Mitch Hawker's Wood & Steel Coaster Poll 2008

[downunder]

^I'm not saying it wasn't smooth just that the structure is copping a lot of stress, that's just what I heard from someone. If anyone knows more please tell.

 

I gave Compounce Wildcat my bottom wood vote for the pain and anguish it gave me, Grizzly at KD and Predator at DL made up my axis of evil at the bottom.

[Guest]

Yeah I put Wildcat really low too.....I used to like it but it just killed me this year. My last place was Racer at KI though....I liked the backwards side but the forwards was terrible. I wouldn't ever ride it again unless it got major work.

 

I actually like Grizzly a lot, it was really good in 2006. I think I'm in the minority though.

[Wood Dragon 1988]

Wow, I only rode Wild Cat this year and I REALLY liked it! Wooden coasters are so moody.

[Guest]

Depends where you ride it. It's usually fine in the front and middle rows, but the 3rd rows of any car are death. Pretty much all the stuff between the fan turns jackhammers like crazy.....You can see it clearly from off the ride. Hopefully now that Dash is done they'll put some work into it because it really needs it.

 

Anyway, I'm curious about Voyage's position this year. Since we can't see the ballots any more, I'm wondering how many of you still hold it in high regard now that it's had 3 years of aging and the hype has settled down. I rode it last season on the midwest trip and as I said earlier I have it at 3, but it won't count for much as I didn't ride it this year. So I guess I'm asking those of you who did ride it this year, is it still a top 3-5 ride or will it drop down a bit?

[DBru]

^After 61 rides, it's still my #1.

 

The ride actually hasn't aged a bit. Holiday World takes amazing care of all of their woodies, and the Voyage has always been just as intense, rough, and insane as it is now!

[robbalvey]

Anyway, I'm curious about Voyage's position this year. Since we can't see the ballots any more, I'm wondering how many of you still hold it in high regard now that it's had 3 years of aging and the hype has settled down. I rode it last season on the midwest trip and as I said earlier I have it at 3, but it won't count for much as I didn't ride it this year.

 

I'm actually glad Mitch has done this. Between that idiot German kid trying to rig the poll the one year so GeForce wouldn't win and the number of people who seemed to change their votes after seeing the ballots last year I think it's a good idea. Sad that he had to do it, but a good idea still.

 

With Voyage, it will be interesting as many of the people who did our Midwest trip last year also rode Boulder Dash and El Toro, and then quite a few people who have been on it rode T-Express with us in Korea.

 

Personally I'd put all three of those well above Voyage but I wonder how many other people would as well.

 

--Robb "Then again I put Raven above Voyage too so I'm in the minority..." Alvey

[downunder]

Was the Voyage significantly better at night?

 

That was one of my regrets on the midwest trip, not doing the Voyage at night.

 

I put Raven ahead of Voyage too, I just enjoyed it more.

 

I have Phoenix at No. 1, I just love the way it throws you around.

[ScubaSteve442]

If you've never done this poll, but think you'd like to in the future, START NOW WHILE YOUR COASTER LIST IS SMALLER THAN IT WILL BE!!!

 

It's far easier to add in new rides each year than start from scratch after you've got a few hundred coasters in your track record.

[spaceace12]

Raven is now my 3rd ranked coaster. Voyage is still one because even though it is rough, I have had some great rides this year. Raven got bumped to 3rd by Evel Knevil. My last time I rode EK, it was kicking butt.

[Electerik]

I have to admit that I'm one of those who doesn't necessarily participate every year, simply because I find filling out the ballot to be tedious. But I just used "CoasterFanatic's Ballot Helper" and found it much easier.

 

Oh, and Robb, not only did I put Raven above Voyage, I put Cornball above both of them!

[Guy T. Koepp]

Here are mine. Like them or not! It's my opinion and I'm sticking to it!

 

After I get to 10 I just group them. So after that they are in no particular order untill the last few.

 

Here is how I rank things.

 

1-5 - Must ride!

