The Official Mitch Hawker 2012 Steel Coaster Poll Thread!

[cfc]

^Yay for Paris Space Mountain at the bottom! Disney has no excuse for a ride that bad.

[A.J.]

Did anyone ride Space Mountain DLRP during its opening year (or close to it)? Has it always been as terrible as people say it is?

[David H]

I really have to get myself to the West Edmonton Mall for MIndbender!

 

If TPR does get around to a Pacific Northwest trip, I'd hope that it could be either an official part of the trip, or at least an add-on.

[robbalvey]

Here's my top and bottom list. I do a "grouping method" for most of the coasters I'm indifferent to, so that's why it only ends at 100, but I actually have 377 entries on my ballot:

 

Top 30 Coasters

1 . Expedition GeForce Holiday Park DE

2 . Intimidator 305 Kings Dominion VA

3 . Bizarro SF New England MA

4 . Goliath Walibi Holland NL

5 . Piraten Djurs Sommerland DK

5 . Fly Over Mediterranea Happy Valley Chen CN

5 . Mega-Lite Happy Valley Song CN

5 . Kawasemi Tobu Zoo JP

6 . Texas Giant Six Flags Over Tex TX

7 . Kumba Busch Gardens Tamp FL

8 . Skyrush Hersheypark PA

9 . Nemesis Alton Towers UK

10 . iSpeed Mirabilandia IT

11 . Maverick Cedar Point OH

12 . Pyrenees Parque EspaNa JP

12 . Katun Mirabilandia IT

13 . Chinese Fireball Islands of Adventu FL

13 . Hungarian Horntail Islands of Adventu FL

14 . Montu Busch Gardens Tamp FL

15 . Dragon Khan Port Aventura ES

16 . Olympia Looping Traveling DE

17 . SheiKra Busch Gardens Tamp FL

17 . Dive Machine Chimelong Paradise CN

17 . Dive Coaster Happy Valley Song CN

18 . Insane Grona Lund SE

19 . XCelerator Knott's Berry Farm CA

20 . Storm Runner Hersheypark PA

21 . Euro-Mir Europa-Park DE

22 . Winjas - Fear Phantasialand DE

22 . Winjas - Force Phantasialand DE

23 . Supersonic Odyssey Cosmo's World MY

24 . Sky Scrapper World Joyland CN

25 . Revenge of the Mummy Universal Studios FL

25 . Revenge of the Mummy Universal Studios SG

26 . Millennium Force Cedar Point OH

27 . Space Mountain WDW Magic Kingdom FL

28 . Ride of Steel Darien Lake NY

29 . Cheetah Hunt Busch Gardens Tamp FL

30 . Hollywood Rip Ride Ro Universal Studios FL

 

Bottom 10ish

89 . Revolution Six Flags Magic Mo CA

90 . Star Jet Casino Pier NJ

91 . Sequoia Adventure Gardaland IT

91 . Screamin Squirrel Mysterious Island CN

92 . Vortex Kings Island OH

92 . Anaconda Kings Dominion VA

93 . Dragon Adventureland IA

94 . Dragon Ocean Park HK

95 . Spinning Batman Shijingshan Beij. CN

96 . Huracan Belantis DE

97 . Roller Coaster New York New York NV

98 . Fav Zamperla Volare Any Park Anywhere **

99 . Space Mountain Disneyland Paris FR

100 . Goudurix Parc Asterix FR

 

And just to re-post, here was Elissa's top and bottom:

 

Top Coasters:

