Wild Mouse
Dave Althoff Jr
: I am new to this newsgroup, ...
Welcome! Join in the fun! (Oh, you already did that.) Well, welcome
aboard, keep your fingers on the keyboard and please remain seated until the
text on your screen comes to a complete stop.
: ...but I am looking for a Wild Mouse Ride, the kind
: where the wheels are attached on the rear of the cars. I remember riding one
: at Cedar Point as a child and want to ride one again. I currently live in
: Orlando Fl. but am planning trips to Sandusky, Washington DC, and New York City
: this year. Any help would be appreciated.
You mean where the nose of the car sticks out over the front wheel set.
Most of the new Mice (of which there are a bunch) don't quite match that
description. The one I can think of that comes closest would be the Allan
Herschell "Mad Mouse" at Lakemont Park in Altoona, Pennsylvania.
--Dave Althoff, Jr.
--
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MSasse2930
CoasterKon
>where the wheels are attached on the rear of the cars.
I don't know if Hersheypark has the type of Wild Mouse ride that you are
looking for, but I do know that theirs is the best that I have ever ridden
(much better than the lame Wild Maus at Busch Gardens' Williamsburg).
Definitely worth a trip to Hersheypark, plus you get Wildcat, Comet, Great
Bear, Sidewinder, Sooperdooperlooper, Trail Blazer (yawn), and the brand
spankin' new Lightning Racer!!! Not to mention Tidal Force and all of the
other great rides waiting to be conquered at Hersheypark!!! :)
CoasterKon Conrad - proud attendee of Knoebel's for 33 years and
counting...http://www.knoebels.com/.
Steve Urbanowicz
drive to Ocean City, NJ when you're in the New York City area next year. They
have (at Playland's Castaway Cove) one of the best of the older model Mouses.
The Wild Mouse is making a huge come back in modern form, but they are nothing
when compared to the older ones.
Steve
The Cycloneman
"HOLD ON TO YOUR WIGS AND CAR KEYS"
http://members.aol.com/CYCLONENY/COASTERSindex.html
Derek Ruth
your own Arrow Wild Mouse. Mice are sprouting up all over the place these
days, primarily in the Northeast. Busch Gardens Williamsburg has brought back
the concept with their Wild Izzy (now Wilde Maus) and parks like Hersheypark,
Kennywood, Dorney Park, and the Jersey Shore have them now. Eventually they
will be everywhere. The closest to Orlando I believe is Myrtle Beach.
All clear...Dispatch, enjoy your ride,
Derek Ruth---RLRCoastr1
Coaster count- 152 New coasters this year-108 New for '99 Coasters-28
Medusa count-150 Steel Force count-116 Ride record-1007
=============
remove noTwits when replying via email.
Brittr...@webtv.net
cat? and there is one close to it at Idlewild park in Ligonier, PA i
think its called the crazy mouse...
does this help?
Dave Althoff Jr
: there is a wild mouse ride still at cedar point but isn't called wild
: cat? and there is one close to it at Idlewild park in Ligonier, PA i
: think its called the crazy mouse...
: does this help?
No, traditionally the Wild Mouse features a bunch of 180-degree
switchbacks. Cedar Point's Wildcat is a portable steel twister, but I
wouldn't consider it to be a Wild Mouse type ride.
Idlewild does have a Vekoma Wild Mouse which is absolutely HUGE, and a lot
of fun. It's a new-style mouse, though. The tilted lift hill is a riot.
It's called the Mad Mouse, I believe.
The Crazy Mouse is at Kennywood. That's an indoor Reverchon Crazy Mouse
called the Exterminator. It's part dark ride, part Wild Mouse, and part
Tilt-A-Whirl.
Also, if you head to the Far Northwest...so far Northwest that it becomes
Southwest, in fact...there is a classic Wild Mouse of unknown origin
(probably a Mack) at Playland in Vancouver, BC. No single riders, so
bring a friend. That one has the angle-iron track, the dual wheels under
the back end, and the mushroom wheel under the front of the car.
Wolf
> : cat? and there is one close to it at Idlewild park in Ligonier, PA i
> : think its called the crazy mouse...
> : does this help?
>
> No, traditionally the Wild Mouse features a bunch of 180-degree
> switchbacks. Cedar Point's Wildcat is a portable steel twister, but I
> wouldn't consider it to be a Wild Mouse type ride.
