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Steel Vengeance

Coordinates: 41°29′10.50″N 82°41′35.75″W / 41.4862500°N 82.6932639°W / 41.4862500; -82.6932639
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Steel Vengeance
Previously known as Mean Streak (1991-2016)
File:Steel Vengeance Roller Coaster Logo.png
Cedar Point
LocationCedar Point
Park sectionFrontiertown
Coordinates41°29′10.50″N 82°41′35.75″W / 41.4862500°N 82.6932639°W / 41.4862500; -82.6932639
StatusUnder construction
Opening date2018
ReplacedMean Streak
General statistics
TypeSteel
ManufacturerRocky Mountain Construction
DesignerAlan Schilke
Track layoutTwister
Lift/launch systemChain lift
Height205 ft (62 m)
Drop200 ft (61 m)
Length5,740 ft (1,750 m)
Speed74 mph (119 km/h)
Inversions4
Duration2:30
Max vertical angle90°
Capacity1,200 riders per hour
Height restriction48 in (122 cm)
Trains3 trains with 6 cars. Riders are arranged 2 across in 2 rows for a total of 24 riders per train.
Fast Lane Plus only available
Steel Vengeance at RCDB

Steel Vengeance, formerly known as Mean Streak, is an upcoming steel roller coaster at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio. The roller coaster is being manufactured by Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC) and is expected to open in 2018. It will feature RMC's patented I-Box Track technology utilizing a significant portion of Mean Streak's former support structure. Upon completion, Steel Vengeance will set numerous world records.

Originally constructed by the Dinn Corporation, Mean Streak opened to the public on on May 11, 1991, as the tallest wooden coaster in the world with the longest drop height. Cedar Point closed Mean Streak on September 16, 2016, casting doubt and uncertainty regarding the ride's future. The park dropped subtle hints over the following year that the ride was being refurbished. On August 16, 2017, Cedar Point officially announced the conversion of Mean Streak into Steel Vengeance, marketed as the first hybrid hypercoaster. Before its official opening, a virtual recreation of the ride was made available in the video game, Planet Coaster.[1]

History

Cedar Point revealed in 1990 that a new roller coaster would be built for the 1991 season. It was officially named Mean Streak on October 24, 1990.[2] Construction commenced later that year and continued through spring of the following year.[3][4] Mean Streak opened with the park's seasonal debut on May 11, 1991,[5] in the Frontiertown section of the park behind one of Cedar Point & Lake Erie Railroad's stations.[6] The ride's media day press conference was held on May 22, 1991.[7]

Mean Streak was one of eleven roller coasters designed and manufactured by Ohio-based Dinn Corporation before the company went out of business in 1992.[8] It was a twister coaster model designed by Curtis D. Summers, and the ride cost $7.5 million to construct.[5][9][10] In September 2010, a small 5-foot (1.5 m) section caught fire, which was quickly contained by firefighters to a small portion of the ride.[11]

On August 1, 2016, Cedar Point announced that Mean Streak would offer its last rides to the public on September 16, 2016.[12][13] Park officials, however, declined to confirm that the ride was being torn down.[14] Following its closure, unconfirmed rumors emerged that the roller coaster was being refurbished by Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC), a manufacturing company well-known for its restoration work on existing roller coasters.[15] The company has refurbished, and in many cases completely transformed, other wooden roller coasters with applications of either of its two patented technologies: I-Box and Topper track.[16] Cedar Point began teasing the public on the ride's future with the release of an 18-second teaser video entitled "They're Coming" on April 1, 2017.[17] Cedar Point showed video shots briefly panning several elements of the rumored conversion.[17] Another similar video showing snippets of the new ride was released a few months later in June.[18] Three more videos would be released over the summer of 2017, with catchphrases “They‘re rollin’ in like thunder”, "There's a score to settle", and "They stake their claim"[19]

Characteristics

Mean Streak's first turnaround

Mean Streak's wooden track was approximately 5,427 feet (1,654 m) in length and the height of the lift was approximately 161 feet (49 m).[5] It was constructed from 1.7 million board feet (4,000 m³) of treated southern yellow pine.[9] In 1994, a trim brake was installed on the coaster's first drop reducing its overall speed in an attempt to prevent abnormal track wear and increase ride comfort.[7] Over the years, Mean Streak had been re-tracked several times. Some re-tracking was completed by Martin & Vleminckx.[20] Prior to the 2012 operating season, many sections of track after the first drop were replaced. This was the most significant work done on the ride since it opened.[21] Also, in 2012, a portion of the queue was removed to make room for a new building. The building is located in the infield of Mean Streak and is used for the HalloWeekends haunted house, Eden Musee. It is also used for storage during the off-season and summer.[22]

