RCCGB Loopathon 2014 (Day 2)

Date: Sunday 12 October 2014
Venue: Drayton Manor Park
Who Went: Me and a large number of other RCCGB members, including Andy Hine, Alan Chilvers, Big Stevie B, Dave Perry, Death, Debra Boggis, Doug, Charlie, Emily and Lizzie, Emerald Evans, Gareth Preece, Happy Helen, Lucy Cosnett, Mary (Regatta) and Andy Knight, Matt Walker, Planenut, Ryan Hackett, Scott Easter, Sophia Jones, Wendy Evans.

DISCLAIMER: The above is NOT intended to be an exhaustive list of everyone who attended. It's a small sample of attendees; mainly those I spoke to and/or rode with at Drayton Manor Park. I sincerely apologise to anyone I've not listed.

N.B. Any use of "today" in this report means Sunday 12 October 2014.

Rationale For Trip

The RCCGB's annual two day autumn event to mark the end of the coaster season: Alton Towers on the Saturday and Drayton Manor Park on the Sunday. This was my second time of attending Loopathon day 2 (Drayton Manor Park), and my fourth Loopathon attendance overall since joining the RCCGB in March 2005.

Sunday First Thing

I awoke at 6:45, in order that I could get ready and go downstairs for an early breakfast around 7:45. For breakfast I had cereal, orange juice, a pot of coffee, and a full English breakfast. Just after 8:20 Planenut was waiting outside to give me a lift to Drayton Manor Park. It was foggy at the time.

Welcome To Drayton Manor Park

When Planenut and I reached Drayton Manor Park just after 8:30, we went straight into the Tower Suite where everyone was waiting. Coffee and cookies were available, so I had a cup of coffee and a cookie. During this time I met and spoke to several other members including Emerald Evans, Big Stevie B, Doug, Charlie, Emily and Lizzie, Death and Gareth Preece. Just before it was time to go into the Park I met and spoke to Happy Helen and Sophia Jones. Shortly after 9:30 the Club entered the Park, it was still foggy at the time.

Apocalypse ERS

The day began with an ERS on the tall drop tower Apocalypse. Normally there are three ride options: sit down, stand up with floor, stand up no floor. Unfortunately on this occasion, stand up no floor was out of action, but the other two ride options were available. Naturally I was disappointed at not being able to ride stand up no floor, but was nonetheless keen to try the other two available options. In all cases, a large clasp comes down, locks on to the top of the rider unit and pulls the rider unit to the top of the tower. After a short delay the rider unit is released for a freefall drop.

Sit down

I began with the easy option: sit down. Whilst queuing I noticed the time was around 9:45. Once seated, the harness was pulled down and the ride unit was raised to the top. The ascent was quite a scary experience, I wondered if the ride unit really would reach the top of the tower. On a clear day one would be able to see for miles whilst momentarily at the top, but since it was foggy it was impossible to see anything ahead of me, and even the ground immediately below was somewhat hazed. The freefall drop was quite scary, but I remained quiet during the ride.

Stand Up With Floor

I was now keen to try the stand up with floor option. There was just a narrow saddle (similar to a bicycle saddle) to fit between my legs whilst standing, and a harness to hold me in place. The ride unit tilted forwards a little at the start of its ascent, which made the ride experience somewhat scarier. Having reached the top, the drop was considerably more frightening in the standing position. I ended up having three goes in this position.

Summary of my rides on Apocalypse this ERS: Sit down 1, Stand up with floor 3. Did anyone beat me on that?

Morning Freetime

When the ERS ended, members dispersed around Drayton Manor Park taking over the rides. Planenut and I headed for Pandemonium.

