Let Us Begin.....Shall We?
What The Funk Is This? 
Hey! What's Going On? My name is Will Holder and welcome to the first ever edition of the Thrill Holder Blog. Now before I begin I have to get the legal mumbo jumbo out of the way. My views are mine and mine only. They in no way shape or form reflect that of the Coaster Crew, Two Guys Productions, this webmaster, or anybody else affiliated with this project. I would say that I have free speech but if I do say something that might not fly well, Clint Novak will have already deleted it anyway. What a bastard! He can be somewhat of a dictator....but we can save that for another day.
Now this blog was born out of the demand that people wanted to hear more from me. Why that is the case, I have no clue. But since the Coaster Crew and In the Loop is very personal-able, we shall meet those demands. Now I am going to be upfront with everybody right away. I have no idea what direction this will go in, so please just bear with me. There is a reason I don't post much on forums. I'm not much of a guy who puts his thoughts into words. So let's just go along for the ride.
A Little About Me!
Now since everybody will be following my wisdom from here on out, I guess it would help if you people knew a little about me. Up until now, the only little bit of Will Holder you have received has come behind the microphone or behind the camera on In the Loop. Well it's time to get personal and let you all in on the real me. Hopefully it will let you understand me more and make this blog more enjoyable for you.
I was born July 31, 1983 in Silver Spring, Maryland. I've lived in the Washington Metropolitan Area for my entire life, up until last year. Currently I callFredericksburg, Virgina home. I love D.C. though. I love it's sports teams, especially the Washington Redskins and Wizards. I love all the history and sites. The poor homeless people who sleep under newspapers on Van Dorn Street, yeah I love them too. And believe it or not, I love following the politics that goes on in this city. On TV if I'm not watching the Skins or the Wiz playing, I'm laughing at Homer and Bart, enjoying a go
od movie or loving all the action that goes on inside the squared circle. Thats a wrestling ring for you dummies out there. I've been to many wrestling shows, mostly in D.C. and Baltimore. Say what you want....oh it's not real....or oh it's really gay.....blah blah blah. I like it....brother. Besides wrestlers are the nicest celebrities you'll ever meet in real life too.
Goodbye To The Ride That Started It All!
Well now it is official that HyperSonic XLC is being removed before the start of the 2008 season at Kings Dominion. This news also closes a door on a personal chapter in my life. I used to only go to Kings Dominion once a year, twice if I was lucky. In June of 2000 I went onto what was at the
time Kings Dominion's very crude website to look up info on operating hours that day. What I saw however was a picture that said "New in 2001...HyperSonic XLC". The picture of a car going up and down 90 degree hills totally blew me away. Plus when I read that it would have a launch of 0 to 80 in 1.8 Seconds, I was speechless. Now you have to understand that at this time, I only visited Kings Dominion and Hersheypark once a year. That was the extent of my park travels. I only cared about rollercoasters if I was at the park, never speaking of them again for another year.
Now that day at the park with my family, the first hints of geekism began to show. I was actually going around the park wondering where the ride was going to go. Also believe it or not, I also was on the lookout for pieces of the ride. Looking back on that now its so funny that I was doing that at the time. It's like I secretly knew all along how to be a coaster nerd. Now for the first time ever I was siked about a ride for an entire year. All off season I was doing Internet searches, trying to find out more information on HyperSonic. I discovered many websites like Coasterbuzz and even the famous RCDB. Reading message boards alone opened me up to a new world I never knew existed. When HyperSonic did finally open the next year, I rode it and it was the greatest ride I had ever ridden. It's hard to believe that the first year, it was smoother then a B&M coaster. Hey now!! Don't laugh, it's very true. It's a shame what happen to it over the years.
