Dick Kinzel: Roller Coaster King Biography

Unless the author interviewed other people, I would consider the contents of that book suspect at best. The little bit I've seen reads like a love letter, not a biography.

It really isnt all like that. That is mostly just in "The King's Creations" section, though I have only read about half of it.

King's Creations?

That about sums up the ego Kinzel had...

Just downloaded the Kindle version so should be an interesting read on a pretty dreary Sunday here in Northern Ohio today.

It also touches on how he really didn't like Mean Streak.

Same here to an extent. However I can't fully complain. Screen door all the way open hearing rain in December wearing cargo shorts and a t shirt. I'd say that's a win win.

Unless you like winter and find rain miserable and snow beautiful.

Snow is great unless you need to drive somewhere. It's like pixie dust for idiots.

I don't know what you guys are talking about. I played tennis outdoors this morning and it's an unseasonably warm 82.

If you can get past the amateur feel of the writing, the constant use of "the" before coaster names, and a picture of Raptor being identified as Mantis, it's still a mediocre read. Got it for Christmas, and it had some tidbits I was unaware of, but most of it I already knew. Not a bad read, but not the best. It was, however, much more candid about some of his rough moments than I thought it would have been.

That picture labled Mantis really pained me too haha!

The Register wrote an article about the book last month:

http://www.sanduskyregister.com/Blog/2015/11/25/New-Kinzel-bio-reveals-how-famous-roller-coasters-were-created.html

"The Gateway winged coaster" haha!!

Just finished the book and found it to be an interesting read. The author did a great job, and really did capture Kinzel's "highs and lows."

Who's Idea was it to work with B&M to transform Mantis into Rougarou? Whoever it was, I want to applaud them for it! Well done!!

Who's idea was it to work with B&M and build Mantis in the first place?

Who thought a bicycle seat on a coaster was a good idea... some eunuch obviously.

The bicycle seat was only supposed to catch you if you couldn't support yourself with your legs. If the restraints were adjusted so that you were above the seat and standing entirely under your own power, the seat was not a problem. Lots of people didn't get it though and thought they were supposed to sit on the seat.

Which contributed to the slow load and unload process in the station, where the ride operator would have to reset and recheck restraints.