Here we go again!!!!

I have read more this winter, than wrote on the forums, but I have a serious question about the Texas Giant and Mean Streak. Both of these coasters were built relatively the same time, but why does everyone rip Mean Streak and not the Giant? Why is MS becoming marshmallow kindling more so than TG? Who has ridden both and why does the Giant have more respect than MS?? I have a few theories that are just brain storms (or farts). Maybe the buzzers have some ideas of their own pertaining to this waste of wood in the back of CP.

A) Geography: The harsh, Ohio winters factors into the wood stretching, thus creating a rougher track each season??
B) Engineering: Since they are very similar, was the MS built differently?? Is there a better support system on TG??
C) Has the Giant received the same trim brakes that the Mean Streak has received??
D) Are their larger humans in Ohio, thus creating more tension for the trains?? (Just kidding, throwing a joke in here somewhere!)
E) Was the Mean Streak made of a different grade of wood and metal than the Giant??
F) Most buzzers are from the midwest, thus we don't hear as much about the Giant on Coasterbuzz.

Can someone please re-open this case and help me understand the constant thrashings that Mean Streak receives when I don't hear much about the Giant?? I have never ridden the Giant, but really want to go to Texas. I totally agree with all of the posts about Mean Streak, it needs to be refined, but I have only heard a handful of people speak poorly about Texas Giant.

Jeff, Legendary, 2Hostyl...etc...I would love to hear your responses on this.

Thanks, Woody


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There's nothing like a woodie...

Probably because more people visit Cedar Point than Six Flags Over Texas.

I belive the the problem is the trains. Correct me if I am wrong but I belive the Texas Gaint had a couple different kinds of trains, when Mean Streak is still running it original rolling stock. The Mean Streak problem is flat turns. The trains(on MS) can not turn correctly on the flat turns. Visit Dave's(Rideman)website(http://capital2.capital.edu/admin-staff/dalthoff/coastercar.html) for a great explanation of how trains run .
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Ride with full FORCE *** This post was edited by Andrew on 12/30/2000. ***

I think that a contributing factor is people are expecting more from Cedar Point than Six Flags Over Texas.
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What is life without geniuses?

I have not ridden the TG but have been on MS. The MS does not seem to track well (heavy squealing on curves and lots of shuddering), and moves like the tracks haven't been greased in years (reminds me of the Screamin Eagle). The bad press this coaster gets is no exaggeration, the ride quality is truly horrible. Every year I get on this ride (short lines are a plus, has anyone ever seen long lines for this ride?)hoping for improvements and I have never ridden twice. Maybe new cars would help? They couldn't hurt. I wonder if coaster hasn't been a major disappointment for CP having been a large investment that has not drawn any where near the expected ridership.

I've never ridden the Texas Giant, so I don't know anything about how it tracks or its roughness, but from videos and pictures, I think that the Giant just has a much more exciting design than the Mean Streak. I believe the Giant is notorious for its second half. After its midcourse block breaks, all hell seems to break loose. There are a series of low-flying hills all of which change direction, which I imagine would produce an awesome combination of airtime and laterals. After Mean Streak's midcourse, the train crawls around the circuit one more time and the ride is over...little airtime, no laterals.

Even without its roughness and trims, the Mean Streak delivers very little thrills, and I think its a poorly designed ride compared to the Giant. I don't think the Mean Streak's roughness and trims are the only reasons people bash it.

Is CP trying to do anything about the roughness of Meany like SFoT is with the Giant?

Rumor has it the Giant will be treated to new trains next years!

I recall hearing someone high up at Cedar Point(I think Kinzel) say you would never see another wooden coaster at Cedar Point. This statement was made after Cedar Point had to put trims on Mean Streak. So maybe now with new manager some something good(get Millennium Flyer trains) will happen to Mean Streak.
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Ride with full FORCE *** This post was edited by Andrew on 12/31/2000. ***

First note: I have not ridden the Texas Giant at this point in time (will in May of this year).

That said, I think MooreOn hit the nail on the head. By looking at video of both rides (as seen on America's Greatest Roller Coaster Thrills Vol. 1) you can see how wild and out of control the Giant's second half is compared to Mean Streaks. I think it has close to twenty (!!) hills throughout the ride. Also, on the first drop I know Giant is heavily supported with steel I-Beams. Not sure about MS though, someone else care to comment? The added support may help a little more.

One last bit of info, Texas Giant stands 137ft tall whereas Mean Streak is 161ft tall. With the extra speed MS [should] have, maybe that was more than enough to give the track a good thrashing.

(PS I'm fairly certain Giant also has a trim brake on the first drop)

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In the future, packages will be sent to distant worlds by BEAMS OF LIGHT! - Space Mountain WDW exit

Well, Dan, I waited in line for over an hour and a half for it...

I rode the Giant in September and it was one of the most boring coasters I have ever ridden. I felt like I might be able to get out of the train and run down the track and still beat the Giant into the station.

When I rode it I waited over an Hour for it. I didn't like it that much. If the trim brakes on the drop weren't on so thight, mabye MS would have some air time.


#1 Woody = The Boss

It's all in the design, the layout of the ride. The first time we went to Cedar Point the year MS was built, we actually stopped the car en route to the Breakers to just look at the thing. It's a beautiful ride. But when we rode it... it just didn't give a good ride. Cedar Point wanted a record breaking wood coaster, and they got it. What they didn't get was a good ride. SFOT got a good ride.

Hey, I thought the Giant rocked!

They said they would never build a wooden roller coaster that size again

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Number 1 And Only Cedar Point

Who are "they"? *** This post was edited by coaster0 on 1/3/2001. ***

Legend has it that's what the Cedar Fair folk said.

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Jeff
Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com

I'm really struggling with a name, here. Don Miers (spelling?) is the one who just retired, correct? Didn't he say that there wouldn't be another woodie at the Point while he was there? (A woodie, period. Not just one of Mean Streak's size. Sorry for the sketchy names and spelling.)

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Matt Lynch
Co-Webmaster, Kennywood Boulevard
http://kennywood.coasterbuzz.com

Regardless of who said what, Cedar Point was certainly not happy with Mean Streak. So unhappy, in fact, that (according to Amusement Today) when they bought Knott's Berry Farm, Kinzel and Co. actually contemplated cancelling the GhostRider project.
Of course, then GhostRider was a tremendous success, so in my opinion, all bets are off as to the future of wood coasters at Cedar Point. Cedar Fair has seen that it is possible to build a good wood coaster, and I wouldn't be at all surprised to see one pop up on the Po!nt in the next few years. Bearing in mind, of course, the planning lead time would have to extend back to no earlier than the opening of GhostRider, which would be 2002 at the very earliest...

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

I've got a feeling that the next woodie Cedar Fair will be a CCI. However, I think they should at least try GCI. Just a thought.

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Randy Hutchinson
You build it, I'll ride it