ACE Steel Coaster Classics

Some day steel coasters will be allowed on ACE's coaster classics. My question is what do you think requirments for these coasters should be? Also, which should be the first roller coasters to make the list based on historical importance/overall ride ability?

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You can hear the laughter, you can hear the mighty roar. From the brickyard down in Indy to the white Chicago shore. It's a rollin', twistin', turnin' and might we both suggest. You get you fanny ridin' on the Cornball Express!

Well if for some reason they started one of these they should focus on the "coasters that changed the way coasters are made" examples: Matterhorn, (obviously) Magnum, B:TR @ SFGAm, MF, Revolution, etc.

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I don't care what anyone says, Magnum is better then Millenium Force.

I dont see MF as revolutionizing anything

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Da Poodle

Coming in 2003-The Spawn Of Magnum!

The thing is this: wooden coaster technology has hardly improved in the last 60 or so years relative to steel coasters. Just think of how many types of steel coasters there are, and how often new froms of steel are introduced every few years. While wooden coasters have had some notable improvements, they are miniscule compared to the amount of change and variety in steel coasters. Steel coasters in this way are far from classic, and I don't see any other way to award a steel coaster "classic" status other than by age.

Then again, I could be wrong, but I think it will be a while before we need to worry about such a controversy.

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Sean Paul
CP 'Screw Crew 2003

I fail to see how Magnum was revolutionary either.

-Nate

I'd say classic steel coasters should be done in a "hall of fame method." The coaster must have a minimum age of at least 10 years and will be judged on historical importance as well as ride performance.

Right now I'd would include:

Kumba

Vortex at PKI

Batman The Ride

Demon

Dragon Mountain

Thriller/Texas Tornado/Zonga

Magnum XL-200

Loch Ness Monster

Viper at SFMM

Mind Bender

Bullet

Bandit

Greezed Lightnin'

Montezooma's Revenge

Revolution

Afterburner

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Lake Compounce-So Fresh and So Clean Clean

Reason for having Magnum and MF

Magnum-First coaster over 200ft its opening is usually thought of as the start of the modern coaster war

MF: First traditional coaster over 300ft and its opening saw the most national media coverage I have ever seen (mostly for the wrong reason "its dangerous" etc) but still

One more add on: Flight of Fear, first LIM launch
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I don't care what anyone says, Magnum is better then Millenium Force.

That qualifies Magnum and MF to be steel classics?

I must say you make the nominations very easy to be accepted. :)

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Arena football has arrived in the Windy City. Go "Chicago Rush"
*** This post was edited by Chitown 3/4/2003 12:32:08 AM ***

Moonsault Scramble was 200+ feet tall first. Breaking an even height barrier is meaningless to me as a reason it should be an ASCC. We must note Gemini as the first coaster over 125 feet as well then.

I always thought Superman: The Escape had the most national media coverage, but that's hard to measure I would think. Maybe some of the Disney coasters were covered equally if not more for their time.

-Danny

Shouldn't that be "Big Thunder Mountain Railroad - First LIM Launch"?

There are just too many variations of the 'steel coaster' to really make any kind of simple, governing criteria for their evaluation as classics.

I doubt that it'll be relevant, really, as long parks are still innovating with new rides. Only when steel coasters are replaced by coasters constructed entirely of elbow macaroni will there be a real push to save history. :)

Hmmm, a little 'starch' and 'carbs' in every ride. :)

"Pasta: The Ride"

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Arena football has arrived in the Windy City. Go "Chicago Rush"

I absolutely think Magnum XL-200 would make the list. How many other coasters can you think of that have made it on the front cover of "Time Magazine"?
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If you have a problem with clones, the solution is real simple—Stop traveling.

Should Magnum make the list? Yes

Millie? No

Magnum is constantly rated the number 1 steel coaster in he world(it went for ten years straight or something just as incredible). It has great airtime, it started the Steel/height coaster war (The Racer at PKI is credited to start the overall one including wood). And who couldn't forget one of the greatest views on the top of the hill?

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You cannot teach a man anything, you can only help him find it within himself.
-Galileo

"Magnum is constantly rated the number 1 steel coaster in he world (it went for ten years straight or something just as incredible)."

Voted on by who? Was there one poll that has had this result (and if so how scientific is it?)? I would think it would be possible to find a coaster that has been voted #1 each year over the last ten years for many coasters like Beast, CI Cyclone, etc., by "shopping around" for a different poll each year that reflected what the owner wanted.

Adam

Personally I think 20 years is reasonable for a steel coaster classic. There's been too many developements in steel to realize what a classic in this genre is. I think time will tell us what really matters when it comes to steel rides. Matterhorn is the obvious first inductie (first steel coaster). I'd follow it up with Revolution (first looping). After that I'm not sure.

Hieght, drop, style, number of inversions.... these criteria seem too numerous to base a classic on. To me, time and some untangable element are what make a coaster a classic. Something that when you think of the coaster, it just says it deserves it, maybe the idea that you know it will be there another 20 years.
*** This post was edited by Dale Picolet 3/4/2003 9:35:42 AM ***

Personally, I like DP's more *restrictive* criteria for admission...makes it more special to be inducted...;)
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Dr. Thrill IS my family practitioner
Would you just LOOK at what you've done to CoasterBuzz - you're going to have to clean it up ;)

Whatever the criteria are, I hope they are not based on ACE's wooden coaster criteria. Those ridiculous rules eliminate obvious classics like Screechin' Eagle but allow The Beastie to be a classic.

I think ACE needs to ditch its rules altogether and establish three separate Halls of Fame - one for outstanding steel, one for outstanding wood, and one for "classic" or "preservationist" wood, that could include the current classics.

That way, great wood coasters like the Raven could be honored, even if they do have seat dividers and racheting lap bars.

But they should still be very restrictive. I would think no more than 10 coasters in each hall to start out with, maybe fewer. Otherwise it wouldn't be an honor.

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A day is a drop of water in the ocean of eternity. A week is seven drops.

We all know why ACE doesn't like seat dividers and ratcheting lap bars.
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If you have a problem with clones, the solution is real simple—Stop traveling.

Amusment Today's Golden Ticket (Best Steel Roller Coaster)-Magnum XL 200 1989-2000 (yes I said 2000 MF didnt make it till 2001) My guess is that Magnum would have stayed #1 if not for the fact that Im sure CP complained that their newer ride #2 should be swapped with their older #1 coaster.

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I don't care what anyone says, Magnum is better then Millenium Force.

I think the most revolutionary coasters are the matterhorn, X, B:TR, Revolution, and the first corkscrew.

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Mike
Favorite Wood: Viper at SFGAM,Shivering Timbers
Favorite Steel: Magnum and Raging Bull