>
(S. Wildcat as in the style of coaster, as opposed to the name)
edr
found at Puyalup. Open during the run of the western Washington fair only,
this mad mouse ride IS one of the oldies with the tubs set slightly forward.
Dave Althoff Jr wrote:
> Brittr...@webtv.net wrote:
> : there is a wild mouse ride still at cedar point but isn't called wild
> : cat? and there is one close to it at Idlewild park in Ligonier, PA i
> : think its called the crazy mouse...
> : does this help?
>
> No, traditionally the Wild Mouse features a bunch of 180-degree
> switchbacks. Cedar Point's Wildcat is a portable steel twister, but I
> wouldn't consider it to be a Wild Mouse type ride.
>
RICKY SMST
think, the best Wild Mouse in America.It is an oldie with the wheels set way
back like you describe. This Mouse has a fun spiral ending along with the
rolling off the end of the track sensation that the modern Mice don't have. I
think the only other old Mouse in America right now is the one in Vancouver at
Playland.
A friend of mine in San Antonio actually owns an original Ben Schiff Wild
Mouse, but it has been in pieces in his backyard for many years now. (I helped
take it down from Landa Park, New Braunfels.)
Also there are a few of the older Mice in the U.K. some of which are actual
woodies with wood track and supports! (Blackpool, Southport, Morcombe?)
Happy Coasting!
R <>< !
I Y
C K
Dave Althoff Jr
: > : there is a wild mouse ride still at cedar point but isn't called wild
: > : cat? and there is one close to it at Idlewild park in Ligonier, PA i
: > : think its called the crazy mouse...
: > : does this help?
: >
: > No, traditionally the Wild Mouse features a bunch of 180-degree
: > switchbacks. Cedar Point's Wildcat is a portable steel twister, but I
: > wouldn't consider it to be a Wild Mouse type ride.
: Isn't CP's Wildcat a Schwartzkopf Wildcat?
: (S. Wildcat as in the style of coaster, as opposed to the name)
It is indeed. More speciffically it is the later version of the Wildcat.
Jake Messimer
RICKY SMST <rick...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:19991221141951...@ng-cc1.aol.com...
Actually, there is a 50's Miler Mouse operating at Adventure City in
Stanton, California: Tree Top Racers. It used to belong to a traveling
carnival in Australia until about 8 months ago, when they moved it to SoCal.
They rebodied the cars, added MOUNDS of padding, and just recently added
seatbelts. It's exactly the same design as the Wild Chipmunk at Lakeside.
Tree Top Racers probably doesn't run quite as well as the Wild Chipmunk, but
it is really fun and thrilling.
--
Jake Messimer
At KBF every week!
V. Canfield
<snip>
> A friend of mine in San Antonio actually owns an original Ben Schiff Wild
> Mouse, but it has been in pieces in his backyard for many years now. (I helped
> take it down from Landa Park, New Braunfels.)
Here is a list of operating wild mice:
Old-style wild mouse with centrally-located pair of guide rails:
wooden:
Wild Mouse, Blackpool Pleasure Beach, Blackpool, UK.
Runaway Mine Train, Frontierland, Morecambe, UK.
steel:
unknown manufacturer, possibly Mack:
Wild Mouse, Playland, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Moderately old-style wild mouse (non-tubular steel track, two-passenger
cars, but without central guide rail):
Miler:
Playland, Ocean City, NJ.
Tree Top Racers, Adventure City, Stanton, CA.
Wild Chipmunk, Lakeside Park, Denver, CO.
Cyclone, Wonderland Park, Amarillo, TX.
Herschell Mad Mouse:
Mad Mouse, Little-A-Merrick-A, Marshall, WI.
Mad Mouse, Lakemont Park, Altoona, PA.
Mad Mouse, Julia Davis Fun Depot, Boise, ID.
J's Amusements, Guerneville, CA.
Herschell Monster Mouse (a larger version with a deep drop before the hairpins):
Mad Mouse, Quassy Amusement Park, Middlebury, CT.
Miler or Herschell: (lists are contradictory)
Wild Mouse, Joyland, Lubbock, TX.
Puyallup Fair, Puyallup, WA.
Western Playland, El Paso, TX.
