Dave Althoff, Jr.

Mark Rosenzweig <stoneonta@> wrote:
: ...Then there's another issue- the ride
: would have to be modified to meet today's ASTM requirements (i.e.
: clearance and other issues) if erected at a new site. While
: "grandfathered" in Aurora, the ride is useless elsewhere.

I'm not sure that would be all that difficult. Big Dipper is an
out-and-back ride, and clearances are really not a serious issue on that
ride. Most of the provisions of F 2291 (the current design standard)
allow for a lot of 'wiggle room' provided that a suitably qualified
individual is willing to conduct the appropriate analysis and give his
+approval. Section 6.6, for example, indicates that the clearance
envelope is intended to "minimize the opportunity for contact between
the patron and other objects where said contact is likely to cause
injury." That leaves a whole lot of leeway, especially since the
designer is (6.6.3) responsible for determining the shape and size of
the clearance envelope. The designer is given the ability to make
determinations based on reasonable expectations, and in fact 6.6.2 takes
into consideration the fact that there may be objects allowed within the
clearance envelope, but the ride analysis must specifically address
those objects. Even the infamous Section 6.4.3, the section that
specifies restraint types based on predicted accelerations, allows the
ride designer to effectively ignore the recommendations given in the
section provided that the design is done in accordance with a ride
analysis.

So you're really only half right. The ride might not require any
significant modifications to operate in accordance with ASTM F 2291.
But it will require that an engineer and a biodynamic expert perform
design and dynamic analysis on the ride and agree that the ride is
"safe".

: As a coaster fan, I absolutely agree that this ride will be a huge
: loss from a historical and ride standpoint. It was easily the best
: operating woodie in Ohio, and nearly the last of its kind from its
: respective designer(s).
:
: But in the end, the whole Geauga Lake situation is a shame. Blame Six
: Flags, blame Cedar Fair. Blame whoever you want. Bottom line is the
: park was drawing about half what it used to do *before* the two Aurora
: parks were meshed as one mega park. Whatever happened, the experience
: the park delivered its guests turned them off and they stopped
: clicking the turnstyles. In the end of the day, that's why Big Dipper
: will be demolished. That's why Villain (a potentially outstanding and
: marquee attraction) will be scrapped.

THAT is the real tragedy. In my opinion, Villain is a better coaster
than Big Dipper, but it needs (needed) serious track repair and a set of
decent trains. Both of which would be required anyway if the ride were
relocated. And there is a little park in Southwest Ohio that
*seriously* needs a marquee attraction. Because of flooding, moving
Ohio's best classic wood coaster, the Screechin' Eagle, really isn't an
option, but the galvanized structure of the Villain would have been an
almost perfect fit.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.
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