I finally, officially became an enthusiast/coaster geek when me and my brother Joe took a journey to Sandusky, Ohio for 4 days in the summer of 2003. Our mission was to ride Top Thrill Dragster. My first ride to the top of the 420 foot tophat had me wearing one of my very few coaster shirts. My first coaster shirt I had ever bought........HyperSonic XLC. This will be an emotional off season for me. When we do some shoots of them taking the ride down, don't be too shocked if I get a little chocked up on camera. But as is life, nothing lasts forever. We must move on and move on I will. Bring on Dominator I say.
Last Words!!!
So I hope you enjoyed the first edition of the Thrill Holder Blog. Like I said this is a work in progress. Feel free to leave me some feedback and suggestions. Let me know what you would like to see in this piece of work.
Thank You Very Much and I'm Glad You Could Join Me! Now Sit Back, Hold On Tight and I'll Blog To You All Next Time!!!!
Hey! What's Going On? My name is Will Holder and welcome to the first ever edition of the Thrill Holder Blog. Now before I begin I have to get the legal mumbo jumbo out of the way. My views are mine and mine only. They in no way shape or form reflect that of the Coaster Crew, Two Guys Productions, this webmaster, or anybody else affiliated with this project. I would say that I have free speech but if I do say something that might not fly well, Clint Novak will have already deleted it anyway. What a bastard! He can be somewhat of a dictator....but we can save that for another day.
Now this blog was born out of the demand that people wanted to hear more from me. Why that is the case, I have no clue. But since the Coaster Crew and In the Loop is very personal-able, we shall meet those demands. Now I am going to be upfront with everybody right away. I have no idea what direction this will go in, so please just bear with me. There is a reason I don't post much on forums. I'm not much of a guy who puts his thoughts into words. So let's just go along for the ride.
A Little About Me!
Now since everybody will be following my wisdom from here on out, I guess it would help if you people knew a little about me. Up until now, the only little bit of Will Holder you have received has come behind the microphone or behind the camera on In the Loop. Well it's time to get personal and let you all in on the real me. Hopefully it will let you understand me more and make this blog more enjoyable for you.
I was born July 31, 1983 in Silver Spring, Maryland. I've lived in the Washington Metropolitan Area for my entire life, up until last year. Currently I callFredericksburg, Virgina home. I love D.C. though. I love it's sports teams, especially the Washington Redskins and Wizards. I love all the history and sites. The poor homeless people who sleep under newspapers on Van Dorn Street, yeah I love them too. And believe it or not, I love following the politics that goes on in this city. On TV if I'm not watching the Skins or the Wiz playing, I'm laughing at Homer and Bart, enjoying a go
od movie or loving all the action that goes on inside the squared circle. Thats a wrestling ring for you dummies out there. I've been to many wrestling shows, mostly in D.C. and Baltimore. Say what you want....oh it's not real....or oh it's really gay.....blah blah blah. I like it....brother. Besides wrestlers are the nicest celebrities you'll ever meet in real life too.Now as far as this coaster hobby goes, truth is I only very recently in my life became an enthusiast. My first rollercoaster was Big Thunder Mountain at Disney World back in 1988. I don't remember much from it, only the stuff that exist on the POV footage my dad shot with his old ass VHS camcorder. You know, those really big ones that weighted a ton. My next coaster wouldn't come until 1992 when I rode Rebel Yell at Kings Dominion. Now that I was a little older I realized that what I just did was scary, and for many years after that I was very scared of coasters. I rode a few coasters hear and there over the next few years, but I was usually crying my eyes out in the queue line. My mom then dragged me on the rides. Eventually I rode them no problem, they were fun, but not the obsession that I have now. My favorite rollercoaster is El Toro and my favorite park is Disneyland. Want to learn what turned me into an enthusiast? Of course you do. Well it's story time.
Goodbye To The Ride That Started It All!
