My Farewell To Gwazi

It was July of 1999, a month after a wooden monstrosity named Gwazi was opened at Busch Gardens Tampa. Like any traditional roller coaster, I had to sit in the front row for my first ride. After a long 2 hour wait, the time has come. Alone in the front row, sitting deep in the seats, with a traditional crossbar across my lap that you do not see in modern coasters today, I awaited the release. I remember doing the sign of the cross and the person overhead behind the window laughed with me and gave me a big thumbs up. The coaster was released and I felt the familiar rumble of the wooden coaster I have not felt since I lived up north. The chain then grabbed onto our train and we slowly rose to the top of that first hill. Finally achieving that 100 foot plus height I looked down in that slight overhang before the rest of the train releases and we start the plummet down. The coaster took over and this was the beginning of many fond memories of Gwazi!!!! I remember that first flyby, seeing the faces of the 2 people in the front car of the opposing train. Another flyby, and another!!!  WOW!!! Gwazi will be here to stay.

Many years later in the midst of Summer Nights at Busch Gardens when the park was open til midnight. I wanted to ride the infamous Gwazi at night. My mother decided she wanted to ride also. We awaited a short line near closing and it was our turn. We climbed deep into the seats and once secured we were rolling out. The rush of the air, the darkness of the night, the unexpected turns because you are not seeing them. It was getting to be a rough ride at this time, but it was also a great memory. This ride was the last time my mother ever rode a roller coaster. May the memories serve her well as it did for me that evening.

In 2011 Gwazi had what appeared to be new trains on the tracks. The Millenium Flyer trains have arrived. This will be the cure to the rough rides everyone has been complaining about on Gwazi. This will be the reason the lines will start up again to ride this wooden creature in Tampa, Florida. I climbed in once again. Rode Gwazi with the enthusiasm I always have with a Busch Gardens roller coaster. IT WAS A SMOOTH RIDE!!!! I rode Gwazi 5 more times that day. I fell in love with Gwazi once again.

July of 2014, Gwazi has succumbed back to its reputation of a very rough ride. I ride it every once in a while, but not as often as the others. I was in the park with my best friend one Thursday afternoon and she wanted to ride Gwazi. She wanted to relive some good memories of Gwazi from times past. We were in the front row. The ride was very very rough. My back was screaming for it to stop, yet, I never wanted it to stop. My best friend and I got off the coaster and looked back. She was like "that is rough."  I smiled in silent agreement, but there was something else in my mind that day. That was the last time I ever rode a roller coaster with my best friend to this day. The memory will live forever.

Christmas day of 2014. Busch gardens is packed. I ran into a waitress of a restaurant I frequent and she was there with her parents. Her father wanted to ride Gwazi after hearing the rumors it will be torn down. We rode that rough ride Gwazi now had a reputation for now. We got off after that 2 1/2 minute ride. Her father said he will be first in line to help tear this coaster down. I smiled again silently in agreement. I now had a new memory of Gwazi I shall remember always.

I am a lover of roller coasters and I am always sad to see them go, even though it usually makes way for something bigger and better. I WILL be there on Febuary 1rst when Gwazi makes its last run. I HOPE to be one of the privileged few to be on that train when Gwazi makes its last run. Will it happen? ONLY BUSCH GARDENS CAN MAKE THAT POSSIBLE, but even if not, I will have made another memory on Feb 1rst remembering that last ride.

What might come in its place here at Busch Gardens......for now we can only speculate. I am confident it will be something HUGE. For now, thanks Busch Gardens; thanks Gwazi Lion and Tiger; thanks to all of the employees that helped make this ride possible; and most of all, thanks to all of the aforementioned people that helped make Gwazi a memory I will always think of with a smile. May Gwazi rest in peace within everyones memories forever.   

RIP GWAZI

I am David "Thrills" and I am an avid goer to Busch Gardens. As always, if you have any questions I may be able to help you with, or just want to hear my updates and live in-park tweeting, follow me @TampaAmazeMe or email me at TampaThrillMe@gmail.com . The two landscape pictures from Gwazi Field are courtesy of CwWhosthatgrl , whom shares fond memories of Gwazi also.

Monsterjam Tampa "Hooks" The Crowd

 

Monsterjam Tampa "Hooks" The Crowd

 

On Saturday night, Monsterjam returned to Tampa for it's first of two visits this 2015 season. It did not disappoint. From the moment the racing heats started up to the final truck making his appearance in freestyle. The crowd was loud and wanting more, more, and more. This writer was introduced to Monsterjam last year and now finds himself right along with everyone else. I WANT MORE!!!!!  Guess what? More you can have. A whole new show with different trucks will be returning to Tampa on Saturday, Feb 7th.

The Action started Saturday evening with racing and obstacle course driving. Damon Bradshaw of Monster Energy earned a point in the standings by having the fastest qualifying time. That did not prove to be fast enough later as he lost to Linsey Weenk in Lucas Oil Crusader in the semi-finals. Crusader then went on to beat Neil Elliott in Max-D and won the first leg in his attempt to double-down two weeks in a row and earned 2 points. Dustin Brown also earned a point by taking Monster Mutt to the winner's circle in the obstacle course.

That is when the freestyle starts. This is when the fans get rabid for whatever may come from these professional drivers in their 1500 horsepowered machines. Crusader did not get the chance to repeat because he got "HOOKED" by Steven Sims Jr driving Hooked. By far the best performance of the evening and it was reflected in the scores. Steven was able to stay in the hot seat with very good challenges from El Toro Loco and Max-D. It was just meant to be the night everyone got "Hooked" and Steven was very emotional in his acknowledgement of the win and his 2 points.

