What should Cedar Point do to improve the mean Streak or should they just give up?

gtpsuper24 said:
A lady in front of us had her hands over her ears like she had a bad headache...

Pffft! That lady was dumb! Why didn't she know to ride in the front seat of the first car, with her back away from the seat back, while humming the theme music to Barbarella and releasing doves into the air?!? MS is PERFECT if you just know how to ride it!

Ffej said:
...I'd suggest they just go with Intamin.

GCI >> Intamin prefab :)

Thanks for making me listen to the theme from Barbarella. Now can you please turn back time and give me my three minutes back? ;)

I honestly don't remember the theme music to Barbarella, or whether it had any at all. For some reason, that just wasn't the part of the movie that stuck with me. :)

You know, I might actually prefer GCI, because they're smooth and still have the classic wooden lifts, brakes, trains, and noises. But after having ridden Hershey's this past week, I could still predict roughness complaints with some park guests.

The GP seems to like coasters as smooth as possible these days, and Intamin has won there. El Toro is over 6 years old, and it clearly has held up well. I'm not sure why more haven't been built (I'm assuming cost, but I can't find it). Going up on a cable lift at the speed of MF is odd, and hearing that unique high-pitched Intamin noise in the station was weird, but seeing their style carry on to a wooden coaster made me smile admirably at the same time.

Pffft! That lady was dumb! Why didn't she know to ride in the front seat of the first car, with her back away from the seat back, while humming the theme music to Barbarella and releasing doves into the air?!? MS is PERFECT if you just know how to ride it!

Amen!

The ride is fantastic in the front row when you're making sure to sit right (with your back propped forward). It's nice being able to head to MS with that knowledge on a busy day without any concern for crowds.

It's even better when they have the trims off, which makes for an even more enjoyable experience.

Did that just happen?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEtRoZ5FWNc

Ffej said:
I'm not sure why more haven't been built...

I'm sure cost is a factor, but it would seem the bigger factor - at least according to PB's webmaster - is that Intamin has put more energy into burning bridges rather than ensuring their rides actually, you know, work and stuff.

In looking at cost, there seems to be an enormous difference between The Voyage and Balder, in terms of cost/length. I realize that's perhaps a completely arbitrary and useless metric to use, but bear with me.

Adjusting for inflation, Balder cost $2,963/foot of ride. The Voyage cost $1,319/foot. Based on this (again, admittedly silly) metric, Intamin prefab track costs 125% more than a "traditional" Gravity Group woodie.

Titandwedebil said:
Amen!

Whooosh!!!

But which one is the maintance hog?

Voyage had its whole turnaround replaced this off season.

Did that just happen?

What? Riding Mean Streak a certain way to make it smooth? Or are you referring to the trim comment?

It's smooth when you ride it right, and fast when they don't break your car as you go down the hill and toward the end. Am I missing something?

^It's not as funny when you have to explain, but Kevin was amazed at the fact that DJ wrote an extremely hyperbolic and obvious parody of the "you just have to ride it correctly" argument, and you took the bait without even flinching.

Right, but I wasn't trying to back that argument, I know that it's important for a ride to be enjoyable for everyone, regardless of how they position themselves or where they sit. MS is variable based on your seat and the stance you take, and while I understand that this isn't something that's desirable on a large scale, it's a trait that's great to play on for those of us who have had the experience riding it to know where and how to sit, versus those who don't and never give it another chance.

If someone were to suggest rebuilding MS, that's not something I would throw out there in protest, it's just a personal comment that has more to do with the way in which I can enjoy the ride.

But yeah, I get the context by which I replied now, though I had no idea that people actually used that as an excuse to keep a ride. Totally should have posted on CP's FB about keeping DT because of how it made my teeth and eyes glow at the end. I do have a portable blacklight, but I'm not sure how I could sneak that on GK without getting caught...

Your mom is to fat to ride TTD. said:
But which one is the maintance hog?

Which one is regarded as one of the premier wood coasters anywhere?

And it's not accurate to suggest The Voyage is a maintenance hog. Yes, it had some major work done, but as I understand it, the work done will actually lessen the amount of maintenance needed in the long run.

But if we are comparing Intamin to Gravity Group why not put El Toro in the discussion? It is ranked as high as Voyage in some polls.

And if the cost of Balder is any indication, El Toro cost more than twice as much. Is Intamin prefab track cheap enough to maintain in order to recoup that enormous price difference?

Out of curiosity, is this the bridge-burning Intamin guy that Jeff has spoken of? That young guy interviewing looks so nervous, but he'd probably do a better job than me. lol

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2cBJElwMSU

Have we decided to burn down Mean Streak yet?

Someone let me know when we do :) (I want to bring marshmallows)

I agree about the ride still being rough, even with new track in only some places. They do need new trains, new wheels will make a difference, along with lighter trains. I think the track is fine, actually. The trims need to be turned off as well. IMO.

F the iron horse treatment (actually, yes this), I vote tear it down and build a mega vekoma woody (OW OW OW OW OW OW OW OW OW.........).

one giant lift hill and 12 helixes all in the same direction, all vekoma goodness...