What should Magic Mountain do with its woodies?

While CCI is great (The Outlaw at Adventureland is fantastic) I think GCI doesn't get mentioned enough.  I've heard nothing but good things about that company.
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Just wait till next year!

nasai - Excellent point. It seems that the most maligned woodies are often the ones most lacking in TLC, regardless of the designer. I'm sure that a CCI that went long enough without proper maintenance would start to "suck" just like anything else. Twisted Sisters seems headed in that direction from what I've heard.

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"Something that's factual at this moment proves not to be factual in retrospect. That doesn't mean it wasn't factual at the time." - Campbell Gardett, Department of Health and Human Services

I rode Colossus backwards on the last friday of frightfest, and those headrests only make colossus painful.

the morgan trains would be a better choice...

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"Apu, make me a squishy entirely made of syrup. My god, such an attempt has never been successful. Just make it happen. oh my god its going to blow! Ding! Thank You, Come again..." - Simpsons

Maybe the new trains behind pysclone are to be used as backward trains on collosus. So they don't always have to take the trains from pysclone.

Clarification time:

The trains behind psyclone were the old trains on the rattler.  They are there for parts for colossus.

Secondly..Colossus had PTC trains! and before that IAD/NAD trains!  I don't know the exact reason they got rid of those (most likely weight), but they did. 

WOW!

I wish I knew that much about trains and stuff, but I do know a bit of engineering.

One big problem recently seems to be mis-calaulations on the part of the designers. MEAN STREAK was amazing it's first year open at CP according to my girlfriend, But severe trim brakes were added in 2 places the following season (including right in the middle of the freeking first drop!) and I'd say the ride has been effectively "castrated". This was reportedly done because the ride was in danger of "rattling itself apart". After only one year? Boo-hiss. I won't even waste my time on it now...

The same exact scenario applies to VIPER at S.F.Great America....I rode it the first year and it was KILLER! Fast as heck and TONS of air time. 2 years later the snake was dead. It had been slowed down in a couple of places and it was so dull I couldn't believe it. I won't waste cue time on it anymore.

SOLUTION: Metal Frames.

The VILLAIN at S.F.W.O.A. in Ohio is a perfect example. (Awesome MAD ride!) It "looks" like a woodie but the support structure is actually all steel beams. BUT IT IS A WOODIE because it has a wooden track assembly like any other woodie.

It feels like a woodie so it's an acceptable twist IMO. It is very fast, tons of good air, and lots of sudden turns and dips. All the while maintaining it's great speed! YeeHaaa!

I don't know why some killer old coasters last forever and new ones get brakes after only a year or so (they don't make them like they used to?), but it seems the steel beam construction could be added to any existing woodie with potentially great results....I hope it happens.

~Tocci

nasai, I would have to disagree. Psyclone has ALWAYS (IMO) been an aweful ride. It was recently re-tracked and I gave it another shot. No good still. I was REALLY hoping it would be better. The thing LOOKS great. But the ride is too painful, and I am not one of the "oh it jolted me a little" riders. I couldnt even enjoy it for what it was. Perhaps it was designed to be extra rickety (ala old time Cyclone) but ended up as a crowd disappointer. Should it be torn down? Of course not, but I wouldnt mind seeing it re-located and replaced with a better woodie. I dont think Psyclone suffers from neglect, it just plain sucks. Always has, Always will.

Tocci55 - good point about Villain. I was at SFWoA this year and didnt realize that it wasnt 100% wood until we got right up next to it. The steel supports also wont have as much change caused by weather. I would imagin that re-tracking and general maintenance would also be easier. However, comparing Villain and GhostRider, GR is a FAR better ride. Is this because of the design or the fact that GR is 100% wood??? Unless someone built a replica of GR with steel supports or a 100% wood Villain we'll never know, but can only speculate. I for one, think the steel supported wood coaster will be much more prominent in the future anyway.

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My other car is a Giovanola!

FYI, psyclone just started a 5 year retracking program.  The new track is I-beam, and thus far is only on the first drop (which by the way is pretty darn good now that it's retracked).  When it's done with its retracking program, it will be a MUCH better ride (even though it is already a decent ride).

Am I the only one who actually liked Psyclone? It was no-where, absolutely NO-WHERE near as bad as it was made out to be.

Grizzly on the other hand...

*** This post was edited by Screamer on 11/8/2001. ***

GhostRider looks like MADNESS!!!

Can't wait to get on that!

I predict that CCI's habit of BUILDING THEM TO DEATH will mean that they will last longer and ultimately off-set whatever additional expense is required to build them so full-bore! Plus, their woodwork qualifies as art in my book.

~Tocci

Tocci55...yes Ghostrider is madness.  The best coaster out there, bar none IMHO.  Got to ride it again.....

