HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: mapike@sei.cmu.edu (Mary Ann Pike)
Newsgroups: rec.roller-coaster
Subject: Re: Info wanted on Texas Amusement Parks
Date: 9 Apr 92 20:20:20 GMT
Organization: Software Engineering Institute

In article <rt28uINNjqb@cs.utexas.edu> mjh@cs.utexas.edu (Michael J. Hall) writes:
>Well, realize that Fiesta Tx is a music theme park, rather than a full-
>blown white knuckle amusement park.  you must go there though to
>experience the 18 story, 60 degree drop of the Rattler.  It loosens

Well, I've heard a lot about this ride and this park in this news group,
but my problem is WHERE IS THE PARK! I know nothing about Texas, and I
would like to know what parks are near Dallas and San Antonio, and what
other parks in Texas might be worth going to if they have a spectacular
roller coaster.


Mary Ann Pike   (mapike@sei.cmu.edu)
Software Engineering Institute      
Carnegie-Mellon University          
Pittsburgh PA
From: buck@cavlry.enet.dec.com
Newsgroups: rec.roller-coaster
Subject: Re: King's Island
Date: 8 Apr 92 14:49:13 GMT
Reply-To: buck@cavlry.enet.dec.com ()
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation

>I cannot recall who said that King's Island (King's Mills, Ohio) was getting a
>steel coaster this year but it's not true as I found out from my sister who
>works there. The only attraction that will be new this year will be the Phantom
>Theater, a haunted house/ ride that's like the one in Disney. The other bit of

It was probably me.  The steel coaster, by Miler, was listed
in my frequently-posted NEW-4-92 listing.

I read that KI purchased the Miler steelie and planned
to errect it in the park from Amusement Business mag.
Now, if I believe any source, I'll believe AB.  

FYI and fwiw...

Buck
From: cee1@ra.msstate.edu (Charles Evans)
Newsgroups: rec.roller-coaster
Subject: Re: Six Flags--which one?
Date: 6 Apr 92 19:06:08 GMT
Organization: Mississippi State University

buck@cavlry.enet.dec.com writes:

>The complete list:

>SF Astroworld -- Houston, TX
>SF over Georgia -- Atlanta, GA
>SF Great Adventure -- Jackson, NJ
>SF Great America -- Gurnee, IL
>SF Magic Mountain -- Valencia, CA
>SF over Mid-America -- St. Louis, MO
>SF over Texas -- Arlington, TX
Nope, SF over Texas is right between Dallas and Fort Worth.

-- 
Charles E. Evans           /  o     / Whereforeseeingwealsoarecompassedabout
cee1@ra.msstate.edu       / ./|\   / withsogreatacloudofwitnesses,letuslayaside
cee1@isis.msstate.edu    /   /|'  / everyweight,andthesindothsoeasilybesetus,
cee1@msstate.bitnet     /    , ' / andletusRUNwithpatiencetheracethatissetB4us.
Newsgroups: rec.roller-coaster
From: Dale English@watson.ibm.com
Subject: Re: Drachen Fire
Date: Tue, 07 Apr 1992 19:03:28 GMT
Distribution: usa
Disclaimer: This posting represents the poster's views, not necessarily those of IBM
Organization: IBM T.J. Watson Research Center

In  <1992Apr7.134248.2337@engage.pko.dec.com>  buck@cavlry.enet.dec.com writes:
> Dale,
>
> Sounds great, but how bout some answers:
>
> 1) How bad were the lines?

As you can probably imagine, the line during the day was about two hours.  They
were only running one train.  By the time you ride it, they should be running
two trains on it.  We waited one hour for it because it was late opening.  The
problem was that it was so cold the wheels expanded and slowed it down.  They
had the kerosene blowers underneath the brakes in the station.

Like I said, the wait during the day was about two hours.  However, as the day
progressed and the temperature got colder, people started to leave.  We only
waited 25 minutes at 7:30 pm to ride it again, with a wait time for our final
ride of only five minutes!  We rode it a total of five times, which I think
is pretty good for a new coaster.

> 2) How are the new trains??  Are they that much better than
>    the old Arrow trains?