I have omitted from the list all modern wild mice with tubular steel rails and
four-passenger cars. As usual, corrections are welcomed. The Miler and Herschell
mice are quite distinct, so it ought not to be that hard to identify the last
three if anyone has photos. There were several more of these older wild mice even
a few years ago. There may be others outside North America.
A few questions...
Who built the first wild mouse? Mack's web page claims that Mack built the first
Wild Mouse in 1957. F.lli Pinfari's web page also lays claim to the first wild
mouse, but gives no date. I recall reading that Ben Schiff introduced a wild
mouse as early as 1956, and they were clearly common by 1959. BPB's wooden mouse
dates from 1958, but it seems likely that wooden wild mice predated the steel
ones. A web page devoted to the history of Americana Park attributes a Wild Mouse
installed at LeSourdsville Lake in 1961 to Adolph Heinrich. (I assume that this
is actually distinct from Heinrich Mack). It appears that there was a previous
wild mouse craze beginning a little more than 40 years ago.
What happened to the Ben Schiff mice that were numerous in the US in the early
1960s? Are any still operating or operable? One is SBNO at Chippewa Lake,
according to Dave Sandborg's photos. Those from Landa Park, New Braunfels, TX,
and Conneaut Lake Park are owned and stored by private collectors. I believe that
a Schiff wild mouse operated at Brean, UK, until a few years ago. Have all the
others been scrapped?
Robert Smith
would that have been? Does it (and its Wild Mouse) still exist?
Steve
Jake Messimer <mess...@prodigy.net> wrote in message
news:83otgn$r34$1...@newssvr04-int.news.prodigy.com...
>
>
> RICKY SMST <rick...@aol.com> wrote in message
> news:19991221141951...@ng-cc1.aol.com...
> > Look no further than Lakeside Amusement Park in Denver! The Wild
Chipmonk
> is, I
> > think, the best Wild Mouse in America.It is an oldie with the wheels set
> way
> > back like you describe. This Mouse has a fun spiral ending along with
the
> > rolling off the end of the track sensation that the modern Mice don't
> have. I
> > think the only other old Mouse in America right now is the one in
> Vancouver at
> > Playland.
> > A friend of mine in San Antonio actually owns an original Ben Schiff
Wild
> > Mouse, but it has been in pieces in his backyard for many years now. (I
> helped
> > take it down from Landa Park, New Braunfels.)
MSasse2930
back and forth over those 180 degree turns soon!
probie
Robert Smith <r.stev...@home.com> wrote in message
news:Y0U74.2755$ss3....@news.rdc1.il.home.com...
> 40 years ago (approx.) I rode a Wild Mouse in a park near Detroit. What
park
> would that have been? Does it (and its Wild Mouse) still exist?
>
> Steve
i really have no idea if they had a wild mouse or not, but maybe you are
thinking of Boblo Island... the park is no longer open... it has been closed
for several years now and private homes are being built on the island which
is actually located in canada just south of detroit and windsor, ontario.
Patrick McGuire
for that I know of. There is 1 in Guerneville, CA at a place called J's
Amusements. It is almost identical to the one at Lakemont Park in Altoona,
PA. There is a larger version called the Monster Mouse at the Puyallup
Fairgrounds in Washington. It was running at the fair in September. A very
interesting and unique ride. If you are interested e-mail me and I can send
you a couple of pictures. Supposedly the only one of it's kind still in
existence. Both types use identical cars with the front end narrowed down
and pictures of mouse on the side of the cars.
--
Patrick McGuire
Stockton, CA
Pmcgu...@worldnet.att.net
Steve Urbanowicz wrote in message
<19991221000323...@ng-fn1.aol.com>...
Runaway Mine Train
Mark
Today for you, tomorrow for me
RunawayMT
The Trip Report
http://www.thetripreport.com
MSasse2930
between Toledo ahd Detroit.
Chi1
ever experienced. Sadly, it was torn down about 20 or so years ago and Boblo is
gone too. ALso, Edgewater Park, in Detroit had a WIld Mouse, but the park was
closed in the early 80's
Palestra38
ride that I almost fell out of at the 1964-65 New York World's Fair. Does
anyone know if this ride was saved and moved elsewhere? I'd love to try and
get back on the saddle as an adult and ride with my kids.