9+ - 30min-1hr, maybe more depending on how I feel.

10s - 30 min maybe a little more.

20s - 10-30min max.

30s - Walk on to 10 min.

40s - Meh... ...Walk on.

50s+ Get out the wrecking ball.

 

WOOD

 

 

LOCATION FOLLOWS THIS LINE (LEAVE THIS LINE)_____

Gallatin, TN

NAME FOLLOWS THIS LINE (LEAVE THIS LINE)_____

"Guy Thomas Koepp Ohana"

RANK THE FOLLOWING RIDING SENSATIONS <-LEAVE

THIS LINE AS IS

Abrupt Airtime_____________________________,y,y,1

Floating Airtime___________________________,y,y,2

Lateral Forces_____________________________,y,y,6

Out of Control Feeling/Directional Changes_,y,y,4

Positive G's/Loops_________________________,y,y,5

Sensation of Speed_________________________,y,y,3

COASTER NAME PARK LOC <--Please leave this

El Toro SFGAd NJ,y,n,1

My Favorite Steel Anypark Anywhere **,y,y,2

Boulder Dash Lake Compounce CT,y,n,3

Kentucky Rumbler Beech Bend KY,y,y,4

Thunderhead Dollywood TN,y,y,5

Raven Holiday World IN,n,y,6

Wildcat Hersheypark PA,y,n,7

The Voyage Holiday World IN,y,y,8

Thunderbolt SF New England MA,y,n,9

 

Lightning Racer - L Hersheypark PA,y,n,10

Lightning Racer - T Hersheypark PA,y,n,10

Comet Hersheypark PA,y,n,10

 

GhostRider Knott's Berry Farm CA,y,y,20

Colossus S.F. Magic Mountain CA,y,y,20

Cyclone Lakeside CO,y,n,20

Wildcat Lake Compounce CT,y,n,20

Gwazi-Tiger Busch Gardens-Tampa FL,y,y,20

Gwazi-Lion Busch Gardens-Tampa FL,y,y,20

Georgia Cyclone SFoG GA,n,y,20

 

Grt Am Scrm Mach SFoG GA,y,y,30

The Legend Holiday World IN,y,y,30

Thunder Road Carowinds NC,y,n,30

Yankee Cannonball Canobie Lake Park NH,y,n,30

Predator Darien Lake NY,y,y,30

Thunderhawk Dorney Park PA,y,n,30

Judge Roy Scream SFoT TX,y,n,30

 

Triple Hurricane Cypress Gardens FL,y,n,40

 

Cyclone SF New England MA,y,n,56

Twister II Elitch Gardens CO,y,n,57

Texas Giant SFoT TX,y,n,58

Rolling Thunder SFGAd NJ,y,n,59

Rattler Fiesta Texas TX,y,n,60

------------------------------------------------0 <--Please leave this

 

 

STEEL

 

LOCATION IN NEXT LINE (LEAVE THIS LINE)_____

Gallatin, TN

NAME IN NEXT LINE (LEAVE THIS LINE)_____

~"Guy Thomas Koepp Ohana”

RANK THE FOLLOWING RIDING SENSATIONS <-LEAVE

Abrupt Airtime_____________________________,y,y,1

Floating Airtime___________________________,y,y,2

Lateral Forces_____________________________,y,y,6

Out of Control Feeling/Directional Changes_,y,y,4

Positive G's/Loops_________________________,y,y,5

Sensation of Speed_________________________,y,y,3

COASTER NAME PARK LOC <-LEAVE

Favorite Wood Coaster Any Park Anywhere **,y,n,1

Superman - Ride of St SF New England MA,y,n,2

Nitro Six Flags Great Ad NJ,y,n,3

Kumba Busch Gardens Afri FL,y,y,4

Ride of Steel Darien Lake NY,y,y,5

Montu Busch Gardens Afri FL,y,y,6

SheiKra Busch Gardens Afri FL,y,y,7

 