Believe it or not, these trains are actually comfortable!  The open cars are
a welcome relief from the standard Arrow rolling stock.  Critics of Arrow
trains should really be excited with these trains.

> 3) Does the camel hump *really* give 3 seconds of airtime?

Feels like three seconds to me.

> 4) Is this a front seat ride or a back seat ride?

Well, as you can probably imagine, the front and back seats were jammed with
people trying to ride.  We took any seat with the shortest line.  I don't
recall any significant differences in where I sat.  One of the other people
there (Roy Brashears (SP?) I believe) even said it was a good middle seat
ride.
>
Dale "Drachen Fire" English
From: x90townsen12@gw.wmich.edu
Newsgroups: rec.roller-coaster
Subject: Complete list of parks & coasters?
Date: 14 Apr 92 21:21:26 EST
Organization: Western Michigan University

Can anyone send me a list of amusement parks and the roller-coasters (or
at least the best ones!) at each park in the United States?  Even a list
of parks and coasters in the midwest would be greatly appreciated since
I'm from Michigan.  I've been to several parks in the area but I would
like to know what I'm missing!  Please send me mail!  Thanks.

T H E  /////  ///// ////// /////     ///// ////// ///// /////   // // //
      //  // //      //   //        //      //   //    //  //  // // //
     /////  ////    //   ////  /// /////   //   ////  /////   // // //
    //     //      //   //           //   //   //    //  //          
   //     /////   //   /////     /////   //   ///// //   // // // //
From: rhino@cruzio.santa-cruz.ca.us
Newsgroups: rec.roller-coaster
Subject: Bungee at the Boardwalk.
Keywords: Bungee jumping, SCBB
Date: Sat, 11 Apr 92 22:04:28 PDT
Reply-To: rhino@cruzio.santa-cruz.ca.us


   From today until Easter sunday, there will be bungee jumping at the SCBB.
It's set up in the lot that used to be the Casa Del Rey across from the
Cocoanut Grove.  The price is a little steep, $79 for the jump.  I did it
only because I got a discount for working for Seaside and the guys in my
department took up a collection for me.
   So, what's it like jumping from 155'?  Intresting is the best word I can
come up for it.  I'm glad I did it, but I think I'll spend my spare time
on the Dipper (it's almost as much fun, and I ride for free.)

-Jim Jensen
rhino@cruzio.santa-cruz.ca.us
From: mulcihy@sweetpea.jsc.nasa.gov (David Mulcihy 283-4279)
Newsgroups: rec.roller-coaster
Subject: Re: pipeline coasters
Date: 10 Apr 1992 15:50:15 GMT
Organization: nasa-jsc

Mark T. Evert writes

> The Ultra-twister at Astroworld in Houston is one such coaster.  I've 
> ridden it.  It's OK but IMHO it is not spectacular.

I disagree (sort of). I was at Astroworld on a very slow day (The only ride
with a line with the Texas Cyclone). I rode the Ultra-twister about 5 times
in a row without getting out of the car. It becomes much more spectacular 
that way. This is also an unfair comparison because it is extremely rare one
does get a chance to ride multiple times without leaving one's seat.
David Mulcihy
mulcihy@sweetpea.jsc.nasa.gov
From: profesor@wpi.WPI.EDU (Matthew E Cross)
Newsgroups: rec.roller-coaster
Subject: kennywood and six flags
Date: 9 Apr 92 03:53:50 GMT
Article-I.D.: wpi.1992Apr9.035350.9117
Organization: Worcester Polytechnic Institute

The steel phantom is totally cool and totally worth the trip.  Its not quite
as cool as the sidewinder but still its an experience not to miss...

>BTW, beginning this year, if you buy a Seasons Pass to any of the Six
>Flags parks, it will be honored at all other Six Flags parks as well...
>quite a deal if you plan to visit other areas of the country!

how much are they? 