Pandemonium

A Fabbri 360° swinging inverter ride. There are two vertical arms which pivot about a central point. At the base of each arm are four back-to-back sets of seats (four seats per direction per set). That amounts to a total of 32 seats per arm. Planenut and I happened to be in one of the outermost rows, and thus not facing anyone opposite us. Riders are held in by an over-the-shoulder restraint, plus a secondary harness. Once everyone was secured, the arms began swinging a little way forwards and backwards, then further forwards and backwards, until they reached high obtuse angles each direction. Eventually the arms went right over the top to send riders through a complete rotation; that meant being upside down momentarily whilst passing over the top. Towards the end the swings gradually got smaller and smaller until the ride stopped. Altogether a mega fun ride, but once was enough for me for now. As it happened, I never returned to this later in the day.

Maelstrom

An Intamin large gyro swing, which swings and spins. The seats face outwards. Whilst queuing there seemed to be a problem with the ride, as it was empty and stationary for several minutes. After a while the operator did a test run. Meanwhile I spoke to Ryan Hackett and Nev in the queue. Also I spoke to Scott Easter whom I don't recall seeing on previous Club trips; I was surprised to discover he was wearing a blue Team Bath hoody, made by Surridge. Eventually Maelstrom was ready for riding again. When I got on, Wendy Evans sat to the right of me, and Lucy Cosnett sat to the right of her. As expected, the ride set off swinging and spinning for a few minutes, until it slowed down and stopped. Altogether a fun and enjoyable ride, but once was enough for me. No way could I take two goes straight off!

Shockwave

So far I hadn't been on any roller coasters, so as a RCCGB member booked on this trip I felt time was overdue for me to ride one of Drayton Manor's five coasters. This Intamin AG Stand-Up Coaster has been operating since 1994. It is currently the only stand-up coaster in Europe. I was surprised to find such a big coaster was walk-on when I approached it late morning. I stood in the front row. The train set off up the lift hill, around a vertical loop, another inversion and a double corkscrew before returning to the station. Altogether a mega fun ride, my first go on a roller coaster today.

Having exited the ride I returned to its entrance thirsty for a second go. Once again I stood in the front row, this time on the far left perch. Thus I was standing slightly to the left of the left rail as the train travelled the track from start to finish.

Air Race

New for 2014, this Zamperla ride has horizontal spokes radiating from a central cone. At the end of each spoke is an arm with an aeroplane at its end, and a pivot point connecting the arm's midpoint to the spoke end. The lower central cone, with its radiating spokes, spins clockwise. After a while the arms with the planes at their ends start rotating around the arm's midpoint. Hence riders in the planes go sideways and upside-down as well as upright whilst travelling clockwise relative to the ground. When I approached this ride around midday I was in two minds about riding it. Anyway, after watching it, I decided to give it a go, on the grounds that about four hours had now passed since my cooked breakfast, and I still had half an hour before I was due to go for lunch. Having joined the queue and waited three runs, it was my turn to ride; I got into plane number 5, which is red. The ride sensation when I was going sideways and upside-down was unusual to say the least! Presumably that motion is intended to simulate an aeroplane somersaulting in flight. On the whole, it was great for me to try this ride out, but I'm glad the ride duration wasn't any longer. One go on this was enough for me for now.

Troublesome Trucks Runaway Coaster

One of the rides in Thomas Land, this Gerstlauer Junior-Coaster has been operating since March 2008. Although only a family coaster, and a rather tame ride, I just as keen to ride it as the other coasters around the Park, as my goal was to ride all five coasters at least once each. One ride consists of two laps. Altogether Troublesome Trucks is a coaster which is small, but fun. I only had one go as it was now lunchtime.

Lunch

At 12:30 members exited the Park and went to the Tower Suite for lunch. When I got there around 12:40 there was a really long queue for the buffet table. I joined the back of the queue and in the first ten minutes it hardly moved. I finally reached the table about twenty minutes after joining the queue. A selection of Indian food was available; I had tandoori chicken with masala sauce, vegetable curry and Bombay potatoes. I also put mango chutney, a slice of ham and some salad on my plate.