Matterhorn Bobsleds Disneyland CA,y,y,10

Space Mountain Disneyland CA,y,y,10

Goliath Six Flags Magic Mo CA,y,y,10

Tatsu Six Flags Magic Mo CA,y,y,10

X2 Six Flags Magic Mo CA,y,y,10

Revenge of the Mummy Universal Studios FL,y,y,10

Space Mountain WDW Magic Kingdom FL,y,y,10

 

Goliath Six Flags Over Geo GA,y,y,15

Titan Six Flags Over Tex TX,y,n,15

 

Fav Mack Supersplash Any Park Anywhere **,y,y,20

Fav Arrow Shuttle Any Park Anywhere **,y,y,20

California Screamin' Disney CA Adventur CA,y,y,20

Big Thunder Mountain Disneyland CA,y,y,20

XCelerator Knott's Berry Farm CA,y,y,20

Journey to Atlantis SeaWorld San Diego CA,y,n,20

Revenge of the Mummy Universal Studios CA,y,y,20

Expedition Everest Disney Animal King FL,y,y,20

Dueling Dragons-Fire Islands of Adventu FL,y,y,20

Dueling Dragons-Ice Islands of Adventu FL,y,y,20

Incredible Hulk Islands of Adventu FL,y,y,20

Big Thunder Mountain WDW Magic Kingdom FL,y,y,20

Journey to Atlantis SeaWorld Orlando FL,y,y,20

Kraken SeaWorld Orlando FL,y,y,20

Laser Dorney Park PA,y,n,20

Steel Force Dorney Park PA,y,n,20

Mystery Mine Dollywood TN,y,y,20

Tennessee Tornado Dollywood TN,y,y,20

Journey to Atlantis Sea World of Texas TX,y,n,20

Steel Eel Sea World Of Texas TX,y,n,20

Superman:Krypton Cstr Six Flags Fiesta T TX,y,n,20

Mindbender Six Flags Over Geo GA,y,y,20

 