-- 
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| You really need a new reality filter.  |      profesor@wpi.wpi.edu          |
|                  -megazone@wpi.wpi.edu +------------------------------------+
|                                        |    Make love, not War...           |
Newsgroups: rec.roller-coaster
From: aq009@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (David A. Johnson)
Subject: Re: King's Island
Reply-To: aq009@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (David A. Johnson)
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH (USA)
Date: Tue, 14 Apr 92 15:41:44 GMT


In a previous article, buck@cavlry.enet.dec.com () says:

>Curious about this, I called the park and spoke with their
>information dept.  It is true, King's Island DID indeed add
>a new junior steel coaster by Miler for 1992!  The attraction
>is one of many new additions to Hanna Barbara land.  The new
>Junior steelie is called the Scooby Doo coaster (yet another
>re-used KECO name!).

Actually, it's called the Scooby Zoom.  It's really, really small.  It
could probably almost fit into a two-car garage, to give you an idea.

Their major new attraction (also in Hanna-Barbera Land) is the Phantom
Theater (or Theatre; Kings Island seems to spell it both ways).  It's a lot
like the Haunted Mansion at the Disney parks, except it's set in a theater.
-- 
_________________         David "Bucko" Johnson         _________________
      "I'm       \     aq009@cleveland.freenet.edu     /   ...no one
   looking for    \        dalton@irie.ais.org        /  seems to have." 
    something...   \   Motto: "Diversity in Injury"  /     -Mudhoney
From: buck@cavlry.enet.dec.com
Newsgroups: rec.roller-coaster
Subject: Re: Cedar Point (Sandusky, OH)
Date: 8 Apr 92 14:22:00 GMT
Reply-To: buck@cavlry.enet.dec.com ()
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation

Brian P. Blume writes:

>	Cedar Point, located in Sandusky, OH, claims to have the
>     "HIGHEST, FASTEST, STEEPEST, ROLLER-COASTER IN THE COUNTRY"
>     it's called the Magnum XL-200 the two hundred being the height
>     of the first hill.  It truly is a great roller-coaster, but
>     is their claim true?  Also, does anyone know what the new
>     attraction is at the park this year?

Both questions can be answered with the rec.roller-coaster FAQ.
However, I'll quickly address them here.

Magnum used to be the Highest, Fastest, and Steepest coaster.
Now, the ride only maintains the title of "Tallest Steel" coaster.
Steepest went to the Rattler at Fiesta TX.  Fastest is currently
held by the Steel Phantom at Kennywood (which also has a longer
drop than Magnum, but is a terrain coaster).

Cedar Point is doing $9 million this year on a new, expanded 
kiddie land, a re-vamped (and moved) mini golf and go cart area,
and expansion to two of it's hotels.


Happy rails,
Buck
From: buck@cavlry.enet.dec.com
Newsgroups: rec.roller-coaster
Subject: Kennywood's Wild Mouse
Date: 10 Apr 92 13:54:26 GMT
Reply-To: buck@cavlry.enet.dec.com ()
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation

The latest and greatest ACE News has a blurb on
Kennywood's Vekoma Wild Mouse coaster the park
recently purchased from Alton Towers in the UK.

Originally slated for 1992 installation (and the
basis for some confusion here on the net), Kennywood
choose to hold off on the ride until 1993.  The ride
will be installed in the parking lot which *used*
to be at the bottom of the 1st drop on Steel Phantom.
1992 will see that entrance to the park closed, with
the entrance at the far end of the park being used for
entry/exiting.  The old entrance way and parking lot are 
being developed for park expansion.

As previsouly stated, Kennywood's New-4-92 attraction
is a HUSS Tri-Star ride.


Buck
Newsgroups: rec.roller-coaster
From: bs066@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Jeff D. Scott)
Subject: Re: King's Island
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, (USA)
Date: Thu, 9 Apr 92 17:11:24 GMT


re: Sky Commander

Someone fell out of Sky Commander last year and was killed.  There were
new safety features added, but I doubt that the public will be rushing
back to it now.

FYI, The woman was extreemly small and intoxicated and fell 'around'
the restraints.


