ACE Coaster Classic?

Big Dipper is listed as a ACE Coaster Classic but has all computer control just like Blue Streak. Does ACE not know. They will find out this Coaster Con

Personally I say who cares. That stupid designation has been argued about to death over the years.

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Jeff - Webmaster - GTTP - My Blog
Blogs, photo albums - CampusFish
What time does the water show start?

Oh I didn't know but they will find out in June

Actually I care - since someone asked.

If Big Dipper did not have CC status ACE would already know! Blue streak is not an ACE classic because of its restaint system, not the computerized braking. The braking system does not affect the ride experience.

"The coaster must use traditional lap bars that allow riders to experience so-called airtime, or negative G's (that sensation of floating above the seat!!). Individual, ratcheting lap bars do not meet this requirement."

You can read more here:

http://www.aceonline.org/classics/

Since Big Dipper is not the ratcheting type and is FULL of standing airtime unlike Blue Streak it still gets ACE CC status - but I am sure that will change soon.

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"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind." -Dr. Seuss

Of course, this doesn't recognize what the computer does to the station braking. Lord, Big Dipper is terrible, bouncing those cars together the way it does. "HISSSS....WHUMPbumpbumpbump!"

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

And two of the other "conditions" make the designation extra stupid:

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ACE Coaster Classics allow riders to slide from side-to-side. A coaster with any restraint or device that restricts this freedom is not eligible for ACE Coaster Classic status.

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This says that ACE knows safety better than the people owning and operating the ride, and any coaster that allows enthusiasts to do stupid things is better than one that doesn't.

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On ACE Coaster Classics, riders are free to choose where they sit. Some parks' operating procedures assign seating; these coasters are not eligible for ACE Coaster Classic status.

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Again, ACE knows better how to operate the ride.

It seems to me that these conditions only breed the culture that has given the enthusiast community a bad name in the last year. Go ahead and make the argument that it's "only a few people." Then tell me why parks have a shared blacklist of people not allowed to visit. Perception is reality, and the leadership of ACE should take a hard look at what it is they're promoting in the community.

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Jeff - Webmaster - GTTP - My Blog
Blogs, photo albums - CampusFish
What time does the water show start?

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coasterdad said:

"The coaster must use traditional lap bars that allow riders to experience so-called airtime, or negative G's (that sensation of floating above the seat!!). Individual, ratcheting lap bars do not meet this requirement."

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It's silly that ACE says individual lap bars take airtime away. I get plenty of airtime on Blue Streak and other rides with the individual PTC retraints.

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I'd rather be in my boat with a drink on the rocks,
than in the drink with a boat on the rocks.

While I agree that ACE does not know how to safely operate a ride the key word in their designation is “CLASSIC”, I don’t think they even tried to imply that it is the safest.Whether this is good or not is a matter of opinion, but I sure like the feeling you get in a car with non-restrictive restraint devices. It is unfortunate that a few idiots have to ruin it for everyone.

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Pete said:

It's silly that ACE says individual lap bars take airtime away. I get plenty of airtime on Blue Streak and other rides with the individual PTC retraints.

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Actually its not that silly. While you may get some airtime on Blue Streak with its current restraints it is NOTHING like the standing airtime before these devices were installed. Take a ride on Big Dipper in the front train and you will see what a real CLASSIC coaster is all about!

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"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind." -Dr. Seuss
*** This post was edited by coasterdad 4/6/2004 12:11:57 PM ***

I do love the Big Dipper. The only problem is that I am fairly tall and there is no room for my knees. So I'm really wedged in there, with my knees jammed against the backrest of the seat in front of me. That takes something away from the floating feeling and airtime, but it is a great ride.

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I'd rather be in my boat with a drink on the rocks,
than in the drink with a boat on the rocks.

If enthusiasts weren't so worried about "standing" airtime, I can bet that there would be one more enthusiast alive this spring. Unfortunately, that's not the case.

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Jeff - Webmaster - GTTP - My Blog
Blogs, photo albums - CampusFish
What time does the water show start?

Pete,

Do you cross your legs when you sit in the Dipper? I do it there and on other tigth fitting coasters and it seems to same a little room so that I not wedged in like a sardine. I have the same problem on Mine Ride and Magnum as well as many others.

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"You can dream, create, design and build the most wonderful place in the world...but it requires people to make the dreams a reality."

I do cross my legs, but my knees still press into the seat back ahead of me fairly hard. I don't have as much trouble with Mine Ride, and I fit fine on Magnum, especially in the front row of a car.

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I'd rather be in my boat with a drink on the rocks,
than in the drink with a boat on the rocks.

Well said Jeff...

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June 11th, 2001 - Gemini 100
VertiGo Rides - 82

For small kids, I think coasters with these types of restraint systems, where there is the possibility for standing airtime, are a bad idea. I remember that when I was young, I used to hate the Big Dipper, and I remember my excuse being it was too bumpy. Looking back, I think the reason I hated it was because how easy it was to be thrown around on this ride. While I enjoy this now, I do not think it makes for a very safe ride.

-Sam
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Avalanche Run - My first Roller Coaster.
Magnum XL-200 - The BEST Roller Coaster!

These classics are designed to be fun and safe, and they are still safe rides. Why go around and change things, just because of a hand full of stupid people? Besides, these parks can do everything in there power to make a ride the safest, you'll still have that same hand full of people, finding away to get 'the most out of there ride'. That enthusiast that Jeff mention is a good example of that. And it's not just enthusiasts either, GP dose the same crap.

I don’t think enthusiasts are “worried” per se about standing airtime it is what they want and expect from a good coaster. It’s what the traditional coaster experience is all about. To be lifted from your seat with negative G forces. If some “safety expert” seems to think it’s a good idea to castrate a perfectly good coaster with confining restraints and to lessen the effect that the designer planned on then good for them. It’s great that people are safe but it’s not great when half the ride experienced is diminished because of it. I am all for safety but not at the expense of ruining a perfectly good ride. It is unfortunate that the actions of certain individuals have made it necessary for parks to add more restraints than previously needed, which is sad as the coasters of yesterday appeared to be much wilder than today's latest thrills.

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"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind." -Dr. Seuss

What bothers me is when parks make changes for the illusion of safety over real safety. Something Northern Ohio parks have seen plenty of in the past decade or so.

Let me spell it out for you: The only way I can lower a PTC ratcheting lap bar past the third notch is if I stand up first. That should tell you something.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

I don't see what all the hub-bub is about this Classic label is. Which after all is all it is a label. To some that makes it better, but not to others. It's just seems to me that it's an indication that a ride is as it was when first constructed. Kind of like a historically labeled building or neighborhood. (but without the protection from change) What does it matter what the qualifications are? It's ACE's business. Because the Blue Streak has been lessened in my opinion with the changes over the years doesn't mean it's not still a good ride. It's just not historically accurate for it's type of coaster. With so few coasters remaining from the good old days i definately see the value in noting which coasters are still true to the intended design.