[Dukeis#1]

*In order to maintain the wholesome, family atmosphere of Carowinds Connection, the above text has been removed to prevent future mis-understandings.

From 1994 Carowinds Brochure:
"NEW IN '94! WAYNE'S WORLD! Welcome to Wayne's World...a "most excellent" place where you can explore Wayne and Garth's favorite hangouts! Eat at Stan Mikita's resturant...shop at a "regal" music memorabilia store..drop by Wayne's basement. And, when your ready for some excitement, just hop on the HURLER, a giant wooden roller coaster with towering hills, hairpin turns and all the antics of Wayne's World at 50 mph! Party On!"

Other Carowinds Facts from 1994:

Paramount's Carowinds: The Only Place Thrills are Paramount!
General Admission: (Ages 7-59) $24.95
Park Opened Saturday, March 12th.
Park Closed Sunday, October 9th.
RipTide Reef and Ocean Island Wave Pool open May 14-September 5th.
Key Rides/Shows/Resturants for 1994: Paramount On Ice, Vortex, Days of Thunder, Wings themed Resturant, and Hanna Barbera Land.

[swampfox43]

I do NOT love Hurler anymore. Yes, we dated pretty heavy when I first met her in 1994 but our relationship has progressively worsened, especially over the last few years. Although we still see each other once in a while, I pretty much pass her by now. I still glance her way when I visit her home and try to remember the good ole days when we first met. The many times I would leave work and rush to her home just to ride her. Those days are gone forever. She is such a high maintenance lady and appears to be struggling in her 10th year. We did have a couple dates back in April but nothing has changed. She's still the same ole bi-polar bitch. Besides, I am dating someone new now. Her name is THUNDERHEAD!

[MarkD]

swampfox that was just sick. Good, but sick.

I have always admired her but she gets a bit to fiesty for a constant relationship.

[Dukeis#1]

"She's still the same ole bi-polar bitch"

I'm sure Hurler feels the same about you.

BTW, Thunderhead is my ho, so BACK OFF!

[swampfox43]

BTW, Thunderhead is my ho, so BACK OFF!

Hey, she can take on 24 people at once so there's room for both of us!

[montumax]

Well, I guess there goes that ERT session this year

m
thunder-head...it'll blow you away...

[swampfox43]

It's time to celebrate the Hurler's 10th Birthday! And what better way to do so than with a Hurler Love Thread! 
I Love how the Hurler has a wild, out of control feeling.  The extreme roughness adds to it.           

In all seriousness Duke, I appreciate your love for Hurler. I didn't mean to send this positive thread on a downward spiral. You are obviously much younger than I. There was a time that I liked them rough too. Loved showing off my coaster riding thigh bruises. Now, it's just too much for me. A front seat ride is about all I can handle now on Hurler. And I must admit, when she's hot, she's really HOT! The best floating air on any woodie. It's those darn turns that kill me!

[WWFFlusher]

Yeah I remember my moments wiith her in 98 and 99. I brought her out of her Hibernation. Kept her Clean every weekend. Even after our Time was over I still let her know that I was always here for her. A month ago we did have a moment togather and BOY she was really rough to me............WOW!!!!!!!!!! and I thought it was just me.

[KenB]

I don't think I've had a backseat ride on Hurler yet this year, but I've found the front to be delivering a pretty good ride lately. One thing I missed last year with the coaster running dog slow was that slam sideways coming out of the first turn as it straightens to go into the first bunny hill - on the last few rides it was there! That told me the coaster is picking up some speed vs. last season. The air has been quite good, although not what it was due to the seatbelts. I've found that those are loosening a bit, to where you can leave a bit of slack in them like you would with an adjustable belt, instead of being totally stapled by them. I think for extended floating air, I haven't ridden anything yet that quite delivers like Hurler on it's 2nd and 4th hills when it's running well.

Still, Hurler isn't my fave woodie even when it's running well, although at least it's trying to be my favorite at the park again - Thunder Road had it beat hands down last year, and they're both trying pretty hard to win me over this year, which I don't mind at all. Nothing beats Georgia Cyclone to me though - that ride doesn't like the backseat riders one bit, and seems to want to toss them off on every drop - so of course I spend as much time as possible in the back seat. Actually, you spend about half the ride above the seat, or even bouncing off the seat divider instead of in the seat. Total insanity and I love it.

