What next For SFMM

You do know retracking the track costs WAY more than it's worth it right?
We don't live in an utopia where every ride can be retracked every year, just because a few enthusiasts complain. And I do not think that any of us could do a better job at maintaining a woody economically, seeing as any park has staff to do exactly that...
There is a lot more to it then we could understand, i do not beliefe the thought process was as limited as "hey, sprinklers should work".
There was more to it as far as costs vs. result go, and it's naiive to think that we could do a different job...other parks...sure, maybe they are just willing to put more money into it, but i was talking about six flags, and you said, they do a WORSE job, mainly due to the money. And i don't blame them, i'd rather have a TTD or X type of ride then a newly retracked woody.
Yes, this is an overstatement, but the price adds up over the years.

Retracking does cost money, but it IS worth it. I would rather ride a great woody that is tracked nicely than kiddy coasters such as TTD or X any day.

If a park can't afford to retrack a coaster, they shouldn't even buy it in the first place! As nightride said, CP knew that they had to maintain MS. It's their fault, they shouldn't have bought the coaster if they couldn't handle a ride like that. SF should spend more money in taking care of their woodies also instead of purchasing new coasters.

Parks like Knoebels actually maintain their coasters, and the parks are so much better than CP and SF parks also. Not to mention the rides and everything are actually thrilling.

I don't live in an enthusiasts utopia. I have been there, its called Knoebels, Holiday World, Indiana Beach, and the DBH.

Anyway, I don't know what your thinking about retracking...retracking is the main aspect of wooden coaster maintainence. Wood, by its nature, doesn't last forever, especially with 4 gs of a 10 ton train pounding the death out of it at 60+mph hundreds of times a day. Costs way more then its worth? Um, last time I checked, there wasn't any other way to keep a wooden coaster in good shape, other then to retrack the parts that get rough. Its not somehting that good parks choose to do, its something that every wooden coaster needs on a regular basis. Retracking does not cost that much compared tomost things. Usually only 2 or 3 layers, out of the 8 or 9 in the track are replaced when retracking is done, and thats only at most a couple thousand in materials. The labor is more, but a retracking job on mean streak for just the first 3 drops(the ones that would need it the most) woulnd't take more then a few weeks I wouldn't think. I can ask the head maintainence guy at pkd if you want...I know him...but he will tell you the exact same thing I will.

Much of the wood on some of the oldest wood coasters dates from when it was first built. Most all the structure of the Dragon coaster@ playland is origional from 1927, as it doesn't have a 50 mph train beating the snot out of it, but the wood on the bottoms of the drops(and this is one of the least forceful woodies out there) is less then 10 years old. And thats a FAMILY ride!

I don't wanna come off as a know it all, as I don't. I'm just saying what i know from my friends that work on coasters for a living. And I would assume they know what they are talking about.

Yes, i agree with you, yet i don't.
Basically my point is if it was feasable for CP (meaning it would get them more $$) then they would have done it, it's not that CP is "too stupid" to maintain their coasters.

Originally posted by coaster992001

they may not do extensive work on their rides, but they do touch them up with paint when they're peeling. just compare blue streak with rolling thunder or colossus. heck, S:ROS @ SFNE has only been around 4 years and its already turning into a pile of rust! raptor however has been arouns since...97? 96? and it looks brand new!

SURE it looks brand new, but there are probly alot of hidden flaws most don't know about. I rode it and it felt good, but then again, I think all B&Ms stay smooth. Especially Raptor because it was built so smooth so it won't do as much damage to the train as other coasters.

In relations to the poll: I think SFMM is goin to the grave. My friend's brother went there and hated it. I took his word for it. I think alot of people who don't live around there have forgotten about it after the buzz of people excited about X settled down.

Originally posted by IntaminFan397

I don't agree at all with you saying that SFMM and CP are the 2 best theme parks, but I won't go into detail [:P]

I think that SFMM won't get anything new for a while, and if they do get another coaster it'll just be another unexciting coaster just like the rest of the rides there.

THANK YOU![^]

ok, while were on the topic of ride maintenance:

if397, parks NEED to add rides and coasters almost on a yearly basis so they can get the public into them. if they advertise for " all new : we maintained meanstreak and added a new pop corn cart" they wouldn't get as much buisiness. most new rides pay themsemves off in only a couple months. they use the rest of that money to invest in new rides to get the public back for the following year, and ride maintenance. if they re tracked every wooden ride in the park.. wich would include gemenii b/c of the supports, they would barely have enough money to keep the public interested. building and maintaining rides isnt their only priority, they also have customer service, food, janitors, taxes, permit fees, electricity, water, hotel upkeep, laundry, costumes, wardrobe dept, pyrotechnicians, etc etc etc, the list goes on and on! at my local park, six flags new england, the year superman opened, the park was jam packed with people, then the year before batman opened, it was a lot less popular. then batman opened, and it was jam packed again. and last year, it was a lot less popular, and this year it'll be worse just because the public has no reason to go back.

as for the trims on meanstreak, they keep the maintenence lower, by reducing the speed and g's, it wears down a lot less on the ride. and sprinklers are probably there to make the wood expand and fit together more snugly so they dont smack against eachother when a train runs by. again, keeping maintenance lower. so, in conclusion, its not a matter of not retracking to build cheap rides, its a matter of making cheap rides to get the public back and using the rest of the money to fix the older rides.

and to whoever said it: yes, we are all being VERY naiive about this. we'll never know how ignorant we all are untill we run a park ourselves, wich for most of us, wont happen.

p.s. YAY! i started a new page!! [:D][8D][:)][;)][:p]

Knoebels hasn't added a ride in years I'm pretty sure, its still the best park [;)] Parks don't need to add rides/coasters each year for people to visit them. People do have a reason to go back, also, 2 amazing coasters are there, and unlike CP or SFMM, they stay thrilling throughout the years! A park shouldn't spend money on a new ride either if they aren't going to take care one of their older coasters.

