Roller Coaster Rollback

I'm looking at today's Roller Coaster Rollback and I'm struck by the entry that has Japan not getting a wooden coaster until 1992. I just find that amazing.

You would think, with as long as wood coasters have existed, they would have had one WAY before 1992.

It's interesting to note that only 6 wooden coasters have been built in Japan's history, 5 of which are still operating today. I'd imagine that this might be an engineering issue--wooden coasters have to be pretty bulky just to accommodate the normal stresses of the ride; they'd have to be even more over-engineered to make the structure earthquake-proof.

China is getting their first next year, and what a way to start off getting wooden coasters, by starting with a Gravity Group masterpiece.

And it looks like a beauty of a ride, too! :) Goin' to China. Who's with me? :)

Wood is expensive. Land is expensive. Oh yea, they have this thing called earthquakes. And Godzilla.

I read somewhere that when White Cyclone was built they had to get a waiver (Rob Coker's the thrillride guy's book).. Very strict rule forbiding tall structures made of wood.

Also, don´t forget that the amusement park is a western concept. During the first golden age Japan was still unfazed by western culture. They began opening up to it as late as the fifties, when the first steel coasters were being built.

This isn't what I expected from a topic titled, "Roller Coaster Rollback"

I wasn't sure what I was getting into either.

What is the missing wooden coaster from Japan?

I think coaster rollbacks, and my mind goes right to TTD. The article is "BAIT & SWITCH!" :)

Well I guess I should have titled it 'Todays Roller Coaster Rollback, July 18th, 2008 from here on CoasterBuzz'.

Hopefully others have learned from my grave error as have I.

I suppose to please the topic title we could post a link to a video of a rollback.

Here's a question....why no steel-supported woodies in Japan? You'd think they'd be capable of handling stresses as well as those with wood supports...if not better...

Ever rode Villian at GL? Villian from the front seat was rought than Mean Streak ever thought of being.