The unknown coaster - CoasterBuzz

Over the summer I went to a small park ( only 22 rides ) in Mechanicsburg PA called Williams Grove. It had a very rough and very fun woodie called the cyclone. I think its an ACE coaster classic, but I think its underated. It's got a rough ride only a coaster purist could love. It's probably only about 2000' long, but I counted at least 10 times out of my seat, which I was sitting in the MIDDLE of ( no seat divider). Anyone else out there that's ridden this coaster?

according to the coaster database on the site here ( http://club.coasterbuzz.com/coasters/coaster.asp?CoasterID=461 or http://www.coasterbuzz.com/coasters/coaster.asp?CoasterID=461 ) 83 members show it in their track record. So there are at least 83 people here (non-members cannot have a track record) who have ridden it...

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Le roi est mort. Vive le roi.
Thanks Great America!

Gee isn't if fun to ride a coaster the way they were ment to be ridden?

How many other coasters can you ride in the middle of the seat and slide around the turns??

I know one and I love it. Big Dipper at SFWOA.

Chuck, who also remembers riding Screechin Eagle like this. Thunderbolt must have two riders per seat :(

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Charles Nungester.
Is it about coasters or friends? I say both!

Redman 882: at least 84 people here. I've never gotten around to putting a track record together yet.

Wanted to get on it during the HP trip, but I had a forced-choice situation...ended up choosing Dutch Wonderland for Sky Princess (ok, so I'm a CCI junkie). Since HP was THAT good, probably even better, we'll end up out there again....

BTW, the original Cyclone still lets you "slide side to side"...

Its not a bad little ride.

Read my trip report from 2001 here:
http://club.coasterbuzz.com/forums/thread.asp?ForumID=13&TopicID=9118

Dorney,

last time I checked "at least" meant "no less than" the number specified. So, yes, 84 would be covered in my statement.

As far as you not doing your track record on here, that is evident as you just signed up here today and already have 11 posts...

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Le roi est mort. Vive le roi.
Thanks Great America!

*** This post was edited by redman822 on 10/31/2002. ***

The ACE summer Convention in 2001 was Hershey, Dorney, and EPT (exclusive Park time) at William's Grove. I loved that little park, actually. It was so rough around the edges, but it had great charm.

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--Oat Boy
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....wondering if GregLeg is getting dressed up as the Quaker Oats guy for Halloween....or would he be mistaken for a member of ZZ Top....;)

Yah, there was wood flying off that thing when we were riding it as part of CoasterCon. Only time I've ever seen a bunch of ACErs face go white over a coaster.

I went to Williams Grove with my Mom back in '94. At that time there was a contractor that was rebuilding the coaster piece by piece. The whole thing felt like it would fall over in a strong gust of wind. I talked to the guy rebuilding the ride quite a bit. He let me ride without paying and even let me operate the coaster. He said he had a thing for my Mom, she is quite the hottie! Anyway, eventually I persuaded my Mom to get on with me. We both hopped on the back seat and were enjoying the ride when half way through the lap bar came loose while we were getting some great air. My Mom freaked out thinking she was going to die, but I braced my feet and held her in her seat. She didn't ride again and she didn't call the guy after he gave her his number.

I've visited Williams Grove about 6 times in 4 years. The first time was back in 99. I was working in Carlisle and had time to kill before a meeting I had to go to later that evening.

It's a bit rough but for as bad as it looks the ride isn't what you think it will be (although the last seat in each car is a little brutal on the spine). With a little TLC I think it could be a great little coaster in a odd little park.

Yes, It is an ACE Classic!

*** This post was edited by coasterpunk on 10/31/2002. ***

Properly maintained this could be a fine small woodie. However, when I rode it in 2001 some of the biggest air came from the bumps in the track not the hills. It wasn't as painful though as some larger woodies due to it's small size and low speeds.

*** This post was edited by Jim Fisher on 10/31/2002. ***

Yea I rode it when coasterpunk and I went to Hersheypark for my first experience this past summer. It was a fun little coaster, although I'm still more impressed with a big monster of a coaster than a little one. Chalk it up to being a youngun (relatively) ;)

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1. Kumba 2. Millie 3. Mantis 4. Lightning Racer 5. Wicked Twister (Front Seat)
"The key to a happy life is moderation" -- Jon Stewart

Charles Nungester said:

How many other coasters can you ride in the middle of the seat and slide around the turns??
Blackpools rollercoaster (the 1 actually called rollercoaster!) has no seat dividers and no restraints whatsoever, (no lapbar, no safetybelt, no overheads, nothing!) The seats are very spongy and comfortable, and you even get quite a bit of legroom. For a 50+ft woody (don't know the actual stats I'm afraid) the ride gives all seats some airtime. This is obviously unusual considerring the litigation-happy society we live in today... are there any major coasters in the US with no restraints?
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