Well now it is official that HyperSonic XLC is being removed before the start of the 2008 season at Kings Dominion. This news also closes a door on a personal chapter in my life. I used to only go to Kings Dominion once a year, twice if I was lucky. In June of 2000 I went onto what was at the
time Kings Dominion's very crude website to look up info on operating hours that day. What I saw however was a picture that said "New in 2001...HyperSonic XLC". The picture of a car going up and down 90 degree hills totally blew me away. Plus when I read that it would have a launch of 0 to 80 in 1.8 Seconds, I was speechless. Now you have to understand that at this time, I only visited Kings Dominion and Hersheypark once a year. That was the extent of my park travels. I only cared about rollercoasters if I was at the park, never speaking of them again for another year.Now that day at the park with my family, the first hints of geekism began to show. I was actually going around the park wondering where the ride was going to go. Also believe it or not, I also was on the lookout for pieces of the ride. Looking back on that now its so funny that I was doing that at the time. It's like I secretly knew all along how to be a coaster nerd. Now for the first time ever I was siked about a ride for an entire year. All off season I was doing Internet searches, trying to find out more information on HyperSonic. I discovered many websites like Coasterbuzz and even the famous RCDB. Reading message boards alone opened me up to a new world I never knew existed. When HyperSonic did finally open the next year, I rode it and it was the greatest ride I had ever ridden. It's hard to believe that the first year, it was smoother then a B&M coaster. Hey now!! Don't laugh, it's very true. It's a shame what happen to it over the years.
I finally, officially became an enthusiast/coaster geek when me and my brother Joe took a journey to Sandusky, Ohio for 4 days in the summer of 2003. Our mission was to ride Top Thrill Dragster. My first ride to the top of the 420 foot tophat had me wearing one of my very few coaster shirts. My first coaster shirt I had ever bought........HyperSonic XLC. This will be an emotional off season for me. When we do some shoots of them taking the ride down, don't be too shocked if I get a little chocked up on camera. But as is life, nothing lasts forever. We must move on and move on I will. Bring on Dominator I say.
Last Words!!!
So I hope you enjoyed the first edition of the Thrill Holder Blog. Like I said this is a work in progress. Feel free to leave me some feedback and suggestions. Let me know what you would like to see in this piece of work.
Thank You Very Much and I'm Glad You Could Join Me! Now Sit Back, Hold On Tight and I'll Blog To You All Next Time!!!!
posted by Will "The Thrill" Holder at
12:00 AM
8 Comments:
Wow very emotional. Think I am gonna cry. Love the inside look at Will the thrill Holder. Can't wait what I am gonna learn next. My first park was also KD. My mom, sister, step dad, and brother only got to go as a treat like once a year. That was it just KD. Now I am goin all over the place as well. Wow we have something in common. My first coaster was the Grizzly. I was so scared I cried and cried. By the time the ride was over I wanted to do it agan. I will never forget that moment.
I always wanted to ride Hypersonic XLC, I thought maybe this year would be the year I would get out that way, but then I too learned the news... Some rides are cut too short. Sometimes you wish they would be found somewhere else. But the good thing, is I joined Coaster Crew today and hope to meet and share many stories along the way of our favorite rides.
So....I'm with you, VERY emotional that this is coming down. What crap-it was one of thier best!!! I go to KD about 30 times a season, and I always ran to it first when the park opened since that's before the lines. I must say, it was down at some point almost every day...but I litterally BEGGED them in email not to tear it down! Oh well. Maybe I'll see ya there!