Shawn Mamros
>[...] There is a larger version called the Monster Mouse at the Puyallup
>Fairgrounds in Washington. It was running at the fair in September. A very
>interesting and unique ride. If you are interested e-mail me and I can send
>you a couple of pictures. Supposedly the only one of it's kind still in
Quassy Amusement Park (Middlebury CT) also has a Monster Mouse.
-Shawn Mamros (who thinks you gotta love a park that's got the guts to
name one of their water rides "The Big Flush"... check out www.quassy.com
if you don't believe me... and who now wonders if Todd Long or Joe Schwartz
did any consulting work here... :-)
E-mail to: mam...@mit.edu
Allen Hite
remember the track is flat rails and not tubular rails. This is a pretty
good mouse but I think one of the best in the US is still the Miler mouse at
Playland. If you are sitting in the front with a passenger behind you there
is some airtime on one of the last drops! This steel mouse is the closest
ride experience to Blackpool's wooden mouse. One of the most frightening
coasters I have ever been on.
Happy Holidays to all!
Allen Hite - mouse junkie
coaste...@msn.com
V. Canfield <va...@psu.edu> wrote in message
news:3860036E...@psu.edu...
> Here is a list of operating wild mice:
>
FunType
Park, CA, A few blocks south of Knott's, it's at Beach and Ball (ha ha,
Beachball)
They just opened it this year. It's called the Treetop Racer and they re-themed
the ride into an "our gang" looking covered station with brand new (fiberglass)
"backyard patched-together soap-box" looking cars. It's really cute.
They are the little single cars with the trucks centered under the main cab and
when you whip the turns right next the the street you really feel like your gonna
get pitched on top of the busses and cars down below.
If you are in the area stop by and try it. Get your hand stamped at KBF, run down
the block (or take a bus) grab a few spins, then shoot back to finish your day on
the farm.
--CM
RICKY SMST
>ones.
What happened to Lagoon's wood Mouse and who was it's maker? I rode it in 82
and was lots of fun.
> Are any still operating or operable? One is SBNO at Chippewa Lake,
Someone needs to grab that ride! Paul bought the one in Landa Park for cheap!
(relatively). It was actually quite easy (and fun) to take apart and move
40,50,60? miles south. Well, maybe more fun than easy but most of the time Paul
only had two people.
>Have all the
>others been scrapped?
Last time I was at Coney there was a Mouse next to T-bolt, looked like a
Schiff. Is it gone?
MPierpoint
CoasterKon <coast...@aol.comNoJunk> wrote in message
news:19991220232857...@ng-cq1.aol.com...
> >I am new to this newsgroup, but I am looking for a Wild Mouse Ride, the
kind
> >where the wheels are attached on the rear of the cars.
>
before it turns. If so, there is a WILD one at Blackpool Pleasure Beach.
--
See Ya
______
/ \
| Michael |
\__ __/
_| |_
\ /
\ /
Top Steel Multilooper:
NEMESIS
Top Steel Non-looper:
THE PEPSI MAX BIG ONE
Top Woodie:
THE GRAND NATIONAL
Top Freefall:
SKYCOASTER
Top Water Ride:
RIPSAW (Top spin with fountains)
They should taer it down:
CORKSCREW
Robert Smith
where he ran a roller coaster) called it something like Boblo Park.
Steve
probie <matt...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:s60a8v...@corp.supernews.com...
Robert Smith
rode it several times until one of the cars got stuck and a worker had to
climb the frame and move the car and ride down in it! I didn't ride it after
that. That was before my acrophobia developed and kept me from riding again
until I was 40! Since then Vortex, Magnum et. al. have extinguished my
acrophobia - a shame, since the sheer terror was part of the thrill!
Steve
Chi1 <ch...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:19991221214313...@ng-fm1.aol.com...
Richard Bonner
On 21 Dec 1999, RICKY SMST wrote:
> I think the only other old Mouse in America right now is the one in
> Vancouver at Playland.
*** Careful! Don't pull a Kyriazi. That coaster is in Canada not
America. (-:
> Also there are a few of the older Mice in the U.K. some of
> which are actual woodies with wood track and supports! (Blackpool,
> Southport, Morcombe?)
>
> R <>< !
