Jeff, didn't you say something about Mean Streak being re-tracked when you where there!?! I was so cought up in the Force I skipped right over it and just cought it.
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AKA: bodyin thewaterball fountain.
Paddlewheel Excursions: 12
Jokes on PE: 120
Yes, somewhere (on Usenet I think). We saw a guy on the incline after the first drop and there was a lot of replaced wood on the third drop sans rails.
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Jeff
Webmaster/Guide to The Point
How much of a differance do you think re-tracking will make on Mean Streak? Hopefully it will make a huge differance, but I'll still love the ride eitherway!
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-Chris
"Any day, is a great day, to ride a rollercoaster!"
That TR is now in the Trip Report section here in CP Place.
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Jeff
Webmaster/Guide to The Point
I still wish they would tube MS.
I have always loved MS even though I don't admit it that often. Personally I think its a great ride (Its my number two wood coaster) and yes i DO enjoy it in its current state. With the coasters at CP I have a special bond with each one. (I know that sounds odd but if you understand where I am coming from then it sounds normal :) ) Anyway just like any ride, you have to ride it a lot to understand how the ride rides and to learn that each ride has a personality all of its own. Jeff learned that this year with all of the Magnum rides he has done with me. I really love MS in a lot of different ways. I have had some extraordinary rides on Mean Streak, and I understand that the ride has its problems, but there is no perfect ride out there. If you look at the entire MS situation as a whole a good majority of the complaints come from the enthusiasts and not the GP. In talking with a certain individual about MS, I was told that for the most part the GP really likes the ride. I think that if there were a ton of complaints about the ride pouring in every day that the ride was open then the park would consider other alternatives to improving the ride (ie. new trains, or better lubrication) Overall I like MS and besides the normal replacement of wood and steel there is not much the park is going to do about the ride.
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Daniel J. Haverlock
'99 Magnum Count: 801
Is it May yet?
*** This post was edit by Dan on 11/27/99. ***
Yea you sure can get many rides on it during the lazer light show. I got 8 in a row with absolutly no wait, sure I was a little sore but it was worth it!
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-Chris
"Any day, is a great day, to ride a rollercoaster!"
There is nothing wrong with Mean Streak. Not all of us want every coaster to have a smooth ride with lots of air time.
If it hurts you, try using the assist bar. It does wonders if you hold on and pull yourself off the seat.
The only two problems I have with MS are the ever-present squeal it makes going around the circuit and out of the station and the shuffle/jar it makes going through turns.
The squeal worries me more than the jarring, because it seems to be a simple lubrication job. It indicates poor maintenance. The jarring, though, is noteworthy, too. If one looks closely, you can see the gouges on the steel from the wheels going through the turns. Really, for a ride its size, the lines are never long. That in itself isn't a good sign.
As Dave Althoff would say:
"Foam rubber seat backs don't belong in wood coaster trains."
Yes... keep your back off the seat.
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Jeff
Webmaster/Guide to The Point
...And what ever you do don't put your head back against the headrest, unless you enjoy concussions!;)
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-Chris
"Any day, is a great day, to ride a rollercoaster!"
*** This post was edit by CoasterChuckey on 11/27/99. ***
It seems as though they are replacing wood on Mean Streak every year. You don't see that on Gemini or Blue Streak (certainly not that often). To me, that's a sign that something is wrong. And believe me, the general public does notice that and does not feel too secure about it. CP has to do something...maybe re-tracking it would work. Bottom line, someone earlier stated that the lines are not that long anymore. Why do you think? Of course, because it is a very rough ride...period! The coaster itself is so beautiful, and if it were smoother (even a little), the lines would be much longer.
As a matter of fact when Jeff and I were in the park last week they were replacing structure on Gemini.
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Daniel J. Haverlock
'99 Magnum Count: 801
Is it May yet?
Mean Streak is perpetually retracked... there are six (at last count) full-time carpenters that work on that ride. The structure itself gets some replacement periodically, as does Mine Ride and Gemini, but that is normal.
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Jeff
Webmaster/Guide to The Point
*** This post was edit by Jeff on 11/28/99. ***
Bumpiness is all part of Meanstreak. If you don't like it, then don't ride it. Another reason the lines are never full is because it's at the back of the park and some people never make it back there. Cedar Point never/very rarely advertise Meanstreak. Whenever I go on it, it doesn't seem that bad anyway. Ever been on The Beast at PKI. It's way worse than Meanstreak.
I'm not one of the biggest King's Island's fans around, nor will I ever will be but, I must take this opportunity to quote one great ACE memeber Alex King "The Beast is like Amtrack through the woods."
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Daniel J. Haverlock
'99 Magnum Count: 801
Is it May yet?
www.popworld.com/d
AAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!
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Likes her coasters like her men, fast and furious!
Now I wouldn't say that The Beast is worse than Mean Streak. For starters the wood coaster maintenance crew down at PKI grease the rails regurlary and it shows. The ride was very smooth. The helix is probably the best finish on any coaster I've been on. Granted the middle section is slow due to excessive braking, but it's still a good ride. It still delivers for a ride that's twenty years old.
Both rides, The Beast and Mean Streak, suffer from frustration and disappointment on the behalf of enthusiasts. We know that both these rides can deliver much, much more but due to park policy and maintenance reasons they are held back. If you've ever had a truly brakeless ride or a ride in the rain on either you know what I'm talking about. I guess that's the fun in riding these two coasters: you never know what kind of ride you're going to get.
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Scott W. Short
sshort@mediaone.net
http://welcome.to/midwestcoastercentral
Coastuhs are like a box o' chocolates... ;)
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Jeff
Webmaster/Guide to The Point