Mitch's Wood Coaster Poll Results

LOL, not THAT far "off-thread", Barry....two of the finest wooden coasters going are up there, even if it's not exactly *convenient*... ;)

There's more than corn in Indiana...
There's more than potatoes in Idaho... :)

Barry Williams said:

5) It's wonderful to see the PHOENIX (#4) still pointing strong and staying high on the charts. I wonder if it has anything to do with the fact that it's been operating with little or no regard to OSHA or industry safety standards since its relocation to Knoebel's in 1985. Those PTC bench trains and the "fixed position lap bars" are such timeless classics that who would have the heart to do anything to them??? Before the pile-on, know that it ranks right about there on my list as well. I wouldn't change it for the world. . .

Thanks, Barry, for the kind words portion of the paragraph. However, please do not assume that our approach to operating this coaster, or our other coasters and rides in the park, be the approach here unusual, or there plain vanilla common-ordinary -- do not assume the approach is done "with little or no regard to OSHA or industry safety standards".

The State os PA made that mistaken assumption a year ago concerning a little matter with our Twister roller coaster and they ended up profoundly embarrassed, and then educated, about how carefully we operate our rides. Unlike most parks, we are also a ride manufacturer who must understand all aspects of the creative process. Unlike most ride manufacturers, we must live with and operate our equipment. This unique background occasionally leads to unconventional solutions, but it never produces the sort of results which might be realized if we were we so careless as we are (probably innocently) charged.

The fixed-position lap bar system mentioned was designed by John Allen. It is a highly appropriate solution to coasters of many, many certain configurations - Phoenix included.

We are blessed to be able to stand up the safety record of this coaster and any of the other rides in this park to any yardstick of comparason, and have been able to do so for decades. I will grant that we utilize some unconventional solutions. Be assured that they are deliberate and results-oriented, and in no way deserving of (even innocent) maligning.

John Fetterman

Knoebels Groves

I have ridden numbers

161

145

178

109

84

74

63 Home PArk Coaster

60

51

50 Texas Giant how did that do so well that is painful as can be and the track sways when the train goes over it

46

4

So that tells me I have ridden some really crappy wooden coasters. Seriously some of these I think are wrong. Anyone else

^It doesn't have to mean you've ridden crappy coasters. I'd say anything even in the top 100 is still a "good" coaster. Only so many can ranked right up at the front of the list.

Audioslaved, the question is whether you liked the coasters you rode. If you enjoyed them, it would be foolish to suddenly change your opinion because someone else doesn't like them. Don't let anyone or any poll tell you what you should like. (That goes for everything in life, not just coasters.)

John, glad to hear that you were able to enlighten someone in our illustrious state government-- more importantly, that they were open to learning something. Sounds like a far cry from most of the bureaucrats I get to deal with daily.

One person's "crappy coaster" is another person's "favorite." I for one love Texas Giant, Georgia Cyclone, The Boss, and The Beast to name just a few "rough, crappy wood coasters"

About the only one there is a consensus on is PGA's Grizzly. :)

John: Thanks for the brief overview. Good to hear directly from the source. I appreciate it and apologize for being a tad circumspect and overgeneralizing with my commentary. I think that I have such an incredible notion of PHOENIX as being a coaster that has remained, over the years, so wild and vivid with every ride that there is the mistaken assumption that it is not thoroughly vetted and checked with every passing season. Knoebel's is consistently one of the most loved parks of all amusement parks in this country and such is the case with me as well.

It is a testament to Allen's incredible design that it remains such a Top Woodie today as it has been for so many years previous. No one can hardly enter the state of Pennsylvania without hearing it beckon. . .

Barry J.

Phoenix is the only Schmeck in PA that runs "as its Creator intended". The results bear that out...

Shame neither HP nor DP cares about rankings...LOL! :)

The previous post was sponsored by "Gators for Re-Schmeckification." :)