Trip Reports
August 2001
Trip Reports
August 2001
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Photo: First Drop |
FANTASTIC! That's the word that jumps to mind.
This was my first trip to Oakwood and after reading, seeing and hearing so much about the trip, park and a certain wooden coaster I had high hopes for the weekend.
We arrived at the park at 18:30 and a group soon formed round our tent to admire our tent erecting skills. Ooooohhhs and aaaaaahhhs came from the audience whilst they marvelled at the speed we put the Martian Mansion up. I brought along an inflatable "guard sheep" for our tent but unfortunately Richard Davis showed his true colours as a Chelsea fan and kicked the sheep so hard it split! No more guard sheep...
After putting the tent up in record time it was time to go and break my Megafobia "duck". A reasonably large group of us made our way to the ride, queued up and eventually I was afforded the luxury of taking my maiden voyage on the back seat, albeit of the green train.
I was quite nervous during the climb up the lift hill, not because I was scared but more because I was worried that it wouldn't meet my expectations. I was thinking that it would slot into my number 2 position behind ThunderCoaster... I'll not bore you with a ride commentary but when I got off the ride I was disappointed. The whole thing seemed sluggish and there were only two places where I got noticeable airtime. The laterals were weak and the whole thing left me wondering what all the fuss was about. Justin and Richard said that it was running slow so I decided to reserve judgement until the end of the weekend. Not an encouraging start though...
We then sat down and watched the excellent show including a great firework display before returning to the camp site at 10pm for a few drinks...
Some people decided to booze until the early hours of the morning... I was not one of them because being the good boy I am I went to bed to at 11pm sharp with a mug of hot chocolate... (Ed: I think not!)
After about 4 hours of booze induced sleep, which someone must have fed it me intravenously during the night, Justin and I made our way to meet the non-campers who were joining us for the day.
The ERS on Snake River falls started at 9am and a competition to hit the crash mat at the end of the ride soon became popular. A few people managed it but there didn't seem to be any particular way of guaranteeing that you'd make the end. Others got absolutely soaked 'cos their mats got stuck half-way down... tee hee!
At the end of the ERS we made our bookings on Vertigo (Sky Coaster) before enjoying the torrential rain that graced the park for an hour or so!
Fortunately the weather improved during the afternoon and by the time of the BBQ it was glorious. I'd like to thank Jim and his helpers for providing such excellent food. Also, Stuart Wright's chilli was supreme... Poor old Jim suffered for the rest of the trip with smoke inhalation and sore eyes...
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Photo: Tom Marshall |
At 10pm we made our way to the Bounce for the first of our two ERS's in the dark. After a few teething problems, i.e. ECC members having eaten too much, the Bounce ERS got under way. There were a few "strange" programs on offer and also Paddy (the park's owner) fiddled around with the compressors to give us an extra kick. All great fun!
Next up was the 'Fobia ERS... I'd ridden 'Fobia again during the day and it had improved dramatically from Friday. It was heading toward the number 2 spot...
The ERS was magical. There were no lights apart from the full moon. The ride was flying and using the customary 'Fobia one-click lap-bar setting it transformed itself into a standup coaster in places. At last I'd experienced the proper 'Fobia! It was full of airtime and laterals. The "kink section" was something else as well... needless to say that it now is firmly in my number 2 place and nearly overtook TC! We decided to introduce the "Emma Challenge". For those that don't know Emma Wilson, she has the habit of laughing and giggling ALL the way round rides. It's very loud and very funny! We challenged her to keep quite during the ride whilst we laughied and giggled instead. Emma failed but we won! Also, Mark Riley provided some of us with ear defenders whenever we rode near her. Cheers mate it saved my hearing!
The group retired back to the camp site for a "not as late as last night boozing session"!!!
Sunday morning brought campsite dismantling and good-byes. A few more rides on 'Fobia and another SkyCoaster coaster ride with Mark and Emma Wilson topped off a perfect weekend.
It was great to see old friends again and meet new ones. There was a great crowd there this year!
I'd like to thank Justin and Liz for their organizational excellence. Thanks are also due to Paddy, Pete (the ride-op during the ERS's), Jim, Kev, Terry Lyon, Stuart Wright and anyone else I've forgotten.
One last thing is I must mention Paddy (the park owner). I'd never met him before but all I can say about him is that he is insane. Some of the stories he told us whilst chatting seem unbelievable until you realise that they're backed up with evidence... I'm sure he views the park as his personal playground, in fact the park should be called Paddy's Playground rather than Oakwood! I feel that with him in charge Oakwood can only go on to bigger and better things.
Great trip, next years will be even madder. Guaranteed.
As always another great weekend/trip - somehow there are always more highlights on those weekends - The video was a laugh - Can't wait to see the rest of the "series"! (Ed: One of the highlights of the weekend was Paddy's "Safety Video")
For the "Crystal Maze" - The "ECC-ERS" (Myself, Tom M, Stephen Davies, Lee Sullivan and Steve Hill) ended up 7th. And that was on the Fiendish (almost impossible) Level!!!!
