TheCoasterCritic Posted January 1, 2008 Share Posted January 1, 2008 This one's for the true coaster geeks. What are the top 5 most influential designers in coaster history (or even recent coaster history, 30 or 40 years)? I'll admit up front that my knowledge of the people behind the most popular coasters may be a bit shallow, but here's my top 5 in no particular order: Werner Stengel Anton Schwarzkopf Walter Bolliger Claude Mabillard Ron Toomer I apologize in advance to the woodie fans out there. I just don't know any wooden designers that made a real big impact. I'm willing to learn though. What do you guys think? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PCW FREAK Posted January 1, 2008 Share Posted January 1, 2008 1.Anton Schwarzkopf 2.John Wardley 3.Werner Stengel 4.William Cobb 5.Claude Bolliger & Walter Mabbilard Schwarzkopf because he really combined the old ruthless intensity of coasters and combined them with the newer coasters. Wardley because he really emphasizes of fear. He really seems to have his rides rely on emotions. Case and point, Oblivion. If that ride were bare, with no scenery and no effects, it wouldn't really be an intense ride at all. But the way he pushes every button that makes us tick is incredibly effective. Stengel because he simply pushed the envelope of coaster design. Cobb because he (IMO) went back to the roots of coasters. And came up with woodies that embrace the old side of coasters. And B&M because they pioneered revolutionary coasters, that embrace new amazing ideas, but also did them incredibly smoothly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBru Posted January 1, 2008 Share Posted January 1, 2008 1. Anton Schwarzkopf- perfected the modern loop 2. Werner Stengel- Pushed coaster limits 3. Captain Morgan- designed anti-rollbacks and the locking lap bar 4. Ron Toomer- Though he made some rough coaster, he brought us the corkscrew, tubular steel track, boomerang, cutback, 4-D coasters, Multi-looping coasters, Suspended coasters, and even the pioneer Stand-Up coasters 5. John Allen- made many significant contributions to roller coaster technology and designed some great wooden coasters Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyber.Fiber Posted January 1, 2008 Share Posted January 1, 2008 1. Ron Toomer: If he wasn't around steel coasters may not exist... 2. Anton Schwarzkopf: The Loop By the way HAPPY NEW YEARS! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texcoaster Posted January 1, 2008 Share Posted January 1, 2008 [1] Ron Toomer - since you're only going back 40 yrs, leaving out John Miller and Harry Traver in the process, the most influential person has to be Toomer. The success of using tubular steel track is the single reason that we have the steelies we have now. Without that, none of the rest would've happened. Add to that the suspended coaster, the mine train, corkscrews, etc... yeah, like him or not, Toomer is the guy. [2] Bolliger and Mabillard - rather than trying to go higher and faster for thrills, they engineered new ways for us to ride. The invention of the inverted coaster will be the thing they're most remembered for, but the heavy use of heartlining and ridiculously exact engineering on their rides caused riders all over the world to expect not only thrills, but comfort. [3] Warner Stengel - his coasters not only push the envelope of thrills, but they are as beautiful to look at as they are fun to ride. Graceful, elegant, and sexy. [4] Bill Cobb - when Astroworld was unable to move the Coney Cyclone to Houston, Bill Cobb cloned it... with improvements. It was for that time a radical idea to intentionally copy a wood coaster design, but for many years, his Texas Cyclone was the undisputed #1 coaster on earth. Only Six Flags neutering could tame it. [5] Dick Knoebel - while not really a coaster designer, he deserves to be on this list. He had the crazy idea to dismantle a SBNO coaster in San Antonio, truck it to Pennsylvania, and reassemble it. Everyone thought he was nuts, but he's got the last laugh. Not only is his Phoenix a fantastic ride, but his example quite possibly saved some coasters from the wrecking ball by proving that a small park could get a world-class coaster for a fraction of a new one by saving one that had closed. It was a paradigm shift in the thinking of an industry, and for that he should be included here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thrillerman1 Posted January 1, 2008 Share Posted January 1, 2008 Props to Schwarzy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hyyyper Posted January 1, 2008 Share Posted January 1, 2008 Miller Toomer Traver Stengel Allen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ginzo Posted January 1, 2008 Share Posted January 1, 2008 Influence is nebulous. I'll go with the greatest coaster designer of the last 30 years. Based on the quality of his projects it's Werner Stengel. He played a key role in many of the successful projects of Schwarzkopf, Intamin, and B&M. His innovations include: -Clothoid vertical loop -Heartlining -Early launch systems Some of his firm's projects include: Maverick El Toro Speed: No Limits Storm Runner Balder Goliath @ Walibi World Xcelerator Expedition GeForce Katun Millennium Force Superman - Ride of Steel @ SFNE, Darien Lake, and SFA Dueling Dragons Montu Kumba Nemesis Pyrenees If you look at Mitch's Steel Poll for 2006, Stengel's firm was involved in all of the top 5, and 7 of the top 10. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texcoaster Posted January 1, 2008 Share Posted January 1, 2008 MillerToomer Traver Stengel Allen The subject was designers of the last 30-40 years. Both Traver and Miller (who would absolutely be included on any list of the most influential designers of all time) died before the 1968 cutoff period of this thread. Wanna pick two more? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texcoaster Posted January 1, 2008 Share Posted January 1, 2008 Well, crap. Sorry, hyyyper - I was going by the subheading of this post that asked about the last 30 years, and the first post which said 30-40 years, but upon re-reading it, I see that he really didn't know what he wanted. The way it's worded, you could also include designers farther back than then. My bad. Well, that upsets my list, too. I had toomer, B&M, Stengel, Cobb, and Knoebel on my list. If we're going back farther, that changes everything. [1] LaMarcus Thompson - his Switchback Railway was the father of the modern coaster. 'nuff said. [2] John Miller - his inventions made safe, fast, and wicked layouts possible [3] Harry Traver - pushed the envelope of what a coaster could do. His design influence is still seen today [4] Ron Toomer - steel coasters wouldn't be what they are today without his tubular steel track and inversion design [5] B&M - changed the way we think about how a person rides a coaster - upped the bar on smoothness and reliability Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ginzo Posted January 1, 2008 Share Posted January 1, 2008 1. Ron Toomer: If he wasn't around steel coasters may not exist... Steel coasters existed before Arrow. Arrow's innovation was using steel tubes. And they did this before they hired Ron Toomer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
viking86 Posted January 1, 2008 Share Posted January 1, 2008 Wasnt it Karl Bacon who invented the tubular steel track?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRapidsNerd Posted January 1, 2008 Share Posted January 1, 2008 Miler Herschel / Bradley and Kay. Hey, who doesn't like a good kiddie coaster? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MagicMountainMan Posted January 1, 2008 Share Posted January 1, 2008 Wasnt it Karl Bacon who invented the tubular steel track?? Yep, it was Ed Morgan and Karl Bacon who are credited for the design of the Matterhorn Bobsleds. They were the two founders of Arrow. But there is some conspiracy theory out there that says there was another tubular steel coaster in France that was operating before the Matterhorn was... But my top 5 would have to be: 1) Werner Stengel - Most of his coasters are exciting, intense, and just plain fun. He really perfected the heartline design and a ton of inversions. 2) Ron Toomer - His coasters may be bumpy but he created many inversions and his designs were crazy at the time. 3) Anton Schwarzkopf - One word: Loop. 4) John Wardley - Like someone stated before, he seemed to make a mediocre ride into a great one just by placement and theme. Nemesis is probably the best coaster he ever created and it feeds off of its theme. 5) B&M - So they are fabricators, but their track design is so smooth and precise that they deserve to be in the top five greats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyber.Fiber Posted January 4, 2008 Share Posted January 4, 2008 1. Ron Toomer: If he wasn't around steel coasters may not exist... Steel coasters existed before Arrow. Arrow's innovation was using steel tubes. And they did this before they hired Ron Toomer. Sorry, I was In a Hurry, I had to purchase a 24 hour block of internet from the hotel we are staying at currently, and it was in its last five minutes of acceptable usage, as well as leaning toward the thought of the steel coasters we know and love today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raptorcrew2002 Posted January 4, 2008 Share Posted January 4, 2008 Here’s my shot. Each designer has brought great ideas, some worked, some where awesome in concept. #1. Mother Nature and frozen precipitation with hilly landscapes. #2. John Allen / John Miller / Lamarcus Thompson It's really hard to rate these guys. #3. Werner Stengel (Tied with) Anton Schwarzkopf ?? Didn’t Werner work exclusively with Anton in the early days? I don’t think any other designers could truly claim so much useful accomplishments in sense other then maybe John Allen, especially during those early years. Current day coasters seem to be more improvements of rather then pioneering. Some exceptions but most are still based on the play books of the classic designers aided by modern technology. Whatever happened to the good ol days of if the doll makes it back to the station with a head it's