Simon Baynham

Hi TPR Members I have a copy of 'American Cinematographer' magazine from 1977 that covers the making of RollerCoaster in length. Despite extensive planning, during the Ocean View 'Rocket' scene when the coaster car collides with a balsa-wood structure, two stunt persons (men) overshot the carefully-prepared safety area resulting in one of them suffering a broken pelvis. Simon

www.rollercoastermedialibrary.com is all you need. Click on the left menu for over 300 park / coaster books and DVDs that you never knew existed! Simon

Hi TPR Members A day or two early, perhaps... Think you know everything about 2008's coaster installations? Well why not take Andy Shine's November Quiz. Just 25 questions to tax your brain and prove if you've got what it takes to be a true coaster nerd. Visit: www.rollercoastermedialibrary.com and click on the link at the top of the page. Have fun Simon Baynham

Hi TPR Members ^That's^ such a shame. I am a collector of amusement park books and DVDs, and I have the two Halloween programmes: "Knott's Scary Farm's Season Of Screams" and "Universal Orlando's Horror Nights - The Art of the Scare." I've come to appreciate just how much time and effort goes into the making of the two events. Knott's started their event in 1973 and it was an immediate success. Perhaps Knott's are employing half-hearted 'extras' to cope with the demand... a victim of their own success you might say? There's obviously been a shift in focus in recent years to get as many people as possible through the scare-zones. That's just to increase throughput (obviously), but the downside is that there are no scares to be had when you're shuffling through a themed corridor with 30 other people. True scares come when you're cut off from the pack or in a small group. We know that, and the parks know that too, but I bet Knott's have received negative feedback from people who paid the entry price and feel they did not get value for money - you cannot blame the park for putting customer satisfaction ahead of the scares themselves (Or am I wrong to think this?) Also, concerning the Knott's actors shouting out in a rude fashion, maybe that's the individual's opinion of what is 'scary.' They're obviously mis-informed and ill-educated in this field, and instead come across as both arrogant and rude. I suppose there's no easy answers, but I wouldn't be surprised if Knott's (and Universal?) hiked the entry price to help thin the crowds next year... or is that another step in the wrong direction(?) Simon Baynham (Who's hoping to make it to the U.S.A. sometime)

Hi TPR Members There is a pinball machine (circa 1989) called EARTHSHAKER! It was themed around earthquakes. I always thought a coaster of the same name would be great. You could have the station as the Earthquake institute, and you could name parts of the coaster: 'The Fault' 'Earthquake Shelter' 'Aftershock' etc... Simon

Hi TPR Members October's quiz has been posted to http://www.rollercoastermedialibrary.com (Click on the 'quiz' link to the left). There are five easy and five more challenging questions for you to try. Every dedicated coaster/park enthusiast should do well on this one. Have fun Simon Baynham

For me it has to be Alton Towers (Staffordshire, England). They do have an outstanding coaster in Nemesis, but that's pretty much it. Spinball Whizzer, (spinning coaster) Oblivion (90* drop) and Air (B&M flyer) are OK rides, and Hex (Haunted swing) is nice. But Alton could really do with some more major rides and a few flat rides to cope with the crowds the place attracts. A few years ago Alton used a tagline in their television advertisements as, "Alton Towers, Where The Magic Never Ends." For me, the magic never started. Well, apart from the magical way they empty your wallet at every turn. Heck, you even have to pay to get out of the place! Simon Baynham

For those TPR members with a particular interest in Chippewa Lake Park, there are several books and a VHS documentary about the place. Here's the VHS write-up, from: www.rollercoastermedialibrary.com ** [VHS 18] CHIPPEWA AMUSEMENT PARK. [NTSC / 1992 / 60 MINS] Enjoy the sights and sounds of Chippewa Lake Park from the 1920s to the 1970s. The largest collection of movie film and photographic highlights ever assembled on Ohio's Family Playground - Chippewa Lake Park. Compiled from over forty private collections of rare movie footage and memorabilia. Featuring on-board ride footage, actual Chippewa Lake Park promotional film, vintage ads, tickets, souvenirs, postcards, and over 300 photographs. ** It's a great video, certain to appeal to amusement park historians and to those who visited Chippewa Lake Park. Simon Baynham

Hi TPR members. Try Andy Shine's park and coaster quiz. A mixture of easy and more difficult questions for TPR members to try. (You're all so smart but you won't get 10/10 on this one) Check out www.rollercoastermedialibrary.com and click on Andy Shine's Quiz Page Simon Baynham

Hi there. There are no amusement parks in Manchester. However, if you catch the train from Manchester Picadilly to Chorley (and then a taxi) you will happen across Camelot Theme Park: A nice park to visit for a couple of hours. They have the Whirlwind spinning coaster and the newly relocated from Japan; Knightmare. Knightmare is a Schwarzkopf model similar to the Jetline at Grona Lund. From Chorley train station you can catch the train to Blackpool North, located just behind the tower. The walk to BPB is about 50 minutes (or a £2 tram ride). There is a rail station at BPB, of course, but to use that you must change trains at Preston and catch the local line to Blackpool South. While Southport's "New Pleasurelend" is just a few miles across the sea from BPB, the journey by train is too awkward; so best to give that a miss. As for Alton Towers. You need to catch a train to Stoke on Trent before getting the bus (10 minutes) or a taxi (can be pricey if they decide to rip you off at £10 a go) to the park. Read you soon Simon Baynham (Sunny Bolton, UK)

