HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: buck@cavlry.enet.dec.com ()
Subject: Colossus (was Re: Flight Commander elaboration request)
Reply-To: buck@cavlry.enet.dec.com ()
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1992 15:23:12 GMT

James Hsieh writes:

>Or in some cases, equipment is changed, like I believe the trains on 
>Colossus at SFMM were after the woman fell out in the late 70's (the
>ride has had 3 different sets of trains in its history, I can't remember
>who made the first set, but the second set were PTC trains which were
>installed at about the same as the incident, 


If my memory serves me correctly, Colossus' first set of trains were
a set of traditional IAD rolling stock, just like the ones (still)
running the rails on La Montana Rusa at Chapultapec Park in Mexico 
City (Colossus was modeled after La Montana Rusa ... it's not a copy,
but it was inspiried by it).


Buck-a-roo
From: buck@cavlry.enet.dec.com
Newsgroups: rec.roller-coaster
Subject: Paramount Season Pass (Was Re: Paramount tames THE BEAST)
Date: 19 Nov 92 13:46:10 GMT
Reply-To: buck@cavlry.enet.dec.com ()
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation

David Buddy Johnson writes:

>Maybe my KI season pass wasn't such a good investment.  We'll have to see,
>I guess....  :-(

Actually, it was a good investment, as the "Paramount Season Pass"
is now good at ANY of the 4 Paramount Theme Parks in 1993:

Paramount's Carowinds
Paramount's Great America
Paramount's King's Island
Paramount's King's Dominion


NOTE: Paramount only owns 20% of Canada's Wonderland in
Toronto, Ontario, Canada, thus the park will NOT receive
any "paramountization" -- the name will remain the same
-- "Canada's Wonderland", and the Paramount Season Pass
will not be accepted here.


Buck, who'll buy a pass for next year
Newsgroups: rec.roller-coaster
Subject: Re: Flight Commander elaboration request
From: stickman@megatek.com (James Hsieh)
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1992 01:01:09 GMT
Reply-To: stickman@megatek.com
Organization: Megatek Corporation, San Diego, California

In article <1992Nov18.215404.22396%jim.uucp@wupost.wustl.edu> mike%jim.uucp@wupost.wustl.edu (Mike S.) writes:
>
>> 2. Aren't people weary to ride a ride which someone expired on?
>
>Some.  Then again, others become more excited about the ride.  But
>the increased safety measures the park imposes on the ride after the
>incident cause the now-longer lines to become even slower.
>

Or in some cases, equipment is changed, like I believe the trains on 
Colossus at SFMM were after the woman fell out in the late 70's (the
ride has had 3 different sets of trains in its history, I can't remember
who made the first set, but the second set were PTC trains which were
installed at about the same as the incident, I think the year after --
anyone remember for sure?).

People weary to ride?  Having worked on Colossus, sometimes you got the
question, "Didn't someone die on this ride a few years ago?" to which 
there was usually a "canned" response.  I remember that I had to memorize
one which I have since forgotten, (or rather, don't remember it accurately
enough to quote here).  But it never seemed to scare anyone off the ride
at the last moment.

--James
-- 
[ James "stickman" Hsieh      O                  email:  stickman@megatek.com ]
[ Megatek Corporation       --+--           ...!{uunet,ucsd}!megatek!stickman ]
[ 9645 Scranton Road          |        Disclaimer:   Just a programmer with a ]
[ San Diego, CA  92121       / \         one-bit brain and a parity error.... ]
From: sharonc@meaddata.com (Sharon Crichton)
Newsgroups: rec.roller-coaster
Subject: Re: Coaster spotted in GTE ad
Date: 16 Nov 1992 17:48:56 GMT
Organization: Mead Data Central, Dayton OH
Distribution: usa
Reply-To: sharonc@meaddata.com
NNTP-Posting-Host: nochovies.meaddata.com

OK, now that we've had The Big Debate about which coaster appears in
the GTE ad, now which coaster appears in the new pain reliever ad?
(Excedrin Ultra? It's some combined headache and stomach upset relieving
medicine) The commercial starts with a guy at his desk in his office,
then they use clever background shot tricks to show the guy "riding"
the roller coaster at his desk.