While we're on the subject of Oakwood, I must add my thanks aswell to all who organised all the fun, and especially to Tom M for letting me stay round his place during the trip.
The ERS' were excellent, food was good, and Megafobia is absolutely magical. It's now joint top in my wooden coaster top ten along with Thundercoaster. I just can't decide which is better, TC's 2nd drop, or MF's relentless almost non-stop airtime.
Definately going back for some more MF mayhem.
Roll on next year!
Again, I won't over-dwell on the points raised earlier, but just to add my thanks to John, Justin, Liz, Merchandise Team, Paddy and all staff at Oakwood etc for such a great weekend (as usual).
As myself and Susan are allergic to camping (apparently!), we missed out on the excitement in the field at night. Instead we had to slum it in a nearby B & B (boo hiss, I hear you all cry).
Our highlights included:-
-The Oakwood Safety film (amazingly funny - and gave an insight as to why
Megafobia took slightly longer to build than anticipated!)
-BBQ (all praise to smokey-eyed James for the cooking and Stuart Wright (for
his amazing chilli and tandoori chicken)
-The over-banked Reliant Robin session
-Megafobia at night (nuff said)
My only disappointment was that I was feeling very unwell late Saturday night which meant that I was unable to ride Megafobia much during the ERS. After picking-up a flu-type illness last Wednesday I managed to keep this under control with Ibruprofen, however on Saturday night just after the BBQ I became very ill, shaking with chills and suffering from the most intense head and back ache I have ever experienced. Every time I moved my head it was agony (pain down my spine, intense pain behind the eyes and throughout my head).
Immediately after the BBQ I rode Megafobia, and the pain on each drop was so intense I thought I would pass out. I tried a couple of rides at the start of the ERS to see if it had improved, but it hadn't. Instead I helped operate the ride (station brakes) as it was something I hadn't done before. It helped cheer me, but watching trains of members enjoying late night riding on one of my favourite coasters was emotionally difficult when I couldn't ride through fear of the pain. At the end of the ERS I jumped into the front seat of the last train, as I so much wanted to take part in the excitement of the ERS. I guess I shouldn't have ridden at all! Everyone who knows me will testify that I am not one to miss out on ride time, so I just wanted to explain why I didn't join in.
Looking forward to next year at Paddy's Playground!
I just wanted to add my thanks and appreciation to all those involved in organising a brilliant weekend a Oakwood. Although I have been an ECC member for some 3 years this was my first ever club trip, and it exceeded all expectations!
Thanks again guys and gals! Looking forward to the next one already.
First of all What A Park! Very compact and beautiful, not what i was expecting at all!
Arrived at about 9:55 on Friday, just erected the Eco Warrior transit awning when everyone else arrived back from the fireworks,
I then decided to join a few hardened alcoholics in a drinking session before finally pouring myself into the van at (so I'm advised by AJW) 3:20am - she'd hit the sack at 11. Steve, I blame you and that Japanese Lager. (John I'm sure You were later than 11, and it wasn't hot chocolate!!!)
First ride the next day (after the ERS & Vertigo booking) was 'Fobia and It lived upto what I'd heard and more, later in the day it was flying! WOW!!! I now have an new number one woodie! - Just wish AJW could have ridden, I'm sure she would have one too!
Enjoyed the Crystal Maze, I remember it from The sandcastle at Blackpool, when I used to always pay a visit, nice to have another go, Myself, Annette, Optimus, "mad" Emma,and "The Saint" ended up with 204 point putting us 10th overall, narrowly beaten by Justin's team who ended up with (I think) 217.
The barbecue was great, although I only managed a tiny spoon of Stuart's Chilli, what I did taste was excellent,
Then off to the park for more riding and an excellent firework display with some nice use of back lighting on 'Fobia's track.
Loved the ERS's at night although the "scenic" ride on bounce would have been nice with a fast pull down instead of the slow drop back to earth. The burgers were a nice touch too, Although I was already "burgered out" from the BBQ.
All to soon the ERS's ended and it was back to the camp site for a few "quieter" beers before climbing back into the mirth mobile at 1:30am, after achieving last man standing with Steve B.
All to soon it was over, and it was time for the ride home.
2 particular high lights for me were my first Skycoaster, along with Terry and a very nervous Tony all I can say is thank god they mic'ed up Terry and not me! the other highlight was Justin riding Oakwoods first Inverter (or was that just over-banking??) VERY funny!
Anyway, cant wait for next year, I keep on saying "beat that" after every trip I attend, and some how, those involved keep on doing so!!
Special thanks (in no particular order) to John the Trip Admin (and Hangover) God, Justin & Liz the sorting things at Oakwood Gods, James the BBQ God, Terry the Generator God (NO a 1kw Genny wont take a 2Kw kettle!!!), Steve the Kirin Lager God, Rich, Optimus, Emma & Steve the staying up later than me on Friday Gods, Paddy & Oakwood's Staff the Hospitality Gods, Stuart the chilli God, - even if i only had a little taste!! and every other God I forgot to mention, oh and my mate Daz at HSS for the free light rental,
See you all on the next one!
See the full photo album Here