Who really built the Hurler twins?

I was reading an old issue of First Drop magazine (for those who don't know, it is the bi-monthly magazine of the European Coaster Club) that featured Tonnerre De Zeus, and there was an interview with the Parc Asterik's manager about the planning of the ride and how CCI came into to play. In the interview, the manager states that CCI had finished work on the Hurler coaster at PKD and that was one of the coaster designs that they had considered for their wooden coaster (before being smitten by Timber Wolf at WOF.) I had always thought that International Coasters had built the Hurler twins... did CCI really play a part in the design or construction of those coasters?

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-Rob

I've been meaning to ask about this too. Infact, there are the Hurler twins, in which RCDB has listed as designed and built by some one, and then there is Thunder Run, which is almost the same ride, but it says they are built and designed by someone else, and in a recent thread, I heard of a "live show" on Hurler, and that is why the large turnaround is larger on them then on Thunder Run. Someone please explain the relationship between these three coasters, who bulit, and who designed.

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President, C.R.A.P. (Coaster Rescurers And Preservationists).

Thunder Run was designed by Curtis Summers and built by the Dinn Corporation, which was the company which essentially became CCI when Charlie Dinn retired and his daughter Denise took over. But the Thunder Run design supposedly goes back even further... rumor has it that Jon Fetterman (who works for Knoebels and designed the Twister) had originally designed TR for Americana Park/LeSourdsville Lake when they were looking to add a new wooden coaster in the 80's (obviously, it never happened.)

As far as the connection between Thunder Run and the Hurler twins, I know that TR served as the inspiration, but that's about it. As far as I know, Fetterman, Summers or Dinn (Charlie, anyway) had nothing to do with the Paramount coasters.

And yes, a stage for live shows was supposed to be constructed in the turnarounds of the Hurler coasters (it was going to be called Waynestock or something like that since the whole area was originally themed as Wayne's World), but that silly idea was put to rest when someone finally wised up and realized the stupidity of the idea of having a live show surrounded by a loud wooden coaster with screaming riders.

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-Rob

...Not to mention the relatively short longevity of Wayne's World as a part of pop culture.

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com - Sillynonsense.com
"Pray that your country undergoes recovery!" - KMFDM

It was indeed John Fetterman who designed Thunder Run for Americana in '86, and it's possible that Dennis Starkey of the Summers organization may have made some slight modifications to Fetterman's design before it was built at Kentucky Kingdom. I really don't know anything about International Coasters, Inc., except that the Hurler twins are their only two credits to date, but I do know that it was Starkey who further modified the Thunder Run design for the Paramount coasters.

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-Mike B.
Son of Hulk

I am curious to find out how (and if) CCI gets figured into all of this!

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-Rob

While the Hurlers are undoubtedly inspired by TR, I can't help but think the differences between the rides are so vast they they are a complete and total design all of there own.

If they were involved I don't see any of Charlie Dinn's plans used.

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UnfrigginbelievablyIncredible

I agree 100% MagnumForce, I've been on Thunder Run and Hurler at PKD, and I must say that TR blows Hurler away. I was amazed after riding Thunder Run, I couldn't believe how good it was.

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If at first don't succeed, find out if the loser gets anything.

I agree that TR is a much better ride than the Hurler. I consider that ride to be Kentucky Kingdom's shining beacon of hope.

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--Greg, aka Oat Boy
My page
"Mary Jane, don't you cry, you can give it a try, Again when the sequel comes out" -- Weird Al, Ode to a Superhero

Just about anything blows Hurler out of the water,I've got an idea on what PKD can do with the ride.

They can dismantle it & use the extra lumber to re- track Rebel yell,for the most part there should be enough lumber to go around & then add another coaster that's "worthy" of Hurler's current location.

Actually, I LOVE Hurler when it's running well. Unfortunately, it sounds like I've been lucky in that regard.

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--Greg, aka Oat Boy
My page
"Mary Jane, don't you cry, you can give it a try, Again when the sequel comes out" -- Weird Al, Ode to a Superhero

Funny, I loved Hurler when I rode it, and thought I would like TR, only to find it an agonizing ride. Maybe I caught it on a bad day, but I didn't like it nearly as much as Hurler.

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"If you make it too smooth, it'll be like sitting in your living room."
-Bill Cobb - Designer, Texas Cyclone

GregLeg, you say about TR being SFKK's "beacon," do you dislike Chang for some reason? Give me TR and Chang, and I'll be content. :)

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If at first don't succeed, find out if the loser gets anything.

In general, I'm not a fan of standups, period. They're ok once in a while, but not as a showpiece for a park. Thunder Run is, by far, the redeeming ride when I think of Kentucky Kingdom.

Of course, I like PKD's Hurler, so what do I konw? ;)

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--Greg, aka Oat Boy
My page
"Mary Jane, don't you cry, you can give it a try, Again when the sequel comes out" -- Weird Al, Ode to a Superhero

Well, I don't know bout PKD's Hurler this year, haven't rode it yet, but I did ride PCar's Hurler this year, and it has been re-tracked, and finally, it's a nice ride, more like it was when first built. Not my fav. woodie, but much better than it had been, even in the "notorious" back seat. Though I love Wayne's world, I don't understand why Paramount parks ever though of naming and theming an entire section of not one, but two parks after them. Glad it was easily fixed! But even in their first years, it dosen't seem as if the ridiculosly large que lines have ever been full. Oh well, at least I don't have to wait long for this coaster.

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President, C.R.A.P. (Coaster Rescurers And Preservationists).

Greg, I couldn't agree with you more. Thunder Run is the only reason I'd go back to SFKK. It's taller, faster, and has much wilder air and laterals than the Hurlers. The three successive bunny hills following the first turnaround offer ridiculous air...and that wonderful jerk to the right just before the second one had me laughing out loud.

But this thread isn't about Thunder Run (unfortunately ;) ). As for International Coasters, Inc., I often wonder why no one knows their story. Dennis Starkey definitely had his hand in the project, but whether or not he worked with or for IC, Inc. remains to be seen.

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-Mike B.
Son of Hulk

When I rode PKD's Hurler in April of this year, I thought it was a good ride- not great, but not close to being the worst I ever experienced. There were a few good moments of air, and the turns were smoother than I thought they'd be. I have yet to ride Thunder Run, though.

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-Rob

Just a thought. I think the Hurler at PKD suffers from it's location. It looks so slow and to most probably feels so slow being in the shadow of the Thrust Air machine. I've ridden both, and think that the one at Carowinds is much faster and better.

Plus its right next to Grizzly, which most will agree is the better of the PKD woodies.

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-Rob

Amen to that! I think I may have actually gotten more air on the Scooby Doo coaster than Hurler, though I may be exaggerating just a bit... ;)

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If at first don't succeed, find out if the loser gets anything.