Having filled my plate I had difficulty finding a vacant seat, but I found one eventually. I ended up sitting on the same table as Scott Easter, Lucy Cosnett and Wendy Evans, and we all had plenty to discuss whilst enjoying our main course. Souvenir mugs bearing the Drayton Manor Park logo, RCCGB logo and date of the visit were on each table for members to members to take home, one per member. Although souvenir mugs were given during the Loopathon 2013 visit to Drayton Manor Park (which I didn't attend), I thought that was a one-off gift to commemorate the RCCGB's 25th anniversary in 2013, and didn't expect us to be given mugs again this year.

Of course a meal is not complete without a dessert, so having finished my main course I went to the dessert table. Members had a choice of banana crumble and custard, or some sort of coulis (served in tiny pots). I chose crumble and custard, as that looked the more substantial option; it was really delicious. As if that wasn't enough, everyone was given a glass of champagne (or orange juice if preferred). Again, I never expected that; it's my first known time of being given champagne on a RCCGB trip.

David Bromilow gave a speech about the Park and its rides, and answered some members' questions, including the future of the Buffalo Coaster. Everyone was asked to raise their glasses as a toast, however many members including me had finished their champagne by now, and thus raised empty glasses! Afterwards there was an auction of a hand-drawn Drayton Manor Park map, and some giant cuddly toys. Altogether the auction raised over £300 for charity.

Afternoon Freetime

Around 14:20 I re-entered the Park and resumed riding.

Ben 10 - Ultimate Mission

The first ride I approached after lunch was Ben 10 - Ultimate Mission. This Vekoma Junior Boomerang began operating at Drayton Manor Park in April 2011. This is still the only such model in the UK. I walked through the heavily themed arcade. Shortly after the entrance, you loop around an area with touch screens. Presumably those are to amuse riders when the queue tails back that far. Further on you go through a section with multi-coloured flashing lights. Are they really necessary? Eventually I found the back of the queue, which was thankfully quite short. Unfortunately there was a problem, and riders were kept waiting whilst the fault was being fixed. Momentarily I considered going on something else for now and returning to Ben 10 later, but I kept waiting.

After several minutes Ben 10 was running again, and after one train load of riders had completed their go, I was able to get on the train. The coaster itself is entirely outside. The train was pulled backwards to the top of a hill, released and went around its course until it reached the top of another hill the other end. After that it had to travel backwards the way it had come. On the return journey it overshot the station to go up the hill, and had to travel forwards again to terminate at the station. I sat in the back row. A fun ride, but tame compared to the much larger Boomerang at Pleasure Island Cleethorpes which I rode in summer 2010. I was going to have another go, but once again I heard an announcement regarding further delays, so I backed off this time.

Stormforce 10

A variation on a log flume, the boats seat several riders. You have to go upstairs to reach the platform. Riders are warned they will get very wet on this ride, which is why I donned my all-in-one splashsuit before getting into the boat. The boat set off downhill from the station, around a u-bend, around a spiral and up a lift hill to a dead end. The boat was now on a turntable, which rotated the boat to go down another slope backwards! As expected there was a mighty splash at the bottom. The boat was now on another turntable, which rotated the boat again, to continue forwards along the rest of the journey. The boat continued forwards, around a u-bend, up another lift hill (taller than the previous one), around two bends to the left and down a drop, to create an even bigger splash. Finally the boat completed its journey with two more bends to the left and a final climb back to the station. Wow, a mega fun ride, it's much more than your average log flume (the likes of the one at Flambards). One go was enough for me though.

When I removed my splashsuit afterwards I noticed a wet patch where some water had gone through the bottom of the front zip during the ride, but at least I was nowhere near as wet as those who were foolish enough to ride Stormforce 10 without any wet weather gear.

Shockwave

Back to the stand-up coaster Shockwave. Just like this morning, Shockwave was still walk-on. This time I stood in the far right position of the front row, therefore I was slightly to the right of the right rail as the train travelled the track from start to finish. Afterwards I returned to the entrance for a second go, this time I stood in the far right position of the third row. This was my final go of the day on Shockwave.