The coaster is not a racing coaster, and it's an unpainted woodie (i.e.
it's natural wood colored/stained). My first guess was Mean Streak, but
the shots are so short that I couldn't confirm it.

-- 
Sharon Crichton         *****************   Mead Data Central
sharonc@meaddata.com    **HAPPY! HAPPY!**   P.O. Box 933
uunet!meaddata!sharonc  **  JOY! JOY!  **   Dayton, OH 45401
                        *****************   FAX: (513) 865-1655
From: mac18@po.CWRU.Edu (Michael A. Cornell)
Newsgroups: rec.roller-coaster
Subject: Re: Top Gun at King's Island
Date: 16 Nov 1992 22:53:27 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH (USA)
Reply-To: mac18@po.CWRU.Edu (Michael A. Cornell)
NNTP-Posting-Host: slc12.ins.cwru.edu


In a previous article, pab@po.CWRU.Edu (Pete Babic) says:

>
>In a previous article, rdorocke@silver.ucs.indiana.edu (rob lawrence dorocke) says:
>
>>KI had a ride like this called the Bat about 8-10 years ago, but they had
>>a lot of troubles with it.  The cars kept falling off and people got
>>killed often.  SO, Needless to say, they took it out.  Does anyone
>>remember it??
>
>Urban Legend time again. Yes, the Bat was removed but the cars didn't fall off
>and no one was killed on the coaster.
>
>-- 
>Pete Babic  -  pab@po.cwru.edu          ///
>LIVE TO PARTY, SKI TO DIE!!!           ///  /\
>Member of ACE                    \\\  ///  /--\MIGA  
>(American Coaster Enthusiasts)    \\\/// MS-DOS or a Mac? What's that?
>
If this is the case, then WHY was it removed.  My friend tells me that
the cars had problems. He told me that the cars swung in four directions
not two, here they moved forwards and backwards.  Is this true?  Is it
the RISK of someone dying was too great?  He told me that the ride was
shut down 5 or 6 months into the season, and then it was torn down?  
Could SOMEONE tell the ENTIRE REAL STORY!

Mike "dazed and confused" Cornell
mac18@po.cwru.edu
Newsgroups: rec.roller-coaster
From: toomer@CS.ColoState.EDU (christopher toomer)
Subject: IAAPA Show Starts Today!
Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1992 19:02:23 GMT
Organization: Colorado State University, Computer Science Department

Hi all,
  Today is the first day of the International Assoc. of Amusement Parks
  and Attractions(IAAPA) annual show.  It is being held in Dallas, Texas.
  For those of you who aren't familiar with it, it is one of the biggest
  trade shows(so I'm told) in the United States.  I was fortunate to be
  able to attend last year in Orlando, Florida.  

  Basically, any business that has any thing to do with amusement parks
  attends.  The people who make stuffed animals, arcade games, and rides
  are there.  Chance, who makes the most beautiful carousel animals
  I have ever seen, is there.  Companies that do laser tag and computer 
  simulations(like virtual reality) are there.  Representatives from
  many parks attend and conduct business there.  

  I believe it is open to the public, for a price.  Seems to me in Florida
  it was about $20 or $25.  I think it might be in Los Angeles, California,
  next year.  The following year, I hope it will make its way back to
  New Orleans, Louisiana.  I just love Lousiana and cajun food!  Maybe
  by that time I'll be graduated and won't have midterms to worry about.

  Just thought some of you might be interested in this. If you have any
  questions, I'll try to answer them, but I am going on a short vacation
  here very soon, so I may not be able to get back to you right away.

  Hope you all have an enjoyable Thanksgiving.  I hope to be skiing at
  Alta, Utah next week.  My skis have been pouting all summer, but I
  guess that is for another newsgroup....

