TR: Ravine Flyer II (Waldameer Park), 6/7/2008

On Jun 9, 10:27 am, nashvlm...@ wrote:

> Personally - for for me Phoenix is in that 12-15 range rank wise
and
> RF2 is probably half of that - 6/7 maybe. Both solid rides, but for me
> (and a few other folks I talked to when I brought up the comparison),
> RF2 would win the comparison. But Phoenix has a huge fan base, so I'm
> sure others will disagree. (to me, Phoenix only has a great ending -
> no other part of that ride is what I'd call brilliant. RF2 is the
> reverse - the ending isn't fully "working" just yet, but the two
> opening series are very much brilliant, far more creative and far more
> aggressive than anything Phoenix has to offer anywhere in it's course.
> So it depends on what you like. I'd wager if you took the GP on both
> rides, RF2 would win the comparison easily.)
>

Here's what's amazing here- we're talking about two rides that are
over 60 years apart in terms of when they originally debuted! Plus,
what really makes Phoenix is about how it is run. There is not a
single thing that Knoebels could have done to get more out of that
ride. It is maxed on its potential, which to me is a big reason why
it is so highly regarded (great trains, not a single trim brake, 30
second dispatches, original profile). Heck, I've been told that
Playland in San Antonio had a skid trim on the high station turn
(similar to HP's Comet) that Knoebels refused to re-install upon the
ride's second opening in 1985. Unless I'm mistaken, it would seem
that the very straight forward double out and back figure 8 design of
Phoenix was very average for its day- again, just the fact that it is
run at full potential is what really maxes its ride performance and
overall charm.

There ought to be some kind of "pre AutoCad" ranking, of which Phoenix
would be right up there.

> Ravine Flyer 2 is
> more in competition with the Raven, the PNE flyer, and the GE Comet
> before it was chopped.

3 of my faves and FWIW, the GE Comet even with one of the lateral
hills tamed still has the other two and hasn't fallen off nearly as
much as some others have claimed (I'll be riding it in early July and
give an update then).

-Mark

> Also got me to thinking when you proclaimed the ride PA's best. PA's
> best what? I'd have a hard time even trying to compare the ride with
> Phantom's Revenge or Phoenix (one made up of a material we all know
> you don't rank and the other a straight forward hill fest).

Long live the Cyclone!

--
|\-/|
<0 0>
=(o)=
-Wolf

Excellent report, Mike. I am really glad to hear that RFII is breaking
in so well. I was up there on opening day and actually had my first
ride (front seat) with half of the GG team (Chad and Mike) sitting
behind me. It was their first circuit as well, and when we hit the
brakes they seemed pleased with their efforts. I know I certainly
was.

Another highlight of that day for me was Paul Nelson taking me on tour
in his truck of the RFII's off-limits areas. He too was quite happy
with the way the ride turned out. Considering what he went through to
make it happen, he deserves to be.

I haven't gotten any night rides on RFII, but after what I've read
here I'll be going back up there to check it out later this season. I
knew the ride was going to break in a bit and had good potential, but
it sounds like it's becoming even better than anyone imagined.

And Mark -- I agree with your Phoenix comments. Last weekend, I rode
Dorney's Coaster (what's a Thunderhawk?), Hershey Comet and this
Knoebels gem. Schmeck's ride's do seem to age quite well. I hope the
RFII is thought of in similar terms 60 summers down the road ...

BTW, Paul told told me something intriguing about the RFI that I did
not know. I'd always heard the accident resulting in that ride's
removal involved someone being "thrown" out of a speeding train. Paul
said it happened a bit differently. Unlike today, the bridge over the
road on the RFI supported two dips, and not two speed hills. One of
the trains stalled in the dip over the road, and all riders were fine
as they waited for rescue. All except one guy who just couldn't wait.
As he climbed out of the train, he slipped and fell to his death on
the road below.

Also, the park's photos and anything related to the original RF were
lost in a fire many years ago.

Congrats to Waldameer and GG on a spectacular new ride!