Expedition GeForce Holiday Park DE

Favorite Wood Coaster Any Park Anywhere **

Intimidator 305 Kings Dominion VA

Piraten Djurs Sommerland DK

Fly Over Mediterranea Happy Valley Chen CN

Mega-Lite Happy Valley Song CN

Kawasemi Tobu Zoo JP

Texas Giant Six Flags Over Tex TX

Kumba Busch Gardens Tamp FL

Montu Busch Gardens Tamp FL

Bizarro SF New England MA

SheiKra Busch Gardens Tamp FL

Winjas - Fear Phantasialand DE

Winjas - Force Phantasialand DE

Insane Grona Lund SE

Chinese Fireball Islands of Adventu FL

Hungarian Horntail Islands of Adventu FL

Mindbender Galaxyland Amuseme AB

Tornado Sarkanniemi FI

Goliath Walibi Holland NL

Atlantis Adventure Lotte World KR

Ride of Steel Darien Lake NY

Skyrush Hersheypark PA

Storm Runner Hersheypark PA

iSpeed Mirabilandia IT

Superman Escape Warner Bros. Movie AU

Supersonic Odyssey Cosmo's World MY

Nemesis Alton Towers UK

Incredible Hulk Islands of Adventu FL

Steeplechase Blackpool P.B. UK

 

 

Bottom Coasters:

Vortex Kings Island OH

Hi-Miler Traveling US

Huracan Belantis DE

Ultimate Lightwater Valley UK

Eejanaika Fujikyu HighLands JP

Dragon Ocean Park HK

Stunt Fall Parque Warner Madr ES

Fav Zamperla Volare Any Park Anywhere **

Revolution Six Flags Magic Mo CA

Vonkaputous Linnanmaki FI

Mirage Rosso Zoosafari Fasanola IT

Cobra Tivoli Friheden DK

Dragon in Clouds Happy Valley Chen CN

Sequoia Adventure Gardaland IT

Screamin Squirrel Mysterious Island CN

Dragon Adventureland IA

Spinning Batman Shijingshan Beij. CN

Goudurix Parc Asterix FR

Shenzhou Coaster Shijingshan Beij. CN

Space Mountain Disneyland Paris FR

Edited February 28, 2013 by robbalvey

[SharkTums]

LOL! Kristen and I are working on her ballot now and it's really hard as she pretty much either loves something or hates something. I gave her like five of the roller coasters she knows and likes and she couldn't rank them. She said to put them all as her favorite!

 

It's cute, she's not a jaded enthusiast yet even though she has a valid count!

[SharkTums]

Ok, she has come to this for her ballot...

 

Favorite Wood Coaster Any Park Anywhere ** 1

Hamu-Hamu Ouko Fujikyu HighLands JP 2

Mindbender Six Flags Over Geo GA 3

Dark Knight Six Flags Great Ad NJ 3

Sooperdooperlooper Hersheypark PA 3

Fav City Jet/Jumbo V Any Park Anywhere ** 4

Fav Mack YoungStar Any Park Anywhere ** 4

Fav Powered `Coaster' Any Park Anywhere ** 4

Fav Spinning Mouse Any Park Anywhere ** 5

Fav Vek Susp Family Any Park Anywhere ** 5

Fav Wild Mouse Any Park Anywhere ** 5

Big Thunder Mountain Disneyland CA 6

Big Thunder Mountain WDW Magic Kingdom FL 6

Big Thunder Mountain Disneyland Paris FR 6

Fav Arrow Mine Train Any Park Anywhere ** 7

Fav Intamin Bobsled Any Park Anywhere ** 7

Fav Tivoli Any Park Anywhere ** 7

Colorado Adventure Phantasialand DE 7

Matterhorn Bobsleds Disneyland CA 8

Space Mountain Disneyland CA 8

Avalanche Kings Dominion VA 8

Temple of Nighthawk Phantasialand DE 9

Crush's Coaster Walt Disney Paris FR 10

Whizzer Six Flags Great Am IL 11

Pirates Hideaway Casino Pier NJ 12

[_koppen]

LOL! Kristen and I are working on her ballot now and it's really hard as she pretty much either loves something or hates something. I gave her like five of the roller coasters she knows and likes and she couldn't rank them. She said to put them all as her favorite!

 

It's cute, she's not a jaded enthusiast yet even though she has a valid count!

 

That sounds very similar to my girlfriend!

[PhantomNick]

Here's my steel ballot.....it's funny how the number of steel coasters drops once you lump together all the clones! It also tells me that I've ridden quite a lot of clones out of my roughly 110 steel coasters, since my ballot is only 76. I need to go on a TPR trip to pump up these numbers!!