I've yet to ride Thunderhead, although the reviews are making that seem to be a necessity to do that soon. I normally don't care for GCI twister coasters, since I'm an airtime ho. Gwazi and Roar @ SFA were decent enough rides but didn't have me really caring if I got re-rides or not, and I thought Thunderhead might be the same. It sounds though like it does have some airtime, and has some forces to go along with all the direction changes for a change. It sounds like a lot of people are having the same reaction I had to Georgia Cyclone on my first ride on it ("HOLY blank! What just happened?") - so I've got to give it a try myself before too long.

KenB

[carowindsfreak13]

I like Hurler but she is a rough-tough women, I mean break your spine. But We still ride together off into the sunset.

[swampfox43]

I normally don't care for GCI twister coasters, since I'm an airtime ho.  Gwazi and Roar @ SFA were decent enough rides but didn't have me really caring if I got re-rides or not, and I thought Thunderhead might be the same.  It sounds though like it does have some airtime, and has some forces to go along with all the direction changes for a change.  It sounds like a lot of people are having the same reaction I had to Georgia Cyclone on my first ride on it ("HOLY blank! What just happened?")

KenB

Ken, THUNDERHEAD cannot be compared to Georgia Cyclone in the least. Go to Dollywood with an open mind. Do not, I repeat DO NOT over anticipate this ride. You may not be blown away the first time you ride it because of all the hype (deserved hype I may add) but keep riding it. Go away and ride something else, then come back to Thunderhead. I appreciated it more and more with every ride. Yes, it beats all the other GCI coasters hands down. It is really a work of art that is as much fun to watch as it is to ride. But the airtime cannot be compared to the likes of say Ga Cyclone or Rampage.

[KenB]

Oh, I wasn't expecting it to have THAT much airtime or be that style of coaster at all, I was just commenting on how some people were saying they were disoriented and blown away by the experience, much like I had been on Georgia Cyclone my first ride. I have no delusions of getting much airtime on it at all, don't worry.

Honestly I do want to ride it to see if it lives up to the hype, and I'll go in expecting it not to like I do for everything else after a few "anticipointments" over the years. From what I've seen on RRC and elsewhere though it's pretty good, and that even the airtime freaks like myself really like the ride. I think many who don't like Roar, Gwazi etc. all that much seem to like it, so I figure I probably will too. I just don't find turns for turns sake to be that interesting (Roar) although quite interesting to look at - T-Head sounds like it has some interesting forces to go with the visuals and rides as well as it looks - we'll see.

I'm sure if I go I'll ride it several times, since there aren't that many coasters at Dollywood to share time with. I'm also not looking for too much out of Tennessee Tornado, being an Arrow after all.

KenB

[swampfox43]

I'm also not looking for too much out of Tennessee Tornado, being an Arrow after all. 

KenB

LOL! So, you've read those reports too. I really dislike Arrow coasters, and was riding Tennessee Tornado just because it was a new coaster to ride. I walked away LOVING this little gem! I'm going back to Dollywood this weekend, and probably again in June. (Me and Thunderhead ARE dating ya know).....Tip of the day: Ride Tenn Tornado in the back. Great first drop!

PS: If you haven't seen my backseat POV video of Thunderhead yet, it's posted over at Rideworld.com

<a href='http://www.rideworld.com/users/k9660r/THead_27.mov' target='_blank'>http://www.rideworld.com/users/k9660r/THead_27.mov</a>

[Cephas]

TH looks awesome! Looks like it really does beat gwazi. I might have a new favorite woodie... I it delivers in the air department...

Actually, from the video, I would think that the 2nd half of the ride is loaded with air, but I may be wrong.

[Dukeis#1]

I'm sure if I go I'll ride it several times, since there aren't that many coasters at Dollywood to share time with. I'm also not looking for too much out of Tennessee Tornado, being an Arrow after all.

One more extra tip: Don't go to Dollywood expecting thrills. Dollywood is an entertainment park, not a ride park. One should go expecting to have a themed experience, where you are totally taken to a different time & place. (Much like Disney or Busch parks.)

Just remember that, and whenever you visit the hidden gem park of the south you'll have a great expierience.