Through the last decade I have come across some coaster sites where some people have mentioned that they thought it was possible for someone such as GCI, CCI - (now Gravity Group) that could build a remake of those famous Traver rib crunching woodies. One site in particular believes or hopes that the Cyclone Racer could/can be built even though the blueprints are long gone.

So, my question is, do you think it is possible that CGI, Gravity Group, or B&M could build a clone to one of Traver's Cyclones? Knowing that modifications would have to made for safety and maintenance issues for today's standards.

I think that if B&M teamed up with GCI in the design, layout, demographics, trains, etc, they could pull something off. Millineum flyer trains seem the closest to today's version of Prior and Church trains or early PTC stock. Gravity Group would also work with this team in figuring out the steel structure since the famous Crystal Beach Cyclone had a steel structure. Maybe S&S could get in on the fare and help out with how to make the ride rough in an intense way similar to the bite that the Cyclone offered. They've proven themselves worthy of this ability with their 2004 Avalanche. Intamin? Well, we'll just leave them out on this one.

So, tell me what you think.

Lisa

PS - This is all speculation of course since I know that B&M does not plan on making wooden coasters since they've got a good thing going with their steel ones. I learned that at this last June's ACE Coaster Convention's banquet held in Chicago. ;)

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I dont see why GCI couldnt go and remake say the CBCyclone. But I think its more of a what park would want it?

Of course someone could build a coaster in Traver's style, but as James said, would parks want them? I don't know about you guys, but I go on roller coasters for the fun and for the harmless thrill, I'm not looking to sustain any injuries. I can't imagine parks would want coasters that were so potentially dangerous. Lawsuits galore.

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[quote=Aaron]Of course someone could build a coaster in Traver's style, but as James said, would parks want them? I don't know about you guys, but I go on roller coasters for the fun and for the harmless thrill, I'm not looking to sustain any injuries. I can't imagine parks would want coasters that were so potentially dangerous. Lawsuits galore.[/quote]

I totally agree with you and James in that it's all about, "would parks want them?"

I go on coasters simply for the fun and prefer a smooth out of control ride rather than a tough, slam em and bang em ride.

I was just speaking technically knowing full well that any park would not or could not build an exact replica of an injury inducing concept. But if something like could be built with safety codes updated and it being a smooth yet intense ride?

Lisa

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If a park built it, all of you guys would line up to ride it, ride it, and then probably complain about how much it hurts and spend all of you time whining about how GG or whatever company "ruined" a classic.

I'm pretty sure one of the guys from GCII has gone on record saying they won't touch the ** Cyclone. I don't remember which one, but yea....

IMO it would take something like Millennium Flyers to navigate the layout smoothly, but then I wouldn't like that because why should you take a terrifying and aggressive ride and sissy it down with a smooth ride? That would take away from the "legend" of the ride. On the other hand, if it used something like the PTCs found on the two Gravity Group creations, it would probably run itself into the ground and have the same fate as the original.

I'd love to see a clone but I just don't see it happening :(

I think the current GCI layouts with the large swooping drops and twisted overlapping layouts are as close to the Traver coasters we'll see. I doubt a park would ask specifically for a clone of the Lightning at Revere Beach or the Crytsal Beach Cyclone. I'd love to see it though, with todays technology in building woodies they could redisgn the rides as being fun and safe. The huge obsenely twisted drops and the trick track parts would be amazing.

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this is something i've always been confused about: did harry traver design the rides that we all think he's famous for, or did he just BUILD them? i thought prior and church designed most of those rides. in that case, i've never quite understood why everyone praises harry traver if he was basically a construction worker/foreman/carpenter. isn't it the coaster designer that should get all the praise? maybe i just don't understand.

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I think they were both designers. But I may be wrong.

I would love to see a clone of one of Travers rides but I don't think it will happen. The layouts look absolutely amazing and out of control. I believe that a lot of his coasters had nurses on site to treat people after they rode. I don't thnik parks would be interested in having nurses tending to riders after each ride.

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I would love to see the Crystal Beach Cyclone redesigned and rebuilt at PCW, or even for Crystal Beach to open a theme park again with a brand new Cyclone.

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I'm sure they could rebuild any of the Traver coasters, but why would they? First of all, the GP would not care one bit, and that is the target audience. Second, think about the coasters you have ridden that are the closest to any of the Traver coasters. Mine would be Wildcat at Hershey; many people love the ride, but how many times have you heard people bashing that ride? Take a look around these forums. "Wildcat is too rough, but it was once a great ride." Crystal Beach Cyclone was rough as rough gets, according to the stories of the past. As someone said above, enthusiasts would wait in line for 6 hours, ride it, and then go online and say "it's too rough!"