Mean Streak operated with three trains manufactured by Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters (PTC) that were colored red, gold, and green.[10][23] Each train had seven cars with riders arranged two across in two rows for a total of 28 riders per train. The minimum height required to ride was 48 inches (120 cm), and guests were secured by an individual ratcheting lap bar and seat belt.[5] During the 2011–2012 off-season, all three trains were sent to PTC's headquarters for maintenance and refurbishment.[23]

Ride experience

Mean Streak with Maverick in the foreground

After leaving the station, the train passed through the storage tracks and made a U-turn to the right, before ascending the 161-foot-tall (49 m) lift hill. After cresting the top of the hill, the train dropped 155 feet (47 m) at a 52-degree-angle, reaching a top speed of 65 miles per hour (105 km/h). While dropping, riders went through a set of trim brakes on the first drop. Riders then went through a 123-foot-tall (37 m) twisted turnaround followed by a small airtime hill, and then another twisted turnaround. The train maneuvered over the lift hill and dipped down to the right. After that, the train traveled through the ride's structure and down another hill, turning to the left into the mid-course brake run. The train then dipped down to the left into another airtime hill. Riders then went through several small airtime hills and turned through the ride's structure followed by the final brake run.[24] One cycle of the ride lasted 3 minutes and 13 seconds, making it the former longest duration of any roller coaster at Cedar Point.[5][25]

Records

When Mean Streak opened in 1991, it was the tallest wooden roller coaster in the world and featured the longest drop.[9] Upon closure in 2016, Mean Streak had the seventh tallest lift, the tenth fastest speed, the fourth longest track-length and the seventh longest drop.[26][27][28][29]

Reception

Writers from The Pantagraph stated that Mean Streak was "the best-kept-secret at Cedar Point," as it was located at the very back of the park.[30] The ride was also featured on the Today show in 1992 in connection with the 100th anniversary of roller coasters.[31]

Mean Streak had been ranked as one of the most popular wooden roller coasters in the world. It has ranked in the top 50 nine times since the Golden Ticket Awards were introduced in 1998. The ride was not ranked in the other seasons.

Golden Ticket Awards: Top wood Roller Coasters
Year 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
Ranking 21[32] 18[33] 16[34] 34 (tie)[35] 40[36] 49[37] –[38] 33 (tie)[39] –[40] 39[41] –[42] –[43] –[44] –[45] 45[46] –[47]

