HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: wjf@controls.ccd.harris.com (Bill Figie)
Newsgroups: rec.roller-coaster
Subject: I cannot seem to get my e-mail working correctly
Date: 15 Oct 92 11:20:07 GMT
Article-I.D.: ccd.1992Oct15.112007.1585
Organization: Harris Controls
Originator: wjf@rs2


To all members on the net (especially Gary and Robert), there seems
to be some problems with my e-mailing stuff out.  It either gets
kicked backed to me or it ends up with the wrong person.  So until
further notice I will not be sending or responding to stuff or
questions via e-mail.  Sorry about that.  For some reason my company
(our System Administrator) keeps hosing the system up.  It does no
good to go to him either.  So I can usually say what I want to say
right here.  

In response to two personal messages sent to me:  1) Thanks Gary.  I
don't really need it if he is not an ACE member.  2) Join ACE
Robert.  You won't be sorry you did.

	
		Bill " fill in the blank  " Figie
From: cf170@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Kevin R. Russell)
Newsgroups: rec.roller-coaster
Subject: Re: Coaster Names
Date: 12 Oct 1992 22:21:29 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH (USA)
Reply-To: cf170@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Kevin R. Russell)
NNTP-Posting-Host: slc4.ins.cwru.edu


In a previous article, mac18@po.CWRU.Edu (Michael A. Cornell) says:

>
>How many of you are sick of stupid coater names?  I am.  I've
>been thinking of cool coaster names, and I figured if we posted
>cool names here, someone close to the industry could compile them
>and help new coasters get REAL names and not the recylcled ones
>
>My $.02
>
>The Jersey Devil - For SFGAd BATMAN style ride
>The SwampThing - A suspended ride over water and or swamp
>Big Yellow Banana - A big yellow ride
>e
If you wander around Universal Studios, they make mention of the "Swamp
Thing" so I think they own the name.  That would pretty much kill
anyone else using it.
-- 
Kevin				
"Friends don't let friends ride E.T."
Newsgroups: rec.roller-coaster
From: buck@cavlry.enet.dec.com
Newsgroups: rec.roller-coaster
Subject: Re: Coaster Names
Date: 14 Oct 92 19:54:06 GMT
Reply-To: buck@cavlry.enet.dec.com ()
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation

I always facied this weather coaster name --

TNT :== The New Thunder


Buck
Newsgroups: rec.roller-coaster
From: cheri@decoy.cc.bellcore.com
Subject: Re: Counting of coasters
Organization: Bellcore
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 8 Oct 92 13:08:54 GMT

In article <1aurnmINNdlk@usenet.INS.CWRU.Edu> mac18@po.CWRU.Edu (Michael A.
Cornell) writes:
>
>
>How do you work those editor thingys to get the ACTUAL type from
>someone else's post on your post?...asked the sig.
>
I type f to followup, or F to include the message in the followup.  Then I edit
out the lines I don't want.

But that's only one newsreader.  Good luck with yours!!

-- Cheri
From: pab@po.CWRU.Edu (Pete Babic)
Newsgroups: rec.roller-coaster
Subject: Re: A simulated coaster ride
Date: 8 Oct 1992 20:55:24 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH (USA)
Reply-To: pab@po.CWRU.Edu (Pete Babic)
NNTP-Posting-Host: slc12.ins.cwru.edu


In a previous article, wjf@controls.ccd.harris.com (Bill Figie) says:

>
>Geoff,
>   I have added additional comments to clarify some of the things I
>have said that either you misintrepreted or just didn't understand
>where I was going.
>
>In article <1992Oct7.153525.5232@pmafire.inel.gov>,
>|> geoff@pmafire.inel.gov (Geoff Allen) writes:
>|> Anyway, you're supposed to be on a roller coaster
>|> (neither of us has ridden the Beast, BTW), and you go into what looks
>|> like on the screen like a sharp turn, which should be providing some
>|> lateral g-forces, but you *gently* lean to the inside of the turn. 
>|> There was a left-hand turn heading for the first lift hill that was
>|> completely flat, for example, but the %@^*@ simulator leaned to the
>|> *inside* of the turn.  Give me a break. 
>|> 
>
>Because a simulator can't turn on a axis like a flat turn does the
>"simulate" the sensation by "*gently* leaning to the inside of the
>turn."  That is how they have to do it.  Remember, they are
>"simulating something" and with some of the elements they have to

That's true Bill but remember that if you go around a flat turn the
simulator should lean to the outside of the turn for the proper effect.
I noticed the SR2 leaning to the inside of the turn also, which makes
you feel like you are being thrown to the inside of the turn instead
of the outside of the turn like in real life.