Hi TPRers Think you know all there is to know about Scandinavian parks and coasters? Then why not take Andy Shine's 2 minute quiz. www.rollercoastermedialibrary.com (see the left menu) Can you get 10/10 first time WITHOUT CHEATING! Simon Baynham (UK)

******************************* "bulldogmom" Chicago Exposition 1893- the first and biggest ever Ferris Wheel ******************************* I take it you have seen the "Chicago World's Fair of 1893" DVD, narrated by Gene Wilder. What a terrific programme - I learned so much from it. There were so many superlatives to boast, it was difficult to keep count. Simon Baynham

A Mister Twister POV (with a few artistic cuts) features on the programme AMERICA SCREAMS hosted by coaster enthusiast Vincent Price. Elitch's Twister can also be found on the programme ROLLER COASTER THRILLS / GO FOR A RIDE, yes, the ultra-corny programme with the Ice Cream man! See VHS3 and VHS4 at www.rollercoastermedialibrary.com Simon Baynham

Hi TPRers Think you know all there is to know about parks and coasters? Then why not take part in Andy Shine's JULY 2007 Quiz. www.rollercoastermedialibrary.com (see the left menu) Can you score 10/10 first time WITHOUT CHEATING! Simon Baynham (UK)

There are a number of DVDs available that explain how coasters are conceived using Computer Aided Design programs. I have pasted a write-up of one such example (from the Media Library) below, which features John Wardley. [DVD 58] REAL SCIENCE: DESIGNING THRILL RIDES FROM START TO FINISH. [DVD-R / 2004 / 25 MINS] This programme travels to the home of Colossus - the world’s first ten-inversion steel roller coaster – to reveal the physical, mechanical, and psychological forces that make the roller coaster the undisputed king of thrill rides. Concepting, computer-assisted track design, 3D simulation, track construction, and car safety mechanisms are covered by some of the experts who know roller coasters best. The goal? Pulse-pounding speed and mind-blowing disorientation through the manipulation of potential and kinetic energy and plenty of positive and negative Gs. Simon Baynham

Hi TPR visitors I was at Camelot yesterday. I will be amazed if the coaster is operating with passengers come the Media day, as there is quite a lot of work left to do and issues to address. 1) Station nowhere near complete 2) You can easily touch the track from the exit ramp... fences to erect... As I said, I will be surprised if it takes passengers on Friday... Camelot, please do prove me wrong. Simon Baynham

Hi TPR Members Funnily enough I have just finished watching a two-hour long documentary about Euclid Beach Park. Such a shame it closed 28 September 1969. I would love to step back in time to ride the 'Turns, Racing Coaster and the Thriller. Then enjoy a few goes on the Rocket Ships and Over the Falls, before finishing with a circuit aboard the Sleepy Hollow Train. Simon Baynham

Hi. I have a copy on VHS, it was recorded off the TV here in the UK so the quality isn't superb. Use the "contact us" button at: www.rollercoastermedialibrary.com Simon Baynham

Hi TPR Members I believe the last programme to come from National Geographic was "SuperCoasters" in 2006; a 90-minute programme that was was released (limited release) on DVD. Copies occassionally come up for auction on eBay, so keep an eye out for it. Simon Baynham (UK)

Hi TPR Members I rode "The Greatest Show On Earth" just once. That was its name when it was located towards BPBs South entrance, though it may have been called something else when it was located in the Casino building at the North end of the park. Wasn't it themed on the glitz and glamour associated with the entertainment industry? I seem to recall: Chorus lines of the Moulin Rouge; The HOLLYWOOD sign; Making of the movies with cameras, lights and show-biz paraphernalia... Oscars etc... It was a real mish-mash of a ride. Simon Baynham (Bolton, England)

Hi TPR Members Can you score 10/10 first time in Andy Shine's Coaster Quiz? Click on www.rollercoastermedialibrary.com and scroll down to Andy Shine's Quiz Page, and then click on the March 2007 quiz. This time it is only 10 questions - see how you do! Have fun Simon Baynham

How about naming KidTums after a colour? Magenta Alvey. Rose Alvey. Blue Alvey Crimson Alvey Simon B

^^There really arent that many books as far as roller coasters are concerned^^ That's true. I just did a quick count and there are around 200 books about amusement parks (and similar related topics), and of those only 30 are specifically about roller coasters. Simon Baynham

Hi TPR'ers For me, amusement parks offer escapism from 'real/boring life.' I like the bright lights, the colours, the crowds, food, rides and the general buzz/atmosphere - though it must be said that not all parks possess all of those qualities. Simon Baynham (UK)

Hi TPR Members Following on from the amazing feedback concerning 'coaster quiz 1' I have compiled a second quiz; 100 multiple choice questions about coasters and parks at: www.rollercoastermedialibrary.com Your score/percentage will be displayed after the 100th question. Have fun and boast your score here! Simon Baynham (UK) ************************* The "Ooh-ahh" bird is so called because it lays square eggs! *************************