 

I'll be really curious to see where my favorite steelie ends up! This truly is the best coaster poll on the planet. Anyone that complains about it is, well, an idiot.

 

LOCATION IN NEXT LINE (Please LEAVE THIS LINE IN BALLOT)

~"PA"

NAME IN NEXT LINE (Please LEAVE THIS LINE IN THE BALLOT)

~"Nick"

RANK THE FOLLOWING RIDING SENSATIONS <-LEAVE

Abrupt Airtime_____________________________,y,y,1

Floating Airtime___________________________,y,y,2

Sensation of Speed_________________________,y,y,3

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

Lateral Forces_____________________________,y,y,5

Positive G's/Loops_________________________,y,y,6

COASTER NAME PARK LOC <-LEAVE

Favorite Wood Coaster Any Park Anywhere **,y,n,1 (El Toro)

Skyrush Hersheypark PA,y,y,2

Intimidator 305 Kings Dominion VA,y,n,3

Millennium Force Cedar Point OH,y,y,4

Phantom's Revenge Kennywood Park PA,y,y,5

Apollo's Chariot Busch Gardens Will VA,y,n,6

Intimidator Carowinds NC,y,n,7

Diamondback Kings Island OH,y,n,8

Top Thrill Dragster Cedar Point OH,y,y,9

Griffon Busch Gardens Will VA,y,n,10

Sky Rocket Kennywood Park PA,y,y,11

Maverick Cedar Point OH,y,y,12

Nitro Six Flags Great Ad NJ,y,n,13

Raging Bull Six Flags Great Am IL,y,n,14

Afterburn Carowinds NC,y,n,15

Storm Runner Hersheypark PA,y,y,16

Talon Dorney Park PA,y,y,17

Ride of Steel Darien Lake NY,y,n,18

Magnum XL-200 Cedar Point OH,y,y,19

Dominator Kings Dominion VA,y,n,20

Raptor Cedar Point OH,y,y,21

Batman The Ride/Clone SF & Other Parks **,y,n,22

Alpengeist Busch Gardens Will VA,y,n,23

Steel Force Dorney Park PA,y,y,24

Great Bear Hersheypark PA,y,y,25

Volcano: The Blast Co Kings Dominion VA,y,n,26

Bizarro Six Flags Great Ad NJ,y,n,27

Wicked Twister Cedar Point OH,y,y,28

Kingda Ka Six Flags Great Ad NJ,y,n,29

Firehawk Kings Island OH,y,n,30

Gemini Cedar Point OH,y,y,31

Speed Nascar Cafe NV,y,n,32

Loch Ness Monster Busch Gardens Will VA,y,n,33

Exterminator Kennywood Park PA,y,y,34

Hydra the Revenge Dorney Park PA,y,y,35

Desperado Buffalo Bill's Res NV,y,n,36

Possessed Dorney Park PA,y,y,37

Vertical Velocity Six Flags Great Am IL,y,n,38

Fav X SC2000 Any Park Anywhere **,y,n,39

Superman – Ultimate F Six Flags Parks **,y,n,40

Backlot Stunt Coaster Kings Island OH,y,n,41

Backlot Stunt Coaster Kings Dominion VA,y,n,42

Flight of Fear Kings Island OH,y,n,43

Fav Spinning Mouse Any Park Anywhere **,y,n,44

Green Lantern Six Flags Great Ad NJ,y,n,45

Mantis Cedar Point OH,y,y,46

Whizzer Six Flags Great Am IL,y,n,47

Viper Darien Lake NY,y,n,48

Flight Deck Kings Island OH,y,n,49

Fav Vek Susp Loop SLC Any Park Anywhere **,y,n,50

Vortex Kings Island OH,y,n,51

Fav Arrow Mine Train Any Park Anywhere **,y,n,52

Fav Vekoma Invertigo Any Park Anywhere **,y,y,53

Demon Six Flags Great Am IL,y,n,54

Fav Wild Mouse Any Park Anywhere **,y,n,55

