Small Coasters That Pack The Biggest Punch?
I know this sounds ridiculous, Viper at SFoG. Personally, I love old shuttle loops. Does not require a big space, but packs a big punch.
The Racer at PKI. Although this sorta hurts your head, this is a great airtime coaster!
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http://www.islandguide.8m.com
all about PKI
the Beasts` Den
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http://www.islandguide.8m.com
all about PKI
the Beasts` Den
Coaster Thrill Ride at the Western Washington State Fair. This John Miller wooden coaster first opened in 1935 and still kicks butt over the other woodens I've ridden (except Santa Cruz's). The back row gives plenty
of airtime, and more than a few headchoppin' close calls. Great Fun!
of airtime, and more than a few headchoppin' close calls. Great Fun!
i would have to say Jack Rabbit at Kennywood that double dip such gives ya a hell of a lot of airtime.
top gun @ pga
vortex @ pga
canyon blaster @ circus circus las vegas.. *** This post was edited by www.KiNeTicZero.com on 6/28/2001. ***
vortex @ pga
canyon blaster @ circus circus las vegas.. *** This post was edited by www.KiNeTicZero.com on 6/28/2001. ***
My first post on a roller coaster site and it's a (mild I hope) flame. I've hardly been active in coaster riding for the past few years, but I'm very familiar with those discussed here.
I grew up in Pittsburgh and went to Kennywood at least every month. That was in the mid 60s and back then no one considered the Racer (which opened while I was there) or the Jack Rabbit "small" coasters. They are only small compared to the behemoths built today, not by category. If we accept relative size, and current trends continue, The Beast will soon be considered a small coaster. That said, the double dip on the Jack Rabbit was one of the great innovations of Kennywood: no matter how many times you ride it, it's one of those moments where you can't help but think that this is too much - there has to be something wrong.
The High Speed Thrill Coaster at Knoebel's is a special case: a genuine kiddie coaster (a plain oval with some bunny hops) that can really surprise you. Make sure you check out your co-riders; if there are no tots on board, you can talk to the operator and maybe you'll get some extra acceleration. It'll surprise you, but I can't put it in the biggest punch category.
I think we're talking about coasters with single cars. In that regard, I always considered Cedar Point's Wildcat a bore (I went to Cedar Point three or four times a year in the early 70s). It seems to me to be a small steel coaster trying to be a woody and the hills don't compare. No the true king of the boardwalk, small park coaster is the Wild Mouse - the true, genuine original - where the front of the car overhangs the track on curves so that the track disappears from under you, and that doesn't start with a hill, but with a sideways slanted set of hairpin curves that cover the top of the coaster like a table. The fear factor is tremendous: by the second or third hairpin, you're sure that something's not right, and at the last one (it should be the seventh!), I defy anyone to hold back a genuine scream of fear.
Everyone in the fourth and fifth grade in Pittsburgh "knew" that the Jack Rabbit actually flew off the track on every ride (and occasionally didn’t make it back), but the Wild Mouse was legendary. We all "knew" it to be genuinely dangerous. If you weren't killed by the car jumping the track, you might be one of the victims who ended the ride sitting dead in the car. We all knew that this kind of thing was common on the Wild Mouse and that they “weren’t allowed” to build it in many areas.
In light of recent events, I was not sure that I should discuss death and roller coasters in this post. However, I think the “fear factor” is a vital part of the roller coaster experience. (Consider the coaster that has giant mice eating away the track.) It is a shame that the stuff of childhood fears (and fears that we all overcame and recognized as ungrounded in fact), should now be reality for some people. I think this is a one- or two-year fad, like the anti comic book craze. I only hope it doesn’t do too much damage.
I have ridden four or five Wild Mouse coasters, most of which have closed or are not in the coaster database: Palisades Park, one in Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri, one at a beach, possibly Revere Beach or Ocean City Maryland, and various state fairs and such. I see many of the existing Wild Mouse coasters in the database don’t have the highest ratings, but remember, there are many variations on the design, as well as many braking options. Of the current coasters, the one by Maurer has the full 7 hairpins on top. They built the Crazy Mine in Hansa Park Germany. I think the Lagoon Park coaster has the same design. The Hershey Park Wild Mouse seems a good tribute to the original, but I’ve never been on it. I rode the Wild Mouse in Lake of the Ozarks in the mid 70s and remember it as a true terror, with little use of the brakes. There is a good collection of Wild Mouse info at http://www.personal.psu.edu/faculty/v/a/vac3/wdm.html I hope to read more info and experiences here (maybe someone knows the Lake of the Ozarks coaster).
Finally, if you’re going to count small coasters with trains, then you have to grant first place to the Cyclone at Coney Island, but I’ll leave that for another post.
I grew up in Pittsburgh and went to Kennywood at least every month. That was in the mid 60s and back then no one considered the Racer (which opened while I was there) or the Jack Rabbit "small" coasters. They are only small compared to the behemoths built today, not by category. If we accept relative size, and current trends continue, The Beast will soon be considered a small coaster. That said, the double dip on the Jack Rabbit was one of the great innovations of Kennywood: no matter how many times you ride it, it's one of those moments where you can't help but think that this is too much - there has to be something wrong.
The High Speed Thrill Coaster at Knoebel's is a special case: a genuine kiddie coaster (a plain oval with some bunny hops) that can really surprise you. Make sure you check out your co-riders; if there are no tots on board, you can talk to the operator and maybe you'll get some extra acceleration. It'll surprise you, but I can't put it in the biggest punch category.