> I Y
> C K
*** The Blackpool "Mouse" was built from Conklin Shows plans. In the
1950's Conklin imported 4 "Wild Mouse" rides, three of which were on The
CNE midway for at least one season. One of these may have gone to Crystal
Beach. There is a possibility another may be the Playland "Mouse", but I
have no confirmation on that. No word on where the other two
ended up.
Blackpool wished to have one of these rides but for some reason decided
to build their own from the Conklin plans rather that import it from
Canada. I am also under the impression that Blackpool modified the plans
somewhat so it's not exactly the sane as the Conklin rides were.
The only other tidbit I have about the Conklin rides is that they were
suppossedly imported from Germany. Would this make them Mack rides? When
did Mack begin to manufacture The "Wild Mouse" ?
Richard Bonner
Managing Director:
The Coaster Enthusiasts of Canada
www.chebucto.ns.ca/~ak621/CEC/CEC.html
Richard Bonner
On Tue, 21 Dec 1999, Robert Smith wrote:
> 40 years ago (approx.) I rode a Wild Mouse in a park near Detroit. What park
> would that have been? Does it (and its Wild Mouse) still exist?
>
> Steve
*** That may have been either Boblo Island or further away, Crystal
Beach. Both were in Ontario and both had "Wild Mice". I can't say when
Boblo got theirs but it was in the park until at least 1973 as there is an
accident report that year about a girl whom was thrown from the ride.
Do you remember if you had to cross the border to get to the park, or
if you took a ferry? Both Boblo and Crystal Beach ran ferry services to
their parks, although Crystal Beach ferries ran from Buffalo, not Detroit.
Try running on the spot to jog your memory. If that doesn't work, go to:
www.chebucto.ns.ca/~ak621/CEC/ClosPark.html
Richard Bonner
*** Hmmm, the only coaster I know of at that fair was a junior coaster
for which I have no information. If there was a "Wild Mouse" there, it
must have gone in for 1965, after my guide book was printed, so it's not
listed.
For New York World's Fair and other fair links, see:
www.chebucto.ns.ca/~ak621/CEC/Fair-Ex.html
Richard Bonner
On Wed, 22 Dec 1999, Allen Hite wrote:
> I think one of the best in the US is still the Miler mouse at
> Playland. If you are sitting in the front with a passenger behind you there
> is some airtime on one of the last drops! This steel mouse is the closest
> ride experience to Blackpool's wooden mouse. One of the most frightening
> coasters I have ever been on.
>
> Allen Hite
*** If you mean Playland in Vancouver, it's in Canada. The reason it may
resemble Blackpool's ride is that there is a possibility they were built
from the same plans, although Blackpool used a wooden structure and
modified the layout. See my previous posts in this thread.
Richard Bonner
On Tue, 21 Dec 1999, V. Canfield wrote:
> A few questions...
>
> Who built the first wild mouse? Mack's web page claims that Mack built
> the first Wild Mouse in 1957. F.lli Pinfari's web page also lays claim
> to the first wild mouse, but gives no date. I recall reading that Ben
> Schiff introduced a wild mouse as early as 1956, and they were clearly
> common by 1959. BPB's wooden mouse dates from 1958, but it seems likely
> that wooden wild mice predated the steel ones. A web page devoted to
> the history of Americana Park attributes a Wild Mouse installed at
> LeSourdsville Lake in 1961 to Adolph Heinrich. (I assume that this is
> actually distinct from Heinrich Mack). It appears that there was a
> previous wild mouse craze beginning a little more than 40 years ago.
*** The Crystal Beach information I have shows a "Wild Mouse" there from
either 1955 or 1957 until 1972. I have a picture that shows it, but it's
not accessable right now. I remember it to have a steel structure with
two-seat cars, and supposedly made by Mack. The problem is that I think
the picture may date from the early 1950's. (I will look and post here
about the exact date.)
If, as in my previous post, this came from Conklin, I question the
manufacturing dates. It seems that Conklin would have used the ride for a
period of time before selling it. On the other hand, perhaps Conklin
imported several rides at a good price, kept some, but sold one as new
to Crystal Beach at a profit.
As for Blackpoool, they built their "Mouse" from plans provided
by Conklin Shows. If Conklin's ride were Mack steel rides (as may be borne
out by the Crystal Beach ride), then perhaps Blackpool decided to use a
wood track and structure rather than steel due to their proximity to salt
water.