I know the trims on MS reduce the speed and gs, duh, thats obvious. I don't see how you think that thats better though. It does reduce the amount of maintenence needed but CP shouldn't of even got the ride if they are too lazy to maintain it even with trims!

I just don't see why people are defending these big family parks, theres nothing at CP or SFMM for thrillseekers so why does everyone act like they both are amazing?

there was one night back in 2002 when Mean Streak was the best wood twister megacoaster out there. For one night, just for the ACErs at Coaster Mania, Cedar Point de-activated the trim brakes. the force was amazing, and there were some awesome lateral g's, and even a suprising bit of airtime. For the first time ever, Mean Streak was a good woodie. Alas, it was onlt for 3 hours. CP returned Mean Streak to its normal, wimpy self the following morning. Too bad. that coaster has potential. The only reason that CP added the trims is because a bunch of pissy guests complained because it was too rough. Lousy punks... they spoiled this coaster.

i agree that mean streak should get rid of those damn trims, ruins the ride

Parks dont need to add new rides every year if the rides they have are good enough to bring people back... Why don't they just make a good coaster to begin with, I almost never go to a park because of a new ride. I only rode TTD because I was there, then, and frankly, everything else had as long a line.

About retracking every wooden ride in teh park. I count 2 with wood track. Why retrack Gemini? Supports arent track...unless I missed something...supports rarely have to be replaced. Um, Blue Streak doesn't need that much care, as its a small not too much positive force kind of ride, its main thing is air, and that doesn't wear stuff out. Mean streak, the first 3 drops, once a year, would only make a small ding in CPs finances anyway. Lake Compounce built a ride worth coming back for in 2000, if I am not mistaken. A certain Boulderdash. They havn't added anything since, to my knowledge, and they are doing better then ever, because Boulderdash is a GREAT RIDE. Unlike teh stupid record stuff that keeps coming to the biggest parks. Phoenix was added in 86 to Knoebels, and is still the most popular ride there, and far superior(and less expensive might I add) then anything at CP, at least in 99% or peoples opinions. No offense anyone, but seriously, don't be defending a park doing wrong.

Now I don't run a park, but I do know some people that do.....

I also have to agree with some of the points said. If i take Blackpool as an example. BPB opened up the Big One as the tallest coaster in the world in 1994 and well just look at it. The coaster has no airtime, no lats and really no forces at all. The big one is a pure waste of time money and space. I also would say the same if they built and 400ft launched coaster. No doubt would it be no different from TTD in which, the only thing it will have is speed and height.

Theres is no debate really that the grand National is the best rollercoaster there. I mean it just blows the Big One out of the water. Grand national has all the good features of a coaster, airtime, high g's and well not so much but it does have lats. The coaster is just, so intense. First time i rode that i was taken away. Even the Big Dipper at Blackpool is by far superior to the big one. Although the ejector airtime from the back seat on the drop does kinda hurt when you slam into your seat.

actually, lake compounce has added several attractions since boulder dash ( various flat rides and water park additions) and this year they're getting an s+s turbo drop. not to mention the free soda, and deep fried oreo's coated in yummy powdered sugar.....mmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Originally posted by The Edge

Theres is no debate really that the grand National is the best rollercoaster there. I mean it just blows the Big One out of the water. Grand national has all the good features of a coaster, airtime, high g's and well not so much but it does have lats. The coaster is just, so intense. First time i rode that i was taken away. Even the Big Dipper at Blackpool is by far superior to the big one. Although the ejector airtime from the back seat on the drop does kinda hurt when you slam into your seat.

Thank you, Harry Traver. All of his coasters kicked serious booty, and Grand National is the only Traver coaster left in the entire world.

Grand National is not a Traver...its easy to tell, because Travers were twisters. Grand National was deisgned by Charles Paige, his coasters were some of the best in the world.

no, the grand national was a traver.. i looked it up [;)]

I think sfmm should either build a rocket, flying or giga coaster.

i really think they will get a flying coaster,S:UF clone but okeday. and it will themed to a parking lot,or on one!! but i think SFMM is not geting a ride for a while until they get more space wich means there not getting a coaster for a while........"?blah?"

god they sjould listen to what enthusiasts say, and wen they get a good ride design that every enthusiast(or almost all)agrees with, they build it, and the public would love it and it would be the most sucesfull ride in the park. I garentee it.

Originally posted by eZe7789

god they sjould listen to what enthusiasts say, and wen they get a good ride design that every enthusiast(or almost all)agrees with, they build it, and the public would love it and it would be the most sucesfull ride in the park. I garentee it.

exactly[^]

Why should they listen to what enthusiasts say if most enthusiasts like exactly what the GP does? It would make no difference. Most "enthusiasts" like tall and fast coasters for example. The taller and faster it is the more enthusiasts AND the GP will like it. I disagree with most enthusiasts because if they say they are enthusiasts they should at least know what a good coaster is, which is not a coaster thats taller or faster, but simply more exciting and intense.

Originally posted by IntaminFan397

Why should they listen to what enthusiasts say if most enthusiasts like exactly what the GP does? It would make no difference. Most "enthusiasts" like tall and fast coasters for example. The taller and faster it is the more enthusiasts AND the GP will like it. I disagree with most enthusiasts because if they say they are enthusiasts they should at least know what a good coaster is, which is not a coaster thats taller or faster, but simply more exciting and intense.

exactly[?]

[GRIM.657]

Originally posted by coaster992001

no, the grand national was a traver.. i looked it up [;)]

no, it is built by Charles Paige, look at the rcdb, it knows all....LOL

>[}:)]<<GRIM>>[}:)]<