Are Coaster Designers/Manufacuters Enthusiasts?

I was wondering if they were. Or do they just attended it like a regular everyday job?

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Ron Toomer wasn't... Jerk didn't even ride anything he made.

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the guy was old

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Only one enthusiast has become a designer.. Mike Boodley of GCI I don't know if any designers have become enthusiasts

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*** This post was edited by Peabody 9/27/2003 10:49:10 PM ***

No wonder arrow coasters are so bad. Toomer once said that he might feel bad or sick after riding one of his coasters and I can see that happening.

The only person that I can think of is Tom Rebbie. He's a real good friend to the industry and can usually be found at Coaster Con, PPP, Eastcoaster.

Most of the designers/engineers I've met are most certainly enthusiasts.

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Yeah, I saw an interview with Toomer on TV. He said something along the lines of "The rides I design make me sick."

^You, me, and the rest of us too... ;)

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In all fairness to Ron Toomer, I believe that he had an inner ear condition that pretty much prevented him from riding. As far as what came out of Arrow during his tenure, it was what the parks wanted at the time. The late Bill Cobb was another designer that because of a health condition couldn't ride his creations. Like what has been said before here you don't get into this business to get rich, you do it because you like it, if not love it.

some are...some aren't.....:)

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Really what is the point of making a roller coaster if you don't like them? If I ever make a roller coaster I would ride it every day. I'm sure there are some people who make roller coasters and never ride them but they probably just build a coaster because they want a chalenge or something. Anyone who doesn't ride their own creation is insane

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What's the point? Maybe you can't ride them, but find the engineering fascinating. I mean, what's the point of aerospace engineers designing the Space Shuttle when most of them will never fly in it?

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I met a few that are both.

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Signature will be closed today. Sorry for the inconveinance.

But, GregLeg, most of the people who design spacecraft would go up if they could. It's the sense of wonder at exploration that brought most, if not all, of them on board (in fact, the loss of that sense of wonder is why NASA is suffering a lack of new recruits at the moment).

Back on topic, Stan Checketts of S&S seems to be an enthusiast.

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(SF)Great American said:

Back on topic, Stan Checketts of S&S seems to be an enthusiast.

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Actually, I recall reading somewhere that roller coasters make him sick, or he doesn't like them...or something to that extent. Pretty odd, considering he creates some of the most insane flat rides in the world :)

He likes his thrills to be short. Roller coasters are too long for him.

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Wait. . .they still build roller coasters that last longer than flat ride cycle times? Wow.

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I don't see why more enthusiasts become designers. They are going to be surrounded by roller coasters on a regular basis either way.

Why does everyone hate Ron Toomer so much? He doesn't sound like that bad of a guy. I mean come on he gave us the Magnum. So what if he didn't ride it because of a medical condition. There is no way that would stop me but his excuse is legit.
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Riding on top of the world with Cedar Point

I think it's probably because Arrow is the company everyone loves to hate.

About the more enthusiasts becoming designers thing, from what I understand, it's not an easy field to get into, so jobs are limited, and it's very difficult to obtain a position like that.

He also gave us rides like Viper, GASM, Shockwave, Draggin' Iron... :) **Ducks**

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MarimbaGuy87 said:
He also gave us rides like Viper, GASM, Shockwave, Draggin' Iron... :) **Ducks**

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After you ride those you can go ride twisted wicker and disbatch master transport.

It can't be THAT hard to get a job designing/manufacturing a roller coaster. Every time one is built there are tons of people on the job.
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