I'm going a little off topic here, but need to document 2008, the year of the Roller Coaster. Sunday we made our late season visit to Cedar Point, (America's Roller Coast)! That made for my 4th amusement park and 5th location for roller coaster riding this year. When Mrs. P and I rode The Roller Coaster at New York, New York in Las Vegas back in April, I didn't think I would be on a quest to ride as many as possible this year. And I suppose it was only just an unofficial quest at that. I left as many as 6 on the table due to crowds or lack of time. And if it was an official quest, I would have paid visits to additional parks to ride even more coasters.
What I was able to accomplish wasn't bad though: Four amusement parks, Busch Gardens Europe, HersheyPark, King's Island, and Cedar Point, plus the New York, New York Casino in Vegas. I rode a grand total of 33 different coasters, some more than once. I now present, for your reading pleasure, my Top 10 Coasters of 2008.
The Beast is still the world's longest wooden coaster. And that thing gets going at a pretty good clip too! They don't call it the "Beast" for nothing.
9. Fahrenheit - HersheyPark, Hershey, PA
Fahrenheit was new at HersheyPark this year. It wasn't huge, but the lift hill climbs straight up, crests and goes straight down. Pretty cool! Lots of turns and rolls to keep you on your toes.
8. Raptor - Cedar Point, Sandusky, OH
Raptor is always good, but until this year, I hadn't ridden up in the front row. A totally different experience when you can see where you're going. The six inversions are some of the smoothest anywhere. Great Bear and Alpengeist are nearly identical, but I prefer Raptor.
7. Son of Beast - King's Island, Cincinnati, OH
Son of Beast is the world's tallest and fastest wooden coaster, and an amazing ride totally worth waiting to ride in the front seat. A 214 foot hill is something else on a wooden coaster, as is hitting nearly 80 mph.
6. Magnum XL200 - Cedar Point, Sandusky, OH
What can I say about Magnum XL200? It was the world's tallest and fastest coaster back in 1989 and still kicks the snot out of you. Jr. P agreed to ride it this year. He didn't mind the 205 foot drop or the 72 mph, but he didn't like all the airtime at the end. I did!
5. Apollo's Chariot - Busch Gardens Europe, Williamsburg, VA
Apollo's Chariot is taller and faster than Magnum. Plus you sit more on a moving platform than in a car. Lots of speed, good airtime, and very smooth.
4. Griffon - Busch Gardens Europe, Williamsburg, VA
Griffon is just different than anything else on the list. You wait at the top of the 205 foot hill, looking straight down, just waiting to take the plunge.
3. Top Thrill Dragster - Cedar Point, Sandusky, OH
Top Thrill Dragster is more different still at 420 feet tall and hitting 120 mph. You need to ride it to fully appreciate it. Mrs. P was coerced into riding it and nearly had to be sedated. There's only one taller than Top Thrill, but it's not by much. I rode this one twice.
2. Maverick - Cedar Point, Sandusky, OH
Maverick was new at Cedar Point last year and is amazing. There is so much going on! A fast lift hill followed by a 95 degree drop. That's right, it inverts while dropping! There are so many twists, turns, and hills, plus a linear launch halfway through that shoots you to 70 mph. This was almost my number 1!
1. Millennium Force - Cedar Point, Sandusky, OH
Millennium Force is my number 1. At 310 feet tall and hitting speeds of 93 mph, it's so FAST from start to finish. It never lets up. Cedar Point says that it broke 10 world records when it opened in 2000, and I believe them. Millennium Force snatched the title of Mr. Pythagoras' favorite roller coaster from Magnum on Sunday, and it's going to take something utterly astonishing to rest that title from it's grip.
I'm always on the lookout for new coasters to conquer, so feel free to leave me recommendations.
Mr. P
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