  Happy Holidays,

  Chris
  toomer@cs.colostate.edu
From: mhoesing@cwis.unomaha.edu (Michael Hoesing)
Newsgroups: rec.roller-coaster
Subject: Re: Flight Commander elaboration request
Date: 17 Nov 92 04:30:08 GMT
Organization: University of Nebraska at Omaha

mac18@po.CWRU.Edu (Michael A. Cornell) writes:


>In a previous article, v120p993@ubvmsb.cc.buffalo.edu (Kevin F Hulme) says:
>> 1. Would they actualy reopen the ride the day of the occurance? Wouldn't
>>that be wierd; almost disrespectful?

>I don't think so.  When SFGAd had an accident on Lightnin' Loops
>a few years back, the ride was closed for the rest of the season.

>> 2. Aren't people weary to ride a ride which someone expired on?

>Those that KNOW of the accident are, they make sure to double check
>all of the harnessing to make sure they won't fall out.  I do this
>on every ride I ride anyway.  I mean, If I have to wear a harness,
>then I sure don't want it coming off in the middle of the ride.

 The only problem with that is when the accident was not with the
restraint system.  I know that I felt a little nervous getting back
onto rides that I knew had been in accidents before.
 Does anyone remember what happened with the Orient Express and
the Timber Wolf at World's of Fun?  I am fairly certain that the Orient
Express accident involved a train going into the station without braking
while another train was stopped in the station.  I don't remember there
being any deaths, but I know that there were some pretty bad injuries.
 A few years later, it seems that a computer failed on the Timber Wolf,
causing almost the exact same thing to happen.
 Anyone have any definite information on these?

>Mike Cornell
>mac18@po.cwru.edu
Newsgroups: rec.roller-coaster
From: Tom_-_Obszanski@cup.portal.com
Newsgroups: rec.roller-coaster
Subject: Re: Anaconda like Nessie? (was Re: Wooden Rollercoasters)
Date: Sun, 22 Nov 92 17:17:57 PST
Organization: The Portal System (TM)
  <1e8e2kINNj2k@usenet.INS.CWRU.Edu> <1eclmjINNfe@usenet.INS.CWRU.Edu>
  <1992Nov18.135959.26235@engage.pko.dec.com>

>>I don't see how you can compare the Anaconda with the Loch Ness Monster.
>>IMHO, The Loch Ness Monster is CLEARLY better than the Anaconda.
>
>Here's one vote for the Anaconda.  I don't like the Loch Ness ... after
>the first drop, it's utterly boring imvho.  I've had some killer rides
>on the Anaconda -- it can produce some great speed and lateral g's when
>it wants to, although, I heard Arrow reworked the ride just a tad after
>it's debut, so many it's not quite as wild as it once was?
>
>
>Buck


Each ride has it's good and bad points.  The Loch Ness Monster clearly
has the better first drop, and the second drop into the first loop
wouldn't be bad if it weren't for the brake.  Anaconda, on the other
hand, has a horrible first drop but the slowest (and in my mind best)
corkscrew ever built by Arrow.  Anaconda's butterfly element is unique
among Arrow coasters, and works fairly well, even if they haven't been
able to completely eliminate the head-banging that you get at the
bottom of the first "loop".

Tom "The Middleman" Obszanski

BTW, The Steel Phantom at Kennywood would have the best corkscrew (as
well as best boomerang and best vertical loop) that Arrow ever built
if it weren't for the wretched brakes you hit as you're shooting up
into the loop.  I had the opportunity to ride the Phantom without the
brakes and it's a wild ride, with the train whipping through the
inversions as no other Arrow coaster ever has, or probably ever will
again.
Newsgroups: rec.roller-coaster
From: sysop@elan.glassboro.edu (Ken Denton (Supervisor))
Subject: Re: Paramount tames THE BEAST
Organization: Rowan College of New Jersey
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1992 13:29:49 GMT

In article <1ee6c8INNkhh@usenet.INS.CWRU.Edu> aq009@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (David A. Johnson) writes:
>From: aq009@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (David A. Johnson)
>Subject: Re: Paramount tames THE BEAST
>Date: 18 Nov 1992 19:43:04 GMT
>
>In a previous article, buck@cavlry.enet.dec.com () says:
>
>>In one of their first moves exhibiting MAJOR
>>TPM -- Paramount has sent the trains on THE
>>BEAST back to PTC to have them all retrofitted
>>with those awful, painful, hateful, disgusting
>>individual racheting lap bars!!!
>
>
>(A thought just occurred to me...  What if they're going to do the same
>thing to the Grizzly at KD?  That would be ultra-tragic! 