Jeff Scott
Newsgroups: rec.roller-coaster
From: maglione@media.mit.edu (Tom Maglione)
Subject: Re: Coaster Dictionary?
Summary: RollerCoaster! magazine reference.
Organization: MIT Media Laboratory
Date: Tue, 14 Apr 1992 01:39:05 GMT

In article <54269@hydra.gatech.EDU>, gt2807a@prism.gatech.EDU (Benjamin H. Cowan) writes:
> 
>   Is there a roller coaster dictionary?  I've seen terms like inversion
> and loop, and to me I fail to see the difference.  And I've seen stuff
> like shuttle coaster.  What's that?
> 
A shuttle coaster is one which shuttles a car or train of cars back and
forth over a non-circuit track layout. Most shuttle coasters have at least
one inversion element (a section that turns trains and riders upside down).
The earliest shuttle coasters (by Arrow) made you climb up about ten
flights of stairs; at the top, you got into a train with other riders.
Then a slingshot apparatus (very similar to the on-deck launching
mechanisms for jets on aircraft carriers) propels the train out from the
station, down a short drop, then immediately up into a vertical loop
which inverted the train and riders once. The train continued on its
momentum by arriving at a mirror-image of the just-left station and
coming to a complete stop. The train sits there while the operators
re-check everything, then the train is propelled BACKWARDS thru the
same loop as before, this time ending up where the trip started. During
the whole ride, the train and riders were shuttled back and forth, hence
the name. Most other more traditional coaster rides are called circuit
rides, because the track forms a unidirectional circuit that the train
follows each time. You should also refer to the story "The Layman's
Guide to Coaster terms" in the Summer 1991 issue of RollerCoaster!
magazine, which is available to members of ACE. To join ACE, write
to ACE, P.O.box 8226, Chicago, Ill. 60680 and ask for a membership
application form. Expect about 6-8 weeks processing delays. See you
in line!
Tom Maglione.


Newsgroups: rec.roller-coaster
From: rhb@ucs.usl.edu (Bird Rendell H.)
Subject: Re: pipeline coasters
Organization: Univ. of Southwestern La., Lafayette
Date: Fri, 10 Apr 1992 16:16:55 GMT

In article <1992Apr10.144443.8497@aio.jsc.nasa.gov> Cessna@kn5f.jsc.nasa.gov (Mark T. Evert) writes:
>In article <1992Apr9.080952.1064@ucbeh.san.uc.edu> 
>
>The Ultra-twister at Astroworld in Houston is one such coaster.  I've 
>ridden it.  It's OK but IMHO it is not spectacular.


The Ultra-Twister is built by TOGO of Japan, and is a similar (but
much older) design to Arrow's new Pipeline coaster.

The Pipeline will actually have CORNERS in it.        ;-)       ;-)

(*The Ultra-Twister changes direction by changing trackage, a laborious,
and sometimes time-consuming, process.*)



Rendell


"Why, my dear Selma, of course I would love to kiss you -- it would be like
licking a divine ashtray"
From: koziarz@chinet.chi.il.us (Louis Koziarz)
Newsgroups: rec.roller-coaster
Subject: Re: SFGA (Gurnee,IL) Announces the new ride!!
Date: 15 Apr 92 20:07:44 GMT
Article-I.D.: chinet.1992Apr15.200744.6494
Distribution: usa
Organization: Chinet - Public Access UNIX

Sorry to hog the exchange I started, but I couldn't help it....

>SFGA Trivia (easy):  What was the original name of 'The Orbit'?

The Orleans Orbit.  It was located in the northeast corner of the park where
the Condor is now.  

>SFGA Trivua (hard):  What was the significance of the 25 cent rootbeer stand
>                     near the Whizzer in Hometown Square, when the park
>                     originally opened?

I think Mariott got his start with a bunch of rootbeer stands/saloons. 25
cents was what he charged for a frosted mug of rootbeer, right?  That stand
would actually serve something like 14oz of great rootbeer in a real frosted
mug (had a fridge for them) for only 25 cents.  Then they went to a cheap
frosting machine for a while and charged like 1 dollar, then changed completely
to a Coke and popcorn stand.

SFGA TRIVIA CONTINUES: (medium to hard difficulty)

1: What other ride besides the Orbit was moved in recent years?
2: What were the names of the overhead cable cars and why did they close?
3: Who sponsored/sponsors the Sky Trek ride?
4: Who's picture is (was) on the dedication plaque of the Tidal Wave?
5: How easy was it to put Ivory Liquid Soap in the Logger's Run flume ride?

enjoy!


