Friday 12 March 2010

Coastin'

What was I saying? Oh yes, rollercoasters. I love ‘em. I mean what’s not to like? They’re a really safe way of scaring yourself half to death, and that’s good for living human beings in my worthless opinion. Jumping out of planes is a really stupid way of scaring yourself demented. Yes, I’m sure it’s very safe statistically, but I’ve always been a bit slapdash at packing, and if I make mistake or forget to put my lunchbox in my backpack, I just go hungry, not splat. I digress..


When we were younger (early twenties), we’d occasionally camp at Drayton Manor Park, which had (has?) a nice friendly quiet campsite. We’d while away Friday and Saturday night drinking listening to music (responsibly), and spend the daylight hours wandering around the grounds, looking at nature and generally feeling at one with the universe.


On Sunday mornings, we’d awake with hangovers from beer and general substance abuse, have a monstrous fried breakfast and wander down and ride the Shockwave rollercoaster, before the tourists arrived. If you managed not to throw up on the other passengers, the weekend was deemed to be a success for all. Especially the kids who’d just arrived to ride the ‘coaster.


The Shockwave was ok, but you have move elsewhere in Staffordshire, to Alton Towers, for my favourites, both now deceased. In the number two slot was The Black Hole, but my all time fave was The Thunderlooper. Seen here in 1991..




And a lovingly recreated ‘point of view’ computer simulation..






5 comments:

Piley said...

Never been a fan of the rollercoaster... maybe it's my 6ft 4 frame crammed into the tiny pod, maybe it's the 4 day long queue to get on the damn things or maybe (just maybe) i'm a bit of a wuss!

Not sure who said it now, but i'm sure some wag suggested going to the hardware store and buying a couple of the biggest 'nuts and bolts' you could find. Remove the nuts from the bolts and throw the lot at the foot of the rollercoaster and then look all worried...

P

Kolley Kibber said...

Even reading about those things makes the soles of my feet start to hurt.

Jon Peake said...

I loooooooooove a rollercoaster. The runaway train at Tivoli Gardens was the year before last was the last one I went on. I scream like a girl, it's brilliant.

I've been on them all. The backwards Indiana Jones one at Disneyworld is a corker, and of course the completely in the dark Space Mountain is the pinnacle.

But do you always worry cubs are going to be sick on you?

Matthew Rudd said...

Rollercoasters are fantastic. The first time I went to Alton Towers the Black Hole was closed for repairs; the second time I went my primary school head banned us all from going on it as there had been a big accident on it a week before. So by the time I did get on it, I was gagging to know what it was like. A rather unflattering photo of me and my friend Karl on said rollercoaster still exists somewhere.

Bright Ambassador said...

I shat myself on one of those caterpillar rides with my niece once. So, no, I'm not a rollercoaster freak.
I love a ghost train though, does that count?

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