Agreed!  The Grizzly has some MAJOR air-time (I think I was out of my seat 
more than I was in my seat :->).  I hope they don't ruin that awesome ride.

Newsgroups: rec.roller-coaster
From: wjf@controls.ccd.harris.com (Bill Figie)
Subject: Re: Coaster spotted in GTE ad
Originator: wjf@rs2
Organization: Harris Controls
 <1992Nov16.125543.7022@ccd.harris.com>
 <1e8mu8INNetq@newmdata.meaddata.com>
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1992 12:17:24 GMT


In article <1e8mu8INNetq@newmdata.meaddata.com>, sharonc@meaddata.com 
(Sharon Crichton) writes:
|> OK, now that we've had The Big Debate about which coaster appears in
|> the GTE ad, now which coaster appears in the new pain reliever ad?
|> (Excedrin Ultra? It's some combined headache and stomach upset
|> relieving medicine) The commercial starts with a guy at his desk
|> in his office, then they use clever background shot tricks to show
|> the guy "riding" the roller coaster at his desk.
|> 
|> The coaster is not a racing coaster, and it's an unpainted woodie
|> (i.e. it's natural wood colored/stained). My first guess was
|> Mean Streak, but the shots are so short that I couldn't confirm it.
|> 
|> -- 
|> Sharon Crichton         *****************   Mead Data Central
|> sharonc@mea                        *****************   FAX: (513) 865-1655

Sharon,
   I have not seen this commercial yet but I am on the lookout for it
and I have my mother-in-law looking also.  Do you remember when you saw
it.? Sometimes this helps in pinning down when it might be shown again.
 Maybe it was local only (although Excedrin is a national company).  I
would be interested in knowing on what program you saw it.  Again, a
good blind guess would be Psyclone because of the Hollywood thing (they
usually shoot commercials in that area).  If or when I find it and can
identify it, I will repost more information.

	Bill "I probably have 500 commercials in my collection" Figie
From: mac18@po.CWRU.Edu (Michael A. Cornell)
Newsgroups: rec.roller-coaster
Subject: Re: New to this group
Date: 19 Nov 1992 02:03:49 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH (USA)
Reply-To: mac18@po.CWRU.Edu (Michael A. Cornell)
NNTP-Posting-Host: slc12.ins.cwru.edu


In a previous article, wperz@srg1.psych.pitt.edu (Walter Perz) says:

[stuff deleted]