Sooperdooperlooper Hersheypark PA,y,y,56

Fav Wildcat Any Park Anywhere **,y,n,57

Fav Schw Shuttle loop Any Park Anywhere **,y,n,58

Fav Vekoma Boomerang Any Park Anywhere **,y,n,59

Avalanche Kings Dominion VA,y,n,60

Iron Dragon Cedar Point OH,y,y,61

Fav Tivoli Any Park Anywhere **,y,n,62

Roller Soaker Hersheypark PA,y,n,63

Skull Mountain Six Flags Great Ad NJ,y,n,64

Fav Intamin Bobsled Any Park Anywhere **,y,y,65

Fav Arrow Corkscrew Any Park Anywhere **,y,y,66

Fav Zyklon Any Park Anywhere **,y,n,67

Dark Knight Six Flags Great Ad NJ,y,n,68

Vortex Carowinds NC,y,n,69

Shockwave Kings Dominion VA,y,n,70

Anaconda Kings Dominion VA,y,n,71

Fav Flitzer Any Park Anywhere **,y,n,72

Fav Vek Susp Family Any Park Anywhere **,y,n,73

Great American Scream Six Flags Great Ad NJ,y,n,74

Roller Coaster New York New York NV,y,n,75

Fav Chance Toboggan Any Park Anywhere **,y,n,76

[TyRush]

^^^^That New York New York coaster in vegas is horrendous! I had to take 4 pills and a nap after that hell on wheels

[Erik Johnson]

The Top 25

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

Texas Giant Six Flags Over Tex TX,y,n,2

Intimidator 305 Kings Dominion VA,y,y,3

Bizarro SF New England MA,y,n,4

Kumba Busch Gardens Tamp FL,y,y,5

Mindbender Six Flags Over Geo GA,y,y,6

Millennium Force Cedar Point OH,y,n,7

Phantom's Revenge Kennywood Park PA,y,n,8

Ride of Steel Darien Lake NY,y,n,9

Powder Keg Silver Dollar City MO,y,n,10

Behemoth Canadas Wonderland ON,y,n,11

Shockwave Six Flags Over Tex TX,y,n,12

XCelerator Knott's Berry Farm CA,y,n,13

Storm Runner Hersheypark PA,y,n,14

Hungarian Horntail Islands of Adventu FL,y,y,15

Chinese Fireball Islands of Adventu FL,y,y,16

Montu Busch Gardens Tamp FL,y,y,17

Batman The Ride/Clone SF & Other Parks **,y,y,18

Space Mountain WDW Magic Kingdom FL,y,y,19

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

Nitro Six Flags Great Ad NJ,y,n,21

Maverick Cedar Point OH,y,n,22

Kraken SeaWorld Orlando FL,y,y,23

Afterburn Carowinds NC,y,n,24

California Screamin' Disney CA Adventur CA,y,y,25

 

The Bottom:

Roller Coaster New York New York NV,y,n,133

[cfc]

In case anyone's curious, my home park's newest ride, Verbolten, took my 76th spot (out of 255 on the poll), just under the Space Mountain rides. I'm curious to see where it ranks overall when the results are in.

[SharkTums]

LOL! I just remembered to actually email my ballot in! Would have really kicked myself if I spent the time and effort working on this then forgot to email it!

 

Let this be a lesson to you all, don't forget to email your ballot in!!!

[David H]

Don't forget Kristin's too!

[Mrlittle]

I love seeing Storm Runner get so much love. I can't wait to see the results from this when he releases it.

[Big-M]

Better late than never. Just got it in!

[thrillerman1]

Less than 30 minutes to go. Hurry up!

[Big-M]

Here's Mine:

 

