From: griswold@adoc.xerox.com (Eric Griswold)
Subject: Trip Report: Riverside, Great Escape, Coney Island
Date: 27 Jun 1994 20:48:49 GMT

Great Escape            Lake George, NY
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Steamin' Demon        S Corkscrew     Arrow                   1978/1984
Rating: -2
   This rougher than typical Arrow loop-screw has little to recommend
   it aside from its placement in the park as a draw to tourists
   driving by.  Definitely a tick-ride.

Comet                 W Dbl Out-Back  Schmeck                 1947/1994
Rating: +4
   The Comet is stuck far in back of the park.  As I walked up the
   path, I was taken by the beauty of the structure and its placement
   alongside the hill.  The day of the opening, only one train was
   being used.  The first thing I noticed is how the lift hill sped up
   as you approached the first drop.  The chain catapults you over and
   down the hill.  From there, it is a run of never ceasing speed over
   hills and dips, with good to great turnarounds and two magnificent
   lateral fakes.  The trackwork in phenomenal.  It is very, very
   smooth.  Early in the day, the ride ran fast, but it seemed to be
   hesitating more than it should.  As the day (and the on and off
   rain) continued, the Comet picked up more and more speed.  At the
   end, there were places where the Comet literally flew across the
   track, floating between the top wheels and the underwheels.  By the
   end of the season, the speed should be amazing.

   Everyone that I talked to said that the rebuilding was absolutely
   faithful to the original, allowing for the new trains and fin
   brakes.  Some even said that by the end of the day, it was running
   better than it had at Crystal Beach.  The Comet achieves both
   speed, nice forces and grace unlike any other ride I've
   encountered.  It is easy to see how a group of people (the WNYCC)
   could get so passionate about one ride.

   It was especially pleasant to watch the general public come off the
   ride.  I heard lots of instances of 'awesome' by kids, adults, men
   and women.  It shows that the successful family ride is the result
   of quality, not pedantry.

   I lost count of the number of rides I took on the Comet, but it had
   to be in the high 30s to low 40s.  There is not a bad seat on it,
   though I became partial to the back or second to the back.

   The Comet has a great new home.  It's a long way from California,
   but I hope I get the opportunity to visit it regularly.  It follows
   the path started by the people at Knoebel's who understand that
   some of the old masters (in this case, Mr. Schmeck) really knew
   what they were doing and a faithful reconstruction combined with a
   love of the ride would create some of the best attractions
   possible.  I hope the Comet proves to be very profitable for
   Mr. Charles Wood and company.

   The Comet is now #3 on my wooden favorites list. (Texas Giant and
   Phoenix occupy #1 & #2)