LoadedG...still gotta run with what I said before.  I disagree that SF takes care of it.  SF is notorious for mistreating their rides, and taking the sting out of the things.  Look at Colossus.  Yes, a woman died years ago, and that is the worst thing imaginable, but you don't pull out and/or cover over the best part of the ride.  Leave it alone, or burn it!  Granted, that is an EXTREME position to take, but it is mine, and I am sticking to it!  Don't change it.  It was designed a specific way.  Are we going to see Goliath change because that woman had an aneurysm this year?  I hope not, but it is possible, although certainly not probable. I don't think we are going to see Psyclone ever really be what it could be, although I am wrong an awful lot.   I hope this 'retracking', whatever that means, will have a true life changing effect for it.  If not, what is the point?  Then again, it is a 'clone'....  I'm sorry you think the ride sucks (and always has), but truly that is your own opinion, and yes...you are absolutely entitled to it.  I like it, and I probably always will.  I might have bad taste or good taste, but it is no matter, as all coaster rides are subjective anyway.  I think there are wonderful points on both sides of the fence, but overall, I believe without a shadow of a doubt that SF owes it to us, GP included, to make the best park possible with the rides it already has.  I would love to just see them take care of Revolution, which could be an awesome, nay... spectacular, ride if they would just restore it to its former glory.  It was made in the nooks and crannys for a reason.  It wasn't intended to be a Sunday drive, but all those trims that SF put in certainly presents it that way now, doesn't it?  Yes, we are all looking for something new, ala X, but we still should be more than glad to ride anything, and everything in that park, and I can't say I do now.  I guess I am just ranting now....it's late and I don't have anything really important to say anymore.  I just wish corporate parks were a little kinder to what they have already invested in.
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Check us out!
 

*** This post was edited by nasai on 11/9/2001. ***

Yes, nasai, that is MY own opinion of the ride. Thank you for recognizing that. I did NOT notice for a fact if only the drop was re-tracked, but I recall seeing the fresh new wood on most of the course. Again, the ride was aweful and I will probably abstain from EVER giving it ANOTHER chance. Three strikes program, It's OUT. I LOVE SFMM and wish that the only 2 rides I WONT GET ON werent there (Flashback being the other).

Luckily...one of the best rides in the WORLD is just 45minutes south of SFMM (GhostRider is pure madness, Tocci55). If I could just find a way to get Knotts to Swap GR for Psyclone I wouldnt have to make that special trip to Knotts. :)

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My other car is a Giovanola!

Nasai, Doesnt it suck to be such an enthusiat living in an area that doesnt really have many coasters nearby? No need to answer.
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My other car is a Giovanola!

LoadedG....rub it in, man!  Yes, it does stink living in non-coaster purgatory, but I chose the landscape, so to speak.  :(  It is beautiful up here, though.  We need to get together, though.  I need to ride Ghostrider again......

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There is more...!
http://www.geocities.com/ethylsite

Not knocking ya, nasai. Sympathising with ya. I am in the same purgatory in Phoenix. Although my trips to So Cal are a mere 6hr drive (each way), I dont have the beautiful Pacific NW landscape here in the Phoenix Desert. Its all dirt and cactus. Too hot to go outside and rain is a godsend. I see you do travel quite a bit, must be nice. This year I have travelled much more than any other year. I had a 8 day trip to Ohio (I was born there but havent been back since I was 7) where I FINALLY got to go to CP and SFWoA. Missed PKI and Kennywood unfortunately because we planned the trip in early MAY and could only fit in 1 "weekends only" park. When we planned it, SFWoA was scheduled to be open FRI-SUN, we thought we'd go there on Friday (not so busy) and PKI on Sat-Sun. SFWoA changed to SAT-SUN only so we went on those days and missed PKI all together. Got in 4 walk-on days at CP though. Spent a week in Seattle with 4 of my best friends (one who lives there in Redmond) . Three trips out to California (still waiting for X!). And a quick 2 day trip to Vegas. I hope to be able to hit some other parks toward the east this coming year, but only time will tell.
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My other car is a Giovanola!

LoadedG...I would have to say with a schedule like that, that you are the man!  I envy you........:)  I do travel a lot, mostly because of my band, and then there is the fact that I am married to a Japanese woman, so I get to go to Japan at least once a year (although I don't know about next year :()  I have been very fortunate to see a lot of the world (heck, I have even been to Iceland-no coasters there, though)  It is my goal to get to South Africa, and Europe.  I have been to Great Britain, but I want to ride Megafobia and Expedition G-force.  So that forces my choices a bit.  Perhaps if someone builds a park in AZ, you will be just a bit happier???  Next time you are in Seattle, look me up, or drop me an e-mail.  I would love to hang.  We could hit PNE together or something (better do it soon!).  Later!

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There is more...!
http://www.geocities.com/ethylsite

Anyone got pics of the Collosus trains with PTC. And also the revolution trains were did they go.  ANd all Pyclone needs is some new trains.  ANd Collosus needs to get rid of the brakes by the old double dip, and get some PTC's.
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Goliath Laps 150
Collosus 250

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Intaminrocks said:
Collosus needs to get rid of the brakes by the old double dip

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SF needs to put Collosus back together again.....  and not just lose the trims, but bring back the double dip!  Do it SF!  I beg of you......!

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My site: www.geocities.com/ethylsite

Just wait till VIP night, i say we all go and BUG THE HECK OUT OF DEL, either we will be banned from SFMM for life or he will meet our demans.
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Goliath Laps 150
Collosus 250

No way a park will spend sever hundred thousand dollars to plase enthusiasts. As much as I hate trims on all coasters, the ones on Collosus were put there for a reason.
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My fellow Americans, let's roll!
I pray that I will never see a Six Flags Conneaut Lake