Batman The Ride/Clone SF & Other Parks **,y,y,30

Fav Loop-Screw Any Park Anywhere **,y,n,30

Fav Gerstlauer Spinn. Any Park Anywhere **,y,y,30

Fav Half Pipe Any Park Anywhere **,y,n,30

Fav Intamin Bobsled Any Park Anywhere **,y,n,30

Fav Arrow Corkscrew Any Park Anywhere **,y,n,30

Fav Jet Star Any Park Anywhere **,y,n,30

Fav Jet Star II Any Park Anywhere **,y,n,30

Fav JS III/Jumbo Jet Any Park Anywhere **,y,n,30

Fav City Jet/Jumbo V Any Park Anywhere **,y,n,30

Fav Loop. Star/S.Arr. Any Park Anywhere **,y,y,30

Fav Wild Mouse Any Park Anywhere **,y,y,30

Fav Ultratwister Any Park Anywhere **,y,n,30

Fav Vek Susp Family Any Park Anywhere **,y,n,30

Fav Wildcat Any Park Anywhere **,y,n,30

Fav Windstorm Any Park Anywhere **,y,n,30

Fav Zamperla Volare Any Park Anywhere **,y,n,30

Desert Storm Castles N' Coaster AZ,y,y,30

Patriot Castles N' Coaster AZ,y,y,30

Montezooma's Revenge Knott's Berry Farm CA,y,y,30

Pony Express Knott's Berry Farm CA,y,y,30

Sierra Sidewnder Knott's Berry Farm CA,y,y,30

Silver Bullet Knott's Berry Farm CA,y,y,30

Demon California's Great CA,y,n,30

Deja Vu Six Flags Magic Mo CA,y,y,30

Ninja Six Flags Magic Mo CA,y,y,30

Riddler's Revenge Six Flags Magic Mo CA,y,y,30

Revolution Six Flags Magic Mo CA,y,y,30

Scream! Six Flags Magic Mo CA,y,y,30

Superman The Escape Six Flags Magic Mo CA,y,y,30

Viper Six Flags Magic Mo CA,y,y,30

Rock `n' Roller Coast Disney's H Studios FL,y,y,30

Georgia Scorcher Six Flags Over Geo GA,y,y,30

Superman - Ultimate F Six Flags Over Geo GA,y,y,30

Greezed Lightnin' Six Flags Kentucky KY,y,y,30

Batman - Dark Knight SF New England MA,y,n,30

Desperado Buffalo Bill's Res NV,y,n,30

Speed Nascar Cafe NV,y,n,30

Great American Scream Six Flags Great Ad NJ,y,n,30

Kingda Ka Six Flags Great Ad NJ,y,n,30

Medusa Six Flags Great Ad NJ,y,n,30

Superman - Ultimate F Six Flags Great Ad NJ,y,n,30

Orange County Chopper Darien Lake NY,y,y,30

Viper Darien Lake NY,y,y,30

Hydra the Revenge Dorney Park PA,y,n,30

Talon Dorney Park PA,y,n,30

Great Bear Hersheypark PA,y,n,30

Sooperdooperlooper Hersheypark PA,y,n,30

Storm Runner Hersheypark PA,y,n,30

Poltergeist Six Flags Fiesta T TX,y,n,30

Mr. Freeze Six Flags Over Tex TX,y,n,30

Shockwave Six Flags Over Tex TX,y,n,30

Loch Ness Monster Busch Gardens Euro VA,y,n,30

 

Fav Vekoma Corkscrew Any Park Anywhere **,y,n,40

Fav Spinning Mouse Any Park Anywhere **,y,y,40

Fav Powered `Coaster' Any Park Anywhere **,y,y,40

Fav Vekoma Boomerang Any Park Anywhere **,y,y,40

Fav Vekoma Invertigo Any Park Anywhere **,y,y,40

Fav Vek Susp Loop SLC Any Park Anywhere **,y,y,40

Scandia Screamer Scandia Family Fun CA,y,n,40

Gold Rusher Six Flags Magic Mo CA,y,y,40

Dahlonega Mine Train Six Flags Over Geo GA,y,y,40

Ninja Six Flags Over Geo GA,y,y,40

Canyon Blaster Adventuredome NV,y,n,40

Runaway Train Six Flags Great Ad NJ,y,n,40

Skull Mountain Six Flags Great Ad NJ,y,n,40

Carolina Goldrusher Carowinds NC,y,n,40

Roadrunner Express Six Flags Fiesta T TX,y,n,40

Mine Train Six Flags Over Tex TX,y,n,40

 

Manhattan Express New York New York NV,y,n,50

Trailblazer Hersheypark PA,y,n,50

 

Santa Monica West Coa Pacific Park CA,y,n,60

-----------------------------------------------0 <-LEAVE THIS LINE

 

Guy "Vote or die!"Koepp

[cfc]

This should be interesting. I have three wooden coasters from the Europe trip that will all (most likely) crack my top ten--as well as two woodies that will be heading straight to the bottom.

[CreativeForce]

My vote's on wood are in and Boulder Dash is definitely #1. It's a shame to hear they might trim it in the coming years because the way it was running this year defines what a great wood coaster should be.

 

Thanks for the link to Coasterfanatics helper and thanks Ted for creating it, it makes it so much easier to vote!

[alpengeist04]

I just finished both the wood and steel polls. I only did my top 30 for both with S:ROS (SFNE) and El Toro leading the way.

[ginzo]

As my coaster count gets bigger this gets progressively more difficult. I totally understand why the super high credit count people wouldn't want to do this. Anyway, I'll get some booze in me later on and try to at least get the woodie poll cranked out tonight.

[downunder]

SFNE Rules wrote:

 

I've heard they're holding off on the Dash trim again so it should be good for atleast one more year.

 

Hey Freddie, that is good news if it happens, I'll definitely include Compounce in a possible east coast mini trip next year if there's no trims on the Dash.

[Guest]

Get in touch with me next summer when you have plans worked out, I'll try and get down there to meet up.