-- 
Pete Babic  -  pab@po.cwru.edu          ///
LIVE TO PARTY, SKI TO DIE!!!           ///  /\
Member of A.C.E                  \\\  ///  /--\MIGA  
(American Coaster Enthusiasts)    \\\/// MS-DOS or a Mac? What's that?
Newsgroups: rec.roller-coaster
From: geoff@pmafire.inel.gov (Geoff Allen)
Date: Mon, 12 Oct 92 17:39:17 GMT
Organization: Roller Coaster fanatic with no hope for a cure
Subject: Re: Wood Coaster Info WANTED
Summary: 
Followup-To: 
Organization: Roller Coaster fanatic with no hope for a cure
Keywords: 

hanke@CS.ColoState.EDU (brandon laine hanke) writes:
>Last friday night while watchin the intro to "Step By Step" my dad commented
>on the roller coaster shown in the introl.  He wanted to know what kind of 
>wood is used to build wooden roller coasters.  He said that it didn't look
>like hardwood, but more like pine.  Then he made the statement how many
>board feet of lumber is in the average wooden coaster.  This intrests him
>since he comes from a family of carpenters.  

Well, if I remember correctly, the coaster in question is Colossus at
Magic Mountain (excuse me, Six Flags Magic Mountain, some of us
old-timers remember the park from before the Six Flags days).

I just happen to have the specs for that coaster.  Please note that
these are specs for the *original* Colossus.  After it was reprofiled, I
don't know how much of these things changed (though I do have it on good
authority that the spec of 11 instances of ``airtime'' has definitely
changed ;^( ).

Note that Colossus was built in 1978.  It's a *big* racing coaster.

	horizontal length: 1608 ft.
	track length: 9203 ft. (that's the total for both tracks)
	distance from high point of track to low point of track: 125 ft.
	1st drop: 115 ft.
	2nd drop: 105 ft. (and a note that no other roller coaster had
	        ever had two drops in excess of 100 ft.)
	top speed: 60+ mph.
	air time: 11 times on the ride
	ride time: 3 minutes, 30 seconds
	max. g's: 3.23 (why do I get the feeling that that's a
		calculated value? :^)  measuring 1/100 of a g sounds
		pretty complicated, especially on a rattly woodie. :^) )
	concrete footings: 1258
	concrete: 2100 cu. yd.
	lumber: 1,209,687 board ft. (Douglas Fir and Long Leaf Yellow Pine)
	man-hours to build: 150,000
	paint: 12,000 gal.
	bolts: 22,300 lbs.
	cost: $6 million
	architects: Lorenz & Williams, Dayton Ohio
	prime contractors: International Amusement Devices, Sandusky, Ohio
	structural contractors: Bernards Bros., San Fernando, CA

Aren't you sorry you asked? ;^)

Geoff ``It was a great ride while it lasted'' Allen

-- 
Geoff Allen          \  <chink> <chink> <chink> <chink> <chink> <chink> <chink>
uunet!pmafire!geoff   \  <chink> <chink> <chink> <chink> <chink> ............
geoff@pmafire.inel.gov \   aaaaaaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!
Newsgroups: rec.roller-coaster
From: sysop@elan.glassboro.edu (Ken Denton (Supervisor))
Subject: Rollercoaster Videos?
Keywords: video construction design
Organization: Rowan College of New Jersey
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1992 15:29:51 GMT


	Does anyone know of anything available on video on the making or
	designing of rollercoasters?  Actually, anything in-depth or behind-
	the-scenes would be good.  

	I remember watching on PBS a 6 episode series called 'Skyscraper'
	that chronicled the design and construction of World Wide Plaza in
	NYC.  I found it utterly fascinating, and am wondering if anything
	similar has been done with rollercoasters.  "A Day in the Life of
	Vekoma", or "History of Wooden Coasters", or some such thing.

	If anyone has anything on tape, or knows of such a thing, please
	send me E-Mail.  I am going to go through coaster withdrawel over
	the winter, and need something to tide me over.  Thanks in advance.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
%          Ken Denton                     DOD# 1124           %
%          sysop@elan.glassboro.edu       91 ZR750            %
%                                                             %
%                         "Your Ad Here!"                     %
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: muth@a.cs.wvu.wvnet.edu (Wayne A Muth)
Newsgroups: rec.roller-coaster
Subject: Re. Unique (old) Amusement Rides
Date: 16 Oct 92 18:46:44 GMT


At Conneaught Lake this past August ... a ride I had never seen
anywhere else ...  Is [was ?] a "dark room" ride where in a two
seater car you travel back and forth (riding a rail) within the
room and various ghosts, goblins, monsters etc etc jump out at
you.     <<-- Now I have seen lots of these WHEREIN EACH CAR IS
POWERED ELECTRICALLY with a motor driving each car.  <<-- But the
one a Conneaught took you up a very short incline (by chain), then
you proceeded to wander thru the room AND THE ONLY THING MOVING
YOU IS GRAVITY as you drift back to the "station".  Clearly very
old.  DID IT GET SOLD AT THE AUCTION?  ...OR ABANDONDED.  [If you
know, let me know].  Side issue -> I wonder if this ride was
"store - bought" or might it have been build by a Conneaught work
force ??

