Mean Streak - CoasterBuzz

Here's a topic for debate: Mean Streak at CP. Thrilling ride or an urban legend of a thrilling ride before they installed brakes at the top of the first hill?

Although I still enjoy a run on CP's wooden monster, It pales in comparison to what it was the opening year (before the brakes). Sure it's a rough ride, and even rougher without the brakes, but well worth it in my book. I say get rid of the brakes!

I got a ride yesterday with almost no braking on the first drop. The difference in the first half of the ride is phenomenal. Unfortunately they made up for it with excessive braking on the mid-course for the usual lackluster finish.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

RideMan, was that an event or something. The first part of the ride was the most enjoyable part for me, at least until ALL the brakes were put on the first drop. I get SO tired of hearing "it's tearing the tracks apart"...My first MS ride was a couple years ago, and it was GREAT. This year, completely different.
-----------------
rollergator - intent on improving the "guest experience" - coming soon to a park near you

I also noticed that the trims on the first drop were on pretty lightly when I rode MS Saturday. It also seemed that the chain lift was slowed down a little bit, too. Did anyone else notice this? Yeah, the second half of the ride was so slow, due to coming to a near stop at the block brakes.
-----------------
It's a simple equation: CCI + CP = #1 Wooden Coaster!

The could be leaving the trims off (or looser than usual) since the rollback happened about a month ago (search the board for a date if you're curious).

-Ken

I rode the ride when it first opened and I thought it was a great ride. Of course, my coaster experience was limited back then. I'm not sure I would have felt the same if I had a CCi to compare it back then.

I have to agree with RideMan. A brakeless first drop makes a huge difference. I was fortunate to get multiple rides in last year just after a rain. The brakes on the drop were hardly noticable and the coaster really delivered.

-------------
everything's better with a banjo

Actually the brakes on the hill have been hardly catching for a while now. Since maybe end of July. Surprisingly of all my rides I found them used quite a bit after the rollback for at least the next two days. I do agree that the second half of the ride needs to speed up some to be more enjoyable but the first half has really been fun especially later this year. Overall, I think its an enjoyable ride not as good as when it opened but still fun.
-----------------
Mean Streak Rules!
2001 MS Count 331

I rode it and I don't think there were trims on at all formy ride. It's not an airtime coaster which might be the reason not as many enthusiasts enjoy it, but I loved the wild ride from the front and the back.
-----------------
Got a problem with RWB/MS? you've got a problem with me!
www.woodencoaster.com
I pray that I will never see a Six Flags Conneaut Lake

Mean Streak has been running brake less on the first drop for over a week... at least since the last rollback... Remember just because it doesn't provide airtime it isn't a good ride... the other everyone was coming off the ride saying it was the second best in the park and they most went and rode it again. I know several people who dislike airtime and think Shivering Timbers is the worst ride in the world(since it has so much air)... they all love Mean Streak(it's there favorite ride) because it Doesn't provide airtime... I like the ride... it is fun and enjoyed with or without the brakes. The other day I did count 4 or 5 parts of the ride with airtime...

-------------
Andrew Hyde
http://www.experiencethepoint.com
Author- Experience The Point: The Unofficial Guidebook To Cedar Point

I went to Cedar Point Thurday, August 30th and went on Mean Streak twice, both times I sat in the front and noticed the brakes were on high! I first set on the hill I thought were high but then the second set were terrible. We barely made it up the third hill!

If it is tearing the tracks apart running at it's design speed, then they shoudl look at the structural issues rather than cheaping out and putting excessive breaking on the coaster. I think this represents much of why we hear so many complaints about trim brakes. They are used as a cheap way to deal with structural design problems or lack of track maintenance rather than correcting the real problems.

I know when I rode Mean Streak, what was supposed to be a fast fan turn was so slow that I wondered if we would make it over the top. I even slid down the seat to the inside of the turn.

i rode it 3 or 4 years ago and it was awsome but i went back this year and it's was pathetic.
-----------------
Montu, God Of Coasters

Raging Bull, Don't Fight It, Ride It

i absolutely hate it now. It hurts so much! I remeber rideing it a while back and it was fun, but i'll never ride it again!
-----------------
Best woodie: The Beast
Best steel: MF
Best park: IOA! Get to the point... cedar point!