At this point I met Scott Easter and Lucy Cosnett again by Air Race. Scott queued for Air Race, but Lucy didn't fancy riding it when she watched it in motion. I decided not to go on it as my one go before lunch was enough for one day.

The Bounty

A swinging pirate ship, need I say more? There was no queue for this when I approached it. I would have liked to have sat in an end row for maximum excitement, but both end rows were occupied. The second row in from one end was empty, so I sat there, as I saw that as the next best thing to an end row. A mega fun ride, but once was enough for me; I'm not sure my body could have stuck two goes straight off.

Flying Dutchman

A variation on a chair-o-plane; this features small blue boats on the ends of wires hanging from a central carousel. The carousel spins clockwise, and the boats are forced outwards, just like on a chair-o-plane. Another fun ride, but again, one go was enough for me on this.

Whilst riding this I noticed Happy Helen and Sophia Jones riding Pandemonium.

Buffalo Coaster

This Zamperla Buffalo Coaster is a powered coaster. It has been operating since 1987, which makes it the oldest coaster currently operating at Drayton Manor Park. One go consists of two laps. The circuit is quite long, however it doesn't rise and fall much, and there are no inversions. When I approached this late afternoon I only had to wait a couple of runs to get on it. Although tame, this was worth riding to add to my total ride count for the day. I only had one go on this. Although I would have liked another go, I wanted to fit in other rides before closing time.

Jolly Buccaneer

Boats at the ends of spokes which are attached to a central ring. Each boat has a sail to complete the pirate theming. When the ride starts the boats at the ends of their spokes go up and down as well as round and round clockwise. Presumably the up and down motion is to simulate sailing rough seas. Although a rather tame ride, it was still great fun, and worth one go to say I'd been on it today.

Closing time was getting rather close now, so I went into Thomas Land to have as many rides as I could.

Jeremy's Flying Academy

One of the rides in Thomas Land, this features planes on spokes which travel around the central point. I had a plane to myself. By touching a lever it's possible to make the plane go up as it travels around the central point. Another fun ride, albeit a rather tame one. I only had one go on this.

Cranky's Drop Tower

Another Thomas Land ride, this is a mini drop tower. The seats are arranged on a circular seating unit surrounding the tower. Once everyone was harnessed in, the seat unit rose and fell several times, but I didn't bother counting how many rises and falls there were. Naturally this felt tame compared to Apocalypse this morning, but it was nonetheless a fun ride. I only had one go on this.

Rocking Bulstrode

There was just time for me to have one more ride in Thomas Land during normal opening. Unlike a normal pirate ship, this swings and spins about a central base pivot, in the same manner as the Zamperla Rock 'n' Tug I've ridden at various other parks. A fun ride to round off normal opening time. There was only time for me to have one go as the rides closed shortly after I left, but even if there had been time for more goes, I don't think I could ride this twice straight off due to the way it works.

Evening ERS

Now that the Park had officially closed, it was time for our evening ERS. The RCCGB had exclusive use of three coasters for an hour: G-Force, Troublesome Trucks Runaway Coaster, Ben 10 - Ultimate Mission.

Troublesome Trucks Runaway Coaster

Being as I was already in Thomas Land, it made sense for me to start the ERS with Troublesome Trucks Runaway Coaster. I enjoyed two goes, both of which were in the back row.

