Negative-G - La Ronde - Le Monstre Showdown 2014

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My bad. I forgot to put this Le Monstre photo about ten pages ago. We were originally supposed to have Le Monstre for our morning ride session but it was not running yet and they only had one track with a single train operational when we were there so La Ronde made up for it by walking us all on for a lap on it. Bond and I took the back of the train as is our custom with a new wooden coaster and good Lord what a great ride. I hadn't expected much as I've never been a big fan of coasters designed by William Cobb and Associates. They don't have much of a thrill but Le Mostre was different. I don't know where on the track it was but there was a nice drop that threw us out of our seats and Bond and I looked at each other and then BOOM we were kicked violently up out of our seats into our restraints as it turned out to be a double down. I know Bond's face lost all color and had a shocked expression when it happened and I'm certain mine looked the same. It is great when a ride surprises experienced riders like the two of us.

Le Monstre Rollercoaster at La Ronde, Montreal, Quebec

After taking the Minirail over to the front of the park all of us, except Paul, Adri and their nieces who had to leave, headed over to Le Vampire (aka: the Batman that is not Batman) to take it for a ride. While in line we noticed La Ronde's little bone yard which is full of Le Monstre's original trains that were manufactured by Morgan Manufacturing (now Chance/Morgan). Wood coaster trains by Morgan were horrible and I'm glad Six Flags decided to scrap them. They are made of fiberglass, they track horribly and for a rider they are just plain uncomfortable bouncing up and down on fiberglass. The current Le Monstre trains that were made by Philadelphia Toboggan Inc. are worlds better than these pain machines. If La Ronde wanted to make a little extra cash they should just place one of these in some midway game stall and change people five dollars to take a sledge hammer to them. I know I'd blow $20 on several blows.

The Le Vampire Rollercoaster at La Ronde, Montreal, Quebec

Here is Kevin, Allie, Beth and Daniel Remhof getting ready to take Le Vampire on.

Le Vampire is a clone of Batman: The Ride that you'll find at most Six Flags parks. Six Flags did not want to "Americanize" a park in the heart of a French Canadian city so they kept the bat logo and just called it Le Vampire.

Le Vampire looks like Batman, has an entrance to the queue that looks like all of the other Batman coasters but is if not Batman.