Woodies with Steel Supports

Do the the Wooden coasters with the Steel support frame absorb any of the roughtness ? I personally like to look of the complete wooden structure, but it is rougher ?

The steel structures need to bend and flex just like the wood. Sloppy track is what causes roughness. A well maintained wood coaster can be very smooth (see: Holiday World).

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com
"As far as I can tell it doesn't matter who you are. If you can believe, there's something worth fighting for..." - Garbage, "Parade"

I'd say it really is about the same. If the coaster is going to be rough with a wood structure, It'll be rough with steel structure, and if the coaster is going to be smooth with a wood structure, It'll be smooth with steel structure. It's all in the design and construction. Pretty much the only effects on the coaster from a steel frame are economical and aesthetic.
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I'd Rather Be Riding Roller Coasters

*** This post was edited by FloridaCoasterRider on 11/29/2001. ***

I've riden both, all wood and steel supprted. They feel the same to me. Which is a good thing because that means coasters can be built with steel supports that can last longer, warp less, and ultimately cost the park less in maintenance costs - yet the ride feels like a Woodie!

We all win!

~Tocci

Call me old fashoined, I would still rather see them built of wood.

I agree. Although the headchoppers of Villian's steel can no be beat, I like the sight of wood supports better.
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CP! Still the coaster capital of the world in 2002!
My fellow Americans; Let's Roll!
WoodenCoaster.com

The wood is better looking, but CCI used steel at Indiana Beach because of space. It took less space to construct a coaster with a steel structure. That was in the case of the Hoosier Hurricane and The Cornball Express.
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Mike Middleton of Urbana, Indiana

Also they used steel supports for The Villain, making it able to squeeze onto the footprint that it is on. Otherwise, you would have supports on the road. ;)
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SFWoA Online
http://sfwoa.coasterbuzz.com

I like the look of wooden supports better however steel supports make really no difference to how a ride performs or feels. Villain is the example of how you don't need wooden supports to make a world class wood coaster!

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Premier, head of the lapbar revolution!

I definitely agree that the wooden supports do make for a better looking coaster. But I will add that a steel-supported woodie is better than no woodie at all!

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James Draeger
"Legend is a wooden Jesus"

I personally think steel supports make the coaster more solid...it feels that way...whether it's true or not? I have noticed on the villian that the wheels seem to rub harder.

MisterX said:
Call me old fashoined, I would still rather see them built of wood.

CI Cyclone is built with a steel structure, so not all old fasion coasters are wood ;)
Zeus at Big Chief's is steel-wood structure hybrid. I can't tell a difference when it switches from steel to wood to steel etc...

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Hi! I'm Hungry, whats your name?

As for steel structured classics Comet at the Great Escape is one. I prefer the all wood coasters, and I feel that we should classify wooden coasters and wooden/steel hybrids differently. I feel that Comet it the best Wood/Steel hybrid, but Knoebels Phoenix is by far the best classic wood coaster. But as for the topic it makes no difference, as I said before Comet has a steel structure and still beats you up. (In a fun way)
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Phly the Pheonix

I personally find that the steel structured woodies give a notably harsher ride. Don't say maintaince was a factor either. I've ridden 3 (Cornball Express, MB Hurricane, MFI Silver Comet) with in 2 months of opening, 2 weeks in the case of the Hurricane.

I personally like wood, it adds to the feel of riding a coaster, you feel more out of control, I think the roughness is the same however, there are several rides made out of steel that are ruff too.

I don't get the more out of control thing, Twisted sisters is completely out of control and it is steel, rough though as SFKK doesn't maintain it well. I have never found any difference between steel and wood supports, you can go the otyher way and look at rides like Gemni or mine rides, they have wood supports but steel track.
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Does CCI know how to make a bad coaster?

Wheels rubbing harder? I don't know what was meant by rubbing, but there is still a wooden track there, like said before, supported by steel. Wether or not the track being supported differently effects the wheels under good keep, I've never heard.

But as far as the Hurricane @MB, it couldn't have been built any other way. They built it around the park. It goes over & through a few attractions(I think it is even supported to one of the small buildings next to the Top Spin), & the "out" part is almost in the road.
As for that ride being "rough" or "harsh", the coaster doesn't feel broken in most the time, if you know what I mean. IMO, it's not been used enough.

The helices on the steel supported rides looks mean, very attractive. The way you can see the track more unobstructed, it's easy to imagine how it would look if there were no supports ther at all, just floating, twisting track:).

Supports save on maintenance, the effect on the ride is minimal IMO. Of course all wood structures LOOK better, but it is with considerable cost in the long haul. MagnumForce, I couldn't help notice the irony of your post and your sig. The answer is: NO, CCI doesn't know how to build a bad coaster, but SFKK's (lack of) maintenance is enough to maim even a CCI. That is one of the worst woodies I've been on, definitely the worst CCI, and the worst steel-supported woodie. Shame, too, since I'll bet it ran NICE on its opening day...
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the buzzer formerly known as gatorwoodie
Son of Drop Zone - PKI CoasterCamp I Champions!!!

p_c_r said:
But as far as the Hurricane @MB, it couldn't have been built any other way. They built it around the park. It goes over & through a few attractions(I think it is even supported to one of the small buildings next to the Top Spin), & the "out" part is almost in the road.
As for that ride being "rough" or "harsh", the coaster doesn't feel broken in most the time, if you know what I mean. IMO, it's not been used enough.

The Hurricane has gotten rougher this past year. Its a shame too since its a really great coaster. The first helix is starting to "shake" really bad, especially right after the dive into it. Then, there is this very nasty jolt that you can feel as you start to exit the second helix. From what I understand, its the result of some retracking that didn't turn out like it was suppose to. I hope that the Hurricane gets some TLC this offseason. Its a great coaster and I hate to see it running like it has been.

Max

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Max Cannon

"there's someone in my head but its not me..." "Brain Damage"-Pink Floyd

I didn't know there had been any retracking on the MBHurricane. Usually, we drive by every couple of weeks during the "off" season just to admire while the peeps are away. I do understand, from locals a little more local than I, that part of the structure WAS hit during the waterspout early this summer. Upon inspection, there was NO damage to it. Thank you steel supports.

I found her to be running well this year. There are issues and concerns with the Pavilion itself and mainly the Hurricane crew, which gets my vote for crews likely to have never ridden thier ride, they get mad when they see you coming, and the EXIT platforms and some wierd areas are riddled with gum, that I believe workers spit out, because us patrons don't linger in those areas.

But as far as being "broken in", I feel like the ride doesn't get all that many patrons, and maintanence MAY be scheduled around that. For instince, only half the projected people rode, so maintaining is put off twice as long.

I didn't feel that helix structure shake unduely, but I was riding one night, and I was out of my seat through the second and third hill, literally floating into the first helix, LOL, something that hadn't happened in dozens of rides. ...and don't hold on for the helices, it makes YOU shake whereas normally everything shakes around you:).
I agree, amazing ride, I question its' future, though, there were even days last season when I could not believe that our new coaster was in the condition it can get sometimes. Maybe we should do something about it:)......