G-Force

This Maurer Söhne X-Car Vertical coaster has been operating since July 2005, and is still one of only two coasters of this model operating worldwide. You have to go up a few flights of stairs to get to the platform. The train sets off downhill whilst going around a bend. Having reached the bottom of the initial descent the train climbs the lift hill, which unusually continues part way up and around the first vertical loop. After that first loop you go uphill again, and down, around another vertical loop, up and over (upside-down), barrel roll to become upright again, downhill, up around a u-bend to the left and down again (staying upright through that bend), up again and back to the station. I was surprised how quiet this ride was for an ERS, after most of my goes I ended up being able to step on to the exit platform and back on to the train (choosing a different row) because so few people were waiting for it. Altogether I clocked up nine goes as follows:

Unknown row
Back row with Planenut (I was in the right seat)
Third row from back
Third row from front
Back row with Planenut (I was in the left seat)
Second row from front
Second row from back
Front row left seat
Back row on the final train of the day

Altogether another great ERS. I'm really overjoyed I began with Troublesome Trucks Runaway Coaster, because it got stuck on the lift hill after I had switched to riding G-Force. I did exceptionally well to get nine goes on G-Force; judging by the number of trip attendees still present for the evening ERS, I didn't expect to get that many goes on it. It's not very often I get that many goes on one coaster in one ERS. Admittedly I didn't ride Ben 10 - Ultimate Mission during the ERS, but never mind; at least I had one go on it immediately after lunch.

Summary of my rides this ERS: Troublesome Trucks Runaway Coaster 2, G-Force 9. Did anyone beat me on that?

Final Send-Off

Everyone assembled in a circle near Thomas Land for Hokey Cokey. We did three verses: 1) left arm in / out, 2) right arm in / out, and 3) whole self in / out. Is there any reason why the Club doesn't do the whole song (left arm, right arm, left leg, right leg, whole self). At the end first timers were called into the centre to form a small circle facing outwards for the group hug. This officially marked the end of the 2014 coaster season, at least as far as RCCGB trips are concerned. During this time I wore my pink "Coaster Crazy Kid on Tour!" hi-vis waistcoat over my 43rd birthday T-shirt, several other members liked seeing me wearing both of those together.

Finally everyone headed out of Drayton Manor Park. On the way out there was a beautiful red sunset. This was well photographed by many members, especially the sunset scene across the lake. I spoke to a few other members one final time, including Scott and Doug. Back at the car park members said their last goodbyes before heading home.

Summary of my day in order of activity

Welcome at Tower Suite

Morning ERS: Apocalypse 4 (Sit down 1, Stand up with floor 3)

Pandemonium 1
Maelstrom 1
Shockwave 2
Air Race 1
Troublesome Trucks Runaway Coaster 1

Lunch at Tower Suite

Ben 10 - Ultimate Mission 1
Stormforce 10 1
Shockwave 2
The Bounty 1
Flying Dutchman 1
Buffalo Coaster 1
Jolly Buccaneer 1
Jeremy's Flying Academy 1
Cranky's Drop Tower 1
Rocking Bulstrode 1

Evening ERS: Troublesome Trucks Runaway Coaster 2, G-Force 9

Hokey cokey and group hug

Cumulative Summary of My Rides (ERSs and Freetime Combined)

Ride	Total
Air Race	1
Apocalypse	4
Ben 10 - Ultimate Mission	1
Buffalo Coaster	1
Cranky's Drop Tower	1
Flying Dutchman	1
G-Force	9
Jeremy's Flying Academy	1
Jolly Buccaneer	1
Maelstrom	1
Pandemonium	1
Rocking Bulstrode	1
Shockwave	4
Stormforce 10	1
The Bounty	1
Troublesome Trucks Runaway Coaster	3
TOTAL	32

Journey Home

At 18:30 Planenut took me to Birmingham International. Having said goodbye to him I caught the late-running 18:53 train to Birmingham New Street. When I arrived there at 19:22 I wanted to get a burger and fries from Burger King in the station concourse, but a member of staff told me that no longer exists. Fortunately I managed to find a McDonalds just a few minutes' walk from the station. I chose large Quarter Pounder with cheese meal and a strawberry sundae. My only dilemma was whether to consume my order on the premises or back at the station. I ate my burger and fries on the premises, but having finished them, the time was 19:50, so I felt it would be in my best interest to take my sundae and rest of my drink back to the station and consume them there. After finishing my sundae and drink, there was still time for me to buy a takeaway cup of coffee in the station to take on to the 20:12 train to Bristol Temple Meads. The journey to Bristol took longer than expected, because after Gloucester the train was diverted via Lydney and Chepstow to Severn Tunnel Junction, and through the Severn Tunnel to Patchway and Bristol Temple Meads. Having reached Bristol Temple Meads I had just a few minutes wait for the 22:15 train to Bath Spa, and got there at 22:29.