safe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airtime&Gravity Posted January 5, 2008 Share Posted January 5, 2008 1. John Allen-brought the roller coaster to the modern world 2. Anton Schwarzkopf-yeah he worked with number 3, but he redefined the steel coaster 3. Werner Stengel-yeah he worked with number 2, but he is the most influential modern coaster designer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RIP Psyclone Posted January 5, 2008 Share Posted January 5, 2008 In the past 30 years or so, I don't think anyone has been as prolific as Werner Stengel. Ron Toomer designed some ground breaking coasters, but I think Arrow as a whole deserves the credit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schrubber Posted January 5, 2008 Share Posted January 5, 2008 Didn’t Werner work exclusively with Anton in the early days? Yes, he did. And Anton got very angry when Werner told him about he was to end this exclusively relationship Oh, and Stengel invented the modern vertical loop, Schwarzkopf just built it. It was one of these exclusively projects. Greetings schrubber Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ginzo Posted January 5, 2008 Share Posted January 5, 2008 In the past 30 years or so, I don't think anyone has been as prolific as Werner Stengel. Ron Toomer designed some ground breaking coasters, but I think Arrow as a whole deserves the credit. No, I think the coat hangers deserve the credit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheCoasterCritic Posted January 18, 2008 Author Share Posted January 18, 2008 I don't know how I could forget Mother Nature for those ice slides. Great discussion guys. I've learned a few names of prominent designers I've never heard of before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Benvenuto Posted January 18, 2008 Share Posted January 18, 2008 1. LaMarcus Thompson, I hope your watching over us. You are the man when it comes to roller coasters! thanks for making popular with the Switchback Railway! 2. Warner Stengal, With pre-fab wooden coasters and his work with all the early and modern launch systems out there. 3. The men known as B&M! They great, with the invention of the Inverted steel coaster and the floorless roller coaster! Thanks guys! 4. Ron Toomer, we may all give his rides crap but I'll thank him for Magnum and Phantom's Revenge at Kennywood. Love those rides the most, besides the old corkscrew coasters!! 5. John Allen, the inventor of the upstop wheels for all Roller Coasters we couldn't go this far without Allen's contributions to the cause! these 5 are my picks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy_e219 Posted January 19, 2008 Share Posted January 19, 2008 Here are a few from the Pittsburgh area. John A Miller- Jackrabbit, Thunderbolt (Pippin) in Kennnywood, used the natural terrain of the park. Edward Vettel- Blue Streak (SBNO) Conneaut Lake Park, simple but thrilling. Andy Vettel- Thunderbolt- Kennywood. The greatest old wooden coaster in the world. Harry Travor- Not just for coasters, but flat rides like the Tumble Bug. The last one is at Kennywood. These are just a few I know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Stratosphere Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 Here is another bump, as of late I have to say Alan Schilke. Here is a list from Wikipedia of the attractions he as worked on. An impressive list to say the least. As an employee of Arrow Dynamics Tennessee Tornado at Dollywood X at Six Flags Magic Mountain As an employee of S&S Arrow/S&S Worldwide Timberhawk: Ride of Prey at Wild Waves Theme Park Falken at Fårup sommerland Hellcat at Timber Falls Adventure Park Hell Cat at Clementon Amusement Park Eejanaika at Fuji-Q Highland Steel Hawg at Indiana Beach As an employee of Ride Centerline New Texas Giant at Six Flags Over Texas Outlaw Run at Silver Dollar City Iron Rattler at Six Flags Fiesta Texas Goliath at Six Flags Great America Medusa Steel Coaster at Six Flags Mexico Polercoaster Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rolercstrluvr Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 Here is another bump, as of late I have to say Alan Schilke. Here is a list from Wikipedia of the attractions he as worked on.An impressive list to say the least. As an employee of Arrow Dynamics Tennessee Tornado at Dollywood X at Six Flags Magic Mountain As an employee of S&S Arrow/S&S Worldwide Timberhawk: Ride of Prey at Wild Waves Theme Park Falken at Fårup sommerland Hellcat at Timber Falls Adventure Park Hell Cat at Clementon Amusement Park Eejanaika at Fuji-Q Highland Steel Hawg at Indiana Beach As an employee of Ride Centerline New Texas Giant at Six Flags Over Texas Outlaw Run at Silver Dollar City Iron Rattler at Six Flags Fiesta Texas Goliath at Six Flags Great America Medusa Steel Coaster at Six Flags Mexico Polercoaster I have to agree with you here on this, Alan Schilke is a pure mastermind of bending/breaking the rules of traditional coasters. He just keeps pushing the envelope till it'll eventually burst. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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