Dick Kinzel: Roller Coaster King Biography

Well, if you want to know more about Richard Kinzel, look no further. His official biography is now available on Amazon here.

I wonder where "people gatta eat" is written in. Thoughts?

I would disagree with the line saying ¨He built the first 200, 300, and 400 foot tall roller coasters¨. He might of dreamt up the idea with others, he might of contracted people to do so, but he did not physically build them.

So popular it is already out of stock!

Amazon says it is in stock again, but may require an extra 1 or 2 days for delivery.

I wonder if they will sell this in the park. I can't remember if the gift shops ever stocked books such as the "Queen of American Watering Places" one.

Where's the Kindle version?

I suspect that because it's "official" that Kinzel had some say as to its content. To that end, I worry this would be a bit of a fluff piece. His story is extremely interesting I think, but if the story is just that he was a swell guy who wanted to build giant roller coasters, it's not the complete story. He's a very ego-driven guy that nearly ruined his legacy, and for better or worse, I think that should be part of the story.

Chuck Wagon said:
I can't remember if the gift shops ever stocked books such as the "Queen of American Watering Places" one.

They did. That's how I got my copy

I'm curious as well as to whether they'll sell this in the park. If Kinzel was still the head of the company, probably. But he's not, and I can't imagine CEO bios are a big souvenir item.

Heck, RCMAC and I remember when he was an assistant to Dan Keller, who was a food service manager then. After I left there the only time I saw him was during industry functions, usually held at the Point.

I've been reading this and it really is a good read (if you are willing to overlook "the" placed in front of every coaster.) A quote that stands out to me is, "Also on that five year plan when he left was another 300-footer to be built at the back of Cedar Point, but that coaster was scrapped for the $25 Million Gatekeeper." I'm sure this has been discussed elsewhere but I can't stop thinking what could have been. Where at the back of the park? What type of coaster? Will the park build there in the future? I can't think of another coaster that could top 300ft unless it was another I305 type. It would have taken extreme creativity to fit a 300 footer back there.

I suspect another 300ft+ coaster would've been built by B&M similar to Leviathan and Fury325. Can't imagine where in the back of the park, but space will never be a problem at CP. Lately, B&M has been designing smaller foot print coasters with track sections supporting one another and held up by fewer columns from the ground. Both Valravn and Gatekeeper feature these characteristics.

Just recently, I thought Tony mentioned somewhere asking for opinions on Leviathan or Fury 325. Never took that statement seriously, but found it interesting.

I think that text over-simplifies their long-range planning. It's pretty clear that the day Matt Ouimet took over, capital expenditures were approached in a far more strategic and logical way. Growing Carowinds was obviously central to that.

The book also gives Kinzel credit for Fury 325 saying that it was already on his 5 year plan before Ouimet took over.

There were several major attractions in the pipeline when Mr. Ouimet took over, some were too far along to cancel the order,others hadn't entered the actual production phase.

I'm fully aware. I just wouldn't think that Kinzel would have been the one who started the whole B&M every year thing seeing as he used such a variety of manufacturers.

Variety? I don't think so. Once Arrow ceased to be a major player, they pretty much stuck with Intamin, with only an occasional side trip to B&M as far as steel coasters. The few woodies they built during those years were CCI.

Chain wide, not just CP. B&M, Arrow, Intamin, Vekoma, Dinn, GCI, Morgan, Huss, Mondial, etc. Sure Intamin was primary but it wasn't just Intamin. I know it hasn't been long but so far that list for Ouimet is B&M and some flat ride companies like Huss. I love B&M so I'm not complaining, I just believe that Kinzel used way more than Intamin.

CoasterCam said:

A quote that stands out to me is, "Also on that five year plan when he left was another 300-footer to be built at the back of Cedar Point, but that coaster was scrapped for the $25 Million Gatekeeper."

If this is true, and not saying it isn't since it's a quote directly from the book then in my personal opinion, whoever made that decision should be slapped across the back of the head. This is assuming this 300ft'er would be a standard out and back giga. I would trade half of Point's current coaster collection to have Fury 325 in Ohio. Again just my opinion. :) Fingers crossed that KI's giga (and come on we all know they will get one) will be a B&M masterpiece.

Well, Cedar Fair actually never installed a Vekoma (other than junior coasters) in their parks. All of the Vekomas currently in the parks are either relocated from Geauga Lake or were originally at a Paramount park.

I was refering to the juniors.