Outro

Highlights

Meeting members I'd met on previous Club trips again.
Morning ERS on Apocalypse in the fog.
Re-riding the five coasters (Shockwave, Troublesome Trucks Runaway Coaster, Ben 10 - Ultimate Mission, Buffalo Coaster, G-Force) which I first rode during Loopathon 2011.
High overall ride count (ERSs and normal time combined).
Delicious and filling two-course lunch at Towers Suite.
Evening ERS on Troublesome Trucks Runaway Coaster and G-Force.
Hokey Cokey and group hug at the end.

Lowlights

Apocalypse stand up no floor option unavailable (but at least I did the other two ride options during the morning ERS)

Unexpected Surprises

Seeing Scott Easter wearing a blue Team Bath hoody, made by Surridge. Although such hoodies are a common sight in Bath, I didn't expect to see anybody wearing one of those in the Midlands.
Free mugs for everyone lunchtime; I thought that was a one-off RCCGB 25th anniversary commemorative gift at Loopathon 2013, not something to be repeated in 2014.
Glass of champagne (or orange juice) lunchtime; that's the first time I've seen that happen on a RCCGB trip.

Summing Up

Another excellent trip, and a great turnout too. The weather was reasonable too, after a foggy start it was sunny from late morning, and cloudy with sunny intervals during the afternoon. It got a bit chilly late afternoon, but at least it was dry all day. It was great meeting other members including Andy Hine, Alan Chilvers, Big Stevie B, Death, Doug and his children, Emerald Evans, Lucy Cosnett, Gareth Preece, Happy Helen and Sophia Jones, Planenut, and Wendy Evans again, as well as Scott Easter whom I don't recall seeing before. It's always great to meet someone I've not seen on a previous Club trip.

Also it was great to re-ride the five roller coasters (Shockwave, Troublesome Trucks Runaway Coaster, Ben 10 - Ultimate Mission, Buffalo Coaster, G-Force) which I previously rode during Loopathon 2011. Just one point, they're all steel. Come on Drayton Manor, get some wood! The lunch was also delicious and filling, an Indian meal (accompanied by salad), plus a dessert; a vast improvement on the Loopathon 2011 (Drayton Manor) lunch. For me this trip doubled as an aftermath addition to my birthday celebrations, this time with the RCCGB, just 12 days after my birthday (30 September 2014). For that reason I deliberately wore my 43rd birthday T-shirt, which many members liked, and showed some members my birthday card certain times of the day.

Many thanks to Andy Hine for organising this trip, the ride staff for operating Apocalypse before opening and three coasters after closing, the catering staff for the delicious and filling lunch, and David Bromilow for the after-lunch speech. Thanks also to Planenut for kindly giving me lifts from Tamworth Arms to Drayton Manor Park in the morning, and Drayton Manor Park to Birmingham International in the evening.

Roll on the 2015 Blackpool Bash, I hope to be there.

Reflections

Having first joined the RCCGB in March 2005, here is my track record for Loopathon attendance in ten years of membership 2005 to 2014 inclusive:

2005 & 2006: Alton Towers only
2007 to 2010: Did not attend Loopathon at all
2011 Drayton Manor only
2012 & 2013: Did not attend Loopathon at all
2014 Drayton Manor only

So this can be summed up as:
2 x Alton Towers only (2005, 2006)
2 x Drayton Manor only (2011, 2014)
6 x Missed Loopathon altogether (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013)

After all this time, I've never attended a complete Loopathon in a single year. I really must try and make the effort to do so next year in what will be my 11th year of RCCGB membership.