The number one question that I would still like answered is; Have the trims on the first drop solved whatever problem(s) the MS was having?

-------------
Just when you think you have all the answers, I change the questions

I would much rather ride the Gemini than the MS. MS is a mediocre ride at best. I don't hate it. it's just those trims...they need to go.

If CP got rid of the trims, MS could be a Fantastic woodie... But this is just my opinion.

-----------------
-------------------------
MillenniumForce04 Would rather be riding Millennium Force than sitting in front of his computer...

if the brakes were not on the mean streak's first drop, the first drop would've been cut down to the height where the brakes are. there is not enough room, in it's current configuration, to spend the energy correctly. if you look at it from the air, it is sort of a double out & back wrapped in a circle, with the turn around placed through the lift. the designers themselves didn't want to build it. the brakes do not solve the problem, they just lessen the adverse effects. the third hill has all ready had 10 or 20 feet cut off of it in the second or third year. the ride has been re-tracked, and/or re-worked every year since it has opened. this is not cost-efficient. since it is so rough, it lacks ridership, and re-ridership. this is also not good for the park. hopefully cedar point will be enlisting intamin to rebuild the ride with their new technology for wood coaster tracks. this would have many positive results. they need coasters that are a draw, ie.: millennium, raptor, magnum, etc...and low-maintenance...a coaster of mean streak's size and investment should be right in there with those coasters. rebuilding would save it from being a total lo$$, and could create something more representative of cedar point's high standards. new comfortable trains, maybe a steep first drop. just think, with intamin, we could get to 80+degrees, and hopefully in the reconfiguration, more actual drops, and once again, speed. personally i like the out of control, feeling a wood coaster gives. like the train is coming out from under you. this feeling does not include spinal pain, or roller coaster headache. airtime? sorry 'bout those who don't like it, but in my opinion, there's nothing like the airtime a wood coaster can deliver. i love the shivering timbers. it's my favorite wood coaster. the old wood coasters, with huge padded seats that are still operating are awesome too. the mean streak is beautiful though! and the view of the park from the lift is one of the best views in the park. but those are the only two good points i can come up with about the ride. wishful thinking........anyone else?

Wow, deanne. That reply needs to be sent to CP! Is it possible to just "retrack" it with intamin's technology? I think the layout is fine, it just lacks in the consistent, white knuckle speed it had the opening year or two. If it was retracked by Intamin, that could be the solution to those pesky brakes! Maybe we should start a petetion that CP does something about this ride? Couldn't hurt...

Jim Fisher said:
If it is tearing the tracks apart running at it's design speed, then they shoudl look at the structural issues rather than cheaping out and putting excessive breaking on the coaster. I think this represents much of why we hear so many complaints about trim brakes. They are used as a cheap way to deal with structural design problems or lack of track maintenance rather than correcting the real problems.

I could NOT agree more. Woodies require maintenance, even more if they have twister-type elements. Life's like that. If you don't want to care for them, build in STEEL...

-----------------
Son of Drop Zone - PKI CoasterCamp I Champions!!!

hi danimales! i loved the mean streak the first year too, even with the painful pothole about 20 feet from the bottom of the first drop, OUCH! no, i don't think the new track would fix it entirely. the problem is in the layout, which would have to be changed to give enough radius to spend the energy properly. that really wouldn't be a bad thing in my opinion, because you can't really enjoy it the way it is now, no matter how it runs. it bums me out, especially at night when it's so awesome looking all lit up. it's more of a sculpture than a ride. i'd welcome some radical changes. especially a very steep first drop, and other steep drops along the way. the third hill used to be a good drop, until they chopped it. aside from that, there really are none, and definately none that are taken at any speed. i used to love the turn through the lift, but that creeps and scrapes along now too. i'm sure the turnstile numbers, and maintenance bills, along with injury statistics have been saying more to the higher ups at CF than any petition could! but i'm right there with you....

Why doesn't CP invest more money in this ride? I don't think they're in financial trouble, are they? Doesn't make much sense to me. Then again, I'm merely an outsider...