless WAS pure insanity!!:)
I know the ride-ops can get in trouble for giving those rides, so I rarely ask for one. Only if it is running slow, I might remind them to time it to see if they need adjusted.

Hey Tank. It was great to meet another from this site! I wasn't upset about you running to get back on Magnum. Heck, I was tempted to catch up with you for one last ride. I think that would've made my wife a little upset with me though. I am excited for her because tommorrow (9/12) will be her first day to ride coasters this season now that her pregnancy and recovery is over.

Well, definitely time to grab some airtime with your wife, then! I enjoyed our ride and the coaster chat we had. My wife said she'd consider riding with me on #100. I am hoping.

A happy note is that my wife's pass was found! It took six loads, but the washing machine finally gave it back. I don't know where it was for those six loads, but I was happy. I had washed my Chuck Taylors, lifted out a shoe, and there it was.

I wish I could be there for Coaster Mania, but we will be in the park on the night of Friday the 17th, so I am hoping for some late, trims-off fun.

Funny it just dissappered for six loads, I am sure my job would be happy if my name badge magically reappeared.