|
Most coasters lose the ability to scare you after the first ride, which is a shame. One of the rare exceptions was Steel Phantom. I rode Steel Phantom a few days after it opened in 1991, and it kicked my ass and scared me off hypers for the next 10 years. But Steel Phantom was too good for this world, and in its place we have Phantoms revenge. With about 65% of the intensity of its forbear, its still plenty intense. The second drop into the ravine is a relgious experience for the airtime devotee. Unlike the biggest hill on most hypers, you go into this one at speed. Ive had the sensation of freefalling most of the way down and then feeling the seat rise up to meet me on the pullout into the fan turn. The ride back to the station looks deceptively tame. However, the ejector airtime is seismic, right up to the break run. Its all over pretty quickly, but theres not a dull moment to be had. Also of note is the rolling stock, which is the roller coaster equivalent of a Ricardo Montalban era Chrysler Cordova: comfortable, roomy, and luxuriously appointed with rich Corinthian leather and karate chop lap bars. Is Phantoms Revenge an improvement over Steel Phantom? Its certainly more rideable, and the American Back Societys loss is probably Kennywoods gain. But I, for one, never did conquer Steel Phantom, and like every skinny high school kid who ever got shoved into a locker, Ill always regret never having another crack at settling the score.
|