New topic -> the "Whip" at Conneaught was smallest I ever saw -- were
there others that small?  -> all others I have seen covered a much
bigger footage of run !!??

New topic -> did the carousel at Conneaught get sold?  Any idea what
price it brought ??        

New topci -> as of four years ago, there was still a "sailplane
(stear-your-own) ride" at Lakeside Park in Denver.

New topic -> I do no hough to spel, just a louzy typist today!  wayne.
From: mac18@po.CWRU.Edu (Michael A. Cornell)
Newsgroups: rec.roller-coaster
Subject: Re: A simulated coaster ride
Date: 9 Oct 1992 17:04:07 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio (USA)
NNTP-Posting-Host: slc12.ins.cwru.edu


Geoff,
About the Boardwalk Park at Disney World. From what I understand,
from being there during summer of 91, the Boardwal park is to
be located bewtween Epcot and MGM.  Across the lake from the 
Yacht and Beach Club Resorts, which are EXCELLENT places to stay,
esp. if you own Disney stock and go during the 40% off rooms
time period during late August.  From what I can recall...either
building was slated to begin in 1994..or it was to OPEN in 94.
I don't know which..but when I go home for fall break next 
weekend, I'll ask my Disney crazy neighbors about it, they've
been to Disney World 12 times in the past 10 years!  I think 
that's sick, but they enjoy it.  So I'll fill you in then.

Mike Cornell
From: geoff@pmafire.inel.gov (Geoff Allen)
Newsgroups: rec.roller-coaster
Subject: Re: Unique Amusement Rides (old ones)
Date: 16 Oct 92 17:13:49 GMT
Organization: Roller Coaster fanatic with no hope for a cure

cheri@decoy.uucp (24481-stead) writes:
| 	There are also those ferris wheel looking things with the car in
| 	line with the circumference so that you head straight down then
| 	straight up as the wheel spins.  I think there's a wheel inside
| 	that allows you to spin the car so that you can be upside-down as you
| 	go over the top or past the bottom.  These always seemed to be a lot 
| 	of work to me!

This is the Chance Mfg.  ``Sky Diver.''  Loads of fun, but I agree, lots
of work.  The better your upper-arm strength, the better your ride will
be. 

| 	There's a ride at Whalom Park (MA) that I've never seen elsewhere.
| 	Our impression was that it was an ancestor of the spider/octopus
| 	rides.  However, the arms are straight, and there's only one car 
| 	at the end of the arms (unlike the spider, whose arms are curved
| 	and there are either 2 or 4 cars per arm).  The cars spin freely.
| 	Similar to the spider, there's a mechanism that causes the arms to
| 	move up and down as the ride spins.  The cars end up spinning madly,
| 	and the up and down motion is intense (there was even air time!!!).
| 	I loved the ride, but my friend (who is my cohort on most of these
| 	coaster trips, and who can usually ride anything) was nauseous when
| 	we got off (I, of course, wanted to ride it again!!!).

The city of Idaho Falls, Idaho, has one of these, in Tautphaus Park
(pronounced ``Toff-us'').

Compared to these, a Monster (the kind with 4 cars which rotate around
the end of the arm) is quite sedate!

| 	On a slightly different note, there are the soap box derby racers
| 	at Knott's Berry Farm.

Which was much better when it was the Motorcycle Chase!

Geoff ``I could use a good Zipper ride right now...'' Allen

-- 
Geoff Allen          \  [If it weren't for kids,] we'd all live in a
uunet!pmafire!geoff   \  quiet house, without Big Bird or Mickey Mouse,
geoff@pmafire.inel.gov \  or Kool-Aid on the couch.  Thank God for kids.
                        \             -- The Oak Ridge Boys
Newsgroups: rec.roller-coaster
From: robert@monster.apd.saic.com (Robert W Mangum II)
Subject: Re: A simulated coaster ride
Reply-To: robert@monster.apd.saic.com (Robert W Mangum II)
Organization: SAIC, McLean, VA
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 92 19:40:57 GMT

In article <1992Oct8.113756.7144@ccd.harris.com> wjf@controls.ccd.harris.com (Bill Figie) writes:
>Questor is my favorite, next Star
>Tours, next is the Showscan (I think Intamin was associated with this
>also), Iwerks Turbo Theater, Body Wars, then Omni Vision.