[downunder]

^Will do, Freddie.

 

Working hard on my ballots, the good wood, my top 20:

 

1. Phoenix Knoebel's

2. Boulder Dash Lake Compounce

3. El Toro SFGAd

4. My Favorite Steel Anypark Anywhere

5. Ravine Flyer II Waldameer

6. Hades Mount Olympus

7. Raven Holiday World

8. The Voyage Holiday World

9. Cornball Express Indiana Beach

10. Kentucky Rumbler Beech Bend

11. Viper SFGAm

12. Avalanche Timber Falls

13. Lightning Racer - L Hersheypark

14. Lightning Racer - T Hersheypark

15. Silver Comet Martin's Fantasy Is.

16. Thunderbolt Kennywood

17. Cyclops Mount Olympus

18. Comet Hersheypark

19. American Eagle SFGAm

20. Thunderbolt SF New England

[ginzo]

After consuming a few glasses of Merlot, I managed to submit my wood poll ballot. I had to use the grouping method, but I did come up with a top 10:

 

1) Expedition GeForce - Holiday Park (My favorite steel)

2) El Toro - Six Flags Great Adventure

3) Phoenix - Knoebels

4) Colossos - Heide Park

5) Ravine Flyer II - Waldameer

6) Avalanche - Timber Falls

7) Cornball Express - Indiana Beach

8) Raven - Holiday World

9) Kentucky Rumbler - Beech Bend

10) Thunderhead - Dollywood

 

My bottom 4 were:

 

57) Son of Beast - Kings Island

58) GhostRider - Knott's Berry Farm

59) Hell Cat - Clementon Lake

60) Predator - Darien Lake

 

I also ranked Bandit @ Movie Park Germany in my #20 group (highest group number for me) because selling on-ride videos of a coaster that rough is one of the funniest things ever. Watching the Lou & Steve C video on the bus in Europe was one of the highlights of the trip for me. It was like some bizarre modern coaster dork version of The Three Stooges. I could not stop laughing.

[downunder]

^That's a classic, if I was ranking using the funny on-ride photo/video system.

 

Then Magnum would be number 1, I put a couple of newbie friends in the ejector seat on the midwest trip. Poor Chris, eyes closed, mouth agape in total pain being neutered by Magnum's bunny hills.

 

#2 would be Dark Knight at GAdv, we got one photo of us all asleep, another with us all giving our thumbs down.

 

#3 would be Son of Beast with the girls flashing their tits for the on ride camera, that was hilarious.

[SharkTums]

Oh god, do I really have to do this again!!!??!

 

I can't wait to email Mitch with all of the horrible Chinese Creations that need to be at the bottom of the list!!! (Including the shuttle loop that would nearly stall every time in the loop and you could feel it fall off of the track!!!!)

[DBru]

^Now that's quality.

 

What is your coaster count, Elissa?

[coolhandluke]

^^I loved those updates. Your near-death experiences make these US parks seem so...safe...and boring.

 

I'm curious to see how T Express does with those voters coming from the China trip. From what I've read here virtually everyone put it top 3...will it top the other Intamin pre-fabs? And the fact that the Golden Tickets fail to recognize a Balder-El Toro lovechild in even their top 50 is enough proof that their lists are basically BS.

 

My top steel is Maverick, with Primeval Whirl at the bottom. Clearly, I need to ride a lot more terrible coasters, but I don't think I will ever enjoy a Reverchon.

[SharkTums]

^Even more interesting than the T-Express factor will be to see how Eagle's Fortress does in the poll now that even more people have ridden it and have experienced the amazingness that this Arrow Ride is!!?!!??

 

Our night time ERT on it put it solidly in my top three!!!! (as if there was any doubt from last year!)

 

As for my count, depending on your counting system it's between 953 - 1054! (Or if you use the Jeff Johnson system, it's somewhere at a number that Nasa is still researching)

[Meteornotes]

^Which is still a number lower than Jeff Johnson's age!

 

dt