Richard Bonner
I have checked my Conklin information and learned Patty Conklin imported
5, not 4 "Wild Mice" from Germany. I don't have an exact date, but it
appears he imported at least one, if not all 5, sometime in the 1950's. He
ran two in The United States and three in Canada, (two, not three, on The
CNE Midway one year). The coasters had two-seater (tandem) cars running on
metal-topped (and possibly sided) wooden track with a what appears to be
central twin guide rails. The cars have some sort of chevron insignia on
the front and rear. The original cost was $53,000 (Cdn) each.
Chi1
in 1973? I could seriously imagine someone being thrown from that ride
MPierpoint
>
> Blackpool wished to have one of these rides but for some reason decided
> to build their own from the Conklin plans rather that import it from
> Canada. I am also under the impression that Blackpool modified the plans
> somewhat so it's not exactly the sane as the Conklin rides were.
>
It certainly isn't sane :0). Anyway, Blackpool Pleasure Beach did change the
plans but only after it was built. A couple of years after it opened, they
added a third floor to the height and a third to the length of the track.
Well, that's what Geoffery Thompson says anyway.
Dave Althoff Jr
: On 21 Dec 1999, RICKY SMST wrote:
: > I think the only other old Mouse in America right now is the one in
: > Vancouver at Playland.
: *** Careful! Don't pull a Kyriazi. That coaster is in Canada not
Kyriazi? That's a name I haven't seen in a while...! In fact, I think
the last person to use it on this newsgroup was actually *me*, referring
to someone's query about "America Screams!"
: America. (-:
Richard, do I need to drag out that lecture again? That coaster is in
America. It's not in the United States! It's so far Northwest that it's
actually in the Southwest!
: *** The Blackpool "Mouse" was built from Conklin Shows plans. In the
: 1950's Conklin imported 4 "Wild Mouse" rides, three of which were on The
: CNE midway for at least one season. One of these may have gone to Crystal
: Beach. There is a possibility another may be the Playland "Mouse", but I
: have no confirmation on that. No word on where the other two
: ended up.
: Blackpool wished to have one of these rides but for some reason decided
: to build their own from the Conklin plans rather that import it from
: Canada. I am also under the impression that Blackpool modified the plans
: somewhat so it's not exactly the sane as the Conklin rides were.
^^^^
I take it that Conklin would not have a 'crazy mouse' or 'mad mouse' on the
midway... (sorry, I couldn't resist an opening like that...)
: The only other tidbit I have about the Conklin rides is that they were
: suppossedly imported from Germany. Would this make them Mack rides? When
: did Mack begin to manufacture The "Wild Mouse" ?
Let me look...
I have here an advertising brochure from Mack which states:
<quote>
Der Hit fuer die Freizeitindustrie A highlight for more than 35 years
Nur MACK baut die original "Wilde Maus" In 1957 Mack built the first and
Schon 1957 entstand der Prototyp original "Wild Mouse". The coaster
dieses rasantedn Fahrgeschaeftes -- was completely made out of wood and
natuerlich ganz in Holz. Jetzt gibt installed in Canada. The tight bended
es die neue "Wilde Maus" im Stil curves and the dipps and jumps make
unserer Zeit: ganz in Stahl, modernste the "Wild Mouse" to a very attractive
Technik, vollelektroniches Blocksystem family ride.
hohe Kapazitaet.
To increase the capacity we build the
Die "Wilde Maus" verdient ihren Namen cars as 4-seaters, but the layout of
zu Recht. In den engen Kurven the track is very similar to the
schiessen die buntbemalten Wagen in original one.
in grosser Hoehe scheinbar ins Nichts-
ein irres Fahrgefuehl. Aber das It is fun and action for all visitors
Vergnuegen geht noch weiter, ueber from 6 to 60 years to run the 370 m
Berge und durch Taeler. Ein echtes of track. The most modern technic and
Highlight fuer jeden Park, fuer jedes the experience of more than 30 years
Volksfest. guarantee the success of the "Wild
Mouse"
10 buntlackierte Wagen mit jeweils 4
Personen an Bord schiessen durch die
engen Kurven der ueber 370 Meter langen
Bahn.
Das ist Spannung, Action -- einfach
ein Super-Spass fuer Ihre Kunden.