Further, does anyone really buy that the Traver coasters were that great? We enthusiasts have a way of saying rides are much better than they are after they are gone: Drachen Fire, the Bat, and probably the Traver Trio.

And finally: no park would build the ** Cyclone as it was. It was dangerous and threatened to tear itself apart. I can think of two other rides that meet that last criteria: Hercules and Mean Streak (tamed to death and structural nightmares? Where do I sign up!!). Parks try to avoid law suits, and so if they did recreat one of the Traver Trio, it would be slower, and the elements more drawn out.

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I do agree that a park building this type of coaster exactly like the original would not be feasible. But if one that had modifications for a more smoother ride staying within a similar layout might increase interest.

The Texas Cyclone was the closest to mirror the image of the CI Cyclone and that was a hit the summer it opened. And I believe it was located in a themed area called Coney Island.

So, I was merely thinking in terms of something *similar* to the Traver Cyclones. Nothing could really be built exactly like the original Cyclone. It was a terribly rough and violatable ride that caused many injuries as well as high insurance rates. There ended up being more spectators than riders and the park ended up demolishing the ride due to high maintenance fees, insurance costs and low ridership.

But with today's safety standards and advancement in ride technology, I think something similar could be created. It may not look exactly like the original but close to it. Heck even today's steel coasters mimic or are influenced one way or another by Traver's designs. Look at Anton's coasters. I have a feeling that GCI is moving closer to pushing the envelope in coming close to creating a Traver inspired ride.

Of course whatever is designed and built would be rideable and much more fun. It's the layout I was talking about not building an exact clone replica which wouldn't be acceptable with today's standards anyway.

Lisa

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[QUOTE=CoasterLisa]
PS - This is all speculation of course since I know that B&M does not plan on making wooden coasters since they've got a good thing going with their steel ones. I learned that at this last June's ACE Coaster Convention's banquet held in Chicago. ;)[/QUOTE]

It's not just that they have a good thing with steel. They're actually clueless when it comes to wood coasters, pretty much by their own admission. Look at the wood coaster trains they built for Psyclone, which are heavy, hard, and overall pieces of junk (SFMM is just to cheap to replace them) One of them ( I think it was Walter) in a local new interview also talked about how there isn't any such thing as a smooth wood coaster, which is why they liked steel. Even with further questioning, he didn't grasp the concept of smooth wood. So no, B&M won't ever do wood.

As for whether or not it could ever be built in that style, most certainly. I'm not sure that we'll ever see it though- especially the more brutal versions. Keep in mind, the ultimate goal of any park is to make money, not preserve history. A brutal coaster doesn't make them money, it scares people away. If people aren't riding, the park isn't making money off of it.

You might someday see a park build a coaster influenced by one of his coasters, but I'm not sure that we'll ever actually see another one build with the same style and intensity.

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What about a steel tracked recreation of the ** Cyclone... :-O

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[quote=Sir Willow]It's not just that they have a good thing with steel. They're actually clueless when it comes to wood coasters, pretty much by their own admission. Look at the wood coaster trains they built for Psyclone, which are heavy, hard, and overall pieces of junk (SFMM is just to cheap to replace them) One of them ( I think it was Walter) in a local new interview also talked about how there isn't any such thing as a smooth wood coaster, which is why they liked steel. Even with further questioning, he didn't grasp the concept of smooth wood. So no, B&M won't ever do wood.quote]

Thanks (George ?) in sharing this. I did not know this about B&M. Hehe, doesn't surprise me either. That explains the response at the ACE Con in June. ;)

Lisa

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steel version of cyclone would be cool

how bout intamin prefab-that wouldn't be rough

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^The intensity of these coasters had more to do with the overall layout as it did the track/trains.

I think it would be cool to see the cyclone scaled down and built as a spinning wild mouse. [with the obvious modifications made to the trackplan]

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[quote=Cephas]^The intensity of these coasters had more to do with the overall layout as it did the track/trains.[/quote]

Actually that's not completely true. I recently learned that the trains were oversized and overweighted which mauled the coaster to pieces and led to maintenance problems. The layout added to the extreme forces on the ride but the trains ripped it apart. If they had used single benched P&C trains the coaster's life would've lasted a little longer. So, with the ride's unrealistic tight layouts and burley trains these coasters had no chance in surviving.

Lisa
Roller Coasters of The Pacific Northwest

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