Mean Streak, next to go??

RMC the hell out of it. Beyond 90 degree drop around 180 feet or so, a few inversions and let those 2 high first turns actually be used to their max potential. "Evil Streak" has a nice ring to it huh?

JK125 said:

Do you consider Wicked Twister a coaster?

Pretty similar....back and forth on a track.

IMO the difference is in the power mechanism. Wicked Twister uses an LIM launch, whereas Pipe Scream (correct me if I'm wrong) uses an on-board motor. I think that a roller coaster should be defined as a rolling cart that uses lift/launch mechanisms and its own momentum to complete a set course. If it's powering itself, it almost seems more like a car or a train if you know what I mean.

I don't believe Pipescream powers itself the whole time though.

CoasterCam said:

There is still wood in the tracks though. My definition of hybrid coaster is wood supports with completely steel track.

I'll have to disagree there. Completely steel track is a completely steel coaster, regardless of whether the track is being held up by wood, steel or helium balloons. In my book, a hybrid coaster is one where the track -- the key determining factor in determining the ride experience -- intermingles wood and steel. But that's my book, your book might say something different.

For what it's worth: at NoCoaster, the guy from Kentucky Kingdom said Storm Chaser, which incorporates parts of Twisted Sister, is RMC's first steel coaster. The only wood on the ride is in the handrails.

kylepark said:

It's not like guests approach a ride and say "I'm not riding Pipe Scream because it's not a real roller coaster!"

Jeff Flicko from SFFT was asked at NoCoaster whether the park considers their new-for-2016 Fireball a coaster. He made a joking request for "Next question?" and then said that coaster enthusiasts are the "1%" -- the vast majority of guests aren't overly concerned with what a ride is as long as they fun riding it.

Jason Hammond said:

Larson refers to this as a coaster too:

Fire Ball

And I consider it a coaster too when I'm in the mood to troll enthusiasts on Facebook. Cause it's hilarious to me when people get so butt hurt over park marketing.

Just reading the last few pages of this thread it's glaringly obvious that coaster definitions are pretty arbitrary and not worth getting into truly heated arguments over.

What's the fun of having an Internet coaster forum if not to argue over meaningless minutiae? :-)

Theme Park Press said:

IMO the difference is in the power mechanism. Wicked Twister uses an LIM launch, whereas Pipe Scream (correct me if I'm wrong) uses an on-board motor.

Only slightly different. Pipe Scream does use an on board motor, but the Wicked Twister train has half onboard. The coils on the track are one half and the fins on the train are the other half. Works just like a rotor and stator on a conventional motor. And, the Pipe Scream motor is not on continually, it is on part time and the car coasts part time.

I think that if they said that Storm Chaser is RMC's first steel coaster then it is because it has steel track and steel supports. If they say it is their first then they must consider all the other conversions hybrids.

To be clear, the guy from Kentucky Kingdom said Storm Chaser is RMC's first steel coaster. RMC is just doing the job they've been paid to do.

Doesn't matter what your book says.

CF and Six and universal get to decide what is and isn't.

Besides, that definition might very well be changing in the very near future.

CPGuru said:

For those who are suggesting an RMC of Mean Streak, but also wanting a wooden coaster, I completely agree. But I have an idea - why not have RMC use their wooden topper track (i.e. Goliath and Outlaw Run) instead of their iBox track? Can that work, or is it still not a true wooden coaster?

I read your comment CPGuru and didn't forget about you. I think Mean Streak would be so much better if they went Topper track on it. In my opinion, I would consider it a wooden roller coaster. By the way, Mean Streak will turn 25 years this year? Will Cedar Point make a big celebration out of this like Blue Streak?

That was kind of my point, XS Nightclub.

I'm a fan of Mean Streak. Have been since they built it. I've ridden it 2 to 4 times in a row on multiple occasions. I don't know what the ridership numbers are but I would imagine they are better than Corkscrew. Mean Streak is not the only ride at the park that's rough or bumpy. It's the longest ride at the park. It's a woodie. Why not keep it.

I think that the distance the ride station has from the normal foot traffic has alot to do with the line itself. Say the line wait is 5 minutes long. How long did it take the person at the very back of the line to get to where they are? I would consider the closest "main" midway being in front of CCMR right around the 3 point shoot out. That's a long walk.

One of the main reasons I keep hearing to tear down Mean Streak is the amount of space it takes up. But Cedar Point is building their 2nd steel roller coaster in the last 5 years. Not only that, but they've just claimed up land for more future projects. Which has me thinking that this conversation that's already been being discussed here for a long time. Will still be for a long time.

Not to mention Dino's Alive was not put in the park to be a permanent attraction.

I think MS is a horrible ride as it currently sits, however I think it has potential and I for one do not want to see it torn down at all. Prior to actually riding Rougarou I thought it was going to be a failure because there is no way a riding position could change a ride that much - but alas I was wrong (might be why I don't run a chain of very successful amusement parks). While I understand renovating MS wouldn't involve changing the riding position at all I was just pointing out that I am much more open to renovations/re-profiles after being wrong about Rougarou.

I think it is fairly obvious based upon the string of previous projects at CP that they could care less how much space an attraction takes up, so I get a chuckle whenever I hear that mentioned about MS. It is also obvious that ridership and guest feedback play a large part in the decision making process of when a ride needs to be retired/changed. Based upon that, I definitely feel that MS days are numbered and it will not sit in its current form for much longer.

I understand that MS is off by itself but once again that never stopped people from creating 2+ hour waits back in the 90's. If MS was a decent ride it would pull people into that area of the park. If the MF entrance was in the exact same spot as MS does anyone think no one would ride it because it was hidden away?

I hope it can be altered/re-profiled etc... as it is one of the best looking coasters at CP, I just wish that wasn't the only good thing I can say about it.

With the trim brakes on, the ride (imo) feels rougher because it's just random bouncing. The Beast is rough but it's fast so that comes through more like vibrations. Could the layout be reprofiled a bit? Sure. But it doesn't need a dramatic overhaul to make it a good ride. I'd like to think the Ghostrider project, and even the former Raging Wolf Bobs retracking, are signs that they can do something similar to Mean Streak.

Yes convert it. World's first standing wood coaster.

They need to tear this piece of crap down!

(Sorry, Just had to get my daily MS bashing in there)

Re: Topper Track vs RMC I-beam on MS... I've never ridden a topper track ride, so I don't know what the experience is like. I have ridden new Texas giant and thought it was great, so I really like the idea of doing that to MS.
But, if topper track can make MS ride like a good woodie, and if it will last over time without becoming a rough mess again years down the road, I'm intrigued by that possibility.
Anyone been on a TT coaster who can critique?

Just returned from a week long trip to L.A. where I was able to make a short visit to Magic Mountain. I took a few spins on Twisted Colossus and absolutely fell in love with this RMC conversion. My vote has always been to RMC Mean Streak based of visuals alone from their insane looking layouts. Now that I've gotten to ride one (have a trip planned for Dollywood in April) my opinion is stronger then ever that a conversion of some sort needs to happen to Mean Steak. Surprisingly, I did not think this ride rode as "smooth as glass" as advertised. That could just be SF maintenance, but to me this actually still had the feel of a wooden coaster, just a very well maintained wooden coaster. I believe more then ever now that this would be a huge win for CP and enthusiasts and GP would love it.

I'll be interested to see whether or not your visit to Dollywood changes your opinion. :-)