>We had the following trip in the back of our minds:
>	Leave Thursday after work, travel to CP, ride till we drop and close 
>the park on Friday!  Saturday ride anything we wanted to a 2nd time and 
>travel to KI.
>	Spend Saturday evening at KI and Sunday, come back to Pittsburgh.
>
>It has been ~10 years since I've been to KI and ~7 years since I've been to 
>CP.  My honey has never been to either place.
>
>Would we be doing ourselves justice by allowing this little time, or are 
>these parks "do-able" in the time period I stated?
>
>Let me know what you think.
>
>Later, 
>
>Walter
>
>p.s.  I currently can't receive mail (sorry) so please post to this group.
>-------------------------|------------------------|---------------------------
>Walter G. Perz           |  .        I hate       |- Spaceman Spiff
>Smoking Research Group   |     .   10-pins!       |  is going down !!!
>University of Pittsburgh |  .                    *|                (Watterson)
>-------------------------|------------------------|---------------------------
>
Well you're giving yourself plenty of time for CP, but not for KI.  Both
of these parks get rather crowded on the weekends.  CP is crowded even
during the normal week.  I know from experience that at KI, you would
expect 1.5-2 hour waits on The Beast.  About an hour on King Cobra and 
the Vortex.  And about 30 mins for the Racer.  the tough thing would be
to see how much Top Gun takes from the other lines.  My guess is, the
lines for that will approach or surpass 2 hours.  All of these times will
happen during the "prime hours"  If you get there at 11 a.m. you would 
expect maybe an hour wait for the Beast.  As for CP, I was there 3 years
ago when the Magnum first opened on a Wednesday.  The lines were between
1 to 1.5 hours so for the weekends I would expect about 2 or so.  I
don't know about Mean Streak.  Iron dragon and Wildcat were 45 mins.
Corkscrew was 20, Gemini 15 mins, Blue Streak 30 mins.  Disaster 
transport i have no clue on.  These rides will probably have waits
about 30 mins more or so, depending on the ride. Somoeone who was there
on a Friday may be able to help you with Friday line times.  You're
allright with time at CP, but you'll need more for KI.  I would say
skip work on Thurs and drive on Wed.  CP on Thurs and half Friday
Drive KI Friday night. KI Sat and Half Sunday.  Drive home Sunday night.

Mike
Newsgroups: rec.roller-coaster
From: mac18@po.CWRU.Edu (Michael A. Cornell)
Newsgroups: rec.roller-coaster
Subject: Re: Bat "deaths" (was Re: Top Gun at King's Island)
Date: 17 Nov 1992 17:41:27 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH (USA)
Reply-To: mac18@po.CWRU.Edu (Michael A. Cornell)
NNTP-Posting-Host: slc12.ins.cwru.edu


In a previous article, cf170@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Kevin R. Russell) says:

>
>In a previous article, rdorocke@silver.ucs.indiana.edu (rob lawrence dorocke) says:
>
>>In article <1e4stkINN4jo@usenet.INS.CWRU.Edu> aq009@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (David A. Johnson) writes:
>>>
>>At least two people died on the Bat, I remember that vivdly.  One of the cars
>>fell off and the people in the front were killed, the ohers were 
>>hospitalized.  About three years ago, two people died on the King Cobra when
>>3d
>>hospitalized.  About three years ago, a man was killed on the King Cobra
>>when his seat fell off  of the main chassis.  I remember this one also
>>because I was there the day after it happpened.  I was dissappointed that
>>it was not running and was told by my father that he saw the story on the
>The Bat had a lot of problems, but there were no deaths on it.  I have heard
>"The Saga of the Bat" from the guy that was the head of maintence at Kings
>Island from the time the park opened until about 1984.  The problems were 
>purely mechanical, and as I stated in an earlier post, mostly due to flat
>track. (no banking).  I don't know if any cars fell off the track, but I will
>check with him the next time I get a chance.  
>-- 
>Kevin				
>"Friends don't let friends ride E.T."
>
	Was The BAT designed to swing in 4 directions?  I was told that it
was supossed to.  It also seems that flat turns would be about the dumbest
things to put on a ride.  It would cause so much strain on the ride that
no engineer would design a coaster like that.  

	Also....what is the COMPLETE REAL STORY.  I'm still kinda clueless.

Mike
From: buck@cavlry.enet.dec.com
Newsgroups: rec.roller-coaster
Subject: Re: IAAPA and Texas Giant III
Date: 23 Nov 92 14:51:26 GMT
Reply-To: buck@cavlry.enet.dec.com ()
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation

Bill Figie,

Did the ERT at Boardwalk Family Fun Park come off??  Was
the Auto Sled up and running???  Curious if BFFP got the
ride open in time for the IAAPA/ACE convention, in light 
of the accident they had on it a few months ago.


What kind of literature did you get from B&M??  Are they
planning any cool new product offerings in the near future?