The best simulator has to be Back to the Future at Universal Studios,
Florida.  It is much smoother than Questor, Body Wars, and Star Wars.
It also fills up your entire field of vision with the huge screen.  A
truly great ride.
 __________________________________     ____________________________________
(                                  )   (                                    \
 \   Robert W Mangum II           (_____)    Email:  robert@monster.saic.com \
  )  1005 Hertford Street          _____     Work:   (703) 318-4548           )
 /   Herndon, VA  22070           (     )    Home:   (703) 709-8022          /
(__________________________________)   (____________________________________/
From: Tom_-_Obszanski@cup.portal.com
Newsgroups: rec.roller-coaster
Subject: Re: Original names for coasters
Date: Mon, 12 Oct 92 19:43:14 PDT
Organization: The Portal System (TM)

>
>I'm really sick of BORING coaster names that are used over and
>over and over, like an Energiser commercial.  How many of you
>have some Really COOL names that you have thought of.  Maybe if
>we post them here, one of our freinds who has ties into the
>industry could bring them to places so we could get some
>interesting names.

A friend of mine (Jeff) has a really twisted name that he's constantly pushing 
on
people as the ideal name for a coaster: (Yes Buck, this is the Jeff that
you know too.)

Freddy Kruger's Intestines

I doubt this would go over well with park management, so don't expect to see
it on SFGAd's new inverted looper, KI's suspended, or any coaster for that
matter.

Tom "It's gonna be a long wait 'til the Phoenix opens in April" Obszanski
From: mac18@po.CWRU.Edu (Michael A. Cornell)
Newsgroups: rec.roller-coaster
Subject: Speaking of dark
Date: 7 Oct 1992 20:19:40 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio (USA)
NNTP-Posting-Host: thor.ins.cwru.edu


	Speaking of dark, I remeber my aunt once telling me
about a coaster which started outside and then went inside a 
building.  Apparently the switch was done so well, from outdoor
to indoor, that the only reason you noticed the switch was because
of the temperature change.  I think they rolled you in a tunnel
and then...BINGO...you were inside.  You couldn't notice it
also because of the forest surrounding the ride.  Is THIS TRUE,
or was my aunt just trying to impress me or something.  I was
told this when I was 12..which is 6 years ago.  I'm leaning 
towards it being a fib...but I figured I'd check anyway.

	Speaking of indoor, I've heard good things about the
Mindbender in that mall in Edmonton.  Has anyone ridden that
track?  I think it was supposed to have 3 loops in it or
something.

Mike Cornell

Just call me curious
Newsgroups: rec.roller-coaster
From: sysop@elan.glassboro.edu (Ken Denton (Supervisor))
Subject: Phall Phun Phest
Keywords: knoebels phoenix
Organization: Rowan College of New Jersey
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1992 12:48:49 GMT


	Had a great weekend at Knoebel's!  This was my first time to the 
park and I was very impressed with the Phoenix.  After reading this group 
for a while, and seeing it's status on the coaster list, I was looking 
forward to the ride.  When we got to the park, however, I was somewhat put 
off by the (lack of) size of the Phoenix.  But I shouldn't have worried.

	Not a great 1st drop, but a very very cool coaster, with lots of 
negative G's (at least the yellow train).  They don't call it "Air Phoenix" 
for nothing!

	I really enjoyed walking around the park, which was mostly 
deserted.  Coming from New Jersey, SFGAd is my normal reference point (sob, 
sob).  The carousel was fun (so that's what grabbing the ring is all about), 
and the cat-and-mouse coaster was amusing.

	Costumes:  Loved the "Air Phoenix" flight attendants, the "Human 
Sushi", and the werewolf.
From: geoff@pmafire.inel.gov (Geoff Allen)
Newsgroups: rec.roller-coaster
Subject: Re: A simulated coaster ride
Date: 8 Oct 92 22:06:19 GMT
Article-I.D.: pmafire.1992Oct8.220619.15012
Organization: Roller Coaster fanatic with no hope for a cure

wjf@controls.ccd.harris.com (Bill Figie) writes:
>
>With several attractions parks like Disney, Busch,
>Universal, and Sea World, no one wants to put in any thrill rides
>like coasters and such (I realize Busch is about the only one but
>it has been 12 years or longer since the Scorpion).  