</quote>
It is worth noting that it appears that the English is not exactly a
direct translation from the German, as the German is more descriptive, and
the English seems to back up Richard's story of the Conklin mice,
suggesting that not only were Conklin's mice built by Mack, but they were
probably the very first mice built by Mack.
--Dave Althoff, Jr.
--
/*\ _ _ _ *** Merry Christmas!!! ***
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Marcus Sheen
> that's what Geoffery Thompson says anyway.
He also says the Big One is the tallest, fastest, steepest coaster in the
World. I thought it lost that record perhaps with Desperado, certainly soon
after.
Regards,
Marcus
COASTER KINGDOM http://ds.dial.pipex.com/m.sheen/
EMAIL m.s...@dial.pipex.com
FAVOURITE WOOD Tonnerre De Zeus
FOLLOWED BY Megafobia, Stampida, Grand National...
FAVOURITE STEEL Hulk
FOLLOWED BY Fire Dragon, Ice Dragon, Eurostar...
MPierpoint
Marcus Sheen <m.s...@dial.pipex.com> wrote in message
news:8482ir$ect$1...@lure.pipex.net...
> Hi There,
>
> > that's what Geoffery Thompson says anyway.
>
> He also says the Big One is the tallest, fastest, steepest coaster in the
> World. I thought it lost that record perhaps with Desperado, certainly
soon
> after.
>
I don't really believe him that often either but I'm going off an interview
with him on Coaster Crazy UK. Actually, I think that the Big One is 214'
making it the 6th tallest in the world after
Superman the Escape
Tower Of Terror
Fujiyama
Mr Freeze
Mr Freeze
And next year it will be smaller than:
Goliath
Millennium Force
Nagashima Spa Land's Giga-coaster
Son Of Beast
I think that Desperado is 208' but has the longest drop in the world at
225'.
Marcus Sheen
> Actually, I think that the Big One is 214'
How is this measured?
- From sea level?
- From base of lift to crown?
- Maximum change in elevation?
It also wouldn't surprise me if they counted the added height of the
aircraft warning beacon on the top as another 5ft.
85mph is apparently its top speed, however, that would be the speed of a
stone if you dropped it. With the Big Ones coaster train you have friction,
wind resistance, and dodgy banking to add to the equasion.
Structually, I heard the height of the lift hill structure was little over
200ft. Wheres Greg Pearn when you need him?!
Richard Bonner
On 27 Dec 1999, Dave Althoff Jr wrote:
> Richard Bonner (ak...@chebucto.ns.ca) wrote:
>
> : On 21 Dec 1999, RICKY SMST wrote:
>
> : > I think the only other old Mouse in America right now is the one in
> : > Vancouver at Playland.
>
> : *** Careful! Don't pull a Kyriazi. That coaster is in Canada...
>
> Kyriazi? That's a name I haven't seen in a while...! In fact, I think
> the last person to use it on this newsgroup was actually *me*, referring
> to someone's query about "America Screams!"
*** Yes, I saw your post, and it reminded me that "Great Amusement
Parks" implied or outright stated that some Canadian parks or rides were
U.S. rides/parks. I haven't read the book for a while so I can't remember
exactly what was said.
> : America. (-:
>
> Richard, do I need to drag out that lecture again? That coaster is in
> America. It's not in the United States! It's so far Northwest that it's
> actually in the Southwest!
*** Yes, I'm familiar with that lecture, David. (-: While I agree with
your reasoning, most people consider "America" to be The United States, so
I posted my comment with that in mind.
> : Blackpool wished to have one of these rides but for some reason decided
> : to build their own from the Conklin plans rather that import it from
> : Canada. I am also under the impression that Blackpool modified the plans
> : somewhat so it's not exactly the sane as the Conklin rides were.
> ^^^^
> I take it that Conklin would not have a 'crazy mouse' or 'mad mouse' on the
> midway... (sorry, I couldn't resist an opening like that...)
*** Alright! Alright! Yes, you caught me. (-: I have a new split keyboard
that not only has the keys spilt into sections, those sections have a
tight key arrangement. So I often hit two keys instead of one, or other
times I hit the key beside the one I want, and finally, some keys are in
completely different places. It means a large number of typos on my
part. This was one of those times the wrong letter I typed formed a
legitimate word which would not be caught by a spell checker. )-:
> : The only other tidbit I have about the Conklin rides is that they were
> : supposedly imported from Germany. Would this make them Mack rides? When
> : did Mack begin to manufacture The "Wild Mouse" ?
