When I was a GP...

Before you became an enthusiast and really began picking up knowledge of roller coasters, have you ever said/believed/thought any absurdly stupid things about rides (a.k.a. GP-isms)?

When I was a GP:
-I frequently got Vampire and T2 confused with one another at KK
-around when Chang came out, I thought it was the longest roller coaster in the world.
-I assumed coasters with lap bars never go upside down and that such a thing is unsafe
-I thought roller coasters were either driven or had some kind of power on the track to make them go
-I wondered why regular sit downs never had vertical loops with rails on the outside and I genuinely thought it might be a fun idea.
-I read the description about Nitro at SFGAdv in a magazine and it was described as "no holds barred" and I took it to mean that the ride would have no restraints. Yes, I thought that they somehow allowed a B&M hypercoaster to not have any restraints.
-I refused to go on any non-kiddie coasters or any big thrill rides either because they were intimidating or because I thought they were puke machines. Even mid-sized wooden coasters like Thunder Run were deemed "puke machines" to me. Not that I got motion sickness easily. More like I was that deathly afraid of puking.

[Turbo]

When I was a kid I thought all rollercoasters were built by the parks themselves, not individual contractors. I also thought all tunnels were unsafe, trains were powered like cars and not by gravity, flying coaster restraints opened midride often, there was only 1 six flags, wooden coasters didn't use ANY metal on it (including screws and nails). Luckily I was a pretty withdrawn kid so my inaccuracies never escaped my lips.

When I was a GP, I thought all wooden coasters were unsafe. Then again, I had only been on one, and it was the old Rattler....

When I was a GP The words, "Vekoma, Bolliger & Mabillard, and Intamin." were completely alien.

I used to think that to build them completely in a factory, and then crane the whole thing into place.
I also used to think that flanges were just for decoration and thought that the sound of the anti-rollback was the chain rattling.

When I was really small, I found the lapbar for Anton's "Shuttle Loop" stupid, because there was a noticeable gap between my body and the restraint! I was crying like "I think I would die, die, die! AHHH!!!!" xD The present me "G-Forces are helping me! I'm relieved! Yay so much fun!"

When I was GP, I thought the New York New York Roller Coaster in Las Vegas was World Class! Boy was I wrong! TOGO!!!!

[mkingy]

Bouncypip11 wrote:

I used to think that to build them completely in a factory, and then crane the whole thing into place.

Haha this is fantastic!

I don't remember much of my GP life - I suspect I had similar ideas and thoughts as the rest of you!

Out of my list of when I was GP..

- I always thought that you had to be 'old enough' for roller coasters, rather than height.
- I thought the classic madhouse actually went upside down.
- I used to think that any steel coaster had the ability to go upside down.
- I always thought that wooden coasters were always unsafe.
- One time I punched the ride op when they wouldn't let me go on the 'big' coasters. (too short)
- I used to think that if I was nice to ride ops, I would be able to operate the roller coasters. (I tried)
- I thought there were such things as coasters with 'jumps'. (Going from one set of tracks to another).
- I thought that every time I went on tower of terror, it actually broke down but repaired itself before killing me. (Main drop area).
- I thought Tower of terror was a real elevator when I first rode it.
- Used to think that there were real ghosts in haunted mansion WDW.

Note these were from when I was around 6-10 year's old.

Another funny note, I used to put a bunch of foam and stuff into my shoes so I was taller to get on bigger rides.

Tower of Terror is a real elevator. It's just glorified to hell.

[TTD03]

When I was a GP, I knew nothing, always thought parks made coasters themselves and I thought Dragster launched itself automatically when it was ready to go!

When I was GP I thought every ride was brand new from the factory and planned, built and and opened only that one off season for the next year

[TTD03]

^ Yep, totally thought that too.

When I was a GP, you couldn't get me to even consider riding a coaster. I also remember that I thought that roller coasters were powered by an engine and that you could get stuck upside down if the power went out. I'm glad those days are over.

[Oscar]

When I was a GP I feared the roller coaster would stall in the loop because I thought gravity would make it fall and land on our heads

-I thought Corkscrew (CP) and Rockin' Roller coaster had headbanging because I was barely 48 in.
-I believed all YouTube videos about new rides. (RMC Mean Streak Confirmed!)
-I thought Mean Streak was a world class ride.

These were all from around age 8 or 9

I thought Behemoth was the tallest coaster in the world when I was younger and refused to listen to anyone who told me it was Kingda Ka. Ignorance is bliss

Also I thought Vekoma Boomerangs were smooth.

I was never a GP.

Lie^

[Paradox]

^

My first words as a baby were "Arrow Dynamics is slowly going out of business and if CCI doesn't change their game, they share the same fate." So... just a little bit further ahead of the game than you guys are, so...

When I was a GP I didn't realize I was part of the GP

I can't be the only one who thought that you could actually lose your hands on those headchoppers

[Paradox]

I thought Bizarro's second hill was too high and the train would fly off with the amount of speed it has from the first drop.

^^ I thought this too