Thanks,
Buck
From: cumminje@NeXTwork.Rose-Hulman.edu(James Cummings)
Newsgroups: rec.roller-coaster
Subject: Re: Flight Commander elaboration request
Date: 17 Nov 1992 05:22:49 GMT
Organization: Computer Science Department at Rose-Hulman
Reply-To: cumminje@NeXTwork.Rose-Hulman.edu(James Cummings)
NNTP-Posting-Host: o233-28.nextwork.rose-hulman.edu

In article <Bxu744.MC0@acsu.buffalo.edu> v120p993@ubvmsb.cc.buffalo.edu  
(Kevin F Hulme) writes:
> Hi. I hate to ask a macabre question, but with all this death talk at  
KI, I
> was just wondering what DID happen, as specifically as possible, on the  
F.
> Commander in 1991. I am interested now. Who died? How? Was it a bad  
scene?
> 
> 
> Does anyone besides me ever wonder what the hell actually happens after  
a
> ride death? Obviously the ride is closed and inspected, but:
> 
>  1. Would they actualy reopen the ride the day of the occurance?  
Wouldn't
> that be wierd; almost disrespectful?

The closed it down until the manufacturer checked it out and repaired  
something.
 
>  2. Aren't people weary to ride a ride which someone expired on?

When I rode it this year the lines were kind of short, but there were  
still lots of people riding

James

> 
> 
>                     Thanks,
> 
>                        Kevin
From: aq009@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (David A. Johnson)
Newsgroups: rec.roller-coaster
Subject: Re: Anaconda like Nessie? (was Re: Wooden Rollercoasters)
Date: 20 Nov 1992 04:56:28 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH (USA)
Reply-To: aq009@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (David A. Johnson)
NNTP-Posting-Host: hela.ins.cwru.edu


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

>Here's one vote for the Anaconda.  I don't like the Loch Ness ... after 
>the first drop, it's utterly boring imvho.  I've had some killer rides 
>on the Anaconda -- it can produce some great speed and lateral g's when 
>it wants to, although, I heard Arrow reworked the ride just a tad after
>it's debut, so many it's not quite as wild as it once was?

When I was at KD this past summer, my sister and I only rode the Anaconda
once..  We rode everything except for the Scooby Doo coaster, and by the
end of the day, we were walking back and forth between the Rebel Yell and
the Grizzly.  (It's so convenient that they put their best two coasters
next to each other!)

Anyway, we weren't too impressed by the Anaconda.  It was fun, but it
plodded through all those turns over the lake.  Some cool things about it
were the proximity of some of the poles, and I also sorta liked the slow
corkscrew.  It's cool feeling weightless while upside down, as you sort of
"fall" with the train.  (This sensation also available in the back seats of
Busch Gardens Williamsburg's Drachen Fire, BTW.)

But, overall, I thought the Anaconda wasn't worth the wait (although part
of the wait was due to their putting a second train on the tracks). 
Speaking of extra trains, why does the Anaconda have only two trains?  It
appears to have space to store three, and in my brief look-over of the ride,
it didn't appear that there would be any blocking problems.


Now, on to the Loch Ness Monster...  I guess I like the Loch Ness Monster
better, if only for its great location.  It's tough to find a coaster
that's more well-placed than this one.  But actually riding it isn't as
exciting as I had hoped.  The middle section seemed downright boring.  The
helix wasn't exciting at all (primarily due to the brakes right before you
enter it, I think).  On the other two ends of the ride, you've got the
loops, which are pretty visually exciting because they interlock.  But the
overall ride is diminished by the lackluster middle section.

I think the Big Bad Wolf is the best coaster in the park, followed by the
Drachen Fire.  The Drachen Fire is one of the best Arrow mega-loopers
around, I think.  

Well, anyway, there's my opinion on the Anaconda and Loch Ness Monster, as
well as assorted other opinions thrown in for good measure.  Enjoy!

-- 
_________________         David "Buddy" Johnson         _________________
      "I'm       \     aq009@cleveland.freenet.edu     /   ...no one
   looking for    \       "The Beast is always        /  seems to have." 
    something...   \       lurking in ambush."       /     -Mudhoney