Thursday, January 28, 1999
Rock, Rattle, and Roll
RIDE: GhostRider, Knott’s new wooden roller coaster, provides
people
of all ages with a ride full of thrills
By Brent Hopkins
Daily Bruin Staff
The line stretches seemingly forever. Winding around through a
huge wooden building, it has no end. Children shift impatiently,
anticipating the "high speed roller coasting experience" that
awaits. Adults look nervous as the building begins to shake with
the rumble of departing trains. Teens cockily await the thrill,
snapping their gum and steeling themselves for the twists and turns
that lie ahead.
The popularity of the wooden roller coaster is not limited by
age, sex, race or education. Anyone can appreciate the sensation of
rushing over massive hills, shooting around tight turns and
spilling about the car, screaming all the way.
Most recently in the Los Angeles area, Knott’s Berry Farm has
tapped into this simple pleasure with the construction of its fifth
major coaster, GhostRider. Towering over the rustic looking Ghost
Town, this "megawoodie" – the amusement industry term for large
wood-based coasters – uses concrete, steel and, above all,
unpainted Alabama and North Carolina pine to achieve its nostalgic
appearance. It rises 118 feet into the air and stretches 4,533 feet
in length, which is raced over at speeds up to 56 mph. While this
is not all that rapid when compared with other woodies, it seems
mighty quick, as the cars speed around the track.
The thrill of coasting has been around for centuries. Sources
argue about actual dates, but original rides, based on ice
toboggans, appeared in Russia somewhere between the 13th and 15th
centuries. Cars were guided down wooden tracks covered with ice,
then slowed using frictional sandpits. While these rides were
popular, they were limited to cold weather climates. The
introduction of wheeled cars allowed for these "Russian Mountains,"
as they were called, to be enjoyed in warmer weather, all year
long.
It was here in America, in the late 1800s, however, that roller
coasters took on their present form. Combined with the system of
trains used to haul ore from mines, coasters could now ascend to
the top of summits, then drop down once again. This was the dawn of
coasting as we know it.
By the early 20th century, roller coasters had reached something
of a heyday, with estimates well over 1,500 coasters operating
worldwide. Small, slow and primitive compared with today’s
standards, these rides provided relatively inexpensive
entertainment for fans of all ages.
With the prosperity of the post-World War I society, leisure was
at a premium, and coasters sprung up everywhere. The sudden crash
of the stock market in 1929 ground the roller coaster boom to an
untimely end. With patrons becoming unable to spend money on
entertainment, many parks closed, and their coasters were torn
down. It was not until the late 1950s that the amusement industry
began to regain its footing.
By then, however, wooden coasters had begun to lose favor with
an adventure-mad public. The structural advantages of steel,
combined with its post-World War II availability, made it the
building material of choice. Coasters grew higher, faster and more
daring. It seemed that the days of "woodies" were numbered.
By 1978, the number of wooden coasters in the United States had
plummeted to 78. At the same time, however, a grassroots responded
to this depletion of classic stock.
Richard Munch, a long-time fan of amusement parks, met with
several other like-minded individuals and formed American Coaster
Enthusiasts (ACE). The club was originally designed merely as a way
for people with similar tastes to enjoy coasters together but grew
far beyond its humble origins. The club now boasts over 6,000
members worldwide and has been credited by some as the savior of
wooden coasting.
Club spokespersons aren’t quite so dramatic in their statements
but do acknowledge the role ACE has played in bringing woodies back
into the spotlight.
"We’ve made the general public more aware that (wooden roller
coasters are) fun to ride," says Lisa Scheinin, an ACE member from
Redondo Beach.
Through annual conventions, which can bring upwards of 1,000
members at a time, special preview events and a strong
international network, the club has not only sent a message to
riders, but park owners, as well. The increased popularity of
woodies has led to more restorations and construction. Today, there
are 105 operating coasters, six standing but not operating and five
under construction. Though these roller coasters are costly to
construct and maintain, the public response justifies the nostalgic
edifices.
"From a park’s business standpoint, it’s a pretty safe
investment and a guaranteed attendance booster," says Dean Lamanna,
a 20-year ACE member and West Coast Bureau Chief of Amusement
Today, a monthly report on the worldwide amusement industry.
Wooden coasters have an undeniable appeal to them, with their
massive yet rickety-looking frames, loud, creaking noises and
swooping turns. A well-designed one offers ample "air time" – the
feeling of weightlessness brought on by sharp drops – that is
craved by most purists, surpassing the greater speed and extreme
loops of steel coasters.
"The thing I like the best about a roller coaster is "brain fry"
– where things are happening so fast around you that your brain
just can’t comprehend it all at once," says Ric Turner, a former
Disneyland coaster tester and ACE regional representative. By his
own count, Turner has ridden 83 different wooden coasters, but his
favorite is Knott’s new attraction. "GhostRider does that more for
me than any other wood coaster that I’ve been on," Turner said.
The public sentiment weighs in firmly with Turner. The long
lines of patrons don’t seem put off by the lack of loops,
faithfully queuing up for more than an hour and a half at a time.
As the line approaches the car departure station, the walls of the
building vibrate with the comings and goings of trains. This
impressive show of power only helps to heighten the anticipation of
the awaiting ride. Combined with the overheard ravings of returning
passengers, GhostRider is difficult to resist.
This is precisely what Custom Coasters, Inc., designers of
GhostRider, and specialists in the megawoodie field had in mind
when laying out the ride. Interested in attracting a broad-based
audience, Denise Dinn-Larrick, CCI’s president, designed a
sensation that would be both thrilling and enjoyable for all
ages.
"We wanted a family thrill ride," she says, "Someone 80 years
old can ride it. We don’t take them upside down, we don’t make them
have a heart attack. It’s something all ages can enjoy and still
get a thrill out of."
But sometimes it takes an outside voice to validate the experts’
claims. It is no surprise that coasting purists and industry
figures would be positive when referring to this latest addition to
the Southern California amusement landscape. Tommy Groe of Artesia,
a young rider fresh off a Saturday afternoon ride, expressed things
a bit differently than the seasoned veterans, but captured the
essence of GhostRider in a succinct and honest fashion.
"It was dope," he said, grinning broadly, "Right when we got to
the top, I was stoked."JAMIE SCANLON-JACOBS/Daily Bruin Senior
Staff
Knott’s Berry Farm unveiled its new wooden roller coaster
GhostRider in December 1998.
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