Well, if you're lucky, Disney World will put in either the rumored 
Mt. Fuji or the rumored Matterhorn, and then they'll build the rumored
Boardwalk park and put in the rumored big woodie.

If you're lucky.

I hear that Splash Mountain is quite good.  About as good as a flume
ride gets.  It's been closed the last two times I've been to Disneyland,
so I have yet to ride it.

>By the way, I forgot to post that the Hanna Barbara (sp?) ride at
>Universal as being an excellent "simulator?".  It is quite a
>good ride.  Also Back to the Future (I haven't gotten over to
>Universal in over a year so I haven't ridden it yet) is supposed
>to be *excellent*.  I had plans on going soon but we might wait till
>spring. 

I've heard good things about both.  Folks on rec.arts.disney have said
that a trip to Walt Disney World should include a trip to Universal,
*just* to ride the Back to the Future simulator.  It's apparently that
good.

>    Bill "make mine a wood coaster please" Figie 

Geoff ``Buy the first wooden coaster at the regular price, get the
second for half price'' Allen

[Yes, there are too many Pizza Hut commericials during the baseball
 playoffs.  ;^) ]

-- 
Geoff Allen          \  That's the problem with nature. Something's always
uunet!pmafire!geoff   \  stinging you or oozing mucous on you.  Let's go
geoff@pmafire.inel.gov \  watch TV. -- Calvin, speaking to Hobbes
From: bchoplic@pixmap.seas.upenn.edu (Brian Choplick)
Newsgroups: rec.roller-coaster
Subject: Re: Unique Amusement Rides (old ones)
Date: 14 Oct 92 02:17:13 GMT
Organization: University of Pennsylvania

In article <1992Oct13.203216.3388@sei.cmu.edu> mapike@sei.cmu.edu 
(Mary Ann Pike) writes:

>West View was a great park for old rides. In addition to the Tumble Bug, 
>it had a 

>1) Whip.  Kennywood's is the only other one that I know of, except for the 
>   small one at Conneaut Lake)

There are also Whip rides at Knoebel's and Dorney Park, both in Pennsylvania.
You'd be surprised at some of the rides you'll find older parks! The Whip at
Knoebel's is located behind the Ferris Wheel and Swinging Pirate. Next time
you go, be sure to check it out!

>2) Suspended sailplane ride - you could move the rudder to make the plane
>   go in and out (or dive and rise, depending on how you look at it). 
>   The only other one I've seen is at King's Island.

Knoebel's also sports one of these. KI is also the only place I've seen one.
The Flyer is located behind the Jet Star, but I think it was unlit at PPP, and 
so it was easy to miss. (Also, the "planes" may have been put away for storage)
This ride is really an old favorite!

Once I heard a (doubtable) rumor that cables no longer suitable for the Whip
were moved to the Flyers!! (or was it the other way around??) Anyway, I
doubt it's true. Just another Amusement Park myth. Please don't call
Dick Knoebel management with this one. :-)  Can former ride ops really be
trusted as a reliable source?! :-)


--Brian Choplick
bchoplic@eniac.seas.upenn.edu


Newsgroups: rec.roller-coaster
From: mapike@sei.cmu.edu (Mary Ann Pike)
Subject: Kennywood Kangaroo description & more old rides questions
Organization: Software Engineering Institute
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1992 15:06:55 GMT

Someone asked for a description of Kennywood's Kangaroo. It's a set of
about 8 hydraulic spokes with one car on each spoke that kind-of resembles
a car from the arm of a Scrambler. Each car has a wheel on the bottom, and
the car faces forward in the direction of motion (counter-clockwise). The
cars roll along the ground in a circle, except that at one point there is
a ramp that is about 6 feet high, and the cars roll up the ramp, fall off
the end, and the hydraulic arm brings them (relatively) gently to the
ground, where they continue around the circle. If you like airtime, this
is a fun ride. If you don't hold on, you get launched quite nicely at the
top of the ramp.

Some other old rides I haven't seen for a while and would like to know if
any still exist:

West View used to have a Trabant - I haven't seen one of these anywhere
in years.

Someone mentioned a park with Teacups...I think Kennywood used to have one
of these, but took it out to put in their Raging Rapids ride. These must
be rather scarce, too.

West View also used to have a Round-Up...I think Conneaut Lake has a
covered one. I'm sure that these are not as scarce as other rides, but
I don't think you can usually find them at the bigger parks.

Mary Ann Pike   (mapike@sei.cmu.edu)    
Software Engineering Institute          
Carnegie-Mellon University              
Pittsburgh PA