See also

References

  1. ^ Minotti, Mike (August 16, 2017). "Cedar Point's next thrill ride debuts in Planet Coaster". Venture Beat. Retrieved August 16, 2017.
  2. ^ "'Mean Streak' named". Portsmouth Daily Times. October 24, 1990. Retrieved February 23, 2013.
  3. ^ "Cedar Point adds waterfront restaurant and pool complex". The Daily Sentinel. December 7, 1990. Retrieved February 23, 2013.
  4. ^ "Stacked Wood". The Vindicator. April 4, 1991. Retrieved February 23, 2013.
  5. ^ a b c d e Marden, Duane. "Mean Streak  (Cedar Point)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved October 16, 2012.
  6. ^ Urbanowicz, Steve (2004). The Cheapskate's Guide to Them. New York, New York: Kensington Publishing. p. 85. ISBN 0806523654.
  7. ^ a b "Cedar Point Timeline". PointBuzz. Retrieved October 16, 2012.
  8. ^ Marden, Duane. "Dinn Corporation". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved February 23, 2013.
  9. ^ a b c "Cedar Point Park develops Mean Streak". The Vindicator. May 6, 1991. Retrieved February 23, 2013.
  10. ^ a b "Mean Streak". Ultimate Rollercoaster. Retrieved October 16, 2012.
  11. ^ "Mean Streak catches fire at Cedar Point". WTOL. September 24, 2010. Retrieved October 16, 2012.
  12. ^ "Goodbye Mean Streak". Cedar Point. Archived from the original on August 1, 2016. Retrieved August 1, 2016. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  13. ^ Pevos, Edward (August 1, 2016). "'Mean Streak' coaster at Cedar Point will close for good next month". MLive. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
  14. ^ Glaser, Susan (August 1, 2016). "Cedar Point says massive wooden coaster Mean Streak will close; fans hope for steel-track remake". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
  15. ^ Haidet, Ryan (February 2, 2017). "Cedar Point changes its long-used logo: See the new design". WKYC. Retrieved February 12, 2017.
  16. ^ James, Daniel (January 23, 2017). "What Type Of Roller Coaster Can We Expect From Cedar Fair In 2018?". INSCMagazine. Retrieved February 12, 2017.
  17. ^ a b Bybee, Taylor (April 3, 2017). "One of the Worst Roller Coasters in the World is About to Become the Best". Huffington Post. Retrieved April 13, 2017.
  18. ^ Eccentric Gamer (2017-06-02), Cedar Point 2017/2018: RMC Mean Streak Teaser 2: "They're Wild and Unruly." (#TheyreComing), retrieved 2017-06-19
  19. ^ Point, Cedar (2017-07-05). "#TheyreComingpic.twitter.com/eOZq6bks3C". @cedarpoint. Retrieved 2017-07-05.
  20. ^ "Retracking". Martin & Vleminckx. Archived from the original on November 25, 2013. Retrieved November 17, 2013. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  21. ^ Clark, Tony (May 23, 2012). "Mean Streak isn't so mean". Cedar Point. Archived from the original on July 2, 2012. Retrieved October 16, 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  22. ^ Stoddart, S.L. (October 12, 2012). "Inside Cedar Point's Newest Haunted House 'Eden Musee'". CBS Detroit. CBS Corporation. Retrieved October 16, 2012.
  23. ^ a b "Services — Projects Around the Shop — Mean Streak". Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters. Retrieved October 17, 2012.
  24. ^ Cedar Point (May 23, 2012). "Official Mean Streak POV". YouTube. Retrieved October 17, 2012.
  25. ^ "Cedar Point considers plan to shorten lines for popular rides". Toledo Blade. May 27, 2000. Retrieved February 23, 2013.
  26. ^ Marden, Duane. "Record Holders  (Statistic: Height, Type: Wood)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
  27. ^ Marden, Duane. "Record Holders  (Statistic: Speed, Type: Wood)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
  28. ^ Marden, Duane. "Record Holders  (Statistic: Length, Type: Woodl)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
  29. ^ Marden, Duane. "Record Holders  (Statistic: Drop, Type: Wood)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
  30. ^ "Cedar Point rolls out scream after scream". The Pantagraph. June 30, 1996.
  31. ^ "'Today' at Cedar Point". Toledo Blade. June 25, 1992. Retrieved February 23, 2013.
  32. ^ "Top 25 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 6B. August 1998. Retrieved September 14, 2013.
  33. ^ "Top 25 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 6B. August 1999. Retrieved September 14, 2013.
  34. ^ "Top 25 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. August 2000. Retrieved September 14, 2013.
  35. ^ "Top 25 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 6B. August 2001. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 14, 2013.
  36. ^ "Top 25 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 6B. September 2002. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 14, 2013.
  37. ^ "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 10–11B. September 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 14, 2013.
  38. ^ "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 14–15B. September 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 3, 2007. Retrieved September 14, 2013.
  39. ^ "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 22–23B. September 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 14, 2013.
  40. ^ "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today: 30–31B. September 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 14, 2013.
  41. ^ "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 11 (6.2): 42–43. September 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 14, 2013.
  42. ^ "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 12 (6.2): 42–43. September 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 14, 2013.
  43. ^ "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 13 (6.2): 38–39. September 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 14, 2013.
  44. ^ "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 14 (6.2): 38–39. September 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 14, 2013.
  45. ^ "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 15 (6.2): 46–47. September 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 14, 2013.
  46. ^ "Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 16 (6.2): 46–47. September 2012. Retrieved September 14, 2013.
  47. ^ "2013 Top 50 wood Roller Coasters" (PDF). Amusement Today. 17 (6.2): 40–41. September 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2013. Retrieved September 14, 2013.
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