There were other grand moments not to be forgotten. Monster Mutt did an outstanding backflip that had the crowd roaring in pleasure. The Queen of Carnage herself Madusa even got the crowd booing the judges after she finished her freestyle with a backflip of her pink truck. Monsterjam was a success and looks to be even better on Feb 7th when Dennis Anderson brings Gravedigger to the bay area along with other outstanding trucks for your destruction savored desire. Did not make? Do not worry, you can always get your tickets for your reserved seating and see the last show of the season for this area.

I am David "Thrills" and am an avid goer of thrill parks and entertainment activities. Follow me on twitter @TampaAmazeMe for live tweets during visits to thrill parks and live entertainment. I also provide news updates when available of Tampa Bay Area entrtainment venues. Any Questions concerning this event or other Tampa Bay happenings message me on twitter or email me at TampaThrillMe@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monsterjam Returns to Tampa

It is January and Raymond James Stadium finds itself being filled with over 300 truckloads of dirt as it is crafted into a unique scenario of hills and tracks. Add to it a number of beat up cars that are positioned just right around the dirt piles. Then enter over 160,000 pounds of steel all revving their 1,500 horsepowered engines. What does that mean for us? Monsterjam has returned to Tampa and it will leave us standing and cheering throughout the night.

Once again Feld Entertainment brings Monsterjam to Tampa for two visits on Jan. 17th and Feb. 7th. This action packed event will start off this Saturday with a lineup that will leave you wishing for more. Come down to Raymond James Stadium and see Gravedigger lead the charge challenging all trucks to bring it. Cheer on the Max-D as he does a backflip signaling the others he is there to take it all. Welcome female-driven and hometown favorite Madusa, driven by ex-wrestler Madusa herself, stand up to the boys in her pink truck of demolition. 16 famous monster trucks, including El Toro Loco, Monster Energy, Zombie, War Wizard, Avenger, and Stonecrusher will be present for an evening of entertainment. Sit back and watch these trucks do jumps, flips, spinning donuts, and of course.........destroying cars, buses, airplanes, or whatever else is put into their way.

Monsterjam racing starts at 7:00pm, but that is not when the fun starts. Get your free pit passes at Southern Ford Dealers before the event (or for $10 at ticketmaster online) and see the trucks up close in the pit party. Meet the drivers, get autographs and have your picture taken by your favorite monster of steel. The pit party starts at 1:30 pm and lasts until 5:00 pm. Plenty of time to enjoy and meet your favorite drivers before the fun begins inside the stadium.

Advance purchase supervalue tickets for Monsterjam start at $15 and are available at ticketmaster. All seats are reserved seating and you should get them early. Tickets are $5 more on the day of the event. Are you a MONSTERFAN and plan on going to both events? Save 20% on your tickets by purchasing both tickets at the same time and be able to enjoy the event in the same seat. Want a private meet and greet with the drivers? Total Access Passes are only $100 (limited number available). You can even get a ride on a monster truck by picking up a free ride pass from participating Circle K's in the Tampa Bay area.

Monsterjam is one of Tampa's most popular stadium events and one not to be missed. Be sure to reserve your tickets now at ticketmaster so you are not sitting there Monday hearing about the action, but you are bragging about the action. You never know, DOOMSDAY may be there that night. For more information about the event, be sure to visit monsterjam.com. You can also follow Monsterjam at facebook, twitter, and instagram. Also be sure to subscribe to Monsterjam on youtube. Feld Entertainment is a leader in motorized arena events and know how to bring a show to entertain your whole family.

I am David "Thrills" and am an avid goer of thrill parks and entertainment activities. Follow me on twitter @TampaAmazeMe for live tweets during visits to thrill parks and live entertainment. I also provide news updates when available of Tampa Bay Area entrtainment venues. Any Questions concerning this event or other Tampa Bay happenings message me on twitter or email me at TampaThrillMe@gmail.com

The logo was courtesy of Feld Entertainment.

Ringling Brothers Circus Extreme Is ... EXTREME ! ! !

LADIES AND GENTLEMAN, CHILDREN OF ALL AGES ....... That is what Ringmaster David Shipman says to start the Greatest Show on Earth. The EXTREME Edition. The Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus started it 2015 tour at Amilie Arena this year on New Years Day. It was a show to be remembered and quite Extreme.

After locating to Palmetto, the circus, owned by Feld Entertainment, finally gets to do their tour leaving their home base here in Florida. Do you remember the days of seeing the parades of elephants in Venice in years past? Now they are in Ellenton and us locals are thrilled to welcome them back home. The opening show at Amalie Arena had everything one can want. Clowns, strongmen, elephants, tigers, trick dogs, highwire acts, daredevils on trampolines, a human cannonball, and the list goes on.


Ringling Brothers presented a show that I will remember for years to come and had me sitting in anticipation for it to return next year. The amazing elephants had me in awe. The clowns had the whole family laughing, and when Gemma Kirby shot across the arena from the cannon, my jaw dropped in amazement. I was 10 years old again and loving it. The most EXTREME part in this writers opinion is when Tabayara brought out his family of 16 tigers and demonstrated the love he has for them and they for he.


Even though the circus has left Tampa, it can still be seen this weekend in Orlando at the Amway Center January 10-11. Not able to make it to Orlando, there is one last chance to see the red tour in Jacksonville at Jackson Veterans Memorial Arena on January 15-18.

This is a show I highly recommend for children of all ages and I invite you to write or tweet what you loved about it the most. Tickets can be ordered through Ticketmaster for both cities. For more information about the circus, be sure to visit the Ringling Brothers Website.


I am David "Thrills" and am an avid goer of thrill parks and entertainment activities. Follow me on twitter @TampaAmazeMe for live tweets during visits to thrill parks or live entertainment. I also provide news updates when available in the Tampa Bay Area. Any Questions message me on twitter or email me at TampaThrillMe@gmail.com.