-- 
Louis Koziarz
koziarz@chinet.chi.il.us
Newsgroups: rec.roller-coaster
From: maglione@media.mit.edu (Tom Maglione)
Subject: Re: SFGA (Gurnee,IL) Announces the new ride!!
Summary: Old Whizzer name.
Organization: MIT Media Laboratory
Date: Tue, 14 Apr 1992 01:30:14 GMT

In article <1992Apr10.141433.8000@chinet.chi.il.us>, koziarz@chinet.chi.il.us (Louis Koziarz) writes:
> (some stuff deleted)
> SFGA Trivia: What was the original name of 'The Whizzer'?
> 
If my memory serves me well, wasn't this called "Williard's Whizzer"?

Tom Maglione
From: geoff@pmafire.inel.gov (Geoff Allen)
Newsgroups: rec.roller-coaster
Subject: Re: Coaster Dictionary?
Date: 11 Apr 92 18:47:28 GMT
Organization: Computer Nerd (is that redundant?), WINCO, INEL, Idaho

gt2807a@prism.gatech.EDU (Benjamin H. Cowan) writes:
>
>  Is there a roller coaster dictionary?  I've seen terms like inversion
>and loop, and to me I fail to see the difference. 

Think of a loop as a subset of possible inversions.  An inversion is
something that sends you upside down.  A loop is one way to do that. 
(Other ways include boomerangs, corkscrews, and whatever they call the
new thing on Drachen Fire that I've heard described as something akin to
a skateboarder in a half-pipe.)

> And I've seen stuff like shuttle coaster.  What's that?

Well, if you can settle for a bad ascii picture...

\                                                     /
 \                             /\                    /
  \                           /  \                  /
   \   +-----+                \  /                 /
    ---|     |-----------------\/-----------------/
          ^                    ^
          |                    |
        station               loop

You come high-tailing out of the station headed for the loop, through
the loop and up the right-hand hill.  You coast up the hill until
gravity takes over, then you start rolling backward.  You proceed
backward through the loop, station, and up the back hill.  Again, you
coast up until gravity takes over, and you drop back down into the
station.

It's a short ride, but oh what a ride!  (It's especially exciting in the
very last seat with a very full bladder -- something I learned from
personal experience on Montezooma's Revenge at Knott's Berry Farm. ;^) )

>  If anybody has one, or could make a simple one real quick, could you
>*post* it.  I'm sure I'm not the only one that's not quite up to date
>on Coaster-ese.

There's a list of terms included in the rec.roller-coaster FAQ
(Frequently Asked Questions, in case you're not familiar with that
term).  I'm not sure when it was last posted, or who the official keeper
of the FAQ is, though.

Geoff

--
Geoff Allen          \  Please remain seated and keep your hands and arms
uunet!pmafire!geoff   \  above your head at all times.  Enjoy your ride.
geoff@pmafire.inel.gov \
From: rettigca@ucbeh.san.uc.edu
Newsgroups: rec.roller-coaster
Subject: pipeline coasters
Date: 9 Apr 92 13:09:52 GMT
Organization: Univ. of Cincinnati

This is probably been asked before.....but I want to know more about this
pipeline roller coaster. I saw it on a National Geographic special. Has it been
implimented into and actual working coaster somewhere? In the special they
showed the "pretzel" loop and that was all. I noticed that the wheels were up
by the seats at shoulder level for the barrel roll effect in which your body
rotates on it's middle axis rather than a fictional middle axis like in a
corkscrew. Whatever it was it looked really interesting.

-CAR
From: darrell@mickey.central.sun.com (Darrell Steinbach SE Sun St. Louis)
Newsgroups: rec.roller-coaster
Subject: Great America hours
Date: 9 Apr 92 18:43:17 GMT
Reply-To: darrell@mickey.central.sun.com
Distribution: usa
Organization: Sun Microsystems


Sorry if you've seen this before, my editor flaked out.

Anyway, does anyone know if Great America is Santa Clara CA
will be open the Monday after Easter (4/20) and what the hours
would be?