Favorite Wood Coaster Any Park Anywhere ** y n 1 -Boulder Dash

Kawasemi Tobu Zoo JP y y 2

Bizarro SF New England MA y n 3

Maverick Cedar Point OH y n 4

Millennium Force Cedar Point OH y n 5

Diamondback Kings Island OH y n 6

Top Thrill Dragster Cedar Point OH y n 7

Nitro Six Flags Great Ad NJ y n 8

Magnum XL-200 Cedar Point OH y n 9

Bizarro Six Flags Great Ad NJ y n 9

Raptor Cedar Point OH y n 9

Mantis Cedar Point OH y n 10

Batman - Dark Knight SF New England MA y n 10

Wicked Twister Cedar Point OH y n 10

Gemini Cedar Point OH y n 10

Iron Dragon Cedar Point OH y n 11

Vortex Kings Island OH y n 11

Fav Half Pipe Any Park Anywhere ** y n 11

Fav Wild Mouse Any Park Anywhere ** y n 12

Fav Arrow Shuttle Any Park Anywhere ** y n 12

Fav Arrow Mine Train Any Park Anywhere ** y n 13

Fav Loop-Screw Any Park Anywhere ** y n 13

Fav Vek Susp Loop SLC Any Park Anywhere ** y n 14

Fav Vekoma Boomerang Any Park Anywhere ** y n 15

[TyRush]

I love seeing Storm Runner get so much love. I can't wait to see the results from this when he releases it.

I know right! I feel it has been getting better with age(force wise)

[A.J.]

I love seeing Storm Runner get so much love. I can't wait to see the results from this when he releases it.

I know right! I feel it has been getting better with age(force wise)

Is it even possible for a ride's forces to get better with age?

 

If that were the case, Matterhorn Bobsleds would be #1 on everyone's list...

[TyRush]

I love seeing Storm Runner get so much love. I can't wait to see the results from this when he releases it.

I know right! I feel it has been getting better with age(force wise)

Is it even possible for a ride's forces to get better with age?

 

If that were the case, Matterhorn Bobsleds would be #1 on everyone's list...

To me it feels more forceful now on certain parts of the ride than it did a couple years ago. I agree with you on the fact that i didnt even think it is possible, but to me it feels a more forceful. Some people might agree, some may not.

[hyyyper]

Is it even possible for a ride's forces to get better with age?

 

Not sure if it applies to steel coasters, but Troy (at Toverland) is becoming more powerful each season.

[rcjp]

^ It may happen, I guess. Some coasters get faster and, therefore, more forceful with age. When they make the fist test runs, it is, sometimes, clear that the trains travel a lot slower then they do after a few runs. I'm not sure if it is also the case when it comes to years, though. But I think so, there was a considerable difference in terms of intensity when I rode batman at parque Warner Madrid and then the one at Six flags great adventure. That might just have been because they may be slightly different or it might be because the one at SFGA is nine years older.

[vacoaster09]

Here is mine. I submitted back in the beginning of Feb. I waited until the polls closed before I posted my ballot here on TPR. P.S.The Favorite wood coaster is El Toro - SFGAdv! Also keep in mind that I am a fan of impulse coasters (launch coasters in general) before anyone questions me.

 