>
> I have here an advertising brochure from Mack which states:
>
> <quote>
> Der Hit fuer die Freizeitindustrie A highlight for more than 35 years
> Nur MACK baut die original "Wilde Maus" In 1957 Mack built the first and
> Schon 1957 entstand der Prototyp original "Wild Mouse". The coaster
> dieses rasantedn Fahrgeschaeftes -- was completely made out of wood and
> natuerlich ganz in Holz. Jetzt gibt installed in Canada. The tight bended
> es die neue "Wilde Maus" im Stil curves and the dipps and jumps make
> unserer Zeit: ganz in Stahl, modernste the "Wild Mouse" to a very attractive
> Technik, vollelektroniches Blocksystem family ride.
> hohe Kapazitaet.
> </quote>
>
> It is worth noting that it appears that the English is not exactly a
> direct translation from the German, as the German is more descriptive, and
> the English seems to back up Richard's story of the Conklin mice,
> suggesting that not only were Conklin's mice built by Mack, but they were
> probably the very first mice built by Mack.
>
> --Dave Althoff, Jr.
*** Well, I checked my Crystal Beach picture. It's not dated but it
shows a "Wild Mouse" ride next to The "Comet". I was wrong - it's a wood
structure - not a steel structure. This jibes with the rumour that it may
have been one of the Conklin rides.
Patty Conklin stated in an interview that he imported at least one
"Wild Mouse" ride from Germany and that within 3 years was running a total
of 5 in Canada and The United States. I'm not sure if he imported them
all at once or not, but it appears from the way he speaks of them that the
ride purchases were spread out. I don't have the date of the interview so
I can't put a time frame on this. The Conklin "Mouse" I have pictures of
has a wooden structure.
The Crystal Beach information I have says their ride was in the park
starting from 1955 or 1957. One source pegs it as a Mack. Both the Conklin
and Crystal Beach information coincide in that both rides were
wooden-structured and had two-passenger (tandem) seating.
So what's going on here? I now suspect that the Crystal Beach ride was
operated as a concession by Conklin. This is very likely because I have
seen information saying Conklin Shows did run rides in permanent parks as
concessions. Patty stated he was running three of them in Canada, two on
The CNE Midway that year. Perhaps the third was at Crystal Beach. There is
also the possibility that Crystal Beach bought the first "Mouse" mentioned
in The Mack brochure, and Patty saw how popular it was so he ordered some
for himself.
At any rate, either the 1955 date for Crystal Beach is wrong if it's a
Mack, or the Crystal Beach ride was not a Mack and they got one from
another manufacturer in 1955. Can anyone add to any of this? What is
Mack's e-mail address? Perhaps someone there knows where that first one
was installed.
Richard Bonner
MPierpoint
> Hi There,
>
> > Actually, I think that the Big One is 214'
>
> How is this measured?
>
> - From sea level?
> - From base of lift to crown?
> - Maximum change in elevation?
>
Lift height (from station) - 214'
Height from sea level - 235'
Lift height from the base of the structure - 201'
I'm not certain on this though.
Ted Ansley
>Hi There,
>
>> Actually, I think that the Big One is 214'
>
>How is this measured?
>
>- From sea level?
>- From base of lift to crown?
>- Maximum change in elevation?
>
>It also wouldn't surprise me if they counted the added height of the
>aircraft warning beacon on the top as another 5ft.
>
>85mph is apparently its top speed, however, that would be the speed of a
>stone if you dropped it. With the Big Ones coaster train you have friction,
>wind resistance, and dodgy banking to add to the equasion.
>
>Structually, I heard the height of the lift hill structure was little over
>200ft. Wheres Greg Pearn when you need him?!
My understanding is that it is 214 feet from the top of the lift (crown) to
the ground directly below. The top speed for PM:TBO is listed as 76 MPH
by the manufacturer. The first drop was orignally 205 feet with a lift of
201 feet. I believe that after the modifications that the first drop is now
207 feet.
Ted Ansley
**Rollercoaster Fan<atic>**
ansl...@earthlink.net