Thanks,
Darrell
From: gt2807a@prism.gatech.EDU (Benjamin H. Cowan)
Newsgroups: rec.roller-coaster
Subject: Coaster Dictionary?
Date: 11 Apr 92 06:59:40 GMT
Organization: Georgia Institute of Technology


  Is there a roller coaster dictionary?  I've seen terms like inversion
and loop, and to me I fail to see the difference.  And I've seen stuff
like shuttle coaster.  What's that?

  If anybody has one, or could make a simple one real quick, could you
*post* it.  I'm sure I'm not the only one that's not quite up to date
on Coaster-ese.

Thanx,
Ben...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Benjamin H. Cowan                       || Reply to: gt2807a@prism.gatech.edu
Georgia Tech... Atlanta, Georgia  30332 || I'll read it & ignore it ASAP.
================================================================================

           "I don't believe there is a man, woman, or child alive
                   that doesn't enjoy a lovely beverage."
                                                        --Dave
From: mjh@cs.utexas.edu (Michael J. Hall)
Newsgroups: rec.roller-coaster
Subject: Re: Thinkin' 'bout Texas
Date: 7 Apr 1992 15:42:23 -0500
Organization: U Texas Dept of Computer Sciences, Austin TX
NNTP-Posting-Host: cs.utexas.edu

Go now while weather is still cool!  Avoid Memorial Day weekend for
Fiesat Tx (Grand Opening).


Newsgroups: rec.roller-coaster
From: maglione@media.mit.edu (Tom Maglione)
Subject: Re: Drachen Fire
Summary: A clarification.
Organization: MIT Media Laboratory
Distribution: usa
Date: Tue, 7 Apr 1992 23:24:34 GMT

In article <1992Apr07.190328.29382@watson.ibm.com>, Dale English@watson.ibm.com writes:
(some stuff deleted)

> problem was that it was so cold the wheels expanded and slowed it down.  They
> had the kerosene blowers underneath the brakes in the station.

Just to clarify the situation: most materials (except water) contract when
cold (freezing water actually expands when forming ice). So, no cold is
going to expand any wheels. Most likely the situation was such that the
cold temperatures adversely affected the wheel-to-axle lubricants, which
is what the kerosene blowers under the station brakes were for (to heat up
the wheel lubrication). Arrow ride design policy dictates that all rides are
designed to operate under the coldest expected operating temperature with the
highest expected headwind and with no load in the trains (empty trains). When
designing rides under these circumstances, all other conditions (higher temps,
less headwinds and people in the train) tend to increase the speed of the
trains, which is where the computers and trim brakes come into the design:
the computers monitor the train speed in real-time and control the trim
brakes to keep the speeds of the trains within pre-programmed limits. It
sounds like some park employees were spreading stories with no basis in fact.
Drachen Fire does sound like a good ride, tho, I'll be on it in June with the
rest of ACE at the convention.
Tom Maglione



Newsgroups: rec.roller-coaster
From: buck@cavlry.enet.dec.com ()
Subject: Re: King's Island
Reply-To: buck@cavlry.enet.dec.com ()
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation
Date: Mon, 13 Apr 92 13:34:32 GMT

rettigca@ucbeh.san.uc.edu wrote:

>>I cannot recall who said that King's Island (King's Mills, Ohio) was getting a
>>steel coaster this year but it's not true as I found out from my sister who
>>works there. The only attraction that will be new this year will be the >>Phantom Theater, a haunted house/ ride that's like the one in Disney. 


I originally replied:

>It was probably me.  The steel coaster, by Miler, was listed
>in my frequently-posted NEW-4-92 listing.
>
>I read that KI purchased the Miler steelie and planned
>to errect it in the park from Amusement Business mag.
>Now, if I believe any source, I'll believe AB.  

Curious about this, I called the park and spoke with their
information dept.  It is true, King's Island DID indeed add
a new junior steel coaster by Miler for 1992!  The attraction
is one of many new additions to Hanna Barbara land.  The new
Junior steelie is called the Scooby Doo coaster (yet another
re-used KECO name!).


FYI...
Buck