Newsgroups: rec.roller-coaster
Date: Tue, 22 Dec 1992 19:53:37 -0500 
From: Cordell Obadele Carter <cc5f+@andrew.cmu.edu>
Subject: Re: new topic - Steel Phantom musings

Kevin F Hulme writes:

>Hi. I had the pleasure of riding the Steel Phantom this summer. (The >planet's
>second best amusement ride, IMO.) Anyway, I loved the ride, and was >very
>fascinated by the layout. I don't really have a question per se, but I am
>just curious to see if anyone else out there has as great a respect for it
>as I do

This coaster is also high on my steelies list (in fact, second only to
the Magnum).  I'd welcome a discussion contrasting the two rides from
people who've ridden them both.  I haven't ridden Drachen Fire (which
has gotten mixed reviews), but I think the Phantom and the Magnum are,
without a doubt, the two best rides Arrow has ever built.

Things I hate about the ride: What's there to hate?
Things I would have changed:  I would have made the Phantom just a bit
longer, put in a tunnel, and eliminated the overhead restraints!  Even
though I don't experience most of the head-banging that many other
people do, I think the ride (especially the two big hills) would be a
lot better without them.
Things I love about the ride:
1.  The straight-away at the bottom of the twisting first hill: When I
first rode the Phantom, I didn't like the first hill at all because it
felt like there was a brake run at the bottom.  In subsequent rides,
whatever "kink" there was has been eliminated and now I love the burst
of speed you get on the short straight-away.
2.  The second hill: some may disagree, but I think this is the best
hill ever!  As the train inches upwards and makes that right turn, you
have no idea what horrors lie ahead!!  Suddenly, you're plummeting down
the hill at 80 mph.  Incredible!  The best part is the cut through the
Thunderbolt...no time to duck, will I make it?  Whew!
3.  The loops:  typical Arrow here, but when the breaks are off...look
out!  I've ridden the ride once when the trim brakes "toned down" and
the amount of disorientation I experienced was without equal!  By the
way, I'm glad that this ride has only one single corkscrew.  I've never
really liked the corkscrew element (I think my head-banging experiences
on Cedar Point's Corksrew are the reason).  This one is fast and it's
over quickly.  The boomerang is awesome.
4.  The final helix:  The transition between the clockwise corkscrew and
the counterclockwise helix is very disorienting (at least the first
time).  The final speed bump is awesome and is unquestionably the best
Arrow has ever built.  It's not choppy like some of the Magnum speed
bumps and its depth comes as a complete suprise.

In my opinion, the Steel Phantom is Arrow's only true, modern
multi-element ride.  I love the fact that it goes upside down but also
delivers a steep vertical drop, and a breathtaking helix.

>Did you guys know about the Phantom beforehand? Was it
>always known that it would have a record setting hill/speed, or did it
>just come about as the ride was costructed?

As far as I know, Kennywood always knew (of course) that it wanted a
record-breaker, but the ride's details were kept pretty secret until
construction was completed.  I think the ride was conceptualized rather
quickly.  In early 1990, the park leaked the fact that it would build a
new, "Loch Ness Monster-type ride" for 1991 to the Pittsburgh Press.  A
little bit later, it was announced that it would be a record
breaker--but still no details.  (In fact, the park hinted that it might
keep the Laser Loop, which was the shuttle looper removed to built the
Phantom!)  In the Sept. 7th, 1990 Pittsburgh Press, most of the details
were leaked: the ride was described as an "80 mph monster" which would
have a 225-foot second hill, a helix and four loops (a traditional loop,
a boomerang and a single corkscrew).  The article also stated that the
ride was supposed to have a tunnel (does anyone know why this was never
built?).

When I rode out to check out the new ride on press day, 1991, I was
suprised.  I didn't expect the twisting first hill (I had seen artists'
drawings, but it wasn't apparent to me that this drop would twist).  I
also didn't expect the speed bump or the intense layout.  You must
understand, rumors were flying since day 1 about this ride: that I would
encircle the park, that the hill would extend all the way down the
mountain, etc., etc.  I wasn't a member of American Coaster Enthusiasts
then, so I don't know what they knew, but the general public was spoon
fed only what Kennywood wanted us to know.

As for pics, the ACE's Roller Coaster! magazine contained some excellent
shots of the second hill in the Summer 1991 issue; the T.V. show
"Amazing Facts" (or something like that) on CBS (now off the air, I
believe) showed extensive footage of the ride, including one on-ride
camera and one camera at the bottom of the second hill; and I know that
at least one film (Imax?  Someone help me out) was shot of the ride for
some convention.  Your best bet is to contact the park.  If they won't
release the photos, I'm sure they would know what pictures are available
of the ride.  The address is:

Kennywood Park
4800 Kennywood Blvd.
West Mifflin, PA 15137
(I'm not positive about the zip code)

 On the same vibe: who knows about this new "Vekoma Wild Mouse with a
new twist" that the park's supposedly adding in 1993?  Mum's the word on
that one, too.  What will be the changes?  (What was the original like?)

--Cordell Carter
...sorry for the tome.

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