I think we're talking about coasters with single cars. In that regard, I always considered Cedar Point's Wildcat a bore (I went to Cedar Point three or four times a year in the early 70s). It seems to me to be a small steel coaster trying to be a woody and the hills don't compare. No the true king of the boardwalk, small park coaster is the Wild Mouse - the true, genuine original - where the front of the car overhangs the track on curves so that the track disappears from under you, and that doesn't start with a hill, but with a sideways slanted set of hairpin curves that cover the top of the coaster like a table. The fear factor is tremendous: by the second or third hairpin, you're sure that something's not right, and at the last one (it should be the seventh!), I defy anyone to hold back a genuine scream of fear.
Everyone in the fourth and fifth grade in Pittsburgh "knew" that the Jack Rabbit actually flew off the track on every ride (and occasionally didn’t make it back), but the Wild Mouse was legendary. We all "knew" it to be genuinely dangerous. If you weren't killed by the car jumping the track, you might be one of the victims who ended the ride sitting dead in the car. We all knew that this kind of thing was common on the Wild Mouse and that they “weren’t allowed” to build it in many areas.
In light of recent events, I was not sure that I should discuss death and roller coasters in this post. However, I think the “fear factor” is a vital part of the roller coaster experience. (Consider the coaster that has giant mice eating away the track.) It is a shame that the stuff of childhood fears (and fears that we all overcame and recognized as ungrounded in fact), should now be reality for some people. I think this is a one- or two-year fad, like the anti comic book craze. I only hope it doesn’t do too much damage.
I have ridden four or five Wild Mouse coasters, most of which have closed or are not in the coaster database: Palisades Park, one in Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri, one at a beach, possibly Revere Beach or Ocean City Maryland, and various state fairs and such. I see many of the existing Wild Mouse coasters in the database don’t have the highest ratings, but remember, there are many variations on the design, as well as many braking options. Of the current coasters, the one by Maurer has the full 7 hairpins on top. They built the Crazy Mine in Hansa Park Germany. I think the Lagoon Park coaster has the same design. The Hershey Park Wild Mouse seems a good tribute to the original, but I’ve never been on it. I rode the Wild Mouse in Lake of the Ozarks in the mid 70s and remember it as a true terror, with little use of the brakes. There is a good collection of Wild Mouse info at http://www.personal.psu.edu/faculty/v/a/vac3/wdm.html I hope to read more info and experiences here (maybe someone knows the Lake of the Ozarks coaster).
Finally, if you’re going to count small coasters with trains, then you have to grant first place to the Cyclone at Coney Island, but I’ll leave that for another post.
Wild Mouse coasters definately pack a punch for their size and are far better than the Wildcat @ CP in my opinion. I also think that the Hurricane at SCBB and the Scandia Screamer pack quite a punch for their respective sizes. I like seeing people mention Viper @ SFAW. I rode it when it was the Jet Scream at SFStL and I really miss it, it was my first looping coaster experience and I would ride all day. But on a similar note I always thought that Scorpion at BGTB was sweet for its size.
In the wooden department I like the Raven, Big Dipper at SCBB and Blue Streak at CP. I think all should be considered small to medium sized woodies. The Raven definately packs the biggest punch out of the three, but I prefer the Dipper.
In the wooden department I like the Raven, Big Dipper at SCBB and Blue Streak at CP. I think all should be considered small to medium sized woodies. The Raven definately packs the biggest punch out of the three, but I prefer the Dipper.
I thought he meant a small coaster? Anyway, my votes for wood and steel go to the Rollo Coaster at Idlewild (that turn-around is a rib-cracker!) and the "texas cyclone" at Wonderland Park in Amarillo, TX. I rode that one way back during the 1990 ACE coaster con. It was almost funny brutal! The little helix at the end was a body breaker! I think Lakeside in Denver has a version of this called the Wild Chipmunk.
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Ow! My lap bar IS down all the way.
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Ow! My lap bar IS down all the way.
Not counting mice, the Phoenix at Knobels is a relatively small coaster that has one of the greatest punches of any woodie. Also, the Cyclone at Williams Grove is a truly small woodie with real punch.
I'd say Blackpool's Wild Mouse. You slam into the sides round the corners ,and if it's running well, really fly up at the seatbelt at one point. It has three floors, but hardly takes up any space.
I'm surprised everyone is people are saying that The Racer, FoF, and Hypersonic are small...those might be small to MF but they still are for more advanced riders. I'd have to go with The Beastie.
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You can't run and you can't hide...The Beast at PKI
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You can't run and you can't hide...The Beast at PKI
For a smaller wooden coaster I'd have to say Blue Streak at CLP. Man that thing is wild! For steel I have to go with CP's WildCat.
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At the turn of the Millennium, there were signs.
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At the turn of the Millennium, there were signs.
Since nobody mentioned it yet, I'll say the Exterminator at Kennywood. Well themed, good action, and some good drops. Phoenix is also a relatively small coaster in today's standards, but definitely packs the biggest punch. That's why it's my #1 woodie.
I agree with DannyK, *everyone* knew that the Jack Rabbit flew off the track on the double dip at that age. When I was in 3rd grade, I didn't even ride it that whole year because I had nightmares of people falling off. :)
I agree with DannyK, *everyone* knew that the Jack Rabbit flew off the track on the double dip at that age. When I was in 3rd grade, I didn't even ride it that whole year because I had nightmares of people falling off. :)
Yeah right... Anyways, I have to say Greezed Lightnin' at SFAW! Flywheels forever!
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.:| Brandon Rodriguez |:.
http://www.coasters2k.com
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.:| Brandon Rodriguez |:.
http://www.coasters2k.com
Tremors in Athol, ID. at Silverwood. That thing
is tough and to the point. Great ride, and the tightest tunnels I have ever experienced.
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Rollercoasters are like parrots......they should outlive you.
is tough and to the point. Great ride, and the tightest tunnels I have ever experienced.
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Rollercoasters are like parrots......they should outlive you.
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