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

Intimidator 305 Kings Dominion VA,y,y,2

Bizarro SF New England MA,y,n,3

Storm Runner Hersheypark PA,y,n,4

Kingda Ka Six Flags Great Ad NJ,y,y,5

Goliath Six Flags Over Geo GA,y,y,6

Nitro Six Flags Great Ad NJ,y,y,7

Apollo's Chariot Busch Gardens Will VA,y,n,8

Alpengeist Busch Gardens Will VA,y,n,9

Volcano: The Blast Co Kings Dominion VA,y,y,10

X-Flight Six Flags Great Am IL,y,y,11

Possessed Dorney Park PA,y,y,12

Raging Bull Six Flags Great Am IL,y,y,13

Revenge of the Mummy Universal Studios FL,y,y,14

Manta SeaWorld Orlando FL,y,y,15

Superman - Ride of St Six Flags America MD,y,y,16

Vertical Velocity Six Flags Great Am IL,y,y,17

Kraken SeaWorld Orlando FL,y,y,18

Incredible Hulk Islands of Adventu FL,y,y,19

Batman The Ride/Clone SF & Other Parks **,y,y,20

Rock n Roller Coaster Disney's H Studios FL,y,n,21

Flight of Fear Kings Dominion VA,y,y,22

Flight of Fear Kings Island OH,y,n,23

Joker's Jinx Six Flags America MD,y,y,24

Dominator Kings Dominion VA,y,y,25

Talon Dorney Park PA,y,y,26

Dare Devil Dive Six Flags Over Geo GA,y,y,27

Great Bear Hersheypark PA,y,n,28

Hydra the Revenge Dorney Park PA,y,y,29

Bizarro Six Flags Great Ad NJ,y,y,30

Hungarian Horntail Islands of Adventu FL,y,n,31

Batman - Dark Knight SF New England MA,y,n,32

Patriot Worlds of Fun MO,y,n,33

Mindbender Six Flags Over Geo GA,y,y,34

Hollywood Rip Ride Ro Universal Studios FL,y,y,35

Fav El Loco Any Park Anywhere **,y,n,36

Batwing Six Flags America MD,y,y,37

Whizzer Six Flags Great Am IL,y,y,38

Georgia Scorcher Six Flags Over Geo GA,y,y,39

Steel Force Dorney Park PA,y,y,40

Titan Six Flags Over Tex TX,y,n,41

Fahrenheit Hersheypark PA,y,y,42

Apocalypse Six Flags America MD,y,y,43

Green Lantern Six Flags Great Ad NJ,y,y,44

Mamba Worlds of Fun MO,y,n,45

Shockwave Six Flags Over Tex TX,y,n,46

Sooperdooperlooper Hersheypark PA,y,n,47

Loch Ness Monster Busch Gardens Will VA,y,n,48

Flight Deck Kings Island OH,y,n,49

Fav Gerstlauer Spinn. Any Park Anywhere **,y,n,50

Fav Vekoma Invertigo Any Park Anywhere **,y,n,51

Backlot Stunt Coaster Kings Dominion VA,y,y,52

Backlot Stunt Coaster Kings Island OH,y,n,53

Superman – Ultimate F Six Flags Parks **,y,y,54

Big Thunder Mountain WDW Magic Kingdom FL,y,n,55

Space Mountain WDW Magic Kingdom FL,y,n,56

Skull Mountain Six Flags Great Ad NJ,y,y,57

Great American Scream Six Flags Great Ad NJ,y,n,58

Dark Knight Six Flags Great Am IL,y,n,59

Dark Knight Six Flags Great Ad NJ,y,y,60

Fav Arrow Mine Train Any Park Anywhere **,y,n,61

Avalanche Kings Dominion VA,y,y,62

Fav Vekoma Boomerang Any Park Anywhere **,y,n,63

Fav Vek Susp Loop SLC Any Park Anywhere **,y,y,64

Fav Wild Mouse Any Park Anywhere **,y,n,65

Ninja Six Flags Over Geo GA,y,y,66

Demon Six Flags Great Am IL,y,y,67

Vortex Kings Island OH,y,n,68

Anaconda Kings Dominion VA,y,y,69

Shockwave Kings Dominion VA,y,y,70

Ninja Six Flags St. Loui MO,y,n,71

Fav Spinning Mouse Any Park Anywhere **,y,y,72

Fav Arrow Corkscrew Any Park Anywhere **,y,n,73

[David H]

Is it even possible for a ride's forces to get better with age?

 

If that were the case, Matterhorn Bobsleds would be #1 on everyone's list...

 

With steel coasters, there are a few factors that can enhance them over time.

 

In the first few months, they can break in, which will help them speed up.

 

After opening, the park and/or manufacturers can tweak them with everything from a reprofile to smaller tweaks. Little things like speeding up the lift hill or turning down the trim brakes (if possible) to increasing the power and speed of any launches can make a big difference in how a coaster runs.

 

Never mind maintenance enhancing them from the last time you rode them. Train maintenance and track maintenance on steel coasters can make a big difference over time too. If the wheels need to be changed or if the train starts rattling a lot, than can use up a lot of that potential energy in rattling and/or friction that would otherwise go into speed.

[ginzo]

Mr Mitch Hawker needs someone with computer skills to make a better ballot. It's like a 9 yr old came up with it. Ease of use....zero. If he wants to be on top, he needs a top notch product, sorry.

 

Editing a text file and then pasting it into an email is really easy. The hard part is trying to rank coasters you rode years ago and don't remember much about.