prepare to be INTIMIDATED

... or not, actually.


a couple weeks ago i rolled my lazy ass out to Carowinds to check the new rollercoaster, "The INTIMIDATOR Inspired by Racing Legend Dale Earnhardt." call me crazy, but i was somewhat skeptical of getting on a rollercoaster inspired by a dude who crashed into a wall, had a restraint malfunction, and died. nevertheless, i freaking LOVE rollercoasters, so i figured i'd better hit it up before the summer masses rolled the park. unfortunately, it was closed for repairs.

the second day the park was open for the year, yeah.

but! the GIFT SHOP was wide-open for business, and business was booming.


yes, people were buying mementos of a ride they had not ridden. god love the south, am i right? (please note the gentleman in the lower left wearing a fabulous NASCAR t-shirt, this was quite the recurrent motif during my Carowinds adventure.)

anyway, i hit pretty much every other interesting ride in the park and figured i'd check the "INTIMIDATOR Inspired by Racing Legend Dale Earnhardt" again on my way out. wonder of wonders, it was up and running again. yaaaaaaaaaaaay, i hope i don't die!


looking up at this, it IS actually somewhat intimidating. it is REALLY high, and when the little train rolls into the station, you see that the only thing holding you into your seat is an independent-arm lap bar. it looked almost like a rolling movie-theater seat. behold:



but, something about the little seating design was terribly familiar. there was something inherently... southern... in its design, something that would appeal to NASCAR fans both stereotypical and otherwise...



yup. the freaking rollercoaster seats look like power scooters. now when your scootering through the local Wal-Mart you can pretend you are Dale Earnhardt and FEEL VALIDATED.

sometimes i really do love this world.

in summation: the ride was fun, very high, very fast, very very very fast, and DEFINITELY worth waiting for the front seat. it made a massive difference- hanging over that first hill, looking almost straight down, suspended only by a somewhat dubious lap-bar... fuuuuuuuuun times.