Backwards Coasters
We went to SFMM again today - yes we’re getting as much out of those season passes as possible - but the REAL reason we went was to go on something special. For Fright Fest at this particular SF, they bring the cars from one wooden coaster (because they have headrests) onto the larger, older wooden coaster. Colossus used to be a dueling wooden coaster (I mentioned this in a previous post), but has since gone defunct as such. Now they use that track to run the coaster backwards during the month of October!
As Kris said, I cannot describe the feeling of going backwards on a roller coaster. We had the pleasure of going on the ride three times, and I think once we’d gone on it once, we could have gone on it all day. I laughed like a maniac during the first run, because you’re going on a coaster backwards - can’t see when it’s at the top, or going to drop. We didn’t get to ride again on X - another coaster I can’t really described the feeling of - but I didn’t care for the two hour wait. I’d gladly go on Colossus backwards four times in the same amount of time.
I would definately recommend this a something any coaster enthusiast should have checked off their big list. I’ve heard that it might still be run backwards when we go back in November. That would be awesome, but I’m not holding my breath. It was the reason we went this time, but I wish there hadn’t been 1.2 bajillion people in the park that day. I’m also hoping sometime in the (near) future SFMM will adopt the same Fastlane/q-bot system they have at both SFNE and SFGA. With it, we would have been able to go on X today, even just once. For some reason they still have this rudimentary, archaic handstamp/paper ticket Fastlane thing. Crazy.
Anyway, still had an awesome time. Hopefully we’ll get some other people to come with us in November - it’s so much better to go with at least four people in a group. That way, if one person wants to ride something, there’s a possability that at least one of the other three will come with.
Additionally, Kris recently came up with some hilarious ideas for some t-shirts, which I had a hand in designing. He’s also got a site up called popCoaster.com that he’s been posting about our coaster trips. I can’t believe we have checked off seven of the ten “US top drop steel” - and will have two more by the end of the year! (This is mostly because we stopped at Cedar Point and have gone to three SFs this year, with one more stop before the end of the year.) I can’t wait to visit more places with Kris. 
Just spent a couple minutes catching up on your last month…
Comment by Ray — October 30, 2004 @ 2:06 pm