Lovin the thrill holder blogs. though i'm Pissed!! I just found out today XLC is gone. I'm also an 1983 born in NC. Rebel yell forwards @PKD was my first large coaster as a kid & was 1988 to.1st coaster was Scooby doo 1987 at PKD and was hooked since. As coaster rose said i only got to go to PKD as a kid once a year as a treat unless we went to busch gardens or carowinds, until the parents split about 1989.didn't go for years until moms boyfriend started it back up 1992-94.Hurler was the last ride i enjoyed catching the opening year or riding at all at a theme park for years. I just collected coupons in grocery stores with pictures of flight of fear and volcano construction, and envied the people that could go.I got Carowinds a few times through school trips, but hated the fact i had no way to get up to my beloved PKD with it just being me and mom holding up a household. In 2001 I caught the announcement Hypersonic would open. I remebered seeing an Air thrust 2000 prototype on a documentary on tv, and thought i'm old enough now to get my own way there. So I got a girlfriend with a care. made money from my own job and rounded 2 friends to go along with us to cut the cost and get up to PKD in April 2001. We did. to me i had 3 new coasters to hit, that were installed since i last was at the hurlers opening year. unfortunately, as we tried to save hypersonic for last it went down and never came back up, So i didn't get to ride until 2002 when i tried again. I loved every 20 seconds of it. Now Ive traveled to many parks now that i'm all grown up, lol, and PKD was considered my homepark as i visited multiple season pass times a year. The Coaster that gave me the thought that i could travel as an adult on my own to ride all the rides i seen on tv that i thought i would never see in real life as a kid, IS GONE!!!
What pisses me off, yes we know the capacity wasn't high, but it got much better than its 1st few years.Plus what about the logic that more coasters in the park (opening of dominator) then the more guest will come and the more dispursed around the park guest will be. Now that Hypersonic is gone everyone will be crowded to the congo and international street area (front of the park) and the center/back of the park will be...boring. Not to mention Hypersonic (& Volcano) made PKD unique from other parks. (the only Air launched coaster & quickest launch in North america). hypersonic was the only coaster that put a puzzled in aww look on peoples faces as they migrate to the rear of the park. It was a Jewel that no other park in North America had despite its lower capacity. And duh, during its even though its capacity was low, its popularity never died. The que always occupied,trains always filled. I used this coaster to break friends fear of extreme rides so they would ride other rides by convincing them of its shear shortness from other rides. and ofcourse once they rode it, liked it, they felt they could ride anything.
AND WHAT PISSES ME OFF THE MOST IS CEDAR FAIR JUST REMOVED IT. THEY COULD HAVE GAVE ONE OF THOSE "2008 COME RIDE HYPERSONIC DURING ITS LAST YEAR!" EVENTS OR SOMETHING! WE GOT NO SURVEY ON THE WEBSITE OR AT THE PARK ON "SHOULD IT STAY OR GO, DO YOU RIDE OR NOT, DID IT INFLUENCE YOUR VISIT TO THE PARK" TYPE SURVEY OR NOTHING!
Thumbs up for the whole why is everyone always bashing six flags section. I just bashed six flags when they told their employees across america could not wear braids (corn rows) in their hair or they could not come to work. that was stupid and prejudice. I like the fact that cedar fair is adding the larger rides from geauga lake to the other parks and building other rides at the former paramount parks, but i feel cedar fair names for rides suck! I know licensing prevents the best names from movies and stuff but "drop tower scream zone", "Dominator", "backlot stunt coaster". there are so many better names that could fit those rides. plus the theming seems to be going downhill like cedair fair doesn't know how to theme their rides at the original parks (except for maverick) their not putting any theming to the relocated or new rides at the acquired parks. PKD is soon gonna be like dorney or cedair point, an amusement park, not a theme park. OHHHH and facing foward x's 2 tracks on the racing coasters at the old paramount parks!!!! pissed!!! what is the point!!! and Cedair fair killed all these kings dominion favorites before it could offer a new coaster? These changes should not have occured until atleast dominator was open to ease our pain a bit.
kings dominion is where most of the record breaking coasters are and to take away the seemingly only coaster of its kind (Compressed Air Launch)is sum stupid BS... im an adrenaline junkie and my first roller coaster was grizzly and worked my way up.. me and my frends stay in doswell for like a wk straight to go to KD each day of the week... i dnt kno wut cedar fair was thinking, but if its possible they shud make a vote to allow rollercoaster to saty and which dont becaus eif you have somone standing in like for 4hrs for a ride that is a fraction of the ride you kno you hav a truly amazing ride.. now i dnt